Mastering Discord.js v14: Advanced Command + Event Handler

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Setting Up the Command and Event Handler
3. Creating the Events Folder
4. Implementing the Ready Event
5. Creating the Interaction Create Folder
6. Handling Slash Commands
7. Creating the Commands Folder
8. Categorizing Commands
9. Setting Up the Handlers Folder
10. Creating the Event Handler
11. Handling Events and Executing Functions
12. Clearing Existing Event Listeners
13. Registering Commands on Bot Ready
14. Comparing Local Commands and Application Commands
15. Editing, Deleting, and Registering Commands
16. Handling Command Execution and Permissions
17. Testing and Troubleshooting

Creating a Custom Command and Event Handler for Discord Bots using discord.js

In this guide, we will walk You through the process of creating a custom command and event handler for your Discord bot using the discord.js library. This command handler will allow you to organize your code base and make it easier to register, edit, and delete commands. The event handler, on the other hand, will handle various events triggered by the Discord API. By the end of this guide, you will have a complete command and event handling system for your Discord bot.

1. Introduction

As Discord bots become more complex, managing commands and events can become a daunting task. By implementing a command and event handler, you can effectively organize your code base and make it easier to maintain and update.

2. Setting Up the Command and Event Handler

To get started, create a new folder for your bot's code. Inside this folder, create two sub-folders: commands and handlers. The commands folder will contain all your bot's commands, while the handlers folder will contain the command and event handler files.

3. Creating the Events Folder

Inside the handlers folder, create a new folder called events. This folder will store all your event-specific code. Each event will have its own file to handle the logic associated with it.

4. Implementing the Ready Event

The ready event is triggered when your bot successfully connects to Discord. Create a new file called ready.js inside the events folder. In this file, you will write the logic that should run when the ready event is triggered.

5. Creating the Interaction Create Folder

Inside the events folder, create another folder called interactionCreate. This folder will handle any code that needs to run when an interaction (such as a slash command) is triggered.

6. Handling Slash Commands

Inside the interactionCreate folder, create a new file called handleCommands.js. This file will handle your slash commands. It will parse the interaction data and execute the corresponding command function.

7. Creating the Commands Folder

Inside the root folder of your bot's code, create a new folder called commands. This folder will contain all your bot's commands. To organize your commands, create sub-folders inside the commands folder Based on the categories or functionality of your commands.

8. Categorizing Commands

Inside each category folder, create a new file for each command. For example, if you have a misc category, create a ping.js file inside the misc folder. This file will contain the command's logic and functionality.

9. Setting Up the Handlers Folder

Inside the root folder of your bot's code, create a new folder called handlers. This folder will contain the command and event handler files.

10. Creating the Event Handler

Inside the handlers folder, create a new file called eventHandler.js. This file will be responsible for handling all the events in the events folder. To begin, export a function from this file that takes in the client as an argument.

11. Handling Events and Executing Functions

Inside the event handler function, get all the folders inside the events folder. Loop through these folders and get all the files inside each folder. Extract the name of each event based on the folder name. Register event listeners for each event and execute the corresponding function when the event is triggered.

12. Clearing Existing Event Listeners

In your main bot file (e.g., index.js), clear any existing event listeners to avoid conflicts. Import the event handler function from the eventHandler.js file, and call it passing in the client as an argument.

13. Registering Commands on Bot Ready

Inside the ready event file (ready.js), import the getLocalCommands function from the utils file. This function will get all the local command objects. Call the getLocalCommands function and loop through all the local commands. For each command, compare it with the application commands and make any necessary edits or deletions. Finally, register the commands by creating or editing them in the Discord API.

14. Comparing Local Commands and Application Commands

To compare the local commands with the application commands, create a utility function called areCommandsDifferent.js. This function will take in the existing command and the local command as parameters and compare their properties to determine if they are different.

15. Editing, Deleting, and Registering Commands

Inside the registerCommands file, loop through all the local commands and compare them with the existing application commands. If a command is different, edit or delete it accordingly. Finally, if a command does not exist, register it in the Discord API.

16. Handling Command Execution and Permissions

Inside the handleCommands.js file, import necessary configurations from the config.json file. Check if the interaction is a chat input command and if it matches any of your local commands. Verify user permissions, and if they pass the checks, execute the corresponding command function.

17. Testing and Troubleshooting

Test your bot's commands and events to ensure they are functioning as expected. Use the Discord developer portal to view and manage your bot's commands. In case of any issues, refer to the console logs for error messages.

By following this tutorial, you can create a custom command and event handler for your Discord bot. This system will help you organize your bot's code and make it easier to manage and update commands and events. Happy coding!