I need help with a specific scenario involving Telegram bots and PHP. I want to create a PHP application that can interact with someone else’s Telegram bot. The goal is to send text messages to this bot and receive files back as responses.
Here’s what I’m trying to achieve:
- Send a text message from my PHP script to a third-party Telegram bot
- The bot processes the message and returns a file
- My script should capture this file and store it in a designated directory on my web server
Most tutorials I found cover creating bots that send messages to users, but I need the opposite approach. I want my application to act like a regular user sending messages to an existing bot.
Is this type of automation feasible with PHP? What would be the best approach to implement this functionality?
Yes, this is certainly achievable, but the regular Bot API won’t suffice for your needs. Instead, you’ll need to utilize Telegram’s MTProto API, which allows you to act as a normal user communicating with a bot. Consider using a client library such as MadelineProto for PHP; it enables your script to log in as a regular user and interact with any bot or individual. After sending your message to the bot, ensure to monitor for replies and check for any file attachments. When files are received, employ the library’s download functions to save them directly to your server directory. Be aware that you’ll require your actual phone number for authentication, and keep in mind the possibility of rate limits. Also, it’s crucial to adhere to Telegram’s Terms of Service and avoid upsetting the bot owner.
it’s tricky but def doable. start simple - make a burner telegram account just for automation. use telethon or madeline proto to manage the user session. the biggest challenge is keeping your session active without triggering telegram’s spam filters. add random delays between messages to make it look human.
I built something similar for a client last year. While MadelineProto is a popular choice, you might also consider using telegram-bot-sdk or raw cURL for more granular control. The key challenge is managing authentication; you need to emulate a user session rather than engage in bot-to-bot interactions. I found it most effective to set up a dedicated user account just for automation, ensuring session management keeps the connection stable. Once you’ve established the session, sending messages and retrieving files becomes fairly straightforward through Telegram’s file endpoints. Just be cautious with file types and ensure you implement error handling for network timeouts, as Telegram can be sensitive to automated requests. It took me around three days to refine everything, focusing on file validation and storage management.