I want to create a Telegram bot, and I’m exploring various Node.js libraries for that. I came across popular ones like Telegraf and node-telegram-bot-api, but I’m unsure how they compare.
Are there significant differences, advantages, or drawbacks between them? Also, as a beginner in bot development, I am looking for something user-friendly but capable enough for future enhancements. Documentation and performance are also key factors for me.
If anyone has experience with these libraries, I would appreciate your recommendations for a newcomer in Telegram bot creation!
telegraf’s def more modern, especially if ur into TypeScript. node-telegram-bot-api seems kinda outdated but it works for basic stuff. honestly, go for Telegraf - it deals with updates way better and the keyboards are built-in, makes life easier!
I’ve built several production bots and honestly, it depends what you need. Started with node-telegram-bot-api because it seemed easier, but hit walls when building complex workflows. You’re doing everything manually - good for learning, terrible for time.
Performance? Both handle decent traffic fine, though Telegraf’s polling feels snappier. Node-telegram-bot-api’s been around longer so there’s way more Stack Overflow help when you’re stuck - saved me tons of time early on.
But here’s the thing - Telegraf crushes it for conversation flows and database stuff. Yeah, the middleware concept is confusing at first, but once it clicks you’ll wonder why you ever did it the hard way.
I’ve used both libraries for over two years, beginning with node-telegram-bot-api and later switching to Telegraf. Telegraf offers superior middleware support and a cleaner syntax to manage various message types. While node-telegram-bot-api is simpler, it often requires more boilerplate code as the bot becomes more complex. For beginners, I recommend Telegraf due to its well-structured documentation and an active community, which makes learning easier. It also features built-in session management and scene support for when you want to incorporate advanced functionalities. Both libraries perform well in most scenarios, but Telegraf is significantly easier to maintain as your codebase expands.