---
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
```javascript
## Mini App Setup
### Basic Structure
```html
```
### React Setup
```jsx
// 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
Hello, {user?.first_name}
;
}
```
### Bot Integration
```javascript
// 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
```jsx
import { TonConnectUIProvider, TonConnectButton } from '@tonconnect/ui-react';
// Wrap app
function App() {
return (
);
}
// Use in components
function WalletSection() {
return (
);
}
```
### Manifest File
```json
{
"url": "https://your-app.com",
"name": "Your Mini App",
"iconUrl": "https://your-app.com/icon.png"
}
```
### Send TON Transaction
```jsx
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 ;
}
```
```
### 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
```jsx
// 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 ;
}
```
### 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 |
## Related Skills
Works well with: `telegram-bot-builder`, `frontend`, `blockchain-defi`, `viral-generator-builder`