My Discord bot won't start after adding a new command. What's wrong?

Other Questions Discord bot
1

I’m new to making Discord bots and I’m having trouble. I followed an online guide to create a bot with basic commands. But when I tried to add more commands, things went south.

I copied and pasted some code, hoping it would work. But now my bot won’t start at all. Every time I try to run it, I get syntax errors.

Here’s a simplified version of my code:

const DiscordBot = require('discord-bot-lib');
const logger = require('simple-logger');
const config = require('./config.json');

logger.setup({ level: 'debug', colorize: true });

const myBot = new DiscordBot({
  token: config.token,
  autoStart: true
});

myBot.onReady(() => {
  logger.info(`Bot ${myBot.name} (${myBot.id}) is online`);
});

myBot.onMessage((msg) => {
  if (msg.content.startsWith('!')) {
    const [cmd, ...args] = msg.content.slice(1).split(' ');
    
    switch (cmd) {
      case 'hello':
        msg.reply('Hi there!');
        break;
      case 'echo':
        msg.reply(args.join(' '));
        break;
      // More commands here
    }
  }
});

Can someone help me figure out what I’m doing wrong? How do I properly add new commands to my bot?

2

Hey there, I’ve been in your shoes before! Adding new commands can be tricky when you’re just starting out. From what I can see, your basic structure looks okay, but the devil’s in the details with syntax errors.

One common mistake is forgetting to close brackets or quotes properly when adding new case statements. Double-check each new command you’ve added for missing semicolons, parentheses, or curly braces.

Another tip: instead of copy-pasting, try typing out the new commands yourself. It helps you understand the code better and catch errors as you go.

If you’re still stuck, try commenting out the new commands one by one until the bot starts. This way, you can pinpoint exactly which addition is causing the problem.

Lastly, using a code editor with syntax highlighting and a linter can be a game-changer. It’ll catch a lot of these errors before you even try to run the bot.

Hope this helps! Keep at it, and you’ll get there.

3

I’ve encountered similar issues while developing Discord bots. One crucial step often overlooked is proper error handling. Try wrapping your command execution in a try-catch block to prevent the entire bot from crashing due to a single command error.

Additionally, ensure you’re not exceeding Discord’s rate limits when adding multiple commands. Implement a cooldown system if necessary.

For easier command management, consider using a command handler. It allows you to organize commands in separate files, making debugging and expansion much simpler.

Lastly, utilize Discord.js’s built-in Collections for efficient command storage and retrieval. This approach scales well as your bot grows.

Remember, thorough testing of each new command in isolation can save hours of troubleshooting later on. Good luck with your bot development!

4

yo man, i feel ur pain. syntax errors r the worst! :tired_face: have u tried using a debugger? it can pinpoint exactly where things go wrong. also, make sure ur indentation is on point. soemtimes that messes stuff up too. keep at it bro, u got this! :muscle: