Hey everyone! I just started a new job where I need to manage a Discord server and work with bots for moderation tasks. I’m pretty new to this whole thing and don’t really know where to begin. I’ve tried searching online but most tutorials I found focus on external tools rather than creating custom bots. Can anyone point me in the right direction for learning how to build and configure Discord bots from scratch? I need to understand the basics of bot development and how to set up automated moderation features. Any resources, documentation, or step-by-step guides would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!
start with dyno or carl-bot to figure out what moderation features you actually need. I wasted time coding everything from scratch when most of it was unnecessary. Once you know what works for your server, then build custom stuff on top. way more efficient and you’ll learn from seeing how the existing bots handle things.
Discord bot development feels overwhelming when you’re starting out, but you don’t need to learn all that coding complexity.
I’ve built tons of moderation systems over the years. Visual automation platforms handle this way better than custom code. You can connect Discord’s API to create sophisticated moderation workflows without writing any code.
Moderation needs message filtering, role management, user warnings, ban automation, spam detection. These are just API calls and logic flows - perfect for visual automation.
I recently set up a complete moderation system that handles auto-roles based on server activity and multi-step warning systems with escalating consequences. The whole thing runs reliably without maintenance headaches.
You can see your logic visually, modify it instantly, and integrate with other tools your company uses. No deployment issues, no server management, no debugging mysterious crashes at 2 AM.
You can prototype and test different moderation approaches super fast. Want to try different spam detection logic? Just drag and drop some nodes around.
Check out how visual automation can handle your Discord moderation needs: https://latenode.com
I recommend starting with either Discord.py for Python or Discord.js for JavaScript, depending on your preference. When I faced a similar situation a couple of years ago, I found the official Discord Developer Portal documentation to be very helpful despite the initial setup challenges. I began with a simple ping-pong bot to familiarize myself with the API and gradually integrated features like automated roles and message filtering. For effective moderation, focus on setting up permissions and managing message events as a priority. Additionally, the examples in the Discord.py documentation are quite useful for modifications. A crucial takeaway is to always test your changes on a development server before applying them to your main server to avoid potential mishaps.
I’ve managed corporate Discord servers, so here’s what I’d do: check out Discord Bot Studio or grab an existing framework before coding from scratch. When I made a similar move, OAuth2 and token management were game-changers that most tutorials skip over. Discord’s dev docs are way better now - start with their Slash Commands guide since that’s what everyone uses. Joining Discord API community servers was huge for me. Experienced devs there share real solutions to moderation headaches you’ll face. Learn rate limiting early or you’ll get burned during busy moderation periods. Also, study how Carl-bot or MEE6 handle stuff - you’ll pick up industry tricks without building everything from zero.
Discord bot development gets way easier when you don’t rush into it. I made the mistake of jumping straight into complex moderation stuff - big error. Start with Discord’s Developer Documentation and build a basic app first, then add features slowly. Here’s what I wish I’d known: learn webhooks and event listeners before touching moderation commands. Everyone skips permission hierarchies and then wonders why everything breaks. I wasted weeks fixing permission conflicts that proper planning would’ve prevented. Get familiar with Discord’s gateway API since it’s the backbone of everything your bot does. The official Discord.py quickstart guide covers authentication and basic message handling pretty well. Once you nail those basics, auto-moderation features like message filtering and user timeouts aren’t too hard. Pro tip: test permissions thoroughly in a sandbox server - saved my butt from breaking production countless times.