Creating a chatbot is a fascinating journey into the world of automated communication. Today, we'll guide you through the process of building a simple yet effective chatbot platform using Next.js, SQLite, and OpenAI. This platform will enable you to create multiple bots, send them messages, and receive responses.
Getting Started with Next.js
The adventure begins with setting up a simple Next.js project. When you start, be sure to choose the 'agent' option instead of the normal one. This crucial step allows the running of commands, which you'll find immensely useful as we proceed. Once configured, you'll be able to view the output in your web browser.
Building an Admin Dashboard
Next, we move on to creating an admin dashboard. This interface will have a look and feel akin to the popular project management tool, Linear. The functionalities include the ability to create, update, and edit bots, a versatile setup to manage your bots efficiently.
Addressing Data Persistence
One challenge you'll encounter is that initially, none of the bot states are saved. This is because there's no real database on the backend. To solve this, we'll set up a database. In this guide, we use SQLite, a convenient lightweight database. However, feel free to choose any database system you prefer, such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. Once implemented, your bots' states will be saved, and they will persist across page reloads.
Creating an API for Bot Communication
With the database in place, the next step is to create an API. This will allow you to invoke individual bots. We'll connect this API to OpenAI to enhance functionality. Additionally, the admin dashboard will feature an option to test messages easily. Connect to OpenAI by securing an API key, allowing interaction with their powerful servers.
Troubleshooting and Enhancements
While testing, you might encounter issues like improper model usage. For instance, there might be a prompt to use the gpt-4o-mini model, although it defaults to the turbo-preview model. It’s vital to ensure the correct model is used. A simple prompt adjustment can direct the system to utilize your desired model, 4o-mini.
Another enhancement is updating the design to a light mode for a more soothing interface and implementing the shadcn library—though its pronunciation is a fun mystery—to achieve a clean, modern look.
Testing With Real Scenarios
With everything set up, it's time to test the bots in action. For variety, you might try scenarios like a gym trainer simulation. The bot's ability to provide a coherent response using the custom instruction will be a testament to the platform's efficacy.
Conclusion and What's Next
This brings us to the end of this section of our chatbot-building journey. In our next installment, we will explore how to upload and integrate your own content into the platform. Stay tuned for more insights and enhancements to your chatbot adventure.
Thank you for exploring the fascinating world of chatbots with me!
Share this post