Telegram Approval Gate

Telegram Approval Gate

Before Hermes sends external communication, route the final draft through the operator's Telegram approval gate.

Rule

Never send user-facing or public content directly when this skill applies. First send a Telegram approval card with:

• Senden - send the draft exactly as approved.
• Bearbeiten - ask the operator for edits, revise the draft, then submit a new approval card.
• Abbrechen - stop without sending.

This applies to Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, email, social posts, channels, group messages, support replies, public comments, and any automation that sends on the operator's behalf.

Helper

Use the bundled helper when a real Telegram approval round is needed:

python3 ~/.hermes/skills/messaging/telegram-approval-gate/scripts/telegram_approval_gate.py \
  --title "Freigabe" \
  --draft-file /path/to/draft.txt

Required environment:

• HERMES_APPROVAL_BOT_TOKEN - a dedicated approval bot token.
• HERMES_APPROVAL_CHAT_ID - the operator's approval DM/chat id.

Do not reuse the live Hermes/OpenClaw Telegram bot token while another gateway is polling it. A dedicated approval bot avoids getUpdates conflicts.

For dry runs:

python3 ~/.hermes/skills/messaging/telegram-approval-gate/scripts/telegram_approval_gate.py \
  --dry-run \
  --draft "Hallo"

Workflow

1. Draft the exact outgoing message locally.
2. Run the approval helper or use the active messaging gateway's native inline-button approval mechanism.
3. If the decision is send, deliver exactly the approved content.
4. If the decision is edit, ask the operator for changes, revise, and repeat approval.
5. If the decision is cancel or timeout, do not send.
6. Record the approval result in the task summary.

Testing

Run the local end-to-end fake Telegram test before relying on changes:

python3 ~/.hermes/skills/messaging/telegram-approval-gate/tests/test_telegram_approval_gate.py

Optional live smoke test requires HERMES_APPROVAL_BOT_TOKEN and HERMES_APPROVAL_CHAT_ID; do not run it with the same token currently owned by OpenClaw/Hermes gateway polling.