telegram-ops

# Telegram Ops

Manage Telegram forum topics and Bot API operations.

## Prerequisites

- Bot must be admin in the group with `can_manage_topics` permission
- Get the bot token from OpenClaw config:
  ```bash
  gateway action=config.get | jq -r '.result.parsed.channels.telegram.botToken'
  ```

## Creating a Topic

When creating a topic, follow all of these steps:

1. **Create the topic** via Telegram Bot API (returns `message_thread_id`)
2. **Set the icon** -- pick one that matches the topic's purpose (see [Icon Reference](#topic-icons))
3. **Choose relevant skills** -- run `openclaw skills list`, pick only `ready` skills that fit the topic's purpose
4. **Write a system prompt** -- give the agent context for what this topic is about
5. **Patch the OpenClaw config** -- register the topic with its skills and system prompt

### Step 1: Create via Bot API

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.telegram.org/bot<TOKEN>/createForumTopic" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "chat_id": <GROUP_ID>,
    "name": "topic name"
  }'
```

Returns `message_thread_id` (the topic ID) -- you need this for all subsequent steps.

### Step 2: Set the Icon

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.telegram.org/bot<TOKEN>/editForumTopic" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "chat_id": <GROUP_ID>,
    "message_thread_id": <TOPIC_ID>,
    "name": "topic name",
    "icon_custom_emoji_id": "<EMOJI_ID>"
  }'
```

### Step 3-5: Configure OpenClaw

Patch the config to register the topic with a system prompt:

```bash
gateway action=config.patch raw='{"channels":{"telegram":{"groups":{"<GROUP_ID>":{"topics":{"<TOPIC_ID>":{"systemPrompt":"Topic-specific instructions"}}}}}}}'
```

Topic configs inherit from the parent group -- only specify overrides.

**Do NOT add a `skills` key** -- omitting it means all skills are available. Only restrict skills if you have a specific reason to limit the topic's capabilities.

## Session Keys

Each topic gets its own isolated OpenClaw sessi...