The rise of AI-powered chatbots has created a huge demand for intelligent, scalable, and adaptable platforms—and Botpress is leading that charge in 2025. Known for being developer-friendly and built for modern LLM-native workflows, Botpress is rapidly becoming the go-to framework for building custom conversational agents and AI copilots.

Whether you're a beginner developer or a business curious about Botpress capabilities, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started as a Botpress developer.

What is Botpress?

Botpress is an open-source conversational AI platform built for developers who want control, flexibility, and the power of large language models (LLMs). Unlike older platforms that rely on rigid intent matching and rule-based flows, Botpress supports advanced capabilities like:

Contextual conversation memory
RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
Native integration with LLMs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere
Low-code visual flow editor + pro-code flexibility
Omnichannel deployment (web, mobile, messaging apps)

Think of it as the developer's dream toolbox for building smart, scalable AI agents.

Why Learn Botpress in 2025?

Here’s why Botpress is a top choice for chatbot developers today:

Built for the agentic era: It lets you build AI agents that can call tools, search knowledge bases, and make decisions.
Rapid development: Combine drag-and-drop visual tools with custom JavaScript/TypeScript for full control.
RAG-ready: Easily integrate vector search for domain-specific bots.
Extensible: Create plugins, connect APIs, and build your own skills.

With more businesses adopting LLM-integrated bots, learning Botpress can give you an edge in the chatbot and AI job market.

Prerequisites to Get Started

Before diving in, make sure you have:

Basic knowledge of JavaScript or TypeScript
Understanding of APIs and HTTP requests
Familiarity with LLMs or GPT-based tools is helpful, but not required
Node.js (LTS version) installed locally
A Botpress Cloud account (or install Botpress locally)

Step 1: Install Botpress (or Use the Cloud Studio)

You have two options to start:

a. Use Botpress Cloud (Recommended for Beginners)

Sign up at https://botpress.com
Access the Botpress Studio in-browser
No local setup required

b. Run Botpress Locally (for advanced control)

Install Docker and run the Botpress image:

bashCopyEditdocker run -d -p 3000:3000 \
-v ~/.botpress_data:/botpress/data \
botpress/server:v12_29_0

Then access the admin panel at http://localhost:3000.

Step 2: Create Your First Bot

In the Botpress Studio, click "Create New Bot"
Choose a starter template or a blank project
Give your bot a name (e.g., “SupportBot”)

This will generate a basic bot with a default flow.

Step 3: Understand the Botpress Studio Interface

Botpress Studio provides a drag-and-drop visual editor where you can:

Create nodes (conversation steps)
Add triggers (like intents or keywords)
Write actions using code blocks
Configure LLM prompts, memory, and variable management

Explore panels like:

Flows: Visual chatbot journey
Knowledge: Upload documents for RAG
Code: Add custom JavaScript logic
Emulator: Test your bot in real-time

Step 4: Add an LLM to Your Bot

Botpress makes it easy to connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, or other providers.

Go to Bot Settings > AI Configuration
Choose your LLM provider (e.g., OpenAI)
Enter your API key
Configure memory and reasoning settings

This enables your bot to generate dynamic answers using GPT-style responses.

Step 5: Use the Knowledge Base (RAG Integration)

Want your bot to answer based on your internal docs?

Go to the Knowledge section
Upload PDFs, text files, or enter links
Botpress will automatically vectorize and index the content
Use “Query Knowledge Base” actions in your flows to call this data

This is what makes Botpress a powerful RAG-enabled framework for enterprise bots.

Step 6: Add Actions and API Calls

A good bot often needs to interact with external systems.

In Botpress, you can write custom logic in JavaScript:

jsCopyEditconst response = await axios.get('https://api.example.com/users');
state.userData = response.data;

These actions can be triggered from a flow node, allowing your bot to:

Fetch user data
Book appointments
Trigger workflows
Post form data to CRMs

Step 7: Test Your Bot

Use the built-in emulator to test:

Multi-turn interactions
LLM-based responses
Knowledge base lookups
API triggers

Once it works well, you can deploy it to:

Web (embed in your site)
WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger
Slack or custom mobile apps

Step 8: Go Further – Build Plugins and Skills

As you grow, you can:

Create custom plugins with reusable functionality
Add skills that work across multiple bots
Use Botpress CLI for advanced deployments and versioning

Explore GitHub repositories and community resources to accelerate development.

Key Tools Every Botpress Developer Should Know

Tool	Purpose
Botpress Studio	Visual chatbot editor
OpenAI/Claude	LLMs for generative answers
Pinecone, Chroma	Vector stores for knowledge search (RAG)
Postman	API testing and integration
Git & CLI	Source control and deployments

Career Opportunities for Botpress Developers in 2025

As demand for LLM-integrated bots grows, Botpress developers are being hired to build:

AI customer support agents
Internal knowledge assistants
Booking and onboarding bots
Custom AI copilots for apps

Roles include:

Botpress Developer
Conversational AI Engineer
AI Agent Developer
LLM Integration Specialist

Final Thoughts

Getting started as a Botpress developer in 2025 is easier than ever — but the possibilities are more powerful than they’ve ever been. From simple flows to intelligent RAG-enabled bots, Botpress gives you the tools to build real-world AI applications with ease.

Whether you're freelancing, joining a tech team, or building a startup, Botpress expertise can put you at the center of the next wave of intelligent automation.

Getting Started as a Botpress Developer: A Beginner’s Guide