How Moltbot Works Behind the Scenes

In the simplest terms, Moltbot is a self‑hosted message router/agent runtime and not a chat UI or a magic LLM wrapper.

It is a long‑running Node.js service that connects to multiple chat platforms, normalizes messages into a single internal format, sends those messages to an AI agent, optionally executes tools and sends the result back to the original app.

For example, you can have it running on WhatsApp, give it inputs on who you are, what you want to do, and it can help you do that without having to leave the app. There’s a variety of use-cases, people use it for managing emails, clearing piled up emails, sending text messages and so much more.

Before we move into further details, here’s how the system works: A message from your chat app gets translated by the adapter, routed through the Gateway to the AI agent, which decides what action to take, executes any necessary tools, and sends the response back through the same path.

Here’s an architecture diagram to illustrate:

The Gateway is the core of Moltbot It’s a Node.js process that:

• Runs continuously
• Exposes a WebSocket API (default on localhost)
• Receives messages from all channels
• Keeps track of sessions and routing
• Forwards messages to the agent layer
• Sends responses back to the correct channel

Think of the Gateway as a traffic controller. It does not decide what to say, it decides where messages go. All channels talk to the Gateway and the Gateway talks to the agent.

Here’s an example flow of the gateway in action:

1. You send “Delete all emails from last week” on WhatsApp
2. WhatsApp adapter → Gateway → Agent Runtime
3. Agent decides: “I need the email tool”
4. Tool executes: connects to email, deletes messages
5. Response: “Deleted 47 emails” → Gateway → WhatsApp
6. You see the confirmation in WhatsApp

Each messaging platform is connected via a channel adapter**,** a small piece of code that speaks that platform’s native API.

Each channel:

• Connects to the platform using its official API or CLI bridge
• Listens for incoming messages/events
• Converts them into Moltbot’s internal message format
• Sends them to the Gateway
• Takes responses from the Gateway and sends them back

This adapter pattern is why Moltbot can support many apps without changing its core logic.

Here’s an example of how the adapter works when you send “Hello” on Telegram:

• Telegram adapter receives the Telegram-specific message object
• Converts it to: { text: “Hello”, sender: “user123”, platform: “telegram” }
• Sends normalized messages to Gateway
• Gateway forwards to Agent
• Agent responds: “Hi there!”
• Gateway sends back to Telegram adapter
• Telegram adapter converts to Telegram API format and sends

Once a message reaches the Gateway, it gets forwarded to the agent runtime.

This layer:

• constructs the prompt/context
• sends it to the configured LLM provider
• receives a response
• decides whether a tool needs to be executed

The agent’s output can be:

• plain text (just reply)
• structured instructions to invoke a tool

Tools are what make Moltbot powerful (and risky too). From the code we can see that, it has the capability to:

• run shell commands
• read/write files on your system
• interact with external services
• trigger automations and
• perform system-level operations

The agent decides when to use a tool and the system executes it. This means that whatever you input into the chat will correlate to real system actions.

Because Moltbot connects to personal chat apps, continuously listens, and can execute real actions, there are security risks that can cause issues if you don’t proceed with caution.

Risk 1: Exposing the Gateway

The Gateway is designed to bind to 127.0.0.1 by default.
If you expose it publicly, anyone who can reach that port can potentially interact with your bot.

Risk 2: Untrusted Senders

Messages come from external platforms.
The code includes pairing / allow‑listing mechanisms for a reason. Without them, anyone who can message the bot can attempt to trigger actions.

Risk 3: Tool Permissions

Tools run with your machine’s permissions. A badly scoped tool + a malicious prompt is a real risk.

You might have seen people hosting Moltbot on Macbook minis, but you can skip that entirely and do it on DigitalOcean droplets by following the quickstart tutorial.

Moltbot is a self-hosted message router that connects your chat apps to AI agents that can take real actions. The architecture is simple: Apps → Channel Adapters → Gateway → Agent Runtime → Tools → Response.

Here’s the mental model:

• Channels = connectors to your apps
• Gateway = traffic control for routing messages
• Agent = the AI that decides what to do
• Tools = what actually executes actions on your system

Here are some ideas on how you can use Moltbot:

• Clean up your inbox from WhatsApp. Tell it “delete all promotional emails from last month” while commuting.
• You can also start a task on Telegram, update it from Discord and get reminders on WhatsApp