Make a Discord bot in Python
Build your first Discord bot in Python: create the application, get a token, invite it, write a bot with slash commands in discord.py, keep the token safe, and run it.
10 minute read
Guides
Guides
Making a Discord bot in Python or JavaScript, keeping it online, and fixing it when it breaks. Useful whether or not you host with us.
Your first bot
Make a Discord bot in JavaScript
Build your first Discord bot in JavaScript with discord.js 14: create the application, invite it, register slash commands, keep the token in a .env file, and run it with Node.js.
10 minute read
Keeping it online
How to keep a Discord bot online 24/7
Your bot goes offline when your PC sleeps. Here is every realistic way to keep it running around the clock, what each costs, and the catches.
7 minute read
How to choose Discord bot hosting
What actually matters when picking a Discord bot host: sleeping, reserved memory, current Python and Node versions, Git deploys, crash handling, where backups live, renewal prices and who answers support.
9 minute read
Free Discord bot hosting: what actually works
Looking for free Discord bot hosting? What free options exist, why most free tiers put bots to sleep, and when it is worth paying a few dollars instead.
6 minute read
How to host a discord.py bot
Prepare a discord.py bot for hosting: read the token from the environment, pin dependencies, and deploy it so it stays online. Step by step.
6 minute read
How to host a discord.js bot
Get a discord.js bot ready for a server: token in the environment, a clean package.json, intents, slash command registration and ES modules, then run it so it stays online.
7 minute read
How to host a JDA (Java) Discord bot
Get a Java Discord bot built with JDA ready for a server: a fat jar with Gradle or Maven, the token from the environment, sensible intents and caches, heap size, and a clean shutdown, then keep it running.
7 minute read
Deploy a Discord bot from GitHub
Stop uploading files by hand: run your Discord bot straight from a GitHub repository, keep the token out of it, use private repositories safely, and redeploy when you push.
6 minute read
Moving a Discord bot off Replit or Heroku
How to move a Discord bot that runs on Replit or Heroku to somewhere it stays online: exporting the code, replacing Replit DB and Secrets, dropping keep-alive pings.
8 minute read
Running a Discord bot as a systemd service
Keep a Python Discord bot running on your own Linux server or Raspberry Pi: a systemd unit that starts at boot, restarts on crash, and keeps the token out of your code.
7 minute read
Building and fixing
Slash commands in discord.py
How to add slash commands to a discord.py 2 bot, sync them properly, respond within Discord's three seconds, and fix commands that do not show up.
8 minute read
Slash commands in discord.js
How to build slash commands in discord.js 14: define them, register them globally or to one server, reply within three seconds, add options, and fix commands that never appear.
9 minute read
Organising a discord.py bot with cogs
How to split a growing discord.py 2 bot into cogs and extensions: the file layout, loading them in setup_hook, slash and prefix commands in a cog, listeners, reloading without a restart, and the errors people hit.
8 minute read
Scheduled tasks in a Discord bot
How to run code on a schedule inside a Discord bot: discord.py's tasks.loop with fixed times, setInterval and node-cron in discord.js, surviving restarts, time zones, and not tripping rate limits.
7 minute read
Discord bot is online but not responding
Your bot shows as online but ignores every command. The eight usual causes, from the message content intent to an on_message that swallows commands, and how to check each.
7 minute read
Discord API rate limits, explained
What Discord's rate limits are, what a 429 means, the global and invalid-request limits that get bots temporarily banned, and how to stop hitting them.
7 minute read
How much RAM does a Discord bot need?
Realistic memory use for Python Discord bots, what makes it grow (member cache, message cache, music, images), how to measure yours, and how to cut it down.
6 minute read
Security
Keeping your Discord bot token safe
A leaked bot token gives someone full control of your bot. How tokens leak, how to store one safely, and exactly what to do if yours gets out.
5 minute read