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The Add Discord skill installs Discord support in NanoClaw. It handles code installation, bot creation in the Discord Developer Portal, authentication, and channel registration.

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What It Does

The Add Discord skill:
  • Installs Discord channel code and dependencies
  • Guides through Discord bot creation
  • Configures bot token authentication
  • Enables Message Content Intent for reading messages
  • Registers Discord text channels
  • Verifies connection and provides testing instructions

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Prerequisites

  • NanoClaw base installation complete
  • Discord account
  • Admin access to a Discord server (to invite bots)

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How to Apply

1

Invoke the skill

Run /add-discord in your NanoClaw context.
2

Create Discord bot

If you don’t have a bot token:
  1. Go to Discord Developer Portal
  2. Click New Application and name it (e.g., “Andy Assistant”)
  3. Go to Bot tab → Click Reset Token → copy it immediately
  4. Under Privileged Gateway Intents, enable:
    • Message Content Intent (required to read messages)
    • Server Members Intent (optional, for member names)
  5. Go to OAuth2 > URL Generator:
    • Scopes: bot
    • Permissions: Send Messages, Read Message History, View Channels
  6. Copy the URL and open it to invite the bot to your server
3

Apply code changes

The skill runs npx tsx scripts/apply-skill.ts .claude/skills/add-discord which:
  • Adds src/channels/discord.ts
  • Adds unit tests with discord.js mock
  • Installs discord.js dependency
  • Updates channel registry
4

Configure environment

The skill adds DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN to .env and syncs to container.
5

Get channel ID

  1. In Discord: User Settings > Advanced > Enable Developer Mode
  2. Right-click the text channel → Copy Channel ID
  3. Format for NanoClaw: dc:1234567890123456
6

Register channel

The skill registers the channel with:
  • Channel ID (format: dc:1234567890123456)
  • Server and channel name
  • Trigger requirement (main vs. trigger-only)

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What Changes

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Files Created

  • src/channels/discord.ts - Discord channel implementation
  • src/channels/discord.test.ts - Unit tests with discord.js mock
  • groups/discord_main/ - Main channel workspace (if registered as main)

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Files Modified

  • package.json - Adds discord.js dependency
  • src/channels/index.ts - Imports Discord channel
  • .env - Adds DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN
  • data/env/env - Synced environment for container
  • .nanoclaw/state.yaml - Records skill application
  • store/messages.db - Adds registered channel entries

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Dependencies Added

  • discord.js - Discord API library

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Usage

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Features Supported

  • Text messages in registered channels
  • Attachment descriptions (images, videos, files shown as placeholders)
  • Reply context (shows who the user is replying to)
  • @mention translation (Discord <@botId> → NanoClaw trigger format)
  • Message splitting for responses over 2000 characters
  • Typing indicators while agent processes

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Main Channel (No Trigger Required)

You: What's the weather?
Andy: [responds immediately]

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Additional Channels (Trigger Required)

In non-main channels, @mention the bot: 
You: @Andy what's the weather?
Andy: [responds]

You: regular message
Andy: [no response]
Discord requires Message Content Intent to be enabled in the Developer Portal. Without it, the bot connects but can’t read message text.

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Troubleshooting

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Bot Not Responding

  1. Check DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN in .env AND data/env/env
  2. Check channel registered: sqlite3 store/messages.db "SELECT * FROM registered_groups WHERE jid LIKE 'dc:%'"
  3. For non-main channels: must @mention the bot
  4. Service is running: launchctl list | grep nanoclaw
  5. Verify bot invited to server (check OAuth2 URL was used)

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Bot Only Responds to @Mentions

This is the default for non-main channels (requiresTrigger: true). To change:
  • Update registered group’s requiresTrigger to false
  • Or register the channel as the main channel

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Message Content Intent Not Enabled

If the bot connects but can’t read messages:
  1. Go to Discord Developer Portal
  2. Select your application → Bot tab
  3. Under Privileged Gateway Intents, enable Message Content Intent
  4. Restart NanoClaw

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Getting Channel ID

If you can’t copy the channel ID:
  • Ensure Developer Mode enabled: User Settings > Advanced > Developer Mode
  • Right-click channel name in server sidebar → Copy Channel ID

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