layer

Async Rust library for the Telegram MTProto protocol. Developed by Ankit Chaubey.

Note

This project is no longer maintained or supported. Its original purpose for personal SDK/APK experimentation and learning has been fulfilled.

Instead, please use ferogram, which will receive future development and updates. Development may proceed at a slower pace.

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Crates

Most users only need layer-client.

Crate	Description
layer-client	High-level async client: auth, messaging, media, bots
layer-tl-types	Layer 224 types, functions, enums (2,329 definitions)
layer-mtproto	MTProto session, DH exchange, framing, transports
layer-crypto	AES-IGE, RSA, SHA, Diffie-Hellman, auth key derivation
layer-tl-gen	Build-time code generator from the TL AST
layer-tl-parser	Parses .tl schema into an AST

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Installation

[dependencies]
layer-client = "0.5.0"
tokio        = { version = "1", features = ["full"] }

Get your api_id and api_hash from my.telegram.org.

Optional features:

layer-client = { version = "0.5.0", features = ["sqlite-session"] }  # SQLite session
layer-client = { version = "0.5.0", features = ["libsql-session"] }  # libsql / Turso
layer-client = { version = "0.5.0", features = ["html"] }            # HTML parser
layer-client = { version = "0.5.0", features = ["html5ever"] }       # html5ever parser

layer-client re-exports layer_tl_types as layer_client::tl.

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Quick Start - Bot

use layer_client::{Client, update::Update};

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    let (client, _shutdown) = Client::builder()
        .api_id(std::env::var("API_ID")?.parse()?)
        .api_hash(std::env::var("API_HASH")?)
        .session("bot.session")
        .connect()
        .await?;

    client.bot_sign_in(&std::env::var("BOT_TOKEN")?).await?;
    client.save_session().await?;

    let mut stream = client.stream_updates();
    while let Some(Update::NewMessage(msg)) = stream.next().await {
        if !msg.outgoing() {
            if let Some(peer) = msg.peer_id() {
                client.send_message_to_peer(peer.clone(), msg.text().unwrap_or("")).await?;
            }
        }
    }
    Ok(())
}

Quick Start - User Account

use layer_client::{Client, SignInError};

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
    let (client, _shutdown) = Client::builder()
        .api_id(12345)
        .api_hash("your_api_hash")
        .session("my.session")
        .connect()
        .await?;

    if !client.is_authorized().await? {
        let token = client.request_login_code("+1234567890").await?;
        let code  = read_line();

        match client.sign_in(&token, &code).await {
            Ok(name) => println!("Welcome, {name}!"),
            Err(SignInError::PasswordRequired(t)) => {
                client.check_password(*t, "my_2fa_password").await?;
            }
            Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
        }
        client.save_session().await?;
    }

    client.send_message("me", "Hello from layer!").await?;
    Ok(())
}

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Session Backends

Backend	Flag	Notes
BinaryFileBackend	default	Single-process bots, scripts
InMemoryBackend	default	Tests, ephemeral tasks
StringSessionBackend	default	Serverless, env-var storage
SqliteBackend	sqlite-session	Multi-session local apps
LibSqlBackend	libsql-session	Turso / distributed storage
Custom	-	Implement SessionBackend

let s = client.export_session_string().await?;
let (client, _) = Client::with_string_session(&s).await?;

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Raw API

Every Layer method is accessible via client.invoke():

use layer_client::tl;

let req = tl::functions::bots::SetBotCommands {
    scope: tl::enums::BotCommandScope::Default(tl::types::BotCommandScopeDefault {}),
    lang_code: "en".into(),
    commands: vec![
        tl::enums::BotCommand::BotCommand(tl::types::BotCommand {
            command:     "start".into(),
            description: "Start the bot".into(),
        }),
    ],
};
client.invoke(&req).await?;

// Target a specific DC
client.invoke_on_dc(&req, 2).await?;

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Tests

cargo test --workspace
cargo test --workspace --all-features

Integration tests in layer-client/tests/integration.rs use InMemoryBackend and don't need real credentials.

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Community

• Channel: t.me/layer_rs
• Chat: t.me/layer_chat
• Guide: layer.ankitchaubey.in
• API docs: docs.rs/layer-client

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Contributing

Read CONTRIBUTING.md before opening a PR. Run cargo test --workspace and cargo clippy --workspace locally. Security issues: see SECURITY.md.

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Author

Developed by Ankit Chaubey out of curiosity to explore.

Layer is developed as part of exploration, learning, and experimentation with the Telegram MTProto protocol. Use it at your own risk. Its future and stability are not yet guaranteed.

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Acknowledgements

Parts of this library are derived from grammers by Lonami, licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0.

AI was used to reduce manual effort on docs, boilerplate, and large rewrites where it made sense. Core library code is written by the author.

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License

Licensed under either of, at your option:

• MIT License: see LICENSE-MIT
• Apache License, Version 2.0: see LICENSE-APACHE

Unless you explicitly state otherwise, any contribution submitted for inclusion shall be dual-licensed as above, without any additional terms or conditions.

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Telegram Terms of Service

Ensure your usage complies with Telegram's Terms of Service and API Terms of Service. Misuse of the Telegram API, including spam, mass scraping, or automation of normal user accounts, may result in account limitations or permanent bans.