Creating a JavaScript Discord bot to alert when Twitch streams go live

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1

Hey everyone! I’m new to JavaScript and working with APIs. I’m trying to build a Discord bot that notifies users when a Twitch channel starts streaming. Although I’ve seen similar solutions online, I’m running into issues with getJSON.

Here’s my current index.js file:

const Discord = require('discord.js');
const commando = require('discord.js-commando');
const bot = new commando.Client();

const BotToken = 'myBotToken';
const TwitchClientID = 'myTwitchClientID';
const TwitchURL = 'https://api.twitch.tv/kraken/streams/mychannel';
const channelName = 'mychannel';

bot.registry.registerGroup('random', 'Random');
bot.registry.registerDefaults();
bot.registry.registerCommandsIn(__dirname + '/commands');

bot.login('myLoginToken');

bot.on('message', (message) => {
  if (message.content === '!StreamStatus') {
    checkStreamStatus((err, isLive) => {
      if (err) {
        message.reply('Oops, something went wrong!');
      } else {
        message.reply(isLive ? 'Stream is live!' : 'Stream is offline.');
      }
    });
  }
});

function checkStreamStatus(callback) {
  // Implementation needed here
}

I tried using both jQuery.getJSON and $.getJSON, but neither worked. When I issue the !StreamStatus command, the bot crashes with the message ‘getJSON is not defined’.

My package.json looks like this:

{
  "name": "twitch-discord-bot",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "main": "index.js",
  "dependencies": {
    "discord.js": "^11.1.0",
    "discord.js-commando": "^0.9.0",
    "jquery": "^3.2.1",
    "xmlhttprequest": "^1.8.0"
  }
}

Can anyone help me understand why getJSON isn’t working? Thanks in advance!

2

I encountered a similar challenge when developing a Discord bot for Twitch notifications. The issue lies in using jQuery methods in a Node.js environment. Instead, I’d suggest utilizing the built-in ‘https’ module for making API requests.

Here’s a modified version of your checkStreamStatus function that should work:

const https = require('https');

function checkStreamStatus(callback) {
  const options = {
    hostname: 'api.twitch.tv',
    path: `/kraken/streams/${channelName}`,
    headers: {
      'Client-ID': TwitchClientID,
      'Accept': 'application/vnd.twitchtv.v5+json'
    }
  };

  https.get(options, (res) => {
    let data = '';
    res.on('data', (chunk) => data += chunk);
    res.on('end', () => {
      const parsedData = JSON.parse(data);
      const isLive = parsedData.stream !== null;
      callback(null, isLive);
    });
  }).on('error', (err) => callback(err));
}

This approach doesn’t require additional dependencies and should resolve your getJSON issue. Remember to handle potential errors and rate limiting from the Twitch API.

3

I ran into a similar issue when I was building my first Discord bot for Twitch notifications. The problem is that jQuery’s getJSON is designed for browser environments, not Node.js. In your server-side JavaScript, you’ll need to use a different method to make HTTP requests.

I’d recommend using the ‘node-fetch’ package instead. It’s a lightweight module that brings the Fetch API to Node.js. Here’s how you can modify your code:

  1. First, install node-fetch: npm install node-fetch

  2. Then, update your checkStreamStatus function:

const fetch = require('node-fetch');

function checkStreamStatus(callback) {
  fetch(TwitchURL, {
    headers: {
      'Client-ID': TwitchClientID,
      'Accept': 'application/vnd.twitchtv.v5+json'
    }
  })
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => {
    const isLive = data.stream !== null;
    callback(null, isLive);
  })
  .catch(error => callback(error));
}

This should resolve your issue. Remember to keep your Twitch Client ID secret and consider using environment variables for sensitive information. Good luck with your bot!

4

hey there! try axios instead of getjson. install it with npm install axios and update checkstreamstatus to use axios.get with the right headers. hope it helps! lmk if u need more info:)