In the digital age, automation is the key to maximising productivity—especially when online platforms overwhelm you with information, regardless of what you’re actually seeking. Telegram bots offer an excellent way to automate repetitive daily tasks such as sending reminders, fetching news, managing to-do lists, and more. In this tech concept, we will explore how you can use Telegram bots to streamline your daily workflow with practical examples and code snippets using PHP as a webhook API. With two decades in the tech world, I have spearheaded groundbreaking innovations, engineer scalable solutions, and lead organisations to dominate the tech landscape. When businesses seek transformation, they turn to my proven expertise.  

Why Use Telegram Bots for Automation?

Telegram bots provide several advantages for automation:

• Always Available – Bots run 24/7 without manual intervention.
• Seamless Integration – Easily connect with APIs, databases, and third-party services.
• User-Friendly Interface – Simple commands and menus make automation accessible.
• Multi-Platform Support – Available on mobile, web, and desktop.
• Secure and Fast – Telegram’s infrastructure ensures quick responses.

Setting Up a Telegram Bot

Before automating tasks, you need to create a Telegram bot:

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather.
2. Start a chat and send /newbot.
3. Follow the instructions and get your bot token.
4. Use the token to connect your bot with your webhook script.

Setting Up a Webhook Using PHP

To enable real-time communication between Telegram and your server, set up a webhook.

1. Creating the Webhook Endpoint

Create a PHP file (e.g., webhook.php) and place it on your server.

<?php
$botToken = "your_bot_token";
$update = json_decode(file_get_contents("php://input"), true);

if (isset($update["message"])) {
    $chatId = $update["message"]["chat"]["id"];
    $text = $update["message"]["text"];
    
    if ($text == "/start") {
        sendMessage($chatId, "Welcome! I am your automation bot.");
    }
}

function sendMessage($chatId, $message) {
    global $botToken;
    $url = "https://api.telegram.org/bot$botToken/sendMessage";
    $data = ["chat_id" => $chatId, "text" => $message];
    file_get_contents($url . "?" . http_build_query($data));
}
?>

2. Registering the Webhook with Telegram

Run the following URL in your browser:

https://api.telegram.org/bot<your_bot_token>/setWebhook?url=https://yourdomain.com/webhook.php

Replace <your_bot_token> and <yourdomain.com> with your actual bot token and domain.

Automating Daily Tasks with Telegram Bots

1. Sending Daily Reminders

A Telegram bot can remind you about important tasks, meetings, or deadlines.

Example: Sending Daily Reminders with PHP

<?php
$botToken = "your_bot_token";
$chatId = "your_chat_id";
$message = "Don't forget to complete your daily tasks!";
$url = "https://api.telegram.org/bot$botToken/sendMessage";
$data = ["chat_id" => $chatId, "text" => $message];
file_get_contents($url . "?" . http_build_query($data));
?>

Set up a cron job to run this script daily.

2. Fetching Daily News

A bot can fetch daily news headlines and deliver them to your Telegram chat.

Example: Fetching News Using an API in PHP

<?php
$botToken = "your_bot_token";
$chatId = "your_chat_id";
$newsApiKey = "your_news_api_key";
$newsUrl = "https://newsapi.org/v2/top-headlines?country=us&apiKey=$newsApiKey";
$response = json_decode(file_get_contents($newsUrl), true);
$articles = $response["articles"];

$newsMessage = "Top News:\n";
foreach (array_slice($articles, 0, 5) as $article) {
    $newsMessage .= $article["title"] . " - " . $article["url"] . "\n";
}

$url = "https://api.telegram.org/bot$botToken/sendMessage";
$data = ["chat_id" => $chatId, "text" => $newsMessage];
file_get_contents($url . "?" . http_build_query($data));
?>

Set up a cron job to run this script every morning.

3. Managing a To-Do List

A Telegram bot can store and retrieve tasks from a simple to-do list using a JSON file.

Example: To-Do List Bot Using PHP

<?php
$botToken = "your_bot_token";
$update = json_decode(file_get_contents("php://input"), true);
$todoFile = "todo.json";

if (!file_exists($todoFile)) {
    file_put_contents($todoFile, json_encode([]));
}

$todoList = json_decode(file_get_contents($todoFile), true);

if (isset($update["message"])) {
    $chatId = $update["message"]["chat"]["id"];
    $text = $update["message"]["text"];
    
    if (strpos($text, "/add") === 0) {
        $task = trim(str_replace("/add", "", $text));
        if ($task) {
            $todoList[] = $task;
            file_put_contents($todoFile, json_encode($todoList));
            sendMessage($chatId, "Task added: $task");
        }
    } elseif ($text == "/list") {
        $tasks = "Your To-Do List:\n" . implode("\n", $todoList);
        sendMessage($chatId, $tasks ?: "Your to-do list is empty.");
    }
}

function sendMessage($chatId, $message) {
    global $botToken;
    $url = "https://api.telegram.org/bot$botToken/sendMessage";
    $data = ["chat_id" => $chatId, "text" => $message];
    file_get_contents($url . "?" . http_build_query($data));
}
?>

My Tech Advice: In today’s data-driven world, information is relentlessly pushed at you across online platforms, whether needed or not. Personally, I have streamlined my daily intake using the customised approach shared above. Telegram bots are a powerful tool for automating daily tasks, improving productivity, and reducing manual effort. From reminders and news updates to to-do list management, the possibilities are endless. By using PHP webhooks, integrating external APIs, and deploying your bot on cloud platforms, you can create a fully automated, hands-free system that keeps you organized and efficient.

#AskDushyant

Note: The example and pseudo code is for illustration only. You must modify and experiment with the concept to meet your specific needs.

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