Creating mini-apps for Telegram is a fun process. This guide explains how to start, write a basic bot, and make it share a mini-app link.

1. Initialize a Ruby Project

  1. Install Ruby on your computer. Check the installation by running: 
    ruby -v
  2. Create a new folder for the project: 
    mkdir telegram_miniapp && cd telegram_miniapp
  3. Initialize the project: 
    bundle init

    This will create a Gemfile.

2. Install Required Libraries

Add the telegram-bot-ruby gem to your Gemfile:

gem 'telegram-bot-ruby'

Install the dependencies:

bundle install

3. Get a Telegram Bot Token

  1. Open Telegram and find the bot @BotFather.
  2. Send the command /newbot and follow the instructions.
  3. After setup, you will get a token like this: 
    123456:ABC-DEF1234ghIkl-zyx57W2v1u123ew11

Save this token. You will need it to run the bot.

4. Write the Bot Code

Create a file named bot.rb and paste this code:

require 'telegram/bot'

TOKEN = '<your-telegram-token>'

Telegram::Bot::Client.run(TOKEN) do |bot|
  bot.listen do |message|
    case message.text
    when '/start'
      bot.api.send_message(chat_id: message.chat.id, text: "Hello, #{message.from.first_name}! Click on the button to open the mini-application.")

      kb = [
        Telegram::Bot::Types::InlineKeyboardButton.new(
          text: 'Open App',
          web_app: { url: '<your-app-url>' }
        )
      ]
      markup = Telegram::Bot::Types::InlineKeyboardMarkup.new(inline_keyboard: [kb])

      bot.api.send_message(chat_id: message.chat.id, text: 'Try our App:', reply_markup: markup)
    else
      bot.api.send_message(chat_id: message.chat.id, text: "Undefined command. Try /start.")
    end
  end
end

Replace:

  • <your-telegram-token> with your bot token.
  • <your-app-url> with the URL of your mini-app.

The URL can be any responsive website. It could be a simple front-end page, a Ruby on Rails application, or any other backend you choose. Ensure that the site is mobile-friendly for the best user experience.

5. Code Explanation

Import the Library

require 'telegram/bot'

This imports the telegram-bot-ruby library to work with Telegram Bot API.

Define the Token

TOKEN = '<your-telegram-token>'

This is your bot’s token for authentication.

Start the Bot

Telegram::Bot::Client.run(TOKEN) do |bot|

This starts the bot using the token. The bot object lets you interact with Telegram.

Listen for Messages

bot.listen do |message|

This waits for user messages and passes them to the message variable.

Respond to /start Command

case message.text
when '/start'

If the user sends /start, the bot replies with a greeting message.

Send a Button

kb = [
  Telegram::Bot::Types::InlineKeyboardButton.new(
    text: 'Open App',
    web_app: { url: '<your-app-url>' }
  )
]
markup = Telegram::Bot::Types::InlineKeyboardMarkup.new(inline_keyboard: [kb])

bot.api.send_message(chat_id: message.chat.id, text: 'Try our App:', reply_markup: markup)

This creates a button labeled “Open App.” Clicking it opens the mini-app URL. The URL should point to a responsive website or web application.

Handle Unknown Commands

else
  bot.api.send_message(chat_id: message.chat.id, text: "Undefined command. Try /start.")

If the user sends an unknown command, the bot tells them to try /start.

6. Run the Bot

Run the bot with:

ruby bot.rb

The bot will now listen for messages and respond.

7. Test the Bot

  1. Open Telegram.
  2. Find your bot by its username.
  3. Send the /start command.
  4. Check if the bot replies correctly and the button opens your mini-app.

Now you have a working Telegram bot that links to a mini-app!