coderClaw

Discord (Bot API)

Status: ready for DMs and guild channels via the official Discord gateway.

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Discord DMs default to pairing mode. Native command behavior and command catalog. Cross-channel diagnostics and repair flow.

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Quick setup

You will need to create a new application with a bot, add the bot to your server, and pair it to CoderClaw. We recommend adding your bot to your own private server. If you don’t have one yet, create one first (choose Create My Own > For me and my friends).

Go to the [Discord Developer Portal](https://discord.com/developers/applications) and click **New Application**. Name it something like "CoderClaw". Click **Bot** on the sidebar. Set the **Username** to whatever you call your CoderClaw agent. Still on the **Bot** page, scroll down to **Privileged Gateway Intents** and enable: - **Message Content Intent** (required) - **Server Members Intent** (recommended; required for role allowlists and name-to-ID matching) - **Presence Intent** (optional; only needed for presence updates) Scroll back up on the **Bot** page and click **Reset Token**. Despite the name, this generates your first token β€” nothing is being "reset." Copy the token and save it somewhere. This is your **Bot Token** and you will need it shortly. Click **OAuth2** on the sidebar. You'll generate an invite URL with the right permissions to add the bot to your server. Scroll down to **OAuth2 URL Generator** and enable: - `bot` - `applications.commands` A **Bot Permissions** section will appear below. Enable: - View Channels - Send Messages - Read Message History - Embed Links - Attach Files - Add Reactions (optional) Copy the generated URL at the bottom, paste it into your browser, select your server, and click **Continue** to connect. You should now see your bot in the Discord server. Back in the Discord app, you need to enable Developer Mode so you can copy internal IDs. 1. Click **User Settings** (gear icon next to your avatar) β†’ **Advanced** β†’ toggle on **Developer Mode** 2. Right-click your **server icon** in the sidebar β†’ **Copy Server ID** 3. Right-click your **own avatar** β†’ **Copy User ID** Save your **Server ID** and **User ID** alongside your Bot Token β€” you'll send all three to CoderClaw in the next step. For pairing to work, Discord needs to allow your bot to DM you. Right-click your **server icon** β†’ **Privacy Settings** β†’ toggle on **Direct Messages**. This lets server members (including bots) send you DMs. Keep this enabled if you want to use Discord DMs with CoderClaw. If you only plan to use guild channels, you can disable DMs after pairing. Your Discord bot token is a secret (like a password). Set it on the machine running CoderClaw before messaging your agent. ```bash coderclaw config set channels.discord.token '"YOUR_BOT_TOKEN"' --json coderclaw config set channels.discord.enabled true --json coderclaw gateway ``` If CoderClaw is already running as a background service, use `coderclaw gateway restart` instead. Chat with your CoderClaw agent on any existing channel (e.g. Telegram) and tell it. If Discord is your first channel, use the CLI / config tab instead. > "I already set my Discord bot token in config. Please finish Discord setup with User ID `` and Server ID ``." </Tab> If you prefer file-based config, set: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { enabled: true, token: "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN", }, }, } ``` Env fallback for the default account: ```bash DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN=... ``` </Tabs> </Step> Wait until the gateway is running, then DM your bot in Discord. It will respond with a pairing code. Send the pairing code to your agent on your existing channel: > "Approve this Discord pairing code: ``" </Tab> ```bash coderclaw pairing list discord coderclaw pairing approve discord ``` </Tab> </Tabs> Pairing codes expire after 1 hour. You should now be able to chat with your agent in Discord via DM. </Step> </Steps> Token resolution is account-aware. Config token values win over env fallback. `DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN` is only used for the default account. ## Recommended: Set up a guild workspace Once DMs are working, you can set up your Discord server as a full workspace where each channel gets its own agent session with its own context. This is recommended for private servers where it's just you and your bot. This enables your agent to respond in any channel on your server, not just DMs. > "Add my Discord Server ID `` to the guild allowlist" </Tab> ```json5 { channels: { discord: { groupPolicy: "allowlist", guilds: { YOUR_SERVER_ID: { requireMention: true, users: ["YOUR_USER_ID"], }, }, }, }, } ``` </Tabs> </Step> By default, your agent only responds in guild channels when @mentioned. For a private server, you probably want it to respond to every message. > "Allow my agent to respond on this server without having to be @mentioned" Set `requireMention: false` in your guild config: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { guilds: { YOUR_SERVER_ID: { requireMention: false, }, }, }, }, } ``` By default, long-term memory (MEMORY.md) only loads in DM sessions. Guild channels do not auto-load MEMORY.md. > "When I ask questions in Discord channels, use memory_search or memory_get if you need long-term context from MEMORY.md." If you need shared context in every channel, put the stable instructions in `AGENTS.md` or `USER.md` (they are injected for every session). Keep long-term notes in `MEMORY.md` and access them on demand with memory tools. </Steps> Now create some channels on your Discord server and start chatting. Your agent can see the channel name, and each channel gets its own isolated session β€” so you can set up `#coding`, `#home`, `#research`, or whatever fits your workflow. ## Runtime model - Gateway owns the Discord connection. - Reply routing is deterministic: Discord inbound replies back to Discord. - By default (`session.dmScope=main`), direct chats share the agent main session (`agent:main:main`). - Guild channels are isolated session keys (`agent::discord:channel:`). - Group DMs are ignored by default (`channels.discord.dm.groupEnabled=false`). - Native slash commands run in isolated command sessions (`agent::discord:slash:`), while still carrying `CommandTargetSessionKey` to the routed conversation session. ## Interactive components CoderClaw supports Discord components v2 containers for agent messages. Use the message tool with a `components` payload. Interaction results are routed back to the agent as normal inbound messages and follow the existing Discord `replyToMode` settings. Supported blocks: - `text`, `section`, `separator`, `actions`, `media-gallery`, `file` - Action rows allow up to 5 buttons or a single select menu - Select types: `string`, `user`, `role`, `mentionable`, `channel` By default, components are single use. Set `components.reusable=true` to allow buttons, selects, and forms to be used multiple times until they expire. To restrict who can click a button, set `allowedUsers` on that button (Discord user IDs, tags, or `*`). When configured, unmatched users receive an ephemeral denial. File attachments: - `file` blocks must point to an attachment reference (`attachment://`) - Provide the attachment via `media`/`path`/`filePath` (single file); use `media-gallery` for multiple files - Use `filename` to override the upload name when it should match the attachment reference Modal forms: - Add `components.modal` with up to 5 fields - Field types: `text`, `checkbox`, `radio`, `select`, `role-select`, `user-select` - CoderClaw adds a trigger button automatically Example: ```json5 { channel: "discord", action: "send", to: "channel:123456789012345678", message: "Optional fallback text", components: { reusable: true, text: "Choose a path", blocks: [ { type: "actions", buttons: [ { label: "Approve", style: "success", allowedUsers: ["123456789012345678"], }, { label: "Decline", style: "danger" }, ], }, { type: "actions", select: { type: "string", placeholder: "Pick an option", options: [ { label: "Option A", value: "a" }, { label: "Option B", value: "b" }, ], }, }, ], modal: { title: "Details", triggerLabel: "Open form", fields: [ { type: "text", label: "Requester" }, { type: "select", label: "Priority", options: [ { label: "Low", value: "low" }, { label: "High", value: "high" }, ], }, ], }, }, } ``` ## Access control and routing `channels.discord.dmPolicy` controls DM access (legacy: `channels.discord.dm.policy`): - `pairing` (default) - `allowlist` - `open` (requires `channels.discord.allowFrom` to include `"*"`; legacy: `channels.discord.dm.allowFrom`) - `disabled` If DM policy is not open, unknown users are blocked (or prompted for pairing in `pairing` mode). DM target format for delivery: - `user:` - `<@id>` mention Bare numeric IDs are ambiguous and rejected unless an explicit user/channel target kind is provided. </Tab> Guild handling is controlled by `channels.discord.groupPolicy`: - `open` - `allowlist` - `disabled` Secure baseline when `channels.discord` exists is `allowlist`. `allowlist` behavior: - guild must match `channels.discord.guilds` (`id` preferred, slug accepted) - optional sender allowlists: `users` (IDs or names) and `roles` (role IDs only); if either is configured, senders are allowed when they match `users` OR `roles` - if a guild has `channels` configured, non-listed channels are denied - if a guild has no `channels` block, all channels in that allowlisted guild are allowed Example: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { groupPolicy: "allowlist", guilds: { "123456789012345678": { requireMention: true, users: ["987654321098765432"], roles: ["123456789012345678"], channels: { general: { allow: true }, help: { allow: true, requireMention: true }, }, }, }, }, }, } ``` If you only set `DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN` and do not create a `channels.discord` block, runtime fallback is `groupPolicy="open"` (with a warning in logs). Guild messages are mention-gated by default. Mention detection includes: - explicit bot mention - configured mention patterns (`agents.list[].groupChat.mentionPatterns`, fallback `messages.groupChat.mentionPatterns`) - implicit reply-to-bot behavior in supported cases `requireMention` is configured per guild/channel (`channels.discord.guilds...`). Group DMs: - default: ignored (`dm.groupEnabled=false`) - optional allowlist via `dm.groupChannels` (channel IDs or slugs) </Tabs> ### Role-based agent routing Use `bindings[].match.roles` to route Discord guild members to different agents by role ID. Role-based bindings accept role IDs only and are evaluated after peer or parent-peer bindings and before guild-only bindings. If a binding also sets other match fields (for example `peer` + `guildId` + `roles`), all configured fields must match. ```json5 { bindings: [ { agentId: "opus", match: { channel: "discord", guildId: "123456789012345678", roles: ["111111111111111111"], }, }, { agentId: "sonnet", match: { channel: "discord", guildId: "123456789012345678", }, }, ], } ``` ## Developer Portal setup 1. Discord Developer Portal -> **Applications** -> **New Application** 2. **Bot** -> **Add Bot** 3. Copy bot token In **Bot -> Privileged Gateway Intents**, enable: - Message Content Intent - Server Members Intent (recommended) Presence intent is optional and only required if you want to receive presence updates. Setting bot presence (`setPresence`) does not require enabling presence updates for members. OAuth URL generator: - scopes: `bot`, `applications.commands` Typical baseline permissions: - View Channels - Send Messages - Read Message History - Embed Links - Attach Files - Add Reactions (optional) Avoid `Administrator` unless explicitly needed. Enable Discord Developer Mode, then copy: - server ID - channel ID - user ID Prefer numeric IDs in CoderClaw config for reliable audits and probes. ## Native commands and command auth - `commands.native` defaults to `"auto"` and is enabled for Discord. - Per-channel override: `channels.discord.commands.native`. - `commands.native=false` explicitly clears previously registered Discord native commands. - Native command auth uses the same Discord allowlists/policies as normal message handling. - Commands may still be visible in Discord UI for users who are not authorized; execution still enforces CoderClaw auth and returns "not authorized". See [Slash commands](/tools/slash-commands) for command catalog and behavior. ## Feature details Discord supports reply tags in agent output: - `[[reply_to_current]]` - `[[reply_to:]]` Controlled by `channels.discord.replyToMode`: - `off` (default) - `first` - `all` Note: `off` disables implicit reply threading. Explicit `[[reply_to_*]]` tags are still honored. Message IDs are surfaced in context/history so agents can target specific messages. </Accordion> Guild history context: - `channels.discord.historyLimit` default `20` - fallback: `messages.groupChat.historyLimit` - `0` disables DM history controls: - `channels.discord.dmHistoryLimit` - `channels.discord.dms[""].historyLimit` Thread behavior: - Discord threads are routed as channel sessions - parent thread metadata can be used for parent-session linkage - thread config inherits parent channel config unless a thread-specific entry exists Channel topics are injected as **untrusted** context (not as system prompt). </Accordion> Per-guild reaction notification mode: - `off` - `own` (default) - `all` - `allowlist` (uses `guilds..users`) Reaction events are turned into system events and attached to the routed Discord session. </Accordion> `ackReaction` sends an acknowledgement emoji while CoderClaw is processing an inbound message. Resolution order: - `channels.discord.accounts..ackReaction` - `channels.discord.ackReaction` - `messages.ackReaction` - agent identity emoji fallback (`agents.list[].identity.emoji`, else "πŸ‘€") Notes: - Discord accepts unicode emoji or custom emoji names. - Use `""` to disable the reaction for a channel or account. </Accordion> Channel-initiated config writes are enabled by default. This affects `/config set|unset` flows (when command features are enabled). Disable: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { configWrites: false, }, }, } ``` Route Discord gateway WebSocket traffic and startup REST lookups (application ID + allowlist resolution) through an HTTP(S) proxy with `channels.discord.proxy`. ```json5 { channels: { discord: { proxy: "http://proxy.example:8080", }, }, } ``` Per-account override: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { accounts: { primary: { proxy: "http://proxy.example:8080", }, }, }, }, } ``` Enable PluralKit resolution to map proxied messages to system member identity: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { pluralkit: { enabled: true, token: "pk_live_...", // optional; needed for private systems }, }, }, } ``` Notes: - allowlists can use `pk:` - member display names are matched by name/slug - lookups use original message ID and are time-window constrained - if lookup fails, proxied messages are treated as bot messages and dropped unless `allowBots=true` </Accordion> Presence updates are applied only when you set a status or activity field. Status only example: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { status: "idle", }, }, } ``` Activity example (custom status is the default activity type): ```json5 { channels: { discord: { activity: "Focus time", activityType: 4, }, }, } ``` Streaming example: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { activity: "Live coding", activityType: 1, activityUrl: "https://twitch.tv/coderclaw", }, }, } ``` Activity type map: - 0: Playing - 1: Streaming (requires `activityUrl`) - 2: Listening - 3: Watching - 4: Custom (uses the activity text as the status state; emoji is optional) - 5: Competing Discord supports button-based exec approvals in DMs and can optionally post approval prompts in the originating channel. Config path: - `channels.discord.execApprovals.enabled` - `channels.discord.execApprovals.approvers` - `channels.discord.execApprovals.target` (`dm` | `channel` | `both`, default: `dm`) - `agentFilter`, `sessionFilter`, `cleanupAfterResolve` When `target` is `channel` or `both`, the approval prompt is visible in the channel. Only configured approvers can use the buttons; other users receive an ephemeral denial. Approval prompts include the command text, so only enable channel delivery in trusted channels. If the channel ID cannot be derived from the session key, CoderClaw falls back to DM delivery. If approvals fail with unknown approval IDs, verify approver list and feature enablement. Related docs: [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals) </AccordionGroup> ## Tools and action gates Discord message actions include messaging, channel admin, moderation, presence, and metadata actions. Core examples: - messaging: `sendMessage`, `readMessages`, `editMessage`, `deleteMessage`, `threadReply` - reactions: `react`, `reactions`, `emojiList` - moderation: `timeout`, `kick`, `ban` - presence: `setPresence` Action gates live under `channels.discord.actions.*`. Default gate behavior: | Action group | Default | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- | | reactions, messages, threads, pins, polls, search, memberInfo, roleInfo, channelInfo, channels, voiceStatus, events, stickers, emojiUploads, stickerUploads, permissions | enabled | | roles | disabled | | moderation | disabled | | presence | disabled | ## Components v2 UI CoderClaw uses Discord components v2 for exec approvals and cross-context markers. Discord message actions can also accept `components` for custom UI (advanced; requires Carbon component instances), while legacy `embeds` remain available but are not recommended. - `channels.discord.ui.components.accentColor` sets the accent color used by Discord component containers (hex). - Set per account with `channels.discord.accounts..ui.components.accentColor`. - `embeds` are ignored when components v2 are present. Example: ```json5 { channels: { discord: { ui: { components: { accentColor: "#5865F2", }, }, }, }, } ``` ## Voice messages Discord voice messages show a waveform preview and require OGG/Opus audio plus metadata. CoderClaw generates the waveform automatically, but it needs `ffmpeg` and `ffprobe` available on the gateway host to inspect and convert audio files. Requirements and constraints: - Provide a **local file path** (URLs are rejected). - Omit text content (Discord does not allow text + voice message in the same payload). - Any audio format is accepted; CoderClaw converts to OGG/Opus when needed. Example: ```bash message(action="send", channel="discord", target="channel:123", path="/path/to/audio.mp3", asVoice=true) ``` ## Troubleshooting - enable Message Content Intent - enable Server Members Intent when you depend on user/member resolution - restart gateway after changing intents - verify `groupPolicy` - verify guild allowlist under `channels.discord.guilds` - if guild `channels` map exists, only listed channels are allowed - verify `requireMention` behavior and mention patterns Useful checks: ```bash coderclaw doctor coderclaw channels status --probe coderclaw logs --follow ``` Common causes: - `groupPolicy="allowlist"` without matching guild/channel allowlist - `requireMention` configured in the wrong place (must be under `channels.discord.guilds` or channel entry) - sender blocked by guild/channel `users` allowlist `channels status --probe` permission checks only work for numeric channel IDs. If you use slug keys, runtime matching can still work, but probe cannot fully verify permissions. - DM disabled: `channels.discord.dm.enabled=false` - DM policy disabled: `channels.discord.dmPolicy="disabled"` (legacy: `channels.discord.dm.policy`) - awaiting pairing approval in `pairing` mode By default bot-authored messages are ignored. If you set `channels.discord.allowBots=true`, use strict mention and allowlist rules to avoid loop behavior. ## Configuration reference pointers Primary reference: - [Configuration reference - Discord](/gateway/configuration-reference#discord) High-signal Discord fields: - startup/auth: `enabled`, `token`, `accounts.*`, `allowBots` - policy: `groupPolicy`, `dm.*`, `guilds.*`, `guilds.*.channels.*` - command: `commands.native`, `commands.useAccessGroups`, `configWrites` - reply/history: `replyToMode`, `historyLimit`, `dmHistoryLimit`, `dms.*.historyLimit` - delivery: `textChunkLimit`, `chunkMode`, `maxLinesPerMessage` - media/retry: `mediaMaxMb`, `retry` - actions: `actions.*` - presence: `activity`, `status`, `activityType`, `activityUrl` - UI: `ui.components.accentColor` - features: `pluralkit`, `execApprovals`, `intents`, `agentComponents`, `heartbeat`, `responsePrefix` ## Safety and operations - Treat bot tokens as secrets (`DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN` preferred in supervised environments). - Grant least-privilege Discord permissions. - If command deploy/state is stale, restart gateway and re-check with `coderclaw channels status --probe`. ## Related - [Pairing](/channels/pairing) - [Channel routing](/channels/channel-routing) - [Multi-agent routing](/concepts/multi-agent) - [Troubleshooting](/channels/troubleshooting) - [Slash commands](/tools/slash-commands)