Simplify chatbot integration by enabling bots to run sandboxed, in-process on the server
Currently if I want any sort of 'bot' behavior, I need to:
- Get an API token (ask an admin for permission)
- Stand up a server or learn serverless
- Figure out deployments/monitoring/logging
To test my code, I need to expose my in-progress work to the internet so it can receive webhooks.
This is a substantial bar to clear, resulting in monolithic projects like Hubot with many plugins.
Organizations implementing this style of bot frequently have only a handful of people who know how to contribute to it.
An alternative would be to support 'Managed bots': custom code (language TBD; javascript (via Duktape) or lua seem most likely to me, but Dhall or something could also work).
The key advantage of this is that it lowers the barrier of entry to creating/contributing to bots.
This would support other feature requests, like: https://mattermost.uservoice.com/forums/306457-general/suggestions/12280503-bot-users and https://mattermost.uservoice.com/forums/306457-general/suggestions/19491472-offer-an-onboarding-bot and https://mattermost.uservoice.com/forums/306457-general/suggestions/13702560-preinstalled-matter-bot
Daniel Heath
shared this idea
-
Prathap Reddy
commented
Chatbots as a concept is going to evolve and become meaningful. They will create more opportunities for new companies to explode from nothing into prominence. They will create many new business strategy opportunities. In my opinion, they will play a large role in online business but not every role.
Engati is a chatbot platform that allows you to build, manage, integrate, train, analyse and publish your personalized bot in a matter of minutes. It presently supports eight major messaging platforms including messenger, kik, telegram, line, viber, skype, slack and webchat with a focus on customer engagement, conversational commerce, and customer service and fulfillments.