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This bot is archived and uses outdated dependencies (discord.js v12). Consider updating to discord.js v14+ and Node.js 18+ before deploying to production.

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Overview

Yato Discord Bot can be deployed to various hosting platforms. This guide covers general hosting considerations and requirements that apply regardless of your chosen platform.

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System requirements

The original bot targeted Node.js v14-16. For modern deployments, Node.js 18+ is recommended.

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Minimum specifications

  • Node.js: v14+ (v18+ recommended)
  • Memory: 512MB RAM minimum
  • Storage: 1GB for dependencies and cache
  • Network: Stable outbound connection to Discord API

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Required services

1

Discord application

Create a Discord bot application at the Discord Developer Portal and obtain your bot token.
2

MongoDB instance (optional)

MongoDB is only required if you use persistence features like guild config, user data, or custom tokens. You can use:
  • MongoDB Atlas (free tier available)
  • Self-hosted MongoDB
  • Docker container
3

Environment variables

Prepare your environment configuration (see below).

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Environment variables

Create a .env file with the following required variables:
.env
TOKEN=your_discord_bot_token
MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_connection_string

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Optional variables

.env
CLIENT_ID=your_bot_application_client_id
GUILD_ID=optional_test_guild_id
LOG_CHANNEL_ID=channel_for_logging
WELCOME_CHANNEL_ID=channel_for_welcome_messages
Use GUILD_ID during development for faster slash command registration limited to a single test server.

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Discord bot permissions

Your bot requires the following permissions:
  • Gateway Intents: Server Members, Message Content (if using legacy commands)
  • Bot Permissions:
    • Send Messages
    • Embed Links
    • Attach Files
    • Manage Messages (for moderation)
    • Manage Roles (for role commands)
    • Kick Members / Ban Members (for moderation)
    • Read Message History

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Hosting platform options

Yato can be deployed to various platforms:
PlatformCostProsCons
HerokuFree tier available (limited hours)Easy deployment, git integrationDynos sleep after inactivity
RailwayFree tier with limitsModern interface, automatic deploymentsResource limits on free tier
DigitalOceanStarting at $4/monthFull control, always-onRequires server management
AWS EC2Free tier 12 monthsScalable, reliableComplex setup
Docker (VPS)VPS costPortable, reproducibleRequires Docker knowledge
ReplitFree tier availableBrowser-based, easy setupPerformance limitations
For production use with multiple servers, choose a platform that doesn’t sleep (paid tier or VPS).

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Security best practices

1

Never commit secrets

Keep your .env file out of version control. The .gitignore already includes .env.
2

Restrict command permissions

Limit elevated commands (ban, kick, purge) to admin roles or specific role IDs in your bot configuration.
3

Validate external input

Sanitize user-generated content before rendering on Canvas or passing to external APIs.
4

Monitor rate limits

Implement proper rate limiting for Discord API and third-party API calls (AniList, Jikan).
5

Update dependencies

Regularly audit and update packages to address security vulnerabilities.

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Performance optimization

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Memory management

  • Monitor memory usage, especially with Canvas operations
  • Clear caches periodically for long-running instances
  • Use MongoDB connection pooling

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API efficiency

  • Cache frequently accessed data (anime info, server stats)
  • Implement request queuing for rate-limited APIs
  • Use Discord.js collection caching appropriately

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Monitoring and logging

Consider implementing:
  • Process manager: PM2 for automatic restarts and logging
  • Error tracking: Sentry or similar service
  • Uptime monitoring: UptimeRobot or StatusCake
  • Log aggregation: For debugging deployment issues
The bot includes basic console logging. Enhance this with structured logging (Winston, Pino) for production deployments.

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Next steps

Choose your deployment platform:

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