errbot
Errbot is a Python-based chatbot framework that connects to multiple chat platforms (IRC, Telegram, XMPP natively; Slack, Discord, Mattermost via plugins) and enables ChatOps automation. It allows teams to trigger scripts, manage infrastructure, and automate tasks directly from chat with built-in ACL security and plugin management.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | errbotio/errbot |
| Owner | errbotio |
| Primary language | Python |
| License | GPL-3.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 3.3k |
| Forks | 626 |
| Open issues | 44 |
| Latest release | 6.2.0 (2024-01-04) |
| Last updated | 2026-06-29 |
| Source | https://github.com/errbotio/errbot |
What errbot is
Errbot is a Python 3.10+ daemon that abstracts multiple chat backends behind a unified API, supporting plugin development via Python decorators and metadata. It includes persistent storage per plugin, webhook callbacks, conversation state tracking, and a modular backend architecture enabling both built-in protocols and external integrations.
Get the errbot source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/errbotio/errbot.gitcd errbot# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires Python 3.10+ runtime and virtual environment setup; plan for dependency isolation and version management.
- Backend selection (IRC, Telegram, XMPP built-in vs. Slack/Discord add-ons) must be decided upfront; external backends may have separate installation and maintenance overhead.
- Plugin security relies on ACL configuration and admin rights management; review the !backup and log streaming options for audit and compliance needs.
- State persistence is per-plugin and embedded; for multi-instance deployments or shared state, plan external storage integration.
- Configuration is Python-based (config.py); parameterize for environment-specific settings (API keys, chat credentials) to avoid leaking secrets.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Proprietary Chat Platform Lock-in — If your organization uses only Slack or Microsoft Teams and does not need multi-platform support, lighter frameworks or Slack's native Bot API may be simpler.
- GPL v3 Commercial Restrictions — If your codebase or product is not GPL-compatible or you cannot disclose modifications, GPL v3 licensing requires careful legal review before use.
- High-Volume Conversation State — Errbot's conversation flow tracking is designed for interactive dialogue, not bulk message processing; use message queues or event streams for high-throughput scenarios.
- Real-Time AI/ML Integration — If you need tightly integrated LLM inference or real-time ML, this is a general-purpose chatbot framework, not an AI-first platform.
License & commercial use
Errbot is licensed under GPL v3 (GNU General Public License v3.0). This is a copyleft license requiring any derivative work to be released under the same terms and source code to be made available.
GPL v3 permits commercial use, but requires: (1) you disclose source code of modifications; (2) any application or service linked to Errbot must also be GPL v3 compatible. If you cannot open-source your integration or modifications, this license requires legal review. Proprietary plugins may conflict with GPL obligations. Consult legal counsel before committing to GPL v3 in a closed-source commercial product.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
ACL-based access control for commands is built-in and configurable per admin/user. No explicit details on credential management, TLS enforcement, or audit logging are provided in the data. Webhook and log streaming to external services (Sentry) must be evaluated for sensitive environments. Backup functionality exists but encryption status is unknown. Consider: (1) config.py secrets rotation; (2) network isolation if exposing webhooks; (3) audit trail for admin actions.
Alternatives to consider
Hubot (Node.js)
Similar multi-platform ChatOps framework; mature ecosystem and Slack-first focus, but requires JavaScript/CoffeeScript expertise and is less flexible for Python-heavy teams.
Opsdroid (Python)
Python-based alternative with cleaner YAML config and async/await patterns; smaller community and fewer built-in backends, but less GPL constraints if licensing is a concern.
Slack/Discord native Bot APIs + custom services
Direct, proprietary APIs eliminate multi-platform abstraction overhead; better support and docs but lock you into one or two platforms and require separate implementations per service.
Build on errbot with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate Errbot for your DevOps automation needs. Assess GPL v3 licensing, multi-platform support, and integration requirements with your team before adoption.
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errbot FAQ
Can I use Errbot in a closed-source product?
Does Errbot support Slack natively?
How do I persist plugin data across restarts?
Is there commercial support available?
Work with a software development agency
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Ready to Build a ChatOps Bot?
Evaluate Errbot for your DevOps automation needs. Assess GPL v3 licensing, multi-platform support, and integration requirements with your team before adoption.