84 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
84 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
 
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# How to Connect an AI Agent to Chat Apps with nanobot
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nanobot can run as a self-hosted chatbot or AI agent in Telegram, Discord,
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Slack, WeChat, Email, Mattermost, and other chat apps. The gateway receives chat
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messages, runs the agent, and sends replies back to the same channel.
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## What you will build
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- a working local agent
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- one enabled chat channel
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- a running gateway
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- a narrow access-control rule for the first test user
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## When to use this
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Use chat apps when the agent should live where users already communicate:
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private DMs, team channels, group chats, email threads, or bot workspaces.
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## Install
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```bash
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python -m pip install nanobot-ai
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nanobot onboard --wizard
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nanobot agent -m "Hello!"
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```
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Then choose one platform guide:
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- [Telegram AI agent](./telegram-ai-agent.md)
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- [Discord AI agent](./discord-ai-agent.md)
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- [Slack AI agent](./slack-ai-agent.md)
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- [WeChat AI agent](./wechat-ai-agent.md)
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- [Email AI agent](./email-ai-agent.md)
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- [Mattermost AI agent](./mattermost-ai-agent.md)
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## Minimal working example
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Every channel follows the same pattern:
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1. Get the platform token, login state, webhook, or mailbox credentials.
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2. Merge the channel snippet into `~/.nanobot/config.json`.
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3. Keep access narrow with `allowFrom`, `allowChannels`, or pairing.
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4. Check status:
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```bash
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nanobot channels status
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```
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5. Start the gateway:
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```bash
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nanobot gateway
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```
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6. Send a test message from an allowed account.
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## Production notes
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- Keep the gateway running as a service for always-on chat apps.
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- Use mention-only group policies before opening a bot to busy channels.
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- Use one channel at a time while debugging.
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- Prefer DMs for first tests; group chats add permissions and routing behavior.
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## Security notes
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- Do not use `allowFrom: ["*"]` outside an intentional sandbox.
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- Rotate bot tokens if they are pasted into logs or shared files.
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- Review file, shell, and web tool access before inviting other users.
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## Troubleshooting
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- If `nanobot channels status` does not show the channel, the config key or
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optional dependency is likely missing.
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- If messages do not arrive, run `nanobot gateway --verbose` and compare
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platform credentials, event permissions, and allow lists.
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- If group replies are unexpected, review that channel's group policy.
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## Related nanobot docs
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- [Chat Apps](../chat-apps.md)
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- [Configuration](../configuration.md#channel-settings)
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- [Pairing](../configuration.md#pairing)
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- [Deployment](../deployment.md)
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