Build an auto-reply bot

Name: LifeBots
Rating: 4.8 (150 reviews)

Combine webhooks with bot commands: the bot tells your server when someone IMs it, and your server answers through the API. This example also decides which group invites to accept.

1. Register the webhook

With the bots:callbacks scope, point the bot at your server — one URL per bot, with a secret in it. See Webhooks & events.

2. Handle the events

server.js

// npm install express
import express from 'express'

const app = express()
app.use(express.json())

const HOOK_SECRET = process.env.HOOK_SECRET // long random string

app.post('/hooks/:botId/:secret', async (req, res) => {
  if (req.params.secret !== HOOK_SECRET) return res.sendStatus(404)
  const { botId } = req.params
  const event = req.body

  // Accept group invites from people we trust - the reply is the decision
  if (event.action === 'group_invite') {
    return res.json({ accept: TRUSTED.includes(event.avatar_uuid) })
  }

  // Everything else: say "got it" first, then do the work
  res.sendStatus(200)

  if (event.action === 'instant_message' && event.speaker_type === 'AGENT') {
    await fetch(`https://api.lifebots.cloud/api/v1/bots/${botId}/im`, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        Authorization: `Bearer ${tokenFor(botId)}`,
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
      },
      body: JSON.stringify({
        slname: event.speaker_uuid,
        message: 'Thanks for your message! A human will reply soon.'
      })
    })
  }
})

app.listen(3000)

Notes

Reply within 10 seconds, or the delivery counts as failed. For group_invite you have 30 seconds, and your reply is the decision.
Replying to the IM needs the bots:chat scope.
Skip messages from objects (speaker_type: "OBJECT") so two bots don't answer each other forever.
Use cid to ignore an event you've already handled.