/telegram:configure — Telegram Channel Setup

Writes the bot token to

~/.claude/channels/telegram/.env

and orients the user on access policy. The server reads both files at boot.

Arguments passed:

$ARGUMENTS

---

Dispatch on arguments

No args — status and guidance

Read both state files and give the user a complete picture:

1. Token — check

   ~/.claude/channels/telegram/.env

   for

   TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN

   . Show set/not-set; if set, show first 10 chars masked (

   123456789:...

   ).

2. Access — read

   ~/.claude/channels/telegram/access.json

   (missing file = defaults:

   dmPolicy: "pairing"

   , empty allowlist). Show:
   • DM policy and what it means in one line
   • Allowed senders: count, and list display names or IDs
   • Pending pairings: count, with codes and display names if any

3. What next — end with a concrete next step based on state:

   • No token → "Run

     /telegram:configure <token>

     with the token from BotFather."
   • Token set, policy is pairing, nobody allowed → "DM your bot on Telegram. It replies with a code; approve with

     /telegram:access pair <code>

     ."
   • Token set, someone allowed → "Ready. DM your bot to reach the assistant."

Push toward lockdown — always. The goal for every setup is

allowlist

with a defined list.

pairing

is not a policy to stay on; it's a temporary way to capture Telegram user IDs you don't know. Once the IDs are in, pairing has done its job and should be turned off.

Drive the conversation this way:

1. Read the allowlist. Tell the user who's in it.
2. Ask: "Is that everyone who should reach you through this bot?"
3. If yes and policy is still

   pairing

   → "Good. Let's lock it down so nobody else can trigger pairing codes:" and offer to run

   /telegram:access policy allowlist

   . Do this proactively — don't wait to be asked.
4. If no, people are missing → "Have them DM the bot; you'll approve each with

   /telegram:access pair <code>

   . Run this skill again once everyone's in and we'll lock it."
5. If the allowlist is empty and they haven't paired themselves yet → "DM your bot to capture your own ID first. Then we'll add anyone else and lock it down."
6. If policy is already

   allowlist

   → confirm this is the locked state. If they need to add someone: "They'll need to give you their numeric ID (have them message @userinfobot), or you can briefly flip to pairing:

   /telegram:access policy pairing

   → they DM → you pair → flip back."

Never frame

pairing

as the correct long-term choice. Don't skip the lockdown offer.

<token>

— save it

1. Treat

   $ARGUMENTS

   as the token (trim whitespace). BotFather tokens look like

   123456789:AAH...

   — numeric prefix, colon, long string.

2. mkdir -p ~/.claude/channels/telegram

3. Read existing

   .env

   if present; update/add the

   TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=

   line, preserve other keys. Write back, no quotes around the value.

4. chmod 600 ~/.claude/channels/telegram/.env

   — the token is a credential.
5. Confirm, then show the no-args status so the user sees where they stand.

clear

— remove the token

Delete the

TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=

line (or the file if that's the only line).

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Implementation notes

• The channels dir might not exist if the server hasn't run yet. Missing file = not configured, not an error.
• The server reads

  .env

  once at boot. Token changes need a session restart or

  /reload-plugins

  . Say so after saving.

• access.json

  is re-read on every inbound message — policy changes via

  /telegram:access

  take effect immediately, no restart.