How to Create Telegram Mini Apps: 5-Minute Guide

Telegram, the popular messaging app boasting over 950 million active users, now gives people the unique opportunity to build their own applications for business and leisure—this is made possible since the inception of the Mini App platform.

Without the traditional complexities of app or web building, anyone can start a gaming, social, or utility Mini App to engage users and expand their reach.

This easy-to-follow guide will walk you through the process of creating your own Telegram Mini App, from setting up your development environment to deploying your app on the platform.

What Is a Telegram Mini App?

Telegram Mini Apps are essentially small applications that run within the Telegram app itself. They allow users to perform various tasks, such as playing games, making payments, or managing their finances, all without leaving the Telegram interface. These apps are designed to be lightweight, fast, and user-friendly, providing a seamless experience for Telegram users.

With Web3 companies and transitional Web2 ones jumping on the Telegram Mini App bandwagon, we are seeing a blend of Web3 monetisation strategies.

Benefits of Creating a Telegram Mini App

Developing a Telegram Mini App offers numerous benefits, including:

Access to a large user base: Tap into Telegram's massive user base and expand your reach
Enhanced user engagement: Provide interactive and engaging experiences for your audience
Increased brand visibility: Strengthen your brand presence quickly
Potential for monetisation: Explore various monetisation strategies, such as in-app purchases or subscriptions

Step-by-Step Guide to Get Your Mini App up and Running

This guide is designed for both beginners and those with some coding experience. Each step of the way will contain clear, concise explanations, ensuring that you have all the information you need to create your own Telegram Mini App.

Step 1: Set Up Your Development Environment

Before we dive into building your Mini App, let's set up your development environment:

Create a Telegram Bot:

Open Telegram and search for 'BotFather'
Start a chat with BotFather and use the /newbot command to create a new bot
Follow the prompts to provide a name and username for your bot
BotFather will provide you with an access token, which you'll need later

Gather Necessary Tools:

Ensure you have a Telegram account
Choose a code editor (e.g., VS Code, Sublime Text)
(Optional) Familiarise yourself with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript if you're a beginner
If your Mini App involves payments, be sure to integrate payment gateways like Stripe, or Wallet SDK, Telegram's native self-custodial crypto wallet

Step 2: Building Your Mini App

Now, let's start building your Mini App:

Create the User Interface (UI):
- Design the layout and visual elements of your app using HTML and CSS
- A good start is to harmonise with Telegram's existing UI elements to breed familiarity
- Remember to follow Telegram's design principles for a consistent user experience, such as designing with a mobile-first approach
Leveraging Telegram Mini App SDKs (Good for complete beginners):
- SDKs (Software Development Kits) provide pre-built components, templates, and libraries that simplify and streamline complex development tasks
- A popular example is the tma.js/sdk, a TypeScript library designed to improve communication with Telegram Mini Apps. It breaks down the development process into distinct components, each catering to a specific aspect of the Telegram Mini Apps ecosystem.
- You can also use SDKs to aid in the UI design
Add Functionality with JavaScript:
- Implement interactive features and logic using JavaScript
- This could include handling user input, making API calls, or updating the UI
Integrate with Telegram Bot API:
- Use your bot's access token to connect your Mini App with the Telegram Bot API
- This will allow your app to interact with Telegram users and perform various actions

Step 3: Testing and Deploying Your Mini App

Once you've built your Mini App, it's crucial to test it thoroughly and make it a bug-free experience before launch:

Testing and Debugging:

Use Telegram's debugging tools to identify and fix any issues
Test your app on different devices and platforms to check for compatibility and potential lapses in UX/UI

Deploying Your Mini App:

Follow Telegram's guidelines to deploy your Mini App on the platform, or merge it with existing Telegram channels or groups
Make sure your app meets all the requirements before submitting it for review

Bonus Step: Advanced Features and Considerations

For those with coding experience, consider incorporating these advanced features:

Web3 Functionality

Integrate blockchain elements, such as cryptocurrency payments or NFT functionality
This can enhance your app's capabilities and appeal to a wider audience

Monetising Your Mini App

Monetisation models include in-app purchases, subscriptions, or advertising
Choose a strategy that aligns with your app's purpose and target audience. For example, game-based Mini Apps would best incorporate in-app purchases for power-ups, extra lives, or rare accessories.

Optimising User Experience

Follow best practices for UI/UX design to create a user-friendly Mini App
Pay attention to navigation, accessibility, and performance

In Closing

Creating a Telegram Mini App may take a period of figuring out, especially for first-timers or those without a coding background. But it could be a rewarding process that can unlock new opportunities for your business or project.

Game developers new to Telegram and Web3 can also take this chance to learn from the fall of Play-to-Earn games to prevent history from repeating itself.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can lay the foundation for a successful Mini App that engages Telegram, Web2 and Web3 users and achieve your goals. Remember to capitalise on Telegram's resources and documentation to enhance your development journey.

aelf has since embraced artificial intelligence into its Layer 1 blockchain platform to enhance network performance, improve user experience, and simplify the building process for developers.

Those exploring aelf's ecosystem would also find Telegram-based Web3 games such as HamsterWoods, a play-to-earn social game where players raise and nurture their NFT hamsters, and Project Schrodinger, a first 404 collection NFT game where users adopt and trade rare cats.

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*Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other form of professional advice. aelf makes no guarantees or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information on this blog. You should not make any investment decisions based solely on the information provided on this blog. You should always consult with a qualified financial or legal advisor before making any investment decisions.

About aelf

aelf, an AI-enhanced Layer 1 blockchain network, leverages the robust C# programming language for efficiency and scalability across its sophisticated multi-layered architecture. Founded in 2017 with its global hub in Singapore, aelf is a pioneer in the industry, leading Asia in evolving blockchain with state-of-the-art AI integration to ensure an efficient, low-cost, and highly secure platform that is both developer and end-user friendly. Aligned with its progressive vision, aelf is committed to fostering innovation within its ecosystem and advancing Web3 and AI technology adoption.

For more information about aelf, please refer to our Whitepaper V2.0.

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Tool/Platform	What's it about
ChainGPT	An AI-powered assistant for the blockchain and crypto industry, specializing in content creation, language translation, smart contract coding, and more.
aelf	A high-performance, customisable multi-chain blockchain framework with AI-powered smart contracts and a developer-friendly environment.
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OpenAI Codex	An AI system that transforms natural language into code, automating code creation for smart contracts, blockchain applications, and other development tasks.
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Fetch.ai	A platform that combines AI and blockchain to create autonomous economic agents (AEAs) for various applications, including supply chain optimisation and smart city management.
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TensorFlow	A versatile open-source machine learning framework used for building AI models that can analyse blockchain data, enhance security, and predict market trends.
Alethea	A platform that creates 'Intelligent NFTs' (iNFTs) with unique personalities and the ability to engage in conversations, powered by AI and blockchain technology.

Chain	URL	Explorer
AELF	https://aelf-test-node.aelf.io/	https://explorer-test.aelf.io/
tDVW	https://tdvw-test-node.aelf.io/	https://explorer-test-side02.aelf.io/

Feature	Description
Inheritance	ERC-404 inherits from the interfaces IERC-404, IERC721 Receiver, and IERC165, implementing functions specified in these interfaces, behaving as both ERC20 and ERC721.
Data Structures	Mappings track balances, allowances, approvals, and ownership of tokens. Double-ended queue stores ERC721 token IDs. Data for managing ownership and indices of ERC721 tokens.
Constructor	Initialises token name, symbol, decimals, and other necessary variables for ERC20 and ERC721 tokens.
Token Minting and Burning	_mintERC20 function for minting ERC20 tokens. _retrieveOrMintERC721 function for minting ERC721 tokens and retrieving from a bank. _withdrawAndStoreERC721 function for depositing ERC721 tokens into the bank.
Transfers	Functions for transferring ERC20 and ERC271 tokens between addresses. Distinguishes between token types based on ID. _transferERC20WithERC721 function handles transfers involving both types.
ERC20 and ERC721 Interactions	Approve function handles approvals for both token types. Functions like transferFrom, safeTransferFrom, and permit handle transfers and approvals.
EIP-2612 Support	Supports EIP-2612 permit functionality for ERC20 tokens.
Interface Compatibility	Implements necessary functions for ERC-404 and ERC165 interfaces, indicating compatibility with ERC20 and ERC721 standards.

Role	Max Number
BP	2N+1, N starts from 8 in 2022
Candidate node	5*(2N+1)
Voter	No limit

Benefits	Description
Makes smart contracts 'smarter'	AI-driven smart contracts can autonomously modify terms based on predefined conditions and real-time data input, ensuring that the contracts are not just automated but also intelligent and self-improving over time.
Levelled up data analysis	Data is the new oil, and AI is the machinery that refines it. It is possible for AI to reduce large-volume blockchain data analysis time by up to 90%.
Boosts security	Through machine learning models, AI can prevent frauds and detect security threats in real time. It can identify potential breaches, predict future threats, and adapt to evolving security measures.
Lowers carbon footprint	AI algorithms help optimise energy consumption in blockchain operations, given the flak drawn by activities like Bitcoin mining.

Quick Guide: How to Create Your Own Telegram Mini App