Telegram notifier improvements

[titusjaka]

Hi guys,

This ticket is opened for the future and its aim is to start a discussion.

The point is that telegram notifier configuration is too complicated for the end user:

• you have to create public telegram channel
• add @moira_bot to that channel as admin
• in Moira interface set notifications to that channel

Why I don't like the current way:

• complicated and non obvious configuration
• the channel is public and some people could find it and read notifications

The way I suggest:

• create a typical telegram-bot, such as @ya
• as user wants to receive notification, he finds that bot and press Start. Since that moment bot has access to user's credentials
• user add his telegram ID in moira interface, so bot has connection telegram user <=> moira user
• bot send notifications to user by his telegram ID

Pros and cons of that way:

• + All messages are private
• + it's easier to configure
• + user could mute bot
• - This bot could not send notifications to telegram chats. And I don't know the way to make it as easy as Slack do.
• - There will be outstanding module with only one purpose: send notifications to telegram. That means we will have two notifiers: for telegram and for everythong else. That's ugly.

I would like to see your thoughts about this thread. Thank you!

[gmlexx]

Does this mean, that we need to host telegram bot somewhere?

[titusjaka]

Unfortunately it seems so.

[gmlexx]

And how are you going to share this bot across multiple installations? Or you assume, that setup telegram bot will be much easier, than current approach?

[titusjaka]

Setup telegram bot is one-time operation which is made by Moira admin.

[gmlexx]

So, the remaining pros is only "private message"

[beevee]

as user wants to receive notification, he finds that bot and press Start. Since that moment bot has access to user's credentials

Does it? To what kind of credentials - username, phone number? I couldn't find it in the docs.

[titusjaka]

At least it seems so: https://core.telegram.org/bots/api#message As I see there is from field in every message including start message. This filed contains User details.

Also, I found this thing: https://core.telegram.org/bots/inline I'm not sure, but it looks like something we could use for group chats. I'll find out and let you know if it fits us.

[beevee]

Yes, but this User consists of:

1. Some mysterious id.
2. Optional first/last name.
3. Optional username.

What would you do with this id? I bet it's not a phone number, for example.