Kik Node API

Getting Started

Use this library to communicate with the Kik API to develop a bot for Kik Messenger. Got to dev.kik.com to learn more and start building a bot.

Install with npm install @kikinteractive/kik

Contributing

This project adheres to the Contributor Covenant code of conduct. By participating, you are expected to uphold this code. Please report unacceptable behavior to [email protected].

If you're looking to contribute to the kik package, check out the Contributing Guide.

Getting Help

Here are other resources for using Kik node:

stackoverflow.com is a great place to get answers about building a Kik chat bot.
Go to dev.kik.com to get started building a bot, scan the code at dev.kik.com and talk to Botsworth.

License

The Kik bot library is released under the terms of the MIT license. See License for more information or see https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT.

How To

Creating a basic Kik bot is simple:

Import @kikinteractive/kik
Create a bot with the username and API key you got from https://dev.kik.com/
Configure your bot as described in the documentation
Add the bot as middleware to your server with bot.incoming()
Start your web server

You can use any node-style web server to host your Kik bot. Add handlers to your bot by calling bot.onTextMessage(...) and get notified whenever a user messages you. Take action on the messages as they come in and call message.reply(...) to respond to the message within the chat the message was sent from.

Check out the full API documentation for more advanced uses.

Your first echo bot

'use strict';

let util = require('util');
let http = require('http');
let Bot  = require('@kikinteractive/kik');

// Configure the bot API endpoint, details for your bot
let bot = new Bot({
    username: 'echo.bot',
    apiKey: '7b939d69-e840-4d22-aab8-4188c2198f8a',
    baseUrl: 'https://kik-echobot.ngrok.io/'
});

bot.updateBotConfiguration();

bot.onTextMessage((message) => {
    message.reply(message.body);
});

// Set up your server and start listening
let server = http
    .createServer(bot.incoming())
    .listen(process.env.PORT || 8080);

Sending a message to a specific user

You can send a targeted message to a user once they have subscribed to your bot. If you want to send someone a message, just call bot.send(...) with their username. You don't need to specify a chat ID here since you are sending it directly to the user, not within a specific chat.

// To one user (a.username)
bot.send(Bot.Message.text('Hey, nice to meet you!'), 'a.username');

// You can use a shorthand for text messages to keep things a bit cleaner
bot.send('Getting started is super easy!', 'a.username');

Sending a picture message

If you want to send a photo to a user you can send a picture message. The API will download the image you supply and pass it along. You have to set the attribution name and icon for the message so the knows where the content came from even if it's forwarded later.

bot.send(Bot.Message.picture('http://i.imgur.com/oalyVlU.jpg')
    .setAttributionName('Imgur')
    .setAttributionIcon('http://s.imgur.com/images/favicon-96x96.png'),
    'a.username');

Greeting a user by name

Whenever a user subscribes to your bot, your bot will receive a start-chatting message. This message gives you the chance to say hello to the user and let them know what your bot is about.

You might want to greet your new user by name. You can use the bot.getUserProfile(...) method to request information about users who have subscribed to your bot.

bot.onStartChattingMessage((message) => {
    bot.getUserProfile(message.from)
        .then((user) => {
            message.reply(`Hey ${user.firstName}!`);
        });
});

Adding multiple handlers

Separating different states into multiple message handlers can keep your bot logic under control. If you call next from within your handler, you allow the next handler in the chain to run, otherwise, handling of the incoming message will end with the current handler.

bot.onTextMessage((message, next) => {
    const userState = getUserState(message.from);

    if (!userState.inIntroState) {
        // Send the user the intro state
        // ...

        return;
    }

    // Allow the next handler take over
    next();
});

bot.onTextMessage((message) => {
    searchFor(message.body)
        .then((result) => {
            message.reply(result);
        });
});

Setting a static keyboard

You can specify a static keyboard for your bot when a user starts mentioning it in a conversation:

let bot = new Bot({
    username: 'echo.bot',
    apiKey: '7b939d69-e840-4d22-aab8-4188c2198f8a',
    baseUrl: 'https://kik-echobot.ngrok.io/',
    staticKeyboard: new Bot.ResponseKeyboard(['Option 1', 'Option 2'])
});

API Documentation

Bot

Parses user messages sent from Kik's server. Use the .incoming() method to return the middleware in a form of function (req, res, next) {}. The middleware will automatically decode the request, and call the appropriate on functions based on the content type. Additional middleware can be used by calling the .use(handler) method.

Kind: global class
See: https://bots.kik.com

Bot

new Bot()

Param	Type	Description
options.username	`string`
options.apiKey	`string`
[options.baseUrl]	`string`
[options.incomingPath]	`string`	Set true to enable polling or set options
[options.manuallySendReadReceipts]	`boolean`
[options.receiveReadReceipts]	`boolean`
[options.receiveDeliveryReceipts]	`boolean`
[options.receiveIsTyping]	`boolean`
[options.skipSignatureCheck]	`boolean`	Verify the authenticity of inbound requests. For testing only, do not disable for a bot in production.
[options.staticKeyboard]	`ResponseKeyboard`	Static keyboard for your bot

bot.use(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.updateBotConfiguration()

Kind: instance method of Bot

bot.onTextMessage([text], handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
[text]	`string` \| `regexp`
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

Example

bot.onTextMessage((incoming, next) => {
     // reply handles the message and stops other handlers
     // from being called for this message
     incoming.reply(`Hi I'm ${bot.username}`);
 });

Example

bot.onTextMessage((incoming, next) => {
     if (incoming.body !== 'Hi') {
         // we only handle welcoming, let someone else deal with this
         // message
         return next();
     }

     // say hello...
 });

Example

bot.onTextMessage(/^hi|hello|bonjour$/i, (incoming, next) => {
     // say hello...
 });

bot.onLinkMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onPictureMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onVideoMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onStartChattingMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onScanDataMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onFriendPickerMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onStickerMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onIsTypingMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onDeliveryReceiptMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.onReadReceiptMessage(handler)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

bot.getKikCodeUrl() ⇒ `promise.<string>`

Creates a Kik Code with the intended options and returns the URL of the Kik Code image. If the options specify a data Kik Code this will hit the Kik Code service and store that data for you.

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type	Description
[options.data]	`string` \| `object`	The data to be sent back to this bot after the user scans
[options.width]	`number`	Width of the Kik code in the PNG image
[options.height]	`number`	Height of the Kik code in the PNG image
[options.size]	`number`	Helper for the width and height in the PNG image
[options.color]	`number`	The color which the user will see after scanning. See {KikCode.Colors}

bot.getUserProfile() ⇒ `promise.<UserProfile>`

Kind: instance method of Bot

bot.broadcast(messages, recipients)

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
messages	`array`
recipients	`array`

bot.send(messages, recipient, [chatId])

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
messages	`array`
recipient	`string`
[chatId]	`string`

bot.incoming()

Handles the incoming requests for messages configuration.

Kind: instance method of Bot

bot.outgoing(handler)

Adds a post processing handler for all outgoing messages. Messages passed to this handler will be JSON objects.

Kind: instance method of Bot

Param	Type
handler	`MessageHandlerCallback`

Example

bot.outgoing((outgoing, next) => {
     console.log('Outgoing message:', outgoing);
     next();
});

IncomingMessage

Object that allows you to send a response to user messages or ignore them.

Kind: global class

IncomingMessage
- .reply(messages) ⇒ promise.<object>
- .markRead() ⇒ promise.<object>
- .startTyping() ⇒ promise.<object>
- .stopTyping() ⇒ promise.<object>
- .ignore()

incomingMessage.reply(messages) ⇒ `promise.<object>`

Kind: instance method of IncomingMessage

Param	Type
messages	`Message` \| `array.<Message>`

incomingMessage.markRead() ⇒ `promise.<object>`

Kind: instance method of IncomingMessage

incomingMessage.startTyping() ⇒ `promise.<object>`

Kind: instance method of IncomingMessage

incomingMessage.stopTyping() ⇒ `promise.<object>`

Kind: instance method of IncomingMessage

incomingMessage.ignore()

Kind: instance method of IncomingMessage

UserProfile

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#user-profiles

Kind: global class

UserProfile
- .displayName ⇒ string
- .username ⇒ string
- .firstName ⇒ string
- .lastName ⇒ string
- .profilePicUrl ⇒ string
- .profilePicLastModified ⇒ number
- .timezone ⇒ string

userProfile.displayName ⇒ `string`

Kind: instance property of UserProfile

userProfile.username ⇒ `string`

Kind: instance property of UserProfile

userProfile.firstName ⇒ `string`

Kind: instance property of UserProfile

userProfile.lastName ⇒ `string`

Kind: instance property of UserProfile

userProfile.profilePicUrl ⇒ `string`

Kind: instance property of UserProfile

userProfile.profilePicLastModified ⇒ `number`

Kind: instance property of UserProfile

userProfile.timezone ⇒ `string`

Kind: instance property of UserProfile

Message

Object that stores a specific message that can be sent to/received from a user. The static methods of Message are factories that generate a specific kind of message.

Kind: global class

Message
- static
  - .text() ⇒ Message
  - .link() ⇒ Message
  - .picture() ⇒ Message
  - .video() ⇒ Message
  - .isTyping() ⇒ Message
  - .readReceipt() ⇒ Message
  - .fromJSON(json) ⇒ Message
- instance
  - .from ⇒ string
  - .id ⇒ string
  - .chatId ⇒ string
  - .messageIds ⇒ array
  - .readReceiptRequested ⇒ boolean
  - .stickerPackId ⇒ string
  - .scanData ⇒ string
  - .stickerUrl ⇒ string
  - .timestamp ⇒ number
  - .type ⇒ string
  - .kikJsData ⇒ object
  - .picUrl ⇒ string
  - .noForward ⇒ boolean
  - .isTyping ⇒ boolean
  - .body ⇒ string
  - .text ⇒ string
  - .title ⇒ string
  - .url ⇒ string
  - .videoUrl ⇒ string
  - .delay ⇒ number
  - .typeTime ⇒ number
  - .attributionName ⇒ string
  - .attributionIcon ⇒ string
  - .loop ⇒ boolean
  - .muted ⇒ boolean
  - .autoplay ⇒ boolean
  - .noSave ⇒ boolean
  - .participants ⇒ array
  - .chatType ⇒ string
  - .mention ⇒ string
  - .picked ⇒ array
  - .metadata ⇒ object
  - .isInPublicChat() ⇒ boolean
  - .isInPrivateChat() ⇒ boolean
  - .isInDirectChat() ⇒ boolean
  - .isTextMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isLinkMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isPictureMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isVideoMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isStartChattingMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isScanDataMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isFriendPickerMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isStickerMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isIsTypingMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isDeliveryReceiptMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isReadReceiptMessage() ⇒ boolean
  - .isMention() ⇒ boolean
  - .toJSON() ⇒ object
  - .addTextResponse(text) ⇒ Message
  - .addResponseKeyboard(suggestions, [isHidden], [user]) ⇒ Message
  - .setKikJsData(kikJsData) ⇒ Message
  - .setPicUrl(picUrl) ⇒ Message
  - .setNoForward(noForward) ⇒ Message
  - .setIsTyping(isTyping) ⇒ Message
  - .setMessageIds(messageIds) ⇒ Message
  - .setBody(body) ⇒ Message
  - .setText(text) ⇒ Message
  - .setTitle(title) ⇒ Message
  - .setUrl(url) ⇒ Message
  - .setVideoUrl(videoUrl) ⇒ Message
  - .setDelay(delay) ⇒ Message
  - .setTypeTime(typeTime) ⇒ Message
  - .setAttributionName(attributionName) ⇒ Message
  - .setAttributionIcon(attributionIcon) ⇒ Message
  - .setLoop(loop) ⇒ Message
  - .setMuted(muted) ⇒ Message
  - .setAutoplay(autoplay) ⇒ Message
  - .setNoSave(noSave) ⇒ Message
  - .setMention(noSave) ⇒ Message

message.from ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#receiving-messages

Kind: instance property of Message

message.id ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#receiving-messages

Kind: instance property of Message

message.chatId ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#receiving-messages

Kind: instance property of Message

message.messageIds ⇒ `array`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#receipts

Kind: instance property of Message

message.readReceiptRequested ⇒ `boolean`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#receipts

Kind: instance property of Message

message.stickerPackId ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#sticker

Kind: instance property of Message

message.scanData ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#kik-codes-api

Kind: instance property of Message

message.stickerUrl ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#sticker

Kind: instance property of Message

message.timestamp ⇒ `number`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#common-fields

Kind: instance property of Message

message.type ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#message-formats

Kind: instance property of Message

message.kikJsData ⇒ `object`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#link

Kind: instance property of Message

message.picUrl ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#link

Kind: instance property of Message

message.noForward ⇒ `boolean`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#link

Kind: instance property of Message

message.isTyping ⇒ `boolean`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#is-typing

Kind: instance property of Message

message.body ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#text

Kind: instance property of Message

message.text ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#link

Kind: instance property of Message

message.title ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#link

Kind: instance property of Message

message.url ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#link

Kind: instance property of Message

message.videoUrl ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#video

Kind: instance property of Message

message.delay ⇒ `number`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#common-fields

Kind: instance property of Message

message.typeTime ⇒ `number`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#text

Kind: instance property of Message

message.attributionName ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#attribution

Kind: instance property of Message

message.attributionIcon ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#attribution

Kind: instance property of Message

message.loop ⇒ `boolean`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#video

Kind: instance property of Message

message.muted ⇒ `boolean`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#video

Kind: instance property of Message

message.autoplay ⇒ `boolean`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#video

Kind: instance property of Message

message.noSave ⇒ `boolean`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#video

Kind: instance property of Message

message.participants ⇒ `array`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#participants

Kind: instance property of Message

message.chatType ⇒ `array`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#all-received-chat-messages-excluding-receipts (will be undefined for receipt messages)

Kind: instance property of Message

message.mention ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#mention

Kind: instance property of Message

message.picked ⇒ `string`

See https://dev.kik.com/#/docs/messaging#friend-picker

Kind: instance property of Message