Some notes on how to set up and test Facebook Messenger bots.
Bots exist on Facebook's Messenger platform.
Bots are associated with a particular Facebook page. When a user sends a message to that page, they begin interacting with the bot.
To set up a bot, you need the following:
Create one at https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.
Or use the one we've already set up at https://www.facebook.com/ChiefMessengerLab/.
Sign up at https://developers.facebook.com/.
Any time a user sends a message or takes any action with your bot, an event is sent to a particular URL called a webhook. That server is where the bot code (i.e. this repository) should be stored. The code interprets the event and sends one or more messages back.
You can set one up at https://developers.facebook.com/apps.
Instructions: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/messenger-platform/getting-started/app-setup.
Or use the one we've already set up by asking an existing developer for access.
These should be stored as node.js environment variables on the bot server.
- URL
- Full URL where app is located. Example:
https://md-facebook-bot-test.herokuapp.com/. - VERIFY_TOKEN
- Random string of your choice. Needed once to verify the webhook when first setting up the Facebook app.
- PAGE_ACCESS_TOKEN
- Get from Facebook after successfully creating Facebook app. Required to enable messaging.
- AWS_SECRET_KEY
- Get from AWS.
- AWS_ACCESS_KEY
- Get from AWS.
Before a bot is publicly available (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/messenger-platform/submission-process), testing the bot within Messenger requires certain access:
- Must be an admin or tester within the app (https://developers.facebook.com > My Apps > select app > Roles).
- Must be an admin of the Facebook page (e.g. https://www.facebook.com/ChiefMessengerLab/ > Settings > Page Roles).
Once you have access, you can interact with the bot by going to https://m.me/ChiefMessengerLab.
Check the Facebook page > Settings > Messenger Platform for additional settings:
- Ensure "responses are all automated" is selected
- Ensure the app appears under "Subscribed Apps"
- Ensure any domain the bot uses is listed under "Whitelisted Domains"