/telegram:configure — Telegram Channel Setup

Writes the bot token to <state-dir>/.env and orients the user on access policy. The server reads both files at boot.

Resolve the state directory first (it may be overridden for multi-bot or per-project setups):

bash
echo "${TELEGRAM_STATE_DIR:-${CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR:-$HOME/.claude}/channels/telegram}"

Use the printed path everywhere below in place of <state-dir>. The default is ~/.claude/channels/telegram.

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 <state-dir>/.env for

TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN. Show set/not-set; if set, show first 10 chars masked (123456789:...).

1. Access — read <state-dir>/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

1. 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.

1. 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."

1. 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."

1. 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.

1. mkdir -p the resolved <state-dir>.
2. Read existing .env if present; update/add the TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN= line,

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

1. chmod 600 on <state-dir>/.env — the token is a credential.
2. 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).

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.