# Your first command

Now that you've set up a command group and registered your command folder, you're ready to make your first command file! First, you're going to need to create a new file for the command. Hop over to your commands folder, and then your first folder, and make a new file called meow.js. This is going to be a simple command that only replies with a message when used. We'll go into arguments and all that later.

Once you have your file, it's time to get started!

# Creating your command class

Before you do anything, at the start of your file, you're going to need to require Commando again. Specifically its Command class.

const { Command } = require('discord.js-commando');

Commands are classes exported with module.exports. Create the class and set module.exports to it. You will also configure various options here, which we will explain below.

module.exports = class MeowCommand extends Command {
	constructor(client) {
		super(client, {
			name: 'meow',
			aliases: ['kitty-cat'],
			group: 'first',
			memberName: 'meow',
			description: 'Replies with a meow, kitty cat.',
		});
	}
};

Don't let this scare you; it's straightforward.

  • name is the name of the command.
  • aliases are other ways users can call the command. You can have as many as you want!
  • group is the command group of the command.
  • memberName is the name of the command within the group (this can be different from the name).
  • description is the help text displayed when someones use the help command.

There are many more properties you can use, but their sections will explain those.

# Creating your run method

The next thing you're going to need is a run method. This should go right below the constructor for the command. Inside, you'll return a message:

module.exports = class MeowCommand extends Command {
	constructor(client) {
		super(client, {
			name: 'meow',
			group: 'first',
			memberName: 'meow',
			description: 'Replies with a meow, kitty cat.',
		});
	}

	run(message) {
		return message.say('Meow!');
	}
};

As you can see, the run method is simply the code you want the bot to run when someone uses the command. This code can be anything you can do in core discord.js, as Commando is simply an extension.

You may have also noticed that I used message.say instead of message.channel.send. This syntax is Commando's magic. Instead of send, use say; embeds, use embed; code, use code. The only exception to this is attachments, which are still sent the same as usual.

The reason for this is that Commando allows editing messages into commands, and using these methods will enable Commando to save the messages for that use. It also checks if it can send a message to the current channel, so you get two things in one!

Now fire up the bot as usual and use your command! It should automatically be ?meow to use it.

# Resulting code

If you want to compare your code to the code we've constructed so far, you can review it over on the GitHub repository here (opens new window).

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