Python tools, Cron, and groups

This page covers middleware.py dependency imports, system utility functions, runtime scheduled commands, and group management methods. Public plugins should prefer the functions listed here and avoid relying on unpublished internal actions.

`import_module(module, package="", version="", manager="")`

Ensure a Python dependency is available, then return the imported module object.

module

str

required

Module name passed to importlib.import_module(...).

package

str

Real package name. Use it when the package name differs from the import name, such as importing PIL.Image from the pillow package.

version

str

Required version.

manager

str

Package manager name. Python dependencies usually use pip; omit it to let the runtime infer the manager.

from middleware import import_module

requests = import_module("requests", version="2.32.3", manager="pip")
image_module = import_module("PIL.Image", package="pillow", version="10.4.0", manager="pip")

The current SDK also keeps importModule = import_module as a compatibility alias. New Python plugins should use import_module(...).

Prefer declaring fixed dependencies in the manifest dependency field. Use import_module(...) for on-demand loading, dynamic versions, or old plugin compatibility. Do not call it repeatedly in hot loops.

System and utility functions

Function	Purpose	Parameters	Returns
`render(template, selector, jsondata)`	Render HTML/template, often to generate images.	Template, selector, data.	Render result
`getActiveImtypes()`	Get enabled IM types.	None	`list[str]`
`name()`	Get bot name.	None	`str`
`domain()`	Get domain or public address.	None	`str`
`port()` / `getPort()`	Get service port.	None	`str \| int`
`machineId()`	Get machine ID.	None	`str`
`version()`	Get autClaw version.	None	`str`
`versionInfo()`	Get structured version information.	None	`dict`
`notifyMasters(content, imtypes=[])`	Notify administrators.	Content and optional IM type list.	`int`, send count.
`coffee()`	Get coffee-code activation status.	None	`bool`
`spread(msg)`	Legacy promotion-link conversion entry point.	`msg`: required.	Runtime result
`getHistoryMessages(imtype="")`	Get recent message history.	`imtype`: optional IM type.	Message history list
`generateFromSinglePrompt(prompt)`	Legacy single-prompt generation entry point.	`prompt`: required.	`str`
`printf(message)`	Print and flush output.	`message`: required.	`None`

The SDK keeps defaults like imtypes=[] for compatibility. In your own Python functions, prefer None as the default to avoid mutable default argument issues.

`Cron`

Cron manages runtime scheduled commands. It is different from manifest cron: manifest cron triggers the current plugin, while the Cron class adds, updates, lists, and deletes runtime scheduled commands.

from middleware import Cron

cron = Cron()
items = cron.getCrons()
added = cron.addCron("0 9 * * *", False, "daily reminder", True, None, "Daily reminder")

print(items, added)

Method	Purpose	Parameters	Returns
`Cron(cronID=None)`	Create the Cron helper; `cronID` is an optional legacy-compatible parameter.	Optional.	`Cron` instance
`getCrons()`	Get scheduled commands created by the current runtime.	None	Scheduled command list
`getCronByID(id)`	Get one scheduled command.	`id`: required.	Scheduled command or runtime result
`getCron(id)`	Compatibility alias of `getCronByID(...)`.	`id`: required.	Scheduled command or runtime result
`addCron(cron, isOnce=False, cmd=None, isToSelf=None, toOthers=None, memo=None, disguiseImtype=None, disguiseGroup=None, disguiseUser=None)`	Add a runtime scheduled command.	`cron` required; remaining fields optional, `None` values are omitted.	New schedule ID or runtime result
`updateCron(id, cron=None, isOnce=None, cmd=None, isToSelf=None, toOthers=None, memo=None, disguiseImtype=None, disguiseGroup=None, disguiseUser=None)`	Update a runtime scheduled command.	`id` required; pass only fields to update.	Runtime result
`deleteCron(id)`	Delete a runtime scheduled command.	`id`: required.	Runtime result
`delCron(id)`	Compatibility alias of `deleteCron(...)`.	`id`: required.	Runtime result

Current Python addCron(...) / updateCron(...) do not require every positional parameter. The method omits fields whose value is None. To clear a field, pass an empty string "".

Group management

These methods depend on current IM adapter support. Unsupported adapters may return errors or have no effect. They return the runtime data value directly.

Method	Purpose	Parameters	Returns
`groupInviteIn(friend, group)`	Invite a friend into a group.	`friend`: friend ID; `group`: group ID.	Runtime result
`groupKick(userid)`	Kick a group member.	`userid`: user ID.	Runtime result
`groupBan(userid, timeout)`	Mute a group member.	`timeout`: mute seconds or adapter-required unit.	Runtime result
`groupUnban(userid)`	Unmute a member.	`userid`: user ID.	Runtime result
`groupWholeBan()`	Enable whole-group mute.	None	Runtime result
`groupWholeUnban()`	Disable whole-group mute.	None	Runtime result
`groupNoticeSend(notice)`	Send a group announcement.	`notice`: announcement content.	Runtime result

sender.groupBan("10001", 600)
sender.groupNoticeSend("Maintenance tonight at 22:00. Save your work in advance.")

Next steps

Push from scheduled tasks: Proactive push
View complete signatures: Python signatures

​import_module(module, package="", version="", manager="")

​System and utility functions

​Cron

​Group management

​Next steps

`import_module(module, package="", version="", manager="")`

System and utility functions

`Cron`

Group management

Next steps