refactor: drop autoReply, add topic requireMention

Co-authored-by: kitze <kristijan.mkd@gmail.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 - Model config schema changes (auth profiles + model lists); doctor auto-migrates and the gateway rewrites legacy configs on startup.
 - Commands: gate all slash commands to authorized senders; add `/compact` to manually compact session context.
 - Groups: `whatsapp.groups`, `telegram.groups`, and `imessage.groups` now act as allowlists when set. Add `"*"` to keep allow-all behavior.
+- Auto-reply: removed `autoReply` from Discord/Slack/Telegram channel configs; use `requireMention` instead (Telegram topics now support `requireMention` overrides).
 
 ### Fixes
 - Pairing: generate DM pairing codes with CSPRNG, expire pending codes after 1 hour, and avoid re-sending codes for already pending requests.

docs/gateway/configuration.md

@@ -468,12 +468,16 @@ Set `telegram.enabled: false` to disable automatic startup.
     dmPolicy: "pairing",                 // pairing | allowlist | open | disabled
     allowFrom: ["tg:123456789"],         // optional; "open" requires ["*"]
     groups: {
-      "*": { requireMention: true, autoReply: false },
+      "*": { requireMention: true },
       "-1001234567890": {
         allowFrom: ["@admin"],
         systemPrompt: "Keep answers brief.",
         topics: {
-          "99": { skills: ["search"], systemPrompt: "Stay on topic." }
+          "99": {
+            requireMention: false,
+            skills: ["search"],
+            systemPrompt: "Stay on topic."
+          }
         }
       }
     },
@@ -580,7 +584,7 @@ Slack runs in Socket Mode and requires both a bot token and app token:
       C123: { allow: true, requireMention: true },
       "#general": {
         allow: true,
-        autoReply: false,
+        requireMention: true,
         users: ["U123"],
         skills: ["docs"],
         systemPrompt: "Short answers only."

docs/providers/discord.md

@@ -202,8 +202,7 @@ Notes:
             requireMention: true,
             users: ["987654321098765432"],
             skills: ["search", "docs"],
-            systemPrompt: "Keep answers short.",
+            systemPrompt: "Keep answers short."
-            autoReply: false
           }
         }
       }
@@ -227,7 +226,6 @@ Ack reactions are controlled globally via `messages.ackReaction` +
 - `guilds.<id>.users`: optional per-guild user allowlist (ids or names).
 - `guilds.<id>.channels.<channel>.allow`: allow/deny the channel when `groupPolicy="allowlist"`.
 - `guilds.<id>.channels.<channel>.requireMention`: mention gating for the channel.
-- `guilds.<id>.channels.<channel>.autoReply`: if `true`, reply to all messages (overrides `requireMention`).
 - `guilds.<id>.channels.<channel>.users`: optional per-channel user allowlist.
 - `guilds.<id>.channels.<channel>.skills`: skill filter (omit = all skills, empty = none).
 - `guilds.<id>.channels.<channel>.systemPrompt`: extra system prompt for the channel (combined with channel topic).

docs/providers/slack.md

@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ Slack uses Socket Mode only (no HTTP webhook server). Provide both tokens:
       "C123": { "allow": true, "requireMention": true },
       "#general": {
         "allow": true,
-        "autoReply": false,
+        "requireMention": true,
         "users": ["U123"],
         "skills": ["search", "docs"],
         "systemPrompt": "Keep answers short."
@@ -212,7 +212,6 @@ Ack reactions are controlled globally via `messages.ackReaction` +
 Channel options (`slack.channels.<id>` or `slack.channels.<name>`):
 - `allow`: allow/deny the channel when `groupPolicy="allowlist"`.
 - `requireMention`: mention gating for the channel.
-- `autoReply`: if `true`, reply to every message (overrides `requireMention`).
 - `users`: optional per-channel user allowlist.
 - `skills`: skill filter (omit = all skills, empty = none).
 - `systemPrompt`: extra system prompt for the channel (combined with topic/purpose).

docs/providers/telegram.md

@@ -117,12 +117,12 @@ Provider options:
 - `telegram.groupAllowFrom`: group sender allowlist (ids/usernames).
 - `telegram.groups`: per-group defaults + allowlist (use `"*"` for global defaults).
   - `telegram.groups.<id>.requireMention`: mention gating default.
-  - `telegram.groups.<id>.autoReply`: reply to every message (overrides `requireMention`).
   - `telegram.groups.<id>.skills`: skill filter (omit = all skills, empty = none).
   - `telegram.groups.<id>.allowFrom`: per-group sender allowlist override.
   - `telegram.groups.<id>.systemPrompt`: extra system prompt for the group.
   - `telegram.groups.<id>.enabled`: disable the group when `false`.
   - `telegram.groups.<id>.topics.<threadId>.*`: per-topic overrides (same fields as group).
+  - `telegram.groups.<id>.topics.<threadId>.requireMention`: per-topic mention gating override.
 - `telegram.replyToMode`: `off | first | all`.
 - `telegram.textChunkLimit`: outbound chunk size (chars).
 - `telegram.streamMode`: `off | partial | block` (draft streaming).

src/auto-reply/reply/groups.ts

@@ -44,11 +44,7 @@ function parseTelegramGroupId(value?: string | null) {
   return { chatId: raw, topicId: undefined };
 }
 
-function hasOwn(obj: unknown, key: string): boolean {
+function resolveTelegramRequireMention(params: {
-  return Boolean(obj && typeof obj === "object" && Object.hasOwn(obj, key));
-}
-
-function resolveTelegramAutoReply(params: {
   cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
   chatId?: string;
   topicId?: string;
@@ -61,17 +57,17 @@ function resolveTelegramAutoReply(params: {
     topicId && groupConfig?.topics ? groupConfig.topics[topicId] : undefined;
   const defaultTopicConfig =
     topicId && groupDefault?.topics ? groupDefault.topics[topicId] : undefined;
-  if (hasOwn(topicConfig, "autoReply")) {
+  if (typeof topicConfig?.requireMention === "boolean") {
-    return (topicConfig as { autoReply?: boolean }).autoReply;
+    return topicConfig.requireMention;
   }
-  if (hasOwn(defaultTopicConfig, "autoReply")) {
+  if (typeof defaultTopicConfig?.requireMention === "boolean") {
-    return (defaultTopicConfig as { autoReply?: boolean }).autoReply;
+    return defaultTopicConfig.requireMention;
   }
-  if (hasOwn(groupConfig, "autoReply")) {
+  if (typeof groupConfig?.requireMention === "boolean") {
-    return (groupConfig as { autoReply?: boolean }).autoReply;
+    return groupConfig.requireMention;
   }
-  if (hasOwn(groupDefault, "autoReply")) {
+  if (typeof groupDefault?.requireMention === "boolean") {
-    return (groupDefault as { autoReply?: boolean }).autoReply;
+    return groupDefault.requireMention;
   }
   return undefined;
 }
@@ -107,8 +103,12 @@ export function resolveGroupRequireMention(params: {
   const groupSpace = ctx.GroupSpace?.trim();
   if (provider === "telegram") {
     const { chatId, topicId } = parseTelegramGroupId(groupId);
-    const autoReply = resolveTelegramAutoReply({ cfg, chatId, topicId });
+    const requireMention = resolveTelegramRequireMention({
-    if (typeof autoReply === "boolean") return !autoReply;
+      cfg,
+      chatId,
+      topicId,
+    });
+    if (typeof requireMention === "boolean") return requireMention;
     return resolveProviderGroupRequireMention({
       cfg,
       provider,
@@ -138,9 +138,6 @@ export function resolveGroupRequireMention(params: {
         (groupRoom
           ? channelEntries[normalizeDiscordSlug(groupRoom)]
           : undefined);
-      if (entry && typeof entry.autoReply === "boolean") {
-        return !entry.autoReply;
-      }
       if (entry && typeof entry.requireMention === "boolean") {
         return entry.requireMention;
       }
@@ -163,7 +160,7 @@ export function resolveGroupRequireMention(params: {
       channelName ?? "",
       normalizedName,
     ].filter(Boolean);
-    let matched: { requireMention?: boolean; autoReply?: boolean } | undefined;
+    let matched: { requireMention?: boolean } | undefined;
     for (const candidate of candidates) {
       if (candidate && channels[candidate]) {
         matched = channels[candidate];
@@ -172,9 +169,6 @@ export function resolveGroupRequireMention(params: {
     }
     const fallback = channels["*"];
     const resolved = matched ?? fallback;
-    if (typeof resolved?.autoReply === "boolean") {
-      return !resolved.autoReply;
-    }
     if (typeof resolved?.requireMention === "boolean") {
       return resolved.requireMention;
     }

src/config/types.ts

@@ -237,12 +237,11 @@ export type TelegramActionConfig = {
 };
 
 export type TelegramTopicConfig = {
+  requireMention?: boolean;
   /** If specified, only load these skills for this topic. Omit = all skills; empty = no skills. */
   skills?: string[];
   /** If false, disable the bot for this topic. */
   enabled?: boolean;
-  /** If true, reply to every message (no mention required). */
-  autoReply?: boolean;
   /** Optional allowlist for topic senders (ids or usernames). */
   allowFrom?: Array<string | number>;
   /** Optional system prompt snippet for this topic. */
@@ -257,8 +256,6 @@ export type TelegramGroupConfig = {
   topics?: Record<string, TelegramTopicConfig>;
   /** If false, disable the bot for this group (and its topics). */
   enabled?: boolean;
-  /** If true, reply to every message (no mention required). */
-  autoReply?: boolean;
   /** Optional allowlist for group senders (ids or usernames). */
   allowFrom?: Array<string | number>;
   /** Optional system prompt snippet for this group. */
@@ -325,8 +322,6 @@ export type DiscordGuildChannelConfig = {
   skills?: string[];
   /** If false, disable the bot for this channel. */
   enabled?: boolean;
-  /** If true, reply to every message (no mention required). */
-  autoReply?: boolean;
   /** Optional allowlist for channel senders (ids or names). */
   users?: Array<string | number>;
   /** Optional system prompt snippet for this channel. */
@@ -412,8 +407,6 @@ export type SlackChannelConfig = {
   allow?: boolean;
   /** Require mentioning the bot to trigger replies. */
   requireMention?: boolean;
-  /** Reply to all messages without needing a mention. */
-  autoReply?: boolean;
   /** Allowlist of users that can invoke the bot in this channel. */
   users?: Array<string | number>;
   /** Optional skill filter for this channel. */

src/config/zod-schema.ts

@@ -787,7 +787,6 @@ export const ClawdbotSchema = z.object({
               requireMention: z.boolean().optional(),
               skills: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
               enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
-              autoReply: z.boolean().optional(),
               allowFrom: z.array(z.union([z.string(), z.number()])).optional(),
               systemPrompt: z.string().optional(),
               topics: z
@@ -795,9 +794,9 @@ export const ClawdbotSchema = z.object({
                   z.string(),
                   z
                     .object({
+                      requireMention: z.boolean().optional(),
                       skills: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
                       enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
-                      autoReply: z.boolean().optional(),
                       allowFrom: z
                         .array(z.union([z.string(), z.number()]))
                         .optional(),
@@ -913,7 +912,6 @@ export const ClawdbotSchema = z.object({
                       requireMention: z.boolean().optional(),
                       skills: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
                       enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
-                      autoReply: z.boolean().optional(),
                       users: z
                         .array(z.union([z.string(), z.number()]))
                         .optional(),
@@ -990,7 +988,6 @@ export const ClawdbotSchema = z.object({
               enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
               allow: z.boolean().optional(),
               requireMention: z.boolean().optional(),
-              autoReply: z.boolean().optional(),
               users: z.array(z.union([z.string(), z.number()])).optional(),
               skills: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
               systemPrompt: z.string().optional(),

src/discord/monitor.test.ts

@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ describe("discord guild/channel resolution", () => {
           requireMention: true,
           skills: ["search"],
           enabled: false,
-          autoReply: true,
           users: ["123"],
           systemPrompt: "Use short answers.",
         },
@@ -126,7 +125,6 @@ describe("discord guild/channel resolution", () => {
     expect(help?.requireMention).toBe(true);
     expect(help?.skills).toEqual(["search"]);
     expect(help?.enabled).toBe(false);
-    expect(help?.autoReply).toBe(true);
     expect(help?.users).toEqual(["123"]);
     expect(help?.systemPrompt).toBe("Use short answers.");
   });

src/discord/monitor.ts

@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ export type DiscordGuildEntryResolved = {
       requireMention?: boolean;
       skills?: string[];
       enabled?: boolean;
-      autoReply?: boolean;
       users?: Array<string | number>;
       systemPrompt?: string;
     }
@@ -113,7 +112,6 @@ export type DiscordChannelConfigResolved = {
   requireMention?: boolean;
   skills?: string[];
   enabled?: boolean;
-  autoReply?: boolean;
   users?: Array<string | number>;
   systemPrompt?: string;
 };
@@ -601,14 +599,8 @@ export function createDiscordMessageHandler(params: {
         guildHistories.set(message.channelId, history);
       }
 
-      const baseRequireMention =
-        channelConfig?.requireMention ?? guildInfo?.requireMention ?? true;
       const shouldRequireMention =
-        channelConfig?.autoReply === true
+        channelConfig?.requireMention ?? guildInfo?.requireMention ?? true;
-          ? false
-          : channelConfig?.autoReply === false
-            ? true
-            : baseRequireMention;
       const hasAnyMention = Boolean(
         !isDirectMessage &&
           (message.mentionedEveryone ||
@@ -1810,7 +1802,6 @@ export function resolveDiscordChannelConfig(params: {
       requireMention: byId.requireMention,
       skills: byId.skills,
       enabled: byId.enabled,
-      autoReply: byId.autoReply,
       users: byId.users,
       systemPrompt: byId.systemPrompt,
     };
@@ -1821,7 +1812,6 @@ export function resolveDiscordChannelConfig(params: {
       requireMention: entry.requireMention,
       skills: entry.skills,
       enabled: entry.enabled,
-      autoReply: entry.autoReply,
       users: entry.users,
       systemPrompt: entry.systemPrompt,
     };
@@ -1833,7 +1823,6 @@ export function resolveDiscordChannelConfig(params: {
       requireMention: entry.requireMention,
       skills: entry.skills,
       enabled: entry.enabled,
-      autoReply: entry.autoReply,
       users: entry.users,
       systemPrompt: entry.systemPrompt,
     };

src/slack/monitor.ts

@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@ type SlackThreadBroadcastEvent = {
 type SlackChannelConfigResolved = {
   allowed: boolean;
   requireMention: boolean;
-  autoReply?: boolean;
   users?: Array<string | number>;
   skills?: string[];
   systemPrompt?: string;
@@ -284,7 +283,6 @@ function resolveSlackChannelConfig(params: {
       enabled?: boolean;
       allow?: boolean;
       requireMention?: boolean;
-      autoReply?: boolean;
       users?: Array<string | number>;
       skills?: string[];
       systemPrompt?: string;
@@ -308,7 +306,6 @@ function resolveSlackChannelConfig(params: {
         enabled?: boolean;
         allow?: boolean;
         requireMention?: boolean;
-        autoReply?: boolean;
         users?: Array<string | number>;
         skills?: string[];
         systemPrompt?: string;
@@ -341,14 +338,13 @@ function resolveSlackChannelConfig(params: {
   const requireMention =
     firstDefined(resolved.requireMention, fallback?.requireMention, true) ??
     true;
-  const autoReply = firstDefined(resolved.autoReply, fallback?.autoReply);
   const users = firstDefined(resolved.users, fallback?.users);
   const skills = firstDefined(resolved.skills, fallback?.skills);
   const systemPrompt = firstDefined(
     resolved.systemPrompt,
     fallback?.systemPrompt,
   );
-  return { allowed, requireMention, autoReply, users, skills, systemPrompt };
+  return { allowed, requireMention, users, skills, systemPrompt };
 }
 
 async function resolveSlackMedia(params: {
@@ -810,11 +806,7 @@ export async function monitorSlackProvider(opts: MonitorSlackOpts = {}) {
       surface: "slack",
     });
     const shouldRequireMention = isRoom
-      ? channelConfig?.autoReply === true
+      ? (channelConfig?.requireMention ?? true)
-        ? false
-        : channelConfig?.autoReply === false
-          ? true
-          : (channelConfig?.requireMention ?? true)
       : false;
     const shouldBypassMention =
       allowTextCommands &&

src/telegram/bot.test.ts

@@ -704,6 +704,50 @@ describe("createTelegramBot", () => {
     expect(replySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
+  it("allows per-topic requireMention override", async () => {
+    onSpy.mockReset();
+    const replySpy = replyModule.__replySpy as unknown as ReturnType<
+      typeof vi.fn
+    >;
+    replySpy.mockReset();
+    loadConfig.mockReturnValue({
+      telegram: {
+        groups: {
+          "*": { requireMention: true },
+          "-1001234567890": {
+            requireMention: true,
+            topics: {
+              "99": { requireMention: false },
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    createTelegramBot({ token: "tok" });
+    const handler = onSpy.mock.calls[0][1] as (
+      ctx: Record<string, unknown>,
+    ) => Promise<void>;
+
+    await handler({
+      message: {
+        chat: {
+          id: -1001234567890,
+          type: "supergroup",
+          title: "Forum Group",
+          is_forum: true,
+        },
+        text: "hello",
+        date: 1736380800,
+        message_thread_id: 99,
+      },
+      me: { username: "clawdbot_bot" },
+      getFile: async () => ({ download: async () => new Uint8Array() }),
+    });
+
+    expect(replySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
   it("honors groups default when no explicit group override exists", async () => {
     onSpy.mockReset();
     const replySpy = replyModule.__replySpy as unknown as ReturnType<

src/telegram/bot.ts

@@ -381,16 +381,11 @@ export function createTelegramBot(opts: TelegramBotOptions) {
       (ent) => ent.type === "mention",
     );
     const baseRequireMention = resolveGroupRequireMention(chatId);
-    const autoReplySetting = firstDefined(
+    const requireMention = firstDefined(
-      topicConfig?.autoReply,
+      topicConfig?.requireMention,
-      groupConfig?.autoReply,
+      groupConfig?.requireMention,
+      baseRequireMention,
     );
-    const requireMention =
-      autoReplySetting === true
-        ? false
-        : autoReplySetting === false
-          ? true
-          : baseRequireMention;
     const shouldBypassMention =
       isGroup &&
       requireMention &&