Discord Bot Libraries: discord.js, discord.py, JDA, and Eris

Start with the language you can maintain

The library you know well is often the best place to start. Check that it supports the interactions, voice features, and runtime you need. Avoid picking a library from an unverified claim that it is always faster or uses less memory.

What to check in each library

Try one slash command

Build a small test that connects, receives a command, checks permissions, and replies. For example, this discord.js handler assumes you have already created a client and registered a /ping command.

import { Events, MessageFlags } from "discord.js";

client.on(Events.InteractionCreate, async (interaction) => {
  if (!interaction.isChatInputCommand()) return;
  if (interaction.commandName !== "ping") return;

  try {
    await interaction.reply({
      content: "Pong!",
      flags: MessageFlags.Ephemeral,
    });
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Ping reply failed", error);
  }
});

Register test commands in a test server while iterating. Keep command registration separate from every reconnect. Use a bot token from the environment, and keep it out of screenshots and logs.

Check the parts beyond the first reply

• Can you find examples for buttons, modals, and permission checks?
• Does the installed release support your runtime and required Discord features?
• Can you control caching and intents without fighting the framework?
• Does reconnect and shutdown behavior fit your hosting setup?
• Can your team diagnose a failed request using the library’s errors and logs?

For expensive processing, use background workers instead of blocking the client’s event loop. For growth, review rate limits and sharding before replacing a library that may not be the bottleneck.