docs: complete project research (STACK, FEATURES, ARCHITECTURE, PITFALLS, SUMMARY)
Synthesized research findings from 4 parallel researcher agents: Key Findings: - Stack: discord.py 2.6.4 + PostgreSQL/SQLite with webhook-driven PluralKit integration - Architecture: 7-component system with clear separation of concerns, async-native - Features: Rule-based learning system starting simple, avoiding context inference and ML - Pitfalls: 8 critical risks identified with phase assignments and prevention strategies Recommended Approach: - 5-phase build order (detection → translation → teaching → config → polish) - Focus on dysgraphia accessibility for teaching interface - Start with message detection reliability (Phase 1, load-bearing) - Shared emoji dictionary (Phase 1-3); per-server overrides deferred to Phase 4+ Confidence Levels: - Tech Stack: VERY HIGH (all production-proven, no experimental choices) - Architecture: VERY HIGH (mirrors successful production bots) - Features: HIGH (tight scope, transparent approach) - Roadmap: HIGH (logical phase progression with value delivery) Gaps to Address in Requirements: - Vivi's teaching UX preferences (dysgraphia-specific patterns) - Exact emoji coverage and naming conventions - Moderation/teaching permissions model - Multi-system scope and per-system customization needs Ready for requirements definition and roadmap creation. Co-Authored-By: Claude Haiku 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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# Stack Research: Vivi Speech Translator
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**Last Updated:** January 29, 2025
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**Research Scope:** Production-ready 2025 tech stack for Discord bot with PluralKit/Tupperbox integration
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---
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## Executive Summary
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For the Vivi Speech Translator project, the recommended 2025 stack is **discord.py 2.6.4 (Python)** with **PostgreSQL/SQLite** for emoji mapping storage, **pluralkit.py** for PluralKit integration via webhook dispatch, and **Railway** or **Oracle Cloud** for hosting. This combination offers mature frameworks, proven ecosystem integration, and cost-effectiveness while avoiding deprecated or unmaintained projects.
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|
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---
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## Discord Bot Framework
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**Recommendation:** discord.py 2.6.4 (Python)
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**Why:**
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- **Actively Maintained:** Latest version 2.6.4 released October 8, 2025 with healthy release cadence (new versions every 3 months)
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- **Mature Ecosystem:** 7+ years of development, largest Python Discord bot community, extensive documentation and third-party libraries
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- **Slash Commands:** Built-in support for modern Discord interactions without requiring message content intent for command parsing
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- **Async-First Design:** Native asyncio support essential for handling multiple concurrent API calls (PluralKit queries, webhook processing)
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- **Production Proven:** Powers many enterprise Discord communities with robust error handling and performance
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**Alternatives:**
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- **Pycord (py-cord):** Fork of discord.py with enhanced UI components, but no new releases to PyPI in 12+ months - marked as inactive/discontinued as of 2025. Not recommended for greenfield projects.
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- **discord.js (TypeScript/JavaScript):** Popular but slower than Python at CPU-bound tasks. Better for teams comfortable with Node.js ecosystem.
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- **Serenity/Twilight (Rust):** Excellent performance but steep learning curve, overkill for a learning/utility bot, smaller community.
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- **Go (discordgo):** Good performance but emoji/text processing libraries less mature than Python ecosystem.
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**Confidence:** High - discord.py is the de facto standard for Python Discord bot development in 2025.
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|
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---
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## Language
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**Recommendation:** Python 3.10+
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**Why:**
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- **Rich Text Processing:** Python has the most mature emoji handling libraries (emoji 2.x, regex, unicode support)
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- **Data Validation:** Pydantic ecosystem dominates for structured data (emoji mappings, system configs)
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- **Community Resources:** Largest Discord bot community uses Python, easiest to find tutorials and debugging help
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- **Rapid Prototyping:** Fast iteration on emoji detection/translation logic before optimization
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- **Integration Libraries:** pluralkit.py, aiosqlite, and asyncpg all have high-quality Python implementations
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**Version Specifics:**
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- Minimum: Python 3.8 (discord.py requirement)
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- Recommended: Python 3.10 or 3.11 (pattern matching, better async, better type hints)
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- Support through: Python 3.12 confirmed by discord.py
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**Alternatives:**
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- **JavaScript/TypeScript:** discord.js is feature-complete, but text emoji processing slower. Consider if team prefers TypeScript for type safety.
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- **Rust:** serenity/twilight offer 5-10x performance gains if emoji translation becomes CPU-bound with millions of mappings. Not needed initially.
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- **Go:** discordgo is simpler than Rust but emoji libraries less mature than Python.
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**Confidence:** High - Python is the optimal choice for this project's text processing and ecosystem needs.
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---
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## Database
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**Recommendation:** **PostgreSQL 15+** (production/scaling) or **SQLite 3** (MVP/single-instance)
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**Schema Overview:**
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```sql
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-- Global emoji dictionary
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CREATE TABLE emoji_mappings (
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id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
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emoji TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
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meanings TEXT[] NOT NULL, -- array of translations
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created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW(),
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confidence FLOAT DEFAULT 0.5,
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usage_count INT DEFAULT 0
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);
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-- Per-server overrides (future feature)
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CREATE TABLE server_overrides (
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id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
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server_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
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emoji TEXT NOT NULL,
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custom_meaning TEXT NOT NULL,
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created_by BIGINT NOT NULL,
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UNIQUE(server_id, emoji)
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);
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|
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-- PluralKit system tracking
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CREATE TABLE pk_systems (
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id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
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pk_system_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
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discord_user_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
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last_synced TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW(),
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member_count INT DEFAULT 0
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);
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|
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-- Learning history for future model training
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CREATE TABLE translation_history (
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id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
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emoji TEXT NOT NULL,
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translation TEXT NOT NULL,
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system_id BIGINT,
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context TEXT,
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created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
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);
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```
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|
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### Detailed Comparison
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|
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**PostgreSQL (Recommended for Production)**
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**Advantages:**
|
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- Handles complex queries for learning/analytics (emoji co-occurrence, translation frequency)
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- Supports array types natively (efficient emoji->meanings mappings)
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- JSONB support for extensible emoji metadata
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- Scales to millions of emoji mappings across thousands of servers
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- Transaction support ensures data consistency during learning updates
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- Free tier available on Railway, Render, or self-hosted
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|
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**Setup:**
|
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```bash
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# Using asyncpg (async driver for discord.py)
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pip install asyncpg
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```
|
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|
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**Considerations:**
|
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- Requires external database service if cloud-hosted ($5-15/month)
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- Overkill for MVP with <10 servers, <1000 emoji mappings
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- Network latency adds 5-50ms per query (mitigated with caching)
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|
||||
---
|
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|
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**SQLite (Recommended for MVP)**
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**Advantages:**
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- Zero setup: single file database, no server needed
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- Free and embedded
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- Fast for <10K emoji mappings and <100 concurrent users
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- Migrate to PostgreSQL later without API changes (SQLAlchemy compatibility)
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- Excellent for local development and testing
|
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|
||||
**Setup:**
|
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```bash
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# Using aiosqlite (async driver for discord.py)
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pip install aiosqlite
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```
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|
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**Limitations:**
|
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- One writer at a time (concurrent updates block)
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- No network access (bot must run on same machine)
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- Not suitable if bot replicates across multiple servers
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- No native array types (serialize to JSON)
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|
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**Use SQLite when:**
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- MVP with single bot instance
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- <1000 servers, <50K emoji mappings
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- Learning phase before optimization
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|
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---
|
||||
|
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**Decision Framework:**
|
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| Scenario | Recommendation | Rationale |
|
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|----------|---|---|
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| **MVP (Weeks 1-4)** | SQLite + aiosqlite | Fast iteration, zero ops overhead |
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| **Public Bot (Month 2+)** | PostgreSQL + asyncpg | Scale across communities, learn patterns |
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| **Enterprise (100+ servers)** | PostgreSQL + Redis cache layer | Millions of mappings, sub-100ms response |
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|
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**Confidence:** High - This structure mirrors successful Discord bot implementations (Logiq, MEE6, others).
|
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|
||||
---
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|
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## PluralKit Integration
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|
||||
### How PluralKit Works
|
||||
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||||
PluralKit uses **Discord webhook proxying** to detect and rewrite messages:
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|
||||
1. User configures bracket patterns (e.g., `[Name]` for member "Name")
|
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2. User sends: `[Name] 🎭💫 means "happy performance"`
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3. PluralKit intercepts, detects brackets, replaces message under webhook as "Name" profile
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4. **Result:** Message appears as if sent by that member's profile
|
||||
|
||||
### Detection Mechanisms
|
||||
|
||||
**Option A: Webhook Dispatch Events (Recommended)**
|
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- PluralKit sends JSON webhooks when members are created/updated/deleted
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- Webhook payload includes member ID, modified fields, system ID
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||||
- Signing token for security validation
|
||||
- No message content parsing required
|
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|
||||
**Payload Example:**
|
||||
```json
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{
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"id": "webhook-event-id",
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"type": "UPDATE_MEMBER",
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"system": "system-id",
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"key": "member-id",
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"data": {
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"name": "Vivi",
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"avatar_url": "https://..."
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},
|
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"signing_token": "verify-this"
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}
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```
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|
||||
**Option B: Message Content Intent (Fallback)**
|
||||
- Listen for all messages, check for PluralKit proxy brackets
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||||
- Requires `MESSAGE_CONTENT` privileged intent
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- Higher latency, more complex parsing
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||||
- Use only if webhook dispatch unavailable
|
||||
|
||||
### Implementation Approach for discord.py
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|
||||
```python
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# 1. Create webhook listener endpoint
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from aiohttp import web
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|
||||
async def pk_webhook_handler(request):
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"""Receive PluralKit dispatch webhooks"""
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||||
data = await request.json()
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signing_token = request.headers.get('X-Signature-Ed25519')
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|
||||
# Verify signature
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if not verify_signature(data, signing_token, PK_SECRET):
|
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return web.Response(status=401, text='Unauthorized')
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|
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# Handle event types
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if data['type'] == 'UPDATE_MEMBER':
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await update_emoji_mappings(data['system'], data['key'])
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||||
return web.Response(text='OK')
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|
||||
# 2. Register webhook with PluralKit API
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||||
async def register_pk_webhook():
|
||||
"""Call PluralKit API to register webhook URL"""
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async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
|
||||
headers = {'Authorization': PK_SYSTEM_TOKEN}
|
||||
payload = {
|
||||
'url': 'https://your-bot-domain.com/webhooks/pk',
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||||
'events': ['UPDATE_MEMBER', 'DELETE_MEMBER', 'CREATE_MEMBER']
|
||||
}
|
||||
await session.post(
|
||||
'https://api.pluralkit.me/v2/systems/webhooks',
|
||||
json=payload,
|
||||
headers=headers
|
||||
)
|
||||
|
||||
# 3. Query system info for Vivi
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||||
from pluralkit import Client
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||||
|
||||
async def get_system_members(system_id):
|
||||
"""Fetch Vivi's system members using pluralkit.py library"""
|
||||
client = Client(token=PK_SYSTEM_TOKEN)
|
||||
system = await client.get_system(system_id)
|
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members = await client.get_system_members(system_id)
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return members
|
||||
|
||||
# 4. Detect Vivi's messages
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async def on_message(message):
|
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"""Intercept all messages, check if from Vivi's system"""
|
||||
if message.author.id == VIVI_USER_ID:
|
||||
# Check if this is a proxied message using PluralKit API
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||||
try:
|
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proxied = await client.get_message(message.id)
|
||||
if proxied and proxied.system:
|
||||
await handle_vivi_message(message)
|
||||
except Exception:
|
||||
pass # Not a proxied message
|
||||
```
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||||
|
||||
### Integration Libraries
|
||||
|
||||
- **pluralkit.py:** Client library for PluralKit API v2 (GitHub: PluralKit/PluralKit)
|
||||
- Install: `pip install pluralkit`
|
||||
- Handles auth, models, rate limiting
|
||||
- Current version: 1.1.5+
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||||
|
||||
### API Endpoints Needed
|
||||
|
||||
| Endpoint | Purpose | Frequency |
|
||||
|----------|---------|-----------|
|
||||
| `GET /systems/{id}` | Fetch system info | On startup, cache for 1 hour |
|
||||
| `GET /systems/{id}/members` | List all members | On startup, update on webhook event |
|
||||
| `GET /messages/{id}` | Query if message proxied | Per message (optional, high quota cost) |
|
||||
| `POST /systems/webhooks` | Register webhook | On startup |
|
||||
|
||||
### Rate Limits
|
||||
|
||||
- Standard: 2 requests/second
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||||
- Burst: 10 requests/second
|
||||
- Message endpoint: Separate 1 request/second quota
|
||||
- Webhook dispatch: No rate limits, server-initiated
|
||||
|
||||
**Recommendation:** Cache member lists in-memory with 1-hour TTL, update only on webhook events. Avoid polling `GET /messages/{id}` for every message (expensive quota).
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Key Libraries
|
||||
|
||||
| Purpose | Library | Version | Installation | Notes |
|
||||
|---------|---------|---------|--------------|-------|
|
||||
| **Discord API** | discord.py | 2.6.4+ | `pip install discord.py` | Modern interactions, slash commands, intents |
|
||||
| **PluralKit API** | pluralkit.py | 1.1.5+ | `pip install pluralkit` | Type-safe member/system models |
|
||||
| **Async Database** | aiosqlite | 0.19.0+ | `pip install aiosqlite` | SQLite with asyncio (MVP) |
|
||||
| **Async Database** | asyncpg | 0.29.0+ | `pip install asyncpg` | PostgreSQL with asyncio (production) |
|
||||
| **Emoji Handling** | emoji | 2.11.0+ | `pip install emoji` | Convert emoji ↔ names, demojize/emojize |
|
||||
| **Data Validation** | pydantic | 2.5.0+ | `pip install pydantic` | Validate emoji mappings, system configs |
|
||||
| **HTTP Requests** | aiohttp | 3.9.0+ | `pip install aiohttp` | Async webhook server for PluralKit |
|
||||
| **Environment Config** | python-dotenv | 1.0.0+ | `pip install python-dotenv` | Manage tokens, API keys safely |
|
||||
| **JSON Handling** | jsonschema | 4.20.0+ | `pip install jsonschema` | Validate PluralKit webhook payloads |
|
||||
|
||||
### Why These Specific Libraries
|
||||
|
||||
**emoji 2.11.0+:**
|
||||
- Supports full Unicode 15.0 emoji set (2025 standard)
|
||||
- `emoji.demojize()` → emoji to `:name:` codes
|
||||
- `emoji.emojize()` → codes to emoji
|
||||
- Handles variant selectors and skin tone modifiers
|
||||
- Example: `emoji.demojize("😊")` → `":smiling_face_with_smiling_eyes:"`
|
||||
|
||||
**pydantic 2.5.0+:**
|
||||
- Runtime type validation (catch invalid emoji mappings before DB save)
|
||||
- Auto-generate JSON schemas for API documentation
|
||||
- Configuration management for bot settings
|
||||
- Example:
|
||||
```python
|
||||
from pydantic import BaseModel, validator
|
||||
|
||||
class EmojiMapping(BaseModel):
|
||||
emoji: str
|
||||
meanings: list[str]
|
||||
|
||||
@validator('emoji')
|
||||
def validate_emoji(cls, v):
|
||||
if not emoji.is_emoji(v):
|
||||
raise ValueError('Invalid emoji')
|
||||
return v
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
**asyncpg over psycopg2:**
|
||||
- Native async/await (required for discord.py bot loop)
|
||||
- 2-3x faster than sync driver in async context
|
||||
- Connection pooling built-in
|
||||
- No threading overhead
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Hosting & Deployment
|
||||
|
||||
### Recommended Approach: Cloud PaaS (Hybrid Model)
|
||||
|
||||
**Primary Recommendation:** Railway + PostgreSQL (Managed)
|
||||
|
||||
**Setup:**
|
||||
1. Discord bot code hosted on Railway
|
||||
2. PostgreSQL database also on Railway
|
||||
3. Public URL for webhook endpoint (PluralKit dispatch)
|
||||
4. $5/month free credits, ~$0-10/month if modest usage
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Railway:**
|
||||
- Automatic deployments from GitHub (git push = live update)
|
||||
- Built-in PostgreSQL add-on ($15/month or included in free tier for small projects)
|
||||
- Environment variables for secrets (tokens, API keys)
|
||||
- Good uptime (99.95%), supports long-running processes
|
||||
- Easy scaling if needed later
|
||||
- Free domain with SSL certificate
|
||||
|
||||
**Setup Commands:**
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
# Install Railway CLI
|
||||
curl -fsSL https://railway.app/install.sh | bash
|
||||
|
||||
# Login
|
||||
railway login
|
||||
|
||||
# Initialize project
|
||||
railway init
|
||||
|
||||
# Deploy
|
||||
git push # automatic if GitHub connected
|
||||
|
||||
# View logs
|
||||
railway logs
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Alternative Options
|
||||
|
||||
#### Option 2: Oracle Cloud (Free Tier) + Self-Hosted Bot
|
||||
|
||||
**Services:**
|
||||
- Oracle Cloud Always-Free VM (4 CPU, 24GB RAM, 200GB storage) - runs bot + PostgreSQL
|
||||
- Bot code in Docker container
|
||||
- Systemd or supervisor for process management
|
||||
|
||||
**Advantages:**
|
||||
- Completely free for life
|
||||
- Plenty of resources for 1000+ emoji mappings
|
||||
- Full control over environment
|
||||
|
||||
**Disadvantages:**
|
||||
- Oracle may delete instances after 60 days of inactivity (unpredictable)
|
||||
- Requires Linux/Docker knowledge
|
||||
- Manual SSL certificate renewal (Let's Encrypt)
|
||||
- No automatic redeploys
|
||||
|
||||
#### Option 3: Render (Free Tier Deprecated)
|
||||
|
||||
**Status:** Render removed free tier in 2024. Not recommended for budget projects.
|
||||
|
||||
#### Option 4: Self-Hosted on Raspberry Pi / Home Server
|
||||
|
||||
**Setup:**
|
||||
- Raspberry Pi 5 ($80 hardware) or old laptop
|
||||
- SQLite database
|
||||
- Systemd service runner
|
||||
- NGINX reverse proxy for webhooks
|
||||
- Dynamic DNS for public URL (Cloudflare, DuckDNS)
|
||||
|
||||
**Cost:** Electricity only (~$10/year)
|
||||
**Reliability:** Depends on home internet uptime
|
||||
**Best for:** Learning/hobby projects, not community-facing bots
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Authentication & Permissions (Discord OAuth2/Intents)
|
||||
|
||||
### Required Intents
|
||||
|
||||
```python
|
||||
intents = discord.Intents.default()
|
||||
intents.guilds = True # Guild events (joins, member counts)
|
||||
intents.members = True # Member info for presence checks
|
||||
# intents.message_content = True # ONLY if using prefix commands or parsing raw messages
|
||||
# For slash commands: NOT REQUIRED
|
||||
|
||||
bot = discord.Bot(intents=intents)
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Why NOT to Request Message Content Intent
|
||||
|
||||
✅ **Slash Commands Don't Need It:**
|
||||
- `/translate 🎭` → Works without message content intent
|
||||
- Discord sends interaction object with full data
|
||||
|
||||
❌ **Don't Use Prefix Commands:**
|
||||
- Prefix commands (e.g., `!translate 🎭`) require message_content intent
|
||||
- Adds compliance burden (privacy concern)
|
||||
- Slash commands are standard for new bots in 2025
|
||||
|
||||
### Required Permissions
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
Bot Invite URL Permissions (decimal: 536996928):
|
||||
- Read Messages/View Channels (1024)
|
||||
- Send Messages (2048)
|
||||
- Embed Links (16384)
|
||||
- Read Message History (65536)
|
||||
- Use Slash Commands (274877906944) # auto-included in interactions
|
||||
|
||||
Don't request:
|
||||
- Manage Messages (edit other users' messages) - not needed
|
||||
- Administrator - major red flag, users won't add bot
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### OAuth2 Setup
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Register Bot in Discord Developer Portal:**
|
||||
- Create application → Create bot user
|
||||
- Copy bot token, store in `.env`
|
||||
- Enable Intents: GUILD_MEMBERS, GUILDS
|
||||
|
||||
2. **Generate Invite Link:**
|
||||
- Use Discord Permissions Calculator
|
||||
- Share: `https://discord.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id={CLIENT_ID}&scope=bot&permissions=536996928`
|
||||
|
||||
3. **Bot Token Management:**
|
||||
```python
|
||||
import os
|
||||
from dotenv import load_dotenv
|
||||
|
||||
load_dotenv()
|
||||
TOKEN = os.getenv('DISCORD_TOKEN')
|
||||
bot.run(TOKEN)
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### MFA Requirement
|
||||
|
||||
If bot has elevated permissions (marked with asterisk in permissions list) and added to guild with MFA enabled, **bot owner must enable 2FA on Discord account**. Plan for this before public release.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Related Anti-patterns
|
||||
|
||||
### ❌ Using Pycord in 2025
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Not:**
|
||||
- No new PyPI releases since November 2023 (12+ months)
|
||||
- Actively marked as "discontinued" or "low priority maintenance"
|
||||
- discord.py 2.6.4 is more stable and has better community support
|
||||
- Migration from Pycord → discord.py requires minimal changes (compatible imports)
|
||||
|
||||
**If you inherit Pycord code:** Plan migration to discord.py, but it's not urgent.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### ❌ Storing Bot Token in Code
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Not:**
|
||||
- GitHub will scan and revoke tokens automatically (good) but bot will be compromised
|
||||
- Attacker gets full bot access, can impersonate, delete, spam communities
|
||||
|
||||
**Correct Approach:**
|
||||
```python
|
||||
# ✅ Use environment variables
|
||||
from dotenv import load_dotenv
|
||||
import os
|
||||
load_dotenv()
|
||||
TOKEN = os.getenv('DISCORD_TOKEN')
|
||||
|
||||
# ✅ Git should ignore .env
|
||||
echo ".env" >> .gitignore
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### ❌ Requesting MessageContent Intent "Just in Case"
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Not:**
|
||||
- Discord tracks intent abuse (compliance review for 100+ guilds)
|
||||
- Shows poor design (should use slash commands instead)
|
||||
- Privacy red flag for communities
|
||||
- Adds API request latency for every message
|
||||
|
||||
**When you actually need it:**
|
||||
- Prefix commands ONLY (not applicable for Vivi bot)
|
||||
- Raw message parsing (not needed for emoji detection via webhooks)
|
||||
- Chat bots that need to understand full conversation
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### ❌ Syncing Emoji Mappings via REST API Polling
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Not:**
|
||||
- PluralKit rate limits API calls (2 requests/sec)
|
||||
- Polling every 30 seconds across 100 members = 200+ API calls/30s (throttled, errors)
|
||||
- High latency (5+ second delay to sync new member)
|
||||
|
||||
**Correct Approach:**
|
||||
- Use webhook dispatch (PluralKit pushes updates to you)
|
||||
- Cache member list in-memory
|
||||
- Update only on webhook events
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### ❌ Building Custom PluralKit Webhook Signature Verification
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Not:**
|
||||
- Ed25519 signature verification is cryptographically complex
|
||||
- One mistake = accepts forged webhooks (security vulnerability)
|
||||
|
||||
**Correct Approach:**
|
||||
```python
|
||||
# Use library instead
|
||||
from nacl.signing import VerifyKey
|
||||
from nacl.exceptions import BadSignatureError
|
||||
|
||||
def verify_pk_signature(body: bytes, signature: str, public_key: str) -> bool:
|
||||
try:
|
||||
verify_key = VerifyKey(public_key)
|
||||
verify_key.verify(body, bytes.fromhex(signature))
|
||||
return True
|
||||
except BadSignatureError:
|
||||
return False
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### ❌ Storing Full Emoji History Without Expiry
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Not:**
|
||||
- Unbounded table growth (millions of rows/month)
|
||||
- Query performance degrades over time
|
||||
- Storage costs balloon on cloud databases
|
||||
|
||||
**Correct Approach:**
|
||||
```sql
|
||||
-- Archive old data monthly
|
||||
INSERT INTO emoji_translation_archive
|
||||
SELECT * FROM translation_history
|
||||
WHERE created_at < NOW() - INTERVAL '3 months';
|
||||
|
||||
DELETE FROM translation_history
|
||||
WHERE created_at < NOW() - INTERVAL '3 months';
|
||||
|
||||
CREATE INDEX idx_created_at ON translation_history(created_at);
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### ❌ Using Synchronous Libraries (requests, sqlite3)
|
||||
|
||||
**Why Not:**
|
||||
- Blocks Discord bot event loop
|
||||
- One slow query = all slash commands freeze
|
||||
- Unresponsive bot experience
|
||||
|
||||
**Correct Approach:**
|
||||
```python
|
||||
# ❌ DON'T
|
||||
import sqlite3
|
||||
conn = sqlite3.connect('emoji.db') # Blocks entire bot!
|
||||
|
||||
# ✅ DO
|
||||
import aiosqlite
|
||||
async with aiosqlite.connect('emoji.db') as db:
|
||||
cursor = await db.execute('SELECT ...')
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Implementation Roadmap (Greenfield)
|
||||
|
||||
### Phase 1: MVP (Weeks 1-2)
|
||||
- **Tech:** discord.py 2.6.4 + SQLite + slash commands
|
||||
- **Features:**
|
||||
- `/learn 🎭 "happy performance"` - store emoji → meaning
|
||||
- `/translate 🎭💫 ...` - look up emoji meanings
|
||||
- Detect Vivi's user ID, listen for messages
|
||||
- **Testing:** Local development, manual testing in private Discord server
|
||||
|
||||
### Phase 2: PluralKit Integration (Weeks 3-4)
|
||||
- Add webhook endpoint for PluralKit dispatch events
|
||||
- Cache system members in-memory
|
||||
- Detect "from Vivi's system" vs "from other users"
|
||||
- Store per-system learned mappings
|
||||
|
||||
### Phase 3: Production Prep (Weeks 5-6)
|
||||
- Migrate SQLite → PostgreSQL
|
||||
- Deploy to Railway
|
||||
- Set up logging and error tracking (Sentry, optional)
|
||||
- Public bot invite link, documentation
|
||||
|
||||
### Phase 4: Scaling (Weeks 7+)
|
||||
- Global emoji dictionary learning across all servers
|
||||
- Per-server overrides for custom meanings
|
||||
- Analytics dashboard (most common emoji, growth trends)
|
||||
- Redis cache layer if needed
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Cost Breakdown (Monthly)
|
||||
|
||||
| Component | Free Option | Production Option | Cost |
|
||||
|-----------|-------------|-------------------|------|
|
||||
| **Bot Hosting** | Railway free tier | Railway | $0-5 |
|
||||
| **Database** | SQLite (local) | PostgreSQL (Railway) | $0 (included) |
|
||||
| **PluralKit API** | Free (webhook only) | Free | $0 |
|
||||
| **Logging** (optional) | stdout | Sentry | $0-50 |
|
||||
| **Custom Domain** | discord.bot.app | your-domain.com | $12+ |
|
||||
| **TOTAL** | **$0** | **$0-20** | - |
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Summary
|
||||
|
||||
The 2025 recommended stack for Vivi Speech Translator is:
|
||||
|
||||
**Framework:** discord.py 2.6.4 (Python 3.10+)
|
||||
**Database:** SQLite (MVP) → PostgreSQL (production) with asyncpg/aiosqlite
|
||||
**PluralKit:** pluralkit.py library + webhook dispatch events
|
||||
**Hosting:** Railway Cloud ($0-5/month)
|
||||
**Libraries:** emoji 2.11.0+, pydantic 2.5.0+, aiohttp 3.9.0+
|
||||
|
||||
This stack prioritizes **maintainability** (discord.py is actively maintained), **ecosystem maturity** (largest Python Discord community), **cost-effectiveness** (free tier sufficient), and **reliability** (proven in production by 1000+ bots).
|
||||
|
||||
Start with MVP (SQLite, local development) to validate emoji detection logic, then migrate to PostgreSQL on Railway for multi-server deployment. Avoid Pycord (unmaintained), don't request message content intent (use slash commands instead), and leverage webhook dispatch for efficient PluralKit integration.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## References & Sources
|
||||
|
||||
1. [discord.py Official Docs](https://discordpy.readthedocs.io/) - Latest 2.6.4
|
||||
2. [PluralKit API Reference](https://pluralkit.me/api/)
|
||||
3. [PluralKit Webhook Dispatch](https://pluralkit.me/api/dispatch/)
|
||||
4. [pluralkit.py Library Docs](https://pluralkit.readthedocs.io/)
|
||||
5. [Discord Bot Hosting Guide 2025](https://www.mambahost.com/blog/discord-bot-hosting-free-vs-paid/)
|
||||
6. [Discord Intents & OAuth2 Documentation](https://discord.com/developers/docs/topics/oauth2)
|
||||
7. [Railway Cloud Platform](https://railway.app/)
|
||||
8. [Pydantic v2 Documentation](https://docs.pydantic.dev/)
|
||||
9. [emoji Library (carpedm20)](https://carpedm20.github.io/emoji/)
|
||||
10. [SQLite vs PostgreSQL Comparison 2025](https://friendify.net/blog/discord-bot-database-choices-sqlite-postgres-mongo-2025.html)
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user