telegram-mini-app

by @halay08 in Web & API

# Install this skill:

npx skills add halay08/fullstack-agent-skills --skill "telegram-mini-app"

Install specific skill from multi-skill repository

# Description

Expert in building Telegram Mini Apps (TWA) - web apps that run inside Telegram with native-like experience. Covers the TON ecosystem, Telegram Web App API, payments, user authentication, and building viral mini apps that monetize. Use when: telegram mini app, TWA, telegram web app, TON app, mini app.

# SKILL.md

name: telegram-mini-app
description: "Expert in building Telegram Mini Apps (TWA) - web apps that run inside Telegram with native-like experience. Covers the TON ecosystem, Telegram Web App API, payments, user authentication, and building viral mini apps that monetize. Use when: telegram mini app, TWA, telegram web app, TON app, mini app."
source: vibeship-spawner-skills (Apache 2.0)

Telegram Mini App

Role: Telegram Mini App Architect

You build apps where 800M+ Telegram users already are. You understand
the Mini App ecosystem is exploding - games, DeFi, utilities, social
apps. You know TON blockchain and how to monetize with crypto. You
design for the Telegram UX paradigm, not traditional web.

Capabilities

Telegram Web App API
Mini App architecture
TON Connect integration
In-app payments
User authentication via Telegram
Mini App UX patterns
Viral Mini App mechanics
TON blockchain integration

Patterns

Mini App Setup

Getting started with Telegram Mini Apps

When to use: When starting a new Mini App

## Mini App Setup

### Basic Structure
```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <script src="https://telegram.org/js/telegram-web-app.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
  <script>
    const tg = window.Telegram.WebApp;
    tg.ready();
    tg.expand();

    // User data
    const user = tg.initDataUnsafe.user;
    console.log(user.first_name, user.id);
  </script>
</body>
</html>

React Setup

// hooks/useTelegram.js
export function useTelegram() {
  const tg = window.Telegram?.WebApp;

  return {
    tg,
    user: tg?.initDataUnsafe?.user,
    queryId: tg?.initDataUnsafe?.query_id,
    expand: () => tg?.expand(),
    close: () => tg?.close(),
    ready: () => tg?.ready(),
  };
}

// App.jsx
function App() {
  const { tg, user, expand, ready } = useTelegram();

  useEffect(() => {
    ready();
    expand();
  }, []);

  return <div>Hello, {user?.first_name}</div>;
}

Bot Integration

// Bot sends Mini App
bot.command('app', (ctx) => {
  ctx.reply('Open the app:', {
    reply_markup: {
      inline_keyboard: [[
        { text: '🚀 Open App', web_app: { url: 'https://your-app.com' } }
      ]]
    }
  });
});

### TON Connect Integration

Wallet connection for TON blockchain

**When to use**: When building Web3 Mini Apps

```python
## TON Connect Integration

### Setup
```bash
npm install @tonconnect/ui-react

React Integration

import { TonConnectUIProvider, TonConnectButton } from '@tonconnect/ui-react';

// Wrap app
function App() {
  return (
    <TonConnectUIProvider manifestUrl="https://your-app.com/tonconnect-manifest.json">
      <MainApp />
    </TonConnectUIProvider>
  );
}

// Use in components
function WalletSection() {
  return (
    <TonConnectButton />
  );
}

Manifest File

{
  "url": "https://your-app.com",
  "name": "Your Mini App",
  "iconUrl": "https://your-app.com/icon.png"
}

Send TON Transaction

import { useTonConnectUI } from '@tonconnect/ui-react';

function PaymentButton({ amount, to }) {
  const [tonConnectUI] = useTonConnectUI();

  const handlePay = async () => {
    const transaction = {
      validUntil: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) + 60,
      messages: [{
        address: to,
        amount: (amount * 1e9).toString(), // TON to nanoton
      }]
    };

    await tonConnectUI.sendTransaction(transaction);
  };

  return <button onClick={handlePay}>Pay {amount} TON</button>;
}

### Mini App Monetization

Making money from Mini Apps

**When to use**: When planning Mini App revenue

```javascript
## Mini App Monetization

### Revenue Streams
| Model | Example | Potential |
|-------|---------|-----------|
| TON payments | Premium features | High |
| In-app purchases | Virtual goods | High |
| Ads (Telegram Ads) | Display ads | Medium |
| Referral | Share to earn | Medium |
| NFT sales | Digital collectibles | High |

### Telegram Stars (New!)
```javascript
// In your bot
bot.command('premium', (ctx) => {
  ctx.replyWithInvoice({
    title: 'Premium Access',
    description: 'Unlock all features',
    payload: 'premium',
    provider_token: '', // Empty for Stars
    currency: 'XTR', // Telegram Stars
    prices: [{ label: 'Premium', amount: 100 }], // 100 Stars
  });
});

Viral Mechanics

// Referral system
function ReferralShare() {
  const { tg, user } = useTelegram();
  const referralLink = `https://t.me/your_bot?start=ref_${user.id}`;

  const share = () => {
    tg.openTelegramLink(
      `https://t.me/share/url?url=${encodeURIComponent(referralLink)}&text=Check this out!`
    );
  };

  return <button onClick={share}>Invite Friends (+10 coins)</button>;
}

Gamification for Retention

Daily rewards
Streak bonuses
Leaderboards
Achievement badges
Referral bonuses
```

Anti-Patterns

❌ Ignoring Telegram Theme

Why bad: Feels foreign in Telegram.
Bad user experience.
Jarring transitions.
Users don't trust it.

Instead: Use tg.themeParams.
Match Telegram colors.
Use native-feeling UI.
Test in both light/dark.

❌ Desktop-First Mini App

Why bad: 95% of Telegram is mobile.
Touch targets too small.
Doesn't fit in Telegram UI.
Scrolling issues.

Instead: Mobile-first always.
Test on real phones.
Touch-friendly buttons.
Fit within Telegram frame.

❌ No Loading States

Why bad: Users think it's broken.
Poor perceived performance.
High exit rate.
Confusion.

Instead: Show skeleton UI.
Loading indicators.
Progressive loading.
Optimistic updates.

⚠️ Sharp Edges

Issue	Severity	Solution
Not validating initData from Telegram	high	## Validating initData
TON Connect not working on mobile	high	## TON Connect Mobile Issues
Mini App feels slow and janky	medium	## Mini App Performance
Custom buttons instead of MainButton	medium	## Using MainButton Properly

Works well with: telegram-bot-builder, frontend, blockchain-defi, viral-generator-builder

# Supported AI Coding Agents

This skill is compatible with the SKILL.md standard and works with all major AI coding agents:

⚡ Amp 🚀 Antigravity 🤖 Claude Code 🦀 Clawdbot 📝 Codex ▶️ Cursor 🤖 Droid 💎 Gemini CLI 🐙 GitHub Copilot 🪿 Goose 📊 Kilo Code 🔧 Kiro CLI 💻 OpenCode 🦘 Roo Code 🌲 Trae 🏄 Windsurf

Learn more about the SKILL.md standard and how to use these skills with your preferred AI coding agent.