New Bot Framework brings new features for Skype, Slack and more

By Jared DiPane
published

Microsoft has announced that an important update is being released for the Bot Framework which comes largely from feedback that has been received. Improvements will be made to cards, and Slack, Skype and Facebook Bots will be gaining some new features. If you've already developed a bot, you will need to update it for it to continue working, as these changes also alter the API and SDK used to build the bots.

The enhancements, as detailed by Microsoft, include:

  • Well-defined support for cards and carousels for both channels that support them natively (Skype, Facebook) and text-rendered for those that don't;
  • Automatic configuration of Skype – no copy-and-paste needed!
  • Simplified addressing of users and groups;
  • Additional dialog types and capabilities in the Bot Builder SDK;
  • Added Cognitive Services LUIS Intent Dialog type to the SDK;
  • Support for Skype calling features added to the SDK;
  • Enhancements to the Bot Framework Emulator;
  • Support for Slack's recent addition of buttons; and
  • Support for many of Facebook's newest Bot features.

Remember, you will need to update existing bots to take advantage of these new features. You can view all of the bots documentation (opens in new tab) to get started now.

Jared DiPane
Jared DiPane

Jared started off writing about mobile phones back when BlackBerry ruled the market, and Windows Mobile was kinda cool. Now, with a family, mortgage and other responsibilities he has no choice but to look for the best deals, and he's here to share them with you.

12 Comments
  • Windows central can u make a tutorial for developing a bot using bot framework... There aren't many in YouTube
  • What are some of the bots that people here are using in fb messenger and skype?
  • I have created a Facebook bot that emails me any time a friend posts a picture of their child, dog, cat, or a meme.  It's very helpful as I'm sure you can imagine.
  • =D
  • You can use IFTTT?
  • IFTTT doesn't have the AI that determines that the image contains the types of content he mentioned.  Then again, I think that list pretty much covers everything ever posted on Facebook anyway so maybe no AI needed afterall. 
  • So just one person uses chat bots?
  • Yes, for internet cat purposes (puurrrr-poses).
  • I tried to find any mentions, but is it possible to add Bot to group conversation? So all will be able to trigger bot commands and other will see result? upd. Right after I posted comment I've found answer: http://docs.botframework.com/en-us/skype/getting-started/#groups
    Thanks, community ))
  • Bots are so boring now.
  • I used bots in slack before for business so if an order was placed it automatically put the order number in the bot channel. So that way the sales email inbox could keep conversations, but the slack channel bot only had new orders to keep it clean
  • I wish there's an option to support bot in group chat though, it would be fun.