Node.js Telegram Bot with Telegraf.js - Auto-Dispatch Chat Notifications

Other Questions Telegram bot
1

How can my Node.js Telegram bot send messages automatically when a tracked file updates? See revised code sample below:

const { Telegraf } = require('telegraf');
const fs = require('fs');

const botInstance = new Telegraf(process.env.BOT_KEY);
const watchedFile = 'C:\\temp\\log.txt';

fs.watch(watchedFile, (changeType) => {
  if (changeType === 'change') {
    const content = fs.readFileSync(watchedFile, 'utf8');
    botInstance.telegram.sendMessage(process.env.CHAT_ID, `File update:
${content}`);
  }
});
2

I have worked on a similar feature before and found that using fs.watch is a quick solution; however, it can sometimes miss updates on certain operating systems. In my experience, incorporating some error handling and debouncing the events significantly improved reliability. Refactoring the file read operation to the asynchronous version also prevented blocking issues in your bot’s event loop. Although your code sample is clear, adding these nuances can make your bot more robust and fit for production use.

3

I experienced similar challenges when working on a file-triggered notification feature. In my project, switching from fs.watch to fs.watchFile provided a more consistent performance across different systems, ensuring that changes did not get missed. Additionally, I found that managing asynchronous file reading with proper error catching improved reliability even further. Debouncing the event triggers also helped avoid sending multiple messages when the file is updated rapidly. These insights came after extensive testing in a production-like environment, and they significantly improved the responsiveness and stability of the notification process over time.

4

hey, i ran into similar issues and fixed it by delaying the file read slightly, so the file finishes updating. using fs.watchFile instead of fs.watch gave me better event reliability on some os’s. try a small delay to let the file settle before sending the notif.