botserver/docs/src/chapter-02/templates.md

Bot Templates

BotServer includes 21 pre-built bot templates for various use cases. Each template is a complete .gbai package ready to deploy.

Template Overview

Template	Purpose	Key Features	Use Case
default.gbai	Minimal starter bot	Basic config only	Simple bots, learning
template.gbai	Reference implementation	Complete structure example	Creating new templates
announcements.gbai	Company announcements	Multiple KB collections, auth flows	Internal communications
ai-search.gbai	AI-powered search	QR generation, PDF samples	Document retrieval
api-client.gbai	External API integration	Climate API, REST patterns	Third-party services
backup.gbai	Backup automation	Server backup scripts, scheduling	System administration
bi.gbai	Business Intelligence	Admin/user roles, data viz	Executive dashboards
broadcast.gbai	Mass messaging	Recipient management, scheduling	Marketing campaigns
crawler.gbai	Web indexing	Site crawling, content extraction	Search engines
crm.gbai	Customer Relations	Sentiment analysis, tracking	Sales & support
edu.gbai	Education platform	Course management, enrollment	Online learning
erp.gbai	Enterprise Planning	Process automation, integrations	Resource management
law.gbai	Legal assistant	Document templates, regulations	Legal departments
llm-server.gbai	LLM hosting	Model serving, GPU config	AI infrastructure
llm-tools.gbai	LLM utilities	Prompt engineering, testing	AI development
marketing.gbai	Marketing automation	Campaign tools, lead generation	Marketing teams
public-apis.gbai	Public API access	Weather, news, data sources	Information services
reminder.gbai	Task reminders	Scheduling, notifications	Personal assistants
store.gbai	E-commerce	Product catalog, orders	Online stores
talk-to-data.gbai	Natural language queries	SQL generation, data viz	Data exploration
whatsapp.gbai	WhatsApp Business	Meta API, media handling	Mobile messaging

Template Structure

All templates follow this standard directory layout:

template-name.gbai/
  template-name.gbdialog/    # BASIC dialog scripts
    start.bas              # Entry point (required)
    *.bas                  # Tool scripts (auto-discovered)
  template-name.gbkb/        # Knowledge base collections
    collection1/           # Documents for USE KB "collection1"
    collection2/           # Documents for USE KB "collection2"
  template-name.gbdrive/     # File storage (not KB)
    uploads/               # User uploaded files
    exports/               # Generated files
  template-name.gbot/        # Configuration
    config.csv             # Bot parameters
  template-name.gbtheme/     # UI theme (optional)
    default.css            # Theme CSS

Quick Start Guide

1. Choose a Template

Select based on your needs:

• Simple chat: Use default.gbai
• Business app: Choose crm.gbai, bi.gbai, or erp.gbai
• AI features: Pick ai-search.gbai or llm-tools.gbai
• Communication: Select broadcast.gbai or whatsapp.gbai

2. Deploy the Template

# Templates are auto-deployed during bootstrap
# Access at: http://localhost:8080/template-name

3. Customize Configuration

Edit template-name.gbot/config.csv:

name,value
bot-name,My Custom Bot
welcome-message,Hello! How can I help?
llm-model,gpt-4
temperature,0.7

4. Add Knowledge Base

Place documents in .gbkb folders:

• Each folder becomes a collection
• Use USE KB "folder-name" in scripts
• Documents are automatically indexed

5. Create Tools (Optional)

Add .bas files to .gbdialog:

• Each file becomes a tool
• Auto-discovered by the system
• Called automatically by LLM when needed

Template Details

Core Templates

default.gbai

• Files: Minimal configuration only
• Best for: Learning, simple bots
• Customization: Start from scratch

template.gbai

• Files: Complete example structure
• Best for: Reference implementation
• Customization: Copy and modify

Business Applications

announcements.gbai

• Files: auth.bas, start.bas, multiple KB collections
• Collections: auxiliom, news, toolbix
• Features: Authentication, summaries

bi.gbai

• Files: bi-admin.bas, bi-user.bas
• Features: Role separation, dashboards
• Data: Report generation

crm.gbai

• Files: analyze-customer-sentiment.bas, check.bas
• Features: Sentiment analysis
• Data: Customer tracking

store.gbai

• Features: Product catalog, order processing
• Integration: E-commerce workflows

AI & Search

ai-search.gbai

• Files: qr.bas, PDF samples
• Features: QR codes, document search
• Data: Sample PDFs included

talk-to-data.gbai

• Features: Natural language to SQL
• Integration: Database connections
• Output: Data visualization

Communication

broadcast.gbai

• Files: broadcast.bas
• Features: Mass messaging
• Scheduling: Message campaigns

whatsapp.gbai

• Config: Meta Challenge parameter
• Features: WhatsApp API integration
• Media: Image/video support

Development Tools

api-client.gbai

• Files: climate.bas, msft-partner-center.bas
• Examples: REST API patterns
• Integration: External services

llm-server.gbai

• Config: Model serving parameters
• Features: GPU configuration
• Purpose: Local LLM hosting

Best Practices

Template Selection

1. Start small: Begin with default.gbai
2. Match use case: Choose aligned templates
3. Combine features: Mix templates as needed
4. Keep originals: Copy before modifying

Customization Strategy

Minimal BASIC Approach

Instead of complex dialog flows, use simple LLM calls:

' Traditional: 100+ lines of intent matching
' BotServer: Let system AI handle it naturally
TALK "How can I assist you?"
' System AI understands and responds appropriately

Tool Creation

Only create .bas files for specific actions:

• API calls
• Database operations
• File processing
• Calculations

Knowledge Base Organization

• One folder per topic/collection
• Name folders clearly
• Keep documents updated
• Index automatically

Performance Tips

• Remove unused template files
• Index only necessary documents
• Configure appropriate cache settings
• Monitor resource usage

Creating Custom Templates

To create your own template:

1. Copy template.gbai as starting point
2. Define clear purpose - one template, one job
3. Structure folders properly:
   • .gbdialog for scripts
   • .gbkb for knowledge collections
   • .gbdrive for general files
   • .gbot for configuration
4. Include examples - sample data and dialogs
5. Test thoroughly - verify all features

Migration Philosophy

When migrating from traditional platforms:

Remove Complexity

• ❌ Intent detection → ✅ LLM understands naturally
• ❌ State machines → ✅ LLM maintains context
• ❌ Routing logic → ✅ LLM handles flow
• ❌ Entity extraction → ✅ LLM identifies information

Embrace Simplicity

• Let LLM handle conversations
• Create tools only for actions
• Use knowledge bases for context
• Trust the system's capabilities

Template Maintenance

• Templates updated with BotServer releases
• Check repository for latest versions
• Review changes before upgrading
• Test in development first

Support Resources

• README files in each template folder
• Example configurations included
• Sample knowledge bases provided
• Community forums for discussions