Three Languages I Like for Building Discord Bots

I have spent time looking at several ways to build Discord bots, but three languages keep getting my attention: JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, and C#.

This is not meant to be an expert ranking. It is a look at the options from my perspective: what I find appealing, what gives me pause, and which libraries I would consider trying. All three can handle the usual Discord features, so personal preference matters quite a bit.

JavaScript and TypeScript

JavaScript feels like a natural place to start with a Discord bot. Node.js already revolves around events, which matches the way a bot reacts to commands, messages, and members joining a server.

What interests me most is how easily it can sit beside a web dashboard. Using TypeScript for both could make it easier to share types and validation instead of describing the same data twice.

Libraries to consider

• discord.js is the usual starting point. It provides polished, object-oriented abstractions for Discord's API and has a large collection of guides and examples.
• Sapphire is a framework built on discord.js. It adds command handling, listeners, preconditions, plugins, and an organized project structure.
• Eris is a lighter Discord library that gives developers a somewhat lower-level alternative.

I would probably use plain JavaScript for a quick experiment and TypeScript for anything I hoped to keep developing. I like having types explain what a command expects, especially once a project stops fitting comfortably in one file.

Python

Python is the easiest of these three for me to read at a glance. A small bot does not require much ceremony, so it looks inviting for experiments and utilities where I want to get an idea working quickly.

I also like the range of things Python can connect to. If a bot needs automation, data processing, or image work, there is a good chance the Python ecosystem already has something useful.

Libraries to consider

• discord.py is the established choice, with support for commands, interactions, cogs, and Discord events.
• Pycord began as a discord.py fork and offers a similar async style with guides focused on modern Discord features.
• Nextcord and Disnake are other discord.py-inspired options with familiar APIs.
• Hikari takes a different, modular approach for developers who want an alternative to the discord.py family.

I would still want to organize a Python bot before it grew too large. Cogs or modules look like a sensible way to group commands, while database work and the bot's actual rules can live outside the Discord handlers.

C#

C# is the option I am personally most drawn to for a bot I expect to keep. I already like working with C#, and its strong typing and debugging tools give me more confidence when a project starts gaining features.

Of the C# libraries I have used, DSharpPlus is the one I enjoy most. Its approach feels comfortable to me, and enjoying the library matters when I am choosing something I may spend a lot of time maintaining.

I can picture a C# bot growing into a structured application: small Discord handlers calling services for moderation, game data, scheduled jobs, or database work. Those services could eventually support an ASP.NET Core dashboard too.

Libraries to consider

• DSharpPlus is my preferred C# library. It is an established .NET wrapper with guides, extensions, and modern .NET support.
• Discord.Net is a mature asynchronous alternative with support for Discord events and interactions.
• NetCord is a newer, strongly typed option designed around current .NET features.
• Remora.Discord uses a more opinionated, dependency-injection-oriented design.

The downside, at least from my point of view, is that C# asks for more setup before a tiny idea feels alive. I tend to appreciate that structure later, especially when configuration, logging, database migrations, and background jobs enter the picture.

Which one should you use?

I do not think there is one answer that fits every bot. My rough way of looking at it is:

• JavaScript/TypeScript appeals to me for quick development and projects closely tied to a website.
• Python looks great for readable experiments, automation, and data-heavy features.
• C# is where I would lean for a larger bot that I plan to maintain for a long time.

If I were starting today, I would probably reach for TypeScript for a smaller web-connected bot or C# for a more structured project. Python would be tempting whenever the bot's main job involved automation or data work.

My opinions may change as I build more with each ecosystem, and that is part of the fun. Whichever one I use, I still need to protect the bot token, avoid requesting unnecessary Discord permissions, and keep slow work out of command handlers.

Documentation and further reading