This is the TL;DR version for Windows. If you wish for a long version with more explanations, please see this guide
Go to the Discordapp.com Application Page
Create a New Application, and give it a name
Click Create a bot account, then Yes, do it
Visit https://discordapp.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=APP_ID&scope=bot
, replacing APP_ID with the Client/Application ID from the app page, to add the bot to your server (or ask a server admin to do it for you).
Copy your bot's Secret Token and keep it for later
Install the following software in Windows:
nodejs from the downloads page (Version 6.X and higher required)
If you need sound support, you'll need 2 more things:
ffmpeg which is available on this page
The new windows build tools:
Open an ADMIN command prompt, or PowerShell
Run the following command: npm i -g --production windows-build-tools
This installs Python 2.7 and the C++ Build Tools standalone.
Once you have this all installed, create a folder for your project and install discord.js:
md mybot
cd mybot
npm install discord.js
The following is a simple ping/pong bot. Save as a text file (e.g. mybot.js
), replacing the string on the last line with the secret bot token you got earlier:
const Discord = require("discord.js");const client = new Discord.Client();client.on("ready", () => {console.log("I am ready!");});client.on("message", (message) => {if (message.content.startsWith("ping")) {message.channel.send("pong!");}});client.login("SuperSecretBotTokenHere");
In your command prompt, from inside the folder where mybot.js
is located, launch it with:
node mybot.js
If no errors are shown, the bot should join the server(s) you added it to.
Discord.js Documentation : For the love of all that is (un)holy, read the documentation. Yes, it will be alien at first if you are not used to "developer documentation" but it contains a whole lot of information about each and every feature of the API. Combine this with the examples above to see the API in context.
An Idiot's Guide is another great channel with more material. York's guides are great, and he continues to update them.
Evie.Codes on Youtube: If you prefer video to words, Evie's youtube series (which is good, though no longer maintained with new videos!) gets you started with bots.
An Idiot's Guide Official Server: The official server for An Idiot's Guide. Full of friendly helpful users!
Discord.js Official Server: The official server has a number of competent people to help you, and the development team is there too!