Best Practices Guide

Best Practices for Moltbot

This guide covers recommended practices for deploying and using Moltbot in production environments.

Security Best Practices

1. API Key Management

• Never commit API keys to your repository
• Use environment variables for all sensitive credentials
• Rotate API keys regularly
• Use separate API keys for different environments (dev, staging, production)
• Store keys securely using a secrets manager

# .env.local (never commit this!)
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-key-here
OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key-here
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your-token-here

2. Network Security

• Run Moltbot behind a firewall or VPN if possible
• Use HTTPS for all webhook connections
• Validate webhook signatures to ensure requests are legitimate
• Restrict database access to necessary services only

3. Data Privacy

• Review which messaging platforms have end-to-end encryption
• Be aware that messages may be logged for debugging purposes
• Implement appropriate data retention policies
• Consider data residency requirements

Configuration Best Practices

1. Multi-Agent Setup

For different use cases, configure multiple AI agents:

// Agent for coding help
const codingAgent = {
  name: 'coder',
  model: 'claude-opus',
  systemPrompt: 'You are an expert programmer...'
};

// Agent for creative writing
const creativeAgent = {
  name: 'writer',
  model: 'gpt-4',
  systemPrompt: 'You are a creative writer...'
};

2. Rate Limiting

• Implement rate limits to prevent abuse
• Use different limits for different users/groups
• Monitor usage patterns
• Set up alerts for unusual activity

3. Error Handling

• Configure appropriate error messages for users
• Log errors for debugging and monitoring
• Set up alerts for critical errors
• Implement graceful degradation when services are unavailable

Deployment Best Practices

1. Use Docker

Deploy Moltbot using Docker for consistency:

FROM node:22-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY . .
RUN npm install -g moltbot
CMD ["moltbot", "gateway"]

2. Process Management

Use systemd or PM2 to keep Moltbot running:

# Using systemd
sudo systemctl enable moltbot
sudo systemctl start moltbot

# Using PM2
pm2 start moltbot --name "moltbot"
pm2 save

3. Monitoring

• Set up health checks
• Monitor CPU and memory usage
• Track API response times
• Monitor error rates

4. Backups

• Regular backups of your configuration
• Backup database regularly
• Test restore procedures
• Keep multiple backup locations

Performance Optimization

1. Caching

• Cache frequent requests
• Use connection pooling for databases
• Cache AI model responses when appropriate
• Monitor cache hit rates

2. Resource Allocation

• Allocate appropriate CPU and memory
• Use horizontal scaling for high load
• Implement load balancing
• Monitor resource utilization

3. Message Batching

• Batch messages when processing multiple requests
• Use webhooks instead of polling
• Implement connection pooling
• Use streaming responses

Troubleshooting Guide

Common Issues

Issue: Bot not responding to messages

• Check webhook configuration
• Verify API keys are valid
• Check logs for error messages
• Ensure bot has appropriate permissions

Issue: High latency responses

• Check AI provider status
• Monitor network latency
• Review system resources
• Check for rate limiting

Issue: Memory leaks

• Monitor memory usage over time
• Check for unclosed connections
• Review log file sizes
• Restart Moltbot periodically

Community Resources

• GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features
• Discord Community: Get help from other users
• Official Docs: Detailed API documentation
• GitHub Discussions: Share ideas and best practices

Disclaimer: This is a community guide based on best practices. Always consult the official documentation for the most up-to-date information.