WhatsApp Bot (tech lee bot)

This example shows a minimal WhatsApp bot using Twilio and Node.js.

Requirements

• Node 18+ (or Node 16+)
• Twilio account with WhatsApp sandbox or WhatsApp-enabled number
• ngrok (for local webhook testing) or a public HTTPS server

Setup

1. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

2. Copy .env.example to .env and set values:

   • TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN from Twilio console
   • TWILIO_WHATSAPP_FROM is your Twilio WhatsApp number (e.g. whatsapp:+14155238886)
   • TO_NUMBER your personal WhatsApp number (for testing)

3. Run server:

   npm start
   

4. Expose local server with ngrok (if testing locally):

   ngrok http 3000
   

   Note the HTTPS forwarding URL (e.g. https://abcd1234.ngrok.io).

5. Set your Twilio webhook for incoming messages:

   • In the Twilio Console, configure the WhatsApp number's "When a message comes in" URL to: https://<your-ngrok>.ngrok.io/webhook
   • Use HTTP POST.

6. Test:

   • Send a WhatsApp message from your phone to the Twilio WhatsApp number.
   • The bot will reply (echo behavior). Send help, hello, or ping.

7. Send a proactive message (server-to-user):

   npm run send
   

Next steps / Production notes

• For production, use a permanent HTTPS endpoint (no ngrok).
• Use WhatsApp Cloud API (Meta) for scale / direct integration without Twilio, or use Twilio for simpler setup.
• Add conversation state, message templates, DB integration, and webhook verification.
• Implement retry/backoff, logging, monitoring, and rate limiting.