Hi everyone!
I’m an experienced full stack developer with strong NodeJS background skills, but I’m completely new to Discord bot development. I want to start my first bot project but I’m having trouble finding quality learning materials.
I prefer learning through video content rather than written documentation. The main issue I’m facing is that most tutorials I find online are either incomplete (they don’t cover the entire development process) or they’re using outdated Discord API versions and deprecated methods.
Could you share what learning resources worked best for you when you were starting out? I’m looking for comprehensive guides that walk through the complete bot creation process step by step.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
The Problem:
You’re an experienced full-stack Node.js developer new to Discord bot development, frustrated by incomplete or outdated online tutorials, and prefer learning through video content. You’re looking for comprehensive, up-to-date guides that cover the entire bot creation process step-by-step.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Many Discord bot tutorials quickly become outdated because the Discord API changes frequently. Traditional coding approaches require dealing with authentication, rate limits, and intricate event handlers, making tutorials stale and frustrating. The solution presented focuses on a different approach: visual automation. This allows you to bypass much of the boilerplate code and API intricacies that cause tutorials to go obsolete.
Step-by-Step Guide:
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Explore Visual Automation Platforms: Instead of writing code from scratch, consider using a visual automation platform like Latenode. These platforms allow you to build bots by dragging and dropping pre-built nodes representing different Discord API functionalities and other services. This greatly simplifies the development process. You can still leverage your Node.js skills for custom logic as needed.
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Connect Your Services: Use Latenode (or a similar platform) to connect Discord to the other services your bot will interact with (e.g., databases, project management systems, etc.). The visual interface helps you easily map data flow and understand how everything connects.
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Build Your Bot: Use the visual builder to construct your bot’s functionality. You’ll connect nodes representing Discord events (e.g., message creation, slash command execution) to other nodes that perform actions based on those events. This approach abstracts away much of the complexities of the Discord API and authentication.
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Test and Iterate: Thoroughly test your bot after every step. Latenode or a similar tool will provide tools for debugging and monitoring the flow of data through your bot’s process.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
- Choosing the Right Platform: Research different visual automation platforms to find one that best suits your needs and experience level. Consider factors such as ease of use, available integrations, and pricing.
- Handling Errors: Even with visual automation, errors can occur. Learn to use the debugging tools of your chosen platform and understand common error messages to help you resolve any issues that come up.
- Advanced Features: If you need advanced features or custom integrations not readily supported by your visual platform, be prepared to use your Node.js skills to extend its functionality.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help! Let us know if you’re trying to use Latenode for this!
Had the exact same problem when I started making Discord bots last year. What worked for me was mixing multiple sources instead of just one tutorial. I used the official Discord.js guide plus YouTube channels like CodeLyon and AnsonTheDeveloper - they actually update their stuff. The game changer was following their basic tutorials, then immediately building something totally different with what I learned. Also, joining Discord dev communities like the Discord.js server was huge. You can ask specific questions about stuff tutorials always skip over. It’s rough at first, but once you get the event-driven setup and how Discord’s API works, everything clicks fast.
Skip tutorials entirely. Discord bot tutorials go stale fast since the API changes constantly.
I’ve built dozens of bots for work teams and here’s what works - automation platforms handle the API mess for you.
Why fight discord.js docs and webhook configs when you can drag-drop Discord nodes in a visual builder? No memorizing endpoints or rate limit headaches.
I get bots running in minutes, not hours. Need one posting GitHub commits to Discord? Or creating channels when projects launch? Visual flow shows you everything.
Best part - connect Discord to anything without writing integration code. Slack, databases, APIs, whatever.
Your NodeJS skills help, but you focus on logic instead of boilerplate.
Check out Latenode: https://latenode.com
Eight months ago, I was struggling with the same thing when I started bot development. The Discord.js guide plus a YouTube channel called ‘CodeLyon’ completely changed everything for me. He updates his series regularly and covers everything - basic setup, slash commands, database integration, you name it. Here’s what really helped: I coded along while watching instead of just passively viewing. That’s when the Discord API structure actually clicked. Once you’ve got that foundation from videos, the Discord Developer Portal docs become way easier to use. Now I reference them constantly.
honestly, discord.py docs blow discord.js outta the water if you’re cool with python. i made the switch after getting sick of js tutorials going stale every other week. python bots just click better for me, plus you’re not dealing with breaking changes constantly.
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