Creating a Python-based Telegram bot: Where to begin?

Hey everyone! I’m new to Python and looking to challenge myself. I’ve got this idea to make a Telegram bot, but I’m not sure where to start. Has anyone done this before?

I’m thinking of making something cool like a bot that can grab Instagram videos. But I’m totally lost on how to approach this. What libraries should I use? Are there any good tutorials out there?

I’d really appreciate any advice on:

  1. The basics of Telegram bot development
  2. How to interact with Instagram through a bot
  3. Good resources for beginners

Thanks in advance for any help! I’m excited to learn and hopefully create something useful. :blush:

hey swiftcoder42, welcome to the python world! for telegram bots, check out python-telegram-bot library. it’s pretty easy to use. as for instagram stuff, you might wanna look into instaloader. there’s tons of tutorials on youtube for both. good luck with ur project!

I’ve been down this road before, and it’s a great learning experience! For Telegram bot development, I highly recommend the ‘python-telegram-bot’ library. It’s well-documented and has a supportive community.

As for Instagram interaction, be cautious. Instagram’s API policies are strict, and scraping can lead to account bans. Instead, consider using official APIs or focusing on other features for your bot.

A good starting point would be to create a simple bot that responds to commands. Once you’re comfortable with that, you can gradually add more complex features.

Remember to keep your bot token secure and never share it publicly. Also, hosting your bot can be tricky at first, but services like Heroku or PythonAnywhere can be helpful for beginners.

Good luck with your project! It’s a rewarding journey.

As someone who’s developed a few Telegram bots, I can share some insights. The python-telegram-bot library is indeed a solid choice for beginners. It’s well-documented and has a lot of examples to get you started.

For Instagram integration, be aware that direct scraping can be risky. Instagram’s terms of service don’t allow it, and your bot could get banned. Instead, consider using the official Instagram Basic Display API for safer access to public content.

I’d recommend starting small. Create a bot that can respond to basic commands first. Once you’re comfortable with that, gradually add more complex features. This approach helps you learn step-by-step without getting overwhelmed.

For hosting, I’ve had good experiences with DigitalOcean droplets. They’re relatively cheap and give you full control over your environment. Just make sure to secure your server properly.

Remember to keep your API keys and tokens safe. Never commit them to public repositories. Use environment variables or config files to manage sensitive information.