Fangzhang Bot: Group Management

A group grows, and with the people come spam bots, ad links and the same questions over and over. Watching all that by hand is impossible. 方丈机器人 (Fangzhang in Latin letters) is a bot for group admins that takes the routine on itself. Its interface and description are in Chinese. 🛠️

What the bot can do

The bot description lists everything already implemented. That is its toolkit:

• New member checks. A person must verify before writing in the group.
• Welcome message. The bot greets newcomers with a prepared text.
• Spam blocking. Unwanted messages are intercepted automatically.
• Auto replies. The bot answers common questions for you.
• Scheduled posts. Messages go out at a set time.
• Forced subscription. A member must subscribe to a channel to write in the group.
• Message statistics. You see how active the group is.
• Member management. Tools for handling the group's roster.

Commands

There are three: /start launches the bot, /help opens the guide and /id shows your identifier. The identifier is sometimes needed when setting up permissions and rules.

Getting a group ready

1. Add the bot to the group. Make it an admin, or it can't delete messages.
2. Open /help. It describes the available settings.
3. Turn features on one at a time. Start with new member checks and the welcome.
4. Test it. Join the group from a spare account and see how it looks.

Why check newcomers

Spammers often use automated accounts. A simple check at the door filters out most of them, because a script fails what a human passes.

Don't make the check too hard. If honest members can't get in, they leave. Give a few minutes to answer. ⏱️

Forced subscription: pros and cons

Requiring a channel subscription gathers your audience in one place. But coercion irritates people. Think about if you need this step and explain to members why it is there.

Auto replies and scheduling: auto replies save time on repeated questions such as "where are the rules" or "how do I join". Scheduled posts suit announcements, reminders and daily topics. 📅

Don't overdo it: a group where the bot writes more than people soon goes quiet.

Interface language

The bot targets a Chinese speaking audience. If you can't read Chinese, use a translator to read the guide or choose a tool in your own language.

Grant admin rights deliberately: a bot with broad permissions can delete messages and members. Give them only to bots you trust. 🔐