Getting Started

Before you start setting up the technical aspects, make sure you have the following:

• An OpenAI API key from OpenAI.
• A Telegram bot token acquired by creating a bot via BotFather on Telegram.
• Node.js installed on your computer.

Step 1: Initiating Your Project

Start by initializing a Node.js project and installing the necessary dependencies:

mkdir telegram-chatgpt-bot

cd telegram-chatgpt-bot

npm init -y

npm install dotenv openai node-telegram-bot-api

Step 2: Setting Up Your Environment

It's crucial to secure sensitive information, such as your OpenAI API key and Telegram bot token, in any development project. Hardcoding these directly into your code is dangerous and could lead to unauthorized access if they become exposed. Using environment variables is a safer and more flexible approach.

Using dotenv for Secure Key Management

The dotenv library enables you to load environment variables from a .env file into process.env, ensuring they are accessible in your Node.js application while remaining hidden from your source code.

Creating the .env File

• Location: In your project’s root directory, create a file named .env to securely store your API keys.
• Adding Tokens: Open this file in a text editor and include your OpenAI API key and Telegram bot token like this:

OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your_telegram_bot_token_here

Make sure to replace your_openai_api_key_here and your_telegram_bot_token_here with your actual credentials.

Using dotenv in Your Application

At the top of your main application file (e.g., bot.js), add the following code to load the environment variables:

import dotenv from 'dotenv';

dotenv.config();

This will make process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY and process.env.TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN available throughout your application.

Best Practices

• Exclude .env from Version Control: To protect your sensitive data, ensure the .env file is included in your .gitignore file, preventing it from being committed to version control.
• Environment-Specific Files: If your project needs different configurations for development, testing, and production, you can create distinct .env files (e.g., .env.production) for each environment.

Following these practices will help you manage sensitive information securely, creating a safer and more organized project environment.

Step 3: Implementing the Bot Code

Here's how to set up your bot:

import OpenAI from "openai";

import dotenv from "dotenv";

import TelegramBot from "node-telegram-bot-api";

dotenv.config();

const openai = new OpenAI({

apiKey: process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY,

});

const bot = new TelegramBot(process.env.TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN, { polling: true });

const conversations = new Map();

bot.on("message", async (msg) => {

const chatId = msg.chat.id;

const userInput = msg.text;

// Initialize or update the conversation context

const messages = conversations.get(chatId) || [];

messages.push({ role: "user", content: userInput });

try {

const response = await openai.chat.completions.create({

model: "gpt-4",

messages: messages,

temperature: 1,

max_tokens: 256,

top_p: 1,

frequency_penalty: 0,

presence_penalty: 0,

});

messages.push(response.choices[0]?.message);

conversations.set(chatId, messages); // Save the updated conversation context

bot.sendMessage(chatId, response.choices[0]?.message.content);

} catch (error) {

console.error("Failed to fetch response from OpenAI:", error);

bot.sendMessage(chatId, "Oops! I encountered an error trying to respond.");

}

});

To run your bot, execute node bot.js, and your Telegram bot will be activated, ready to engage in conversations with users.

Exploring Integration Alternatives: yourgpt.io

While direct integration offers customization and control, 'yourgpt.io' provides a simpler, albeit paid, alternative. However, the hands-on method outlined above not only saves money but also enhances your understanding and capacity to tailor the bot to your precise requirements.

This guide aims to inspire your creativity in utilizing AI and messaging platforms. Feel free to ask questions or share ideas. Continue the conversation by connecting with me on LinkedIn, and I welcome suggestions for future articles.