docs(channels): add Channels feature documentation

- Add overview page explaining channels architecture and configuration
- Add Telegram channel setup guide with bot creation steps
- Add navigation entries for channels section

This documents the new Channels feature that allows users to interact
with Qwen Code agents from messaging platforms like Telegram.

Co-authored-by: Qwen-Coder <qwen-coder@alibabacloud.com>
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tanzhenxin 2026-03-24 11:12:52 +00:00
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# Telegram
This guide covers setting up a Qwen Code channel on Telegram.
## Prerequisites
- A Telegram account
- A Telegram bot token (see below)
## Creating a Bot
1. Open Telegram and search for [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather)
2. Send `/newbot` and follow the prompts to choose a name and username
3. BotFather will give you a bot token — save it securely
## Finding Your User ID
To use `senderPolicy: "allowlist"`, you need your Telegram user ID (a numeric ID, not your username).
The easiest way to find it:
1. Search for [@userinfobot](https://t.me/userinfobot) on Telegram
2. Send it any message — it will reply with your user ID
## Configuration
Add the channel to `~/.qwen/settings.json`:
```json
{
"channels": {
"my-telegram": {
"type": "telegram",
"token": "$TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN",
"senderPolicy": "allowlist",
"allowedUsers": ["YOUR_USER_ID"],
"sessionScope": "user",
"cwd": "/path/to/your/project",
"instructions": "You are a concise coding assistant responding via Telegram. Keep responses short."
}
}
}
```
Set the bot token as an environment variable:
```bash
export TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=<your-token-from-botfather>
```
Or add it to a `.env` file that gets sourced before running.
## Running
```bash
qwen channel start my-telegram
```
Then open your bot in Telegram and send a message. You should see "Working..." appear immediately, followed by the agent's response.
## Tips
- **Keep instructions concise-focused** — Telegram has a 4096-character message limit. Adding instructions like "keep responses short" helps the agent stay within bounds.
- **Use `sessionScope: "user"`** — This gives each user their own conversation. Use `/reset` to start fresh.
- **Restrict access** — Use `senderPolicy: "allowlist"` with your user ID to prevent unauthorized access. The bot silently ignores messages from users not on the list.
## Message Formatting
The agent's markdown responses are automatically converted to Telegram-compatible HTML. Code blocks, bold, italic, links, and lists are all supported.
## Troubleshooting
### Bot doesn't respond
- Check that the bot token is correct and the environment variable is set
- Verify your user ID is in `allowedUsers` if using `senderPolicy: "allowlist"`
- Check the terminal output for errors
### "Sorry, something went wrong processing your message"
This usually means the agent encountered an error. Check the terminal output for details.
### Bot takes a long time to respond
The agent may be running multiple tool calls (reading files, searching, etc.). The "Working..." indicator shows while the agent is processing. Complex tasks can take a minute or more.