# Bots

## 🤖 What is a "Bot" on Discloud?

On **Discloud**, a **Bot** is any application that runs continuously but does **not** require an external port for access. This typically includes:

* 🤖 **Discord Bots** (discord.js, discord.py, JDA, etc.)
* 💬 **Telegram Bots**
* ⚙️ **Automation Scripts**

***

## ✅ Requirements

To host a bot, you must meet these criteria:

{% hint style="success" %}
**Any Plan** – Bots can be hosted on any plan, including the Free plan (with limitations).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
[**`discloud.config`**](/en/configurations/discloud.config.md) – Required for most deployment methods. If using the Discord Bot's [**Quick Setup**](/en/how-to-host-using/discord-bot.md#quick-setup-step-by-step-guide), the bot will guide you through the configuration.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**RAM** – Ensure you allocate enough RAM for your bot's needs (min. 100MB).
{% endhint %}

***

## 🚀 Step-by-Step Hosting Guide

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### 📝 Configure `discloud.config`

{% hint style="info" %}
If you are using the Discord Bot's **Quick Setup**, you don't need to create this file manually, the Discord bot will ask for the information during the process.
{% endhint %}

```ini
NAME=MyCoolBot
TYPE=bot
MAIN=index.js
RAM=100
VERSION=latest
```

* **`TYPE=bot`**: Identifies the app as a bot/background service.
* **`MAIN`**: The entry point of your application. [Learn more about the main file.](/en/faq/general-questions/what-is-the-main-file.md)
* **`RAM`**: Allocated memory (min. 100MB).
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### 🏗️ Handling Build Processes

If your bot requires a build step (like TypeScript or Java), you have two options:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Discloud Build (Recommended)" %}
Let Discloud handle the build process during deployment. Add the `BUILD` command to your `discloud.config`.

```ini
BUILD=npm run build
START=npm run start
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Local Build" %}
Build your project locally and upload the resulting files.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Do not use a folder named `dist`** for your local build output. Discloud reserves the `dist` directory for its internal build process. Use a different name like `build`, `out`, or `output`.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
For Java applications, you **must** build locally and upload the `.jar` file. [See the Java build guide](/en/faq/general-questions/how-to-build-and-package-a-java-application.md).
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### 🚀 Upload and Deploy

You can upload your project using any of our supported methods:

* 🖥️ [**Dashboard**](/en/how-to-host-using/dashboard.md)
* ⌨️ [**CLI**](/en/how-to-host-using/cli.md)
* 🟦 [**VS Code Extension**](/en/how-to-host-using/visual-studio-code.md)
* 🤖 [**Discord Bot**](/en/how-to-host-using/discord-bot.md)
* 🐙 [**GitHub Integration**](/en/api-and-integrations/github-integration.md)

{% hint style="info" %}
Before uploading, make sure to [compress your project correctly](/en/faq/general-questions/wip-how-to-compress.md) and exclude unnecessary files using a [`.discloudignore`](/en/configurations/.discloudignore.md) file.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.discloud.com/en/how-to-host/bots.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.