JSON format

config/config.example.json

@@ -272,7 +272,9 @@
       "subscribe_topics": [
         "picoclaw/input"
       ],
+      "subscribe_json_key": null,
       "reply_topic": "picoclaw/output",
+      "reply_json_key": null,
       "tls": false,
       "tls_ca": "",
       "tls_cert": "",

docs/channels/mqtt/README.md

@@ -16,8 +16,12 @@ Add this to `config.json`:
       "qos": 1,
       "retain": false,
       "tls": false,
-      "subscribe_topics": ["picoclaw/chat"],
+      "subscribe_topics":  [
-      "reply_topic": "picoclaw/reply",
+        "picoclaw/input"
+      ],
+      "subscribe_json_key": null,
+      "reply_topic": "picoclaw/output",
+      "reply_json_key": null,
       "allow_from": [],
       "group_trigger": {
         "mention_only": true
@@ -42,7 +46,9 @@ Add this to `config.json`:
 | retain               | bool     | No       | Whether to retain messages. Default: false |
 | tls                  | bool     | No       | Enable TLS/SSL connection. Default: false |
 | subscribe_topics     | []string | Yes      | List of MQTT topics to subscribe to for incoming messages |
+| subscribe_json_key   | string   | No       | JSON key to extract from incoming messages. If null, treats message as plain text |
 | reply_topic          | string   | No       | Topic to publish replies to. Supports placeholders: `{client_id}`, `{topic}` |
+| reply_json_key       | string   | No       | JSON key to use when sending replies. If null, sends as plain text |
 | allow_from           | []string | No       | Client ID whitelist (empty allows all) |
 | group_trigger        | object   | No       | Group trigger strategy (`mention_only` / `prefixes`) |
 | reasoning_channel_id | string   | No       | Target channel for reasoning output |
@@ -54,6 +60,8 @@ Add this to `config.json`:
   - JSON format: `{"status": "your message"}`
   - Plain text: Direct text content
   - Automatic JSON parsing with fallback to plain text for malformed JSON
+- **JSON Key Extraction**: When `subscribe_json_key` is set, extracts specific field from JSON messages
+- **JSON Response Formatting**: When `reply_json_key` is set, sends responses as JSON with specified key
 - **Authentication**: Username/password authentication support
 - **TLS/SSL**: Secure connections with TLS configuration
 - **Quality of Service**: Configurable QoS levels (0, 1, 2)
@@ -67,6 +75,7 @@ Add this to `config.json`:
 
 - **Robust Message Handling**: Intelligent parsing that handles malformed JSON gracefully
 - **Flexible Topic Configuration**: Support for multiple input topics and dynamic reply topics
+- **JSON Message Processing**: Configurable JSON key extraction and response formatting
 - **Connection Resilience**: Automatic reconnection with configurable retry intervals
 - **Security**: TLS support and authentication for secure communication
 - **Message Routing**: Support for reasoning channel routing and group trigger rules
@@ -77,4 +86,57 @@ Add this to `config.json`:
 - Reply topics can use placeholders to dynamically route responses
 - Client IDs are used as sender identifiers in the messaging system
 - Topics are treated as channels for message routing purposes
-- The instruction field allows adding context or commands to all incoming messages
+- The instruction field allows adding context or commands to all incoming messages
+
+## 6. JSON Configuration Examples
+
+### Plain Text Mode (Default)
+```json
+{
+  "subscribe_json_key": null,
+  "reply_json_key": null
+}
+```
+- Incoming messages are treated as plain text
+- Outgoing messages are sent as plain text
+
+### JSON Input Mode
+```json
+{
+  "subscribe_json_key": "message",
+  "reply_json_key": null
+}
+```
+- Incoming JSON: `{"message": "Hello world", "timestamp": 1234567890}`
+- Extracted content: `"Hello world"`
+- Outgoing messages are sent as plain text
+
+### JSON Output Mode
+```json
+{
+  "subscribe_json_key": null,
+  "reply_json_key": "response"
+}
+```
+- Incoming messages are treated as plain text
+- Outgoing JSON: `{"response": "Bot reply"}`
+
+### Full JSON Mode
+```json
+{
+  "subscribe_json_key": "input",
+  "reply_json_key": "output"
+}
+```
+- Incoming JSON: `{"input": "What's the weather?", "location": "Moscow"}`
+- Extracted content: `"What's the weather?"`
+- Outgoing JSON: `{"output": "The weather is sunny"}`
+
+## 7. Troubleshooting
+
+### Common Issues
+
+1. **JSON parsing fails**: Ensure your JSON messages are valid
+2. **Key not found**: Verify the JSON key exists in your messages
+3. **Connection issues**: Check broker URL, credentials, and TLS settings
+4. **Permission denied**: Verify client ID is in the `allow_from` list if configured

pkg/channels/mqtt/mqtt.go

@@ -154,77 +154,40 @@ func (c *MQTTChannel) onMessage(client mqtt.Client, msg mqtt.Message) {
 		"payload": string(msg.Payload()),
 	})
 
-	// Try to parse as JSON first
-	var mqttMsg MQTTMessage
 	var content string
-	var err error
 	
-	// First try to parse as JSON
+	// Check if subscribe_json_key is configured
-	if err = json.Unmarshal(msg.Payload(), &mqttMsg); err == nil {
+	if c.config.SubscribeJSONKey != nil && *c.config.SubscribeJSONKey != "" {
-		// Successfully parsed as JSON
+		// Parse as JSON and extract the specified key
-		content = mqttMsg.Status
+		var jsonMsg map[string]interface{}
-	} else {
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(msg.Payload(), &jsonMsg); err == nil {
-		// If JSON parsing fails, try to clean up common malformed JSON issues
+			// Successfully parsed as JSON
-		payloadStr := string(msg.Payload())
+			if value, exists := jsonMsg[*c.config.SubscribeJSONKey]; exists {
-		
+				content = fmt.Sprintf("%v", value)
-		// Try to extract JSON from malformed strings (e.g., extra quotes or braces)
+				logger.InfoCF("mqtt", "Extracted JSON value", map[string]any{
-		// Look for a valid JSON object within the string
+					"key":     *c.config.SubscribeJSONKey,
-		if strings.HasPrefix(payloadStr, "{") && (strings.HasSuffix(payloadStr, "}") || strings.HasSuffix(payloadStr, "}\"")) {
+					"content": content,
-			// Try to parse as-is first
+				})
-			if err2 := json.Unmarshal(msg.Payload(), &mqttMsg); err2 == nil {
-				content = mqttMsg.Status
 			} else {
-				// Try to clean up common issues
+				logger.WarnCF("mqtt", "JSON key not found in message", map[string]any{
-				cleaned := strings.TrimSpace(payloadStr)
+					"key": *c.config.SubscribeJSONKey,
-				
+				})
-				// Remove extra quotes and braces from the end
+				content = string(msg.Payload()) // Fall back to raw payload
-				for strings.HasSuffix(cleaned, "}") && strings.Count(cleaned, "{") < strings.Count(cleaned, "}") {
-					cleaned = cleaned[:len(cleaned)-1]
-				}
-				for strings.HasSuffix(cleaned, "\"}") && strings.Count(cleaned, "{") < strings.Count(cleaned, "}") {
-					cleaned = cleaned[:len(cleaned)-1]
-				}
-				// Remove any trailing quotes (simple check for extra quotes at the end)
-				for strings.HasSuffix(cleaned, "\"") && !strings.HasSuffix(cleaned, "\"}") {
-					cleaned = cleaned[:len(cleaned)-1]
-				}
-				
-				// Remove extra opening braces
-				for strings.HasPrefix(cleaned, "{") && strings.Count(cleaned, "{") > strings.Count(cleaned, "}") {
-					cleaned = cleaned[1:]
-				}
-				
-				if cleaned != payloadStr {
-					if err3 := json.Unmarshal([]byte(cleaned), &mqttMsg); err3 == nil {
-						content = mqttMsg.Status
-						logger.InfoCF("mqtt", "Successfully parsed cleaned JSON", map[string]any{
-							"original": payloadStr,
-							"cleaned":  cleaned,
-						})
-					} else {
-						// Fall back to plain text
-						content = payloadStr
-						logger.InfoCF("mqtt", "Received plain text message (JSON parsing failed)", map[string]any{
-							"error":   err.Error(),
-							"payload": content,
-						})
-					}
-				} else {
-					// Fall back to plain text
-					content = payloadStr
-					logger.InfoCF("mqtt", "Received plain text message (JSON parsing failed)", map[string]any{
-						"error":   err.Error(),
-						"payload": content,
-					})
-				}
 			}
 		} else {
-			// Not JSON-like, treat as plain text
+			// JSON parsing failed, treat as plain text
-			content = payloadStr
+			logger.InfoCF("mqtt", "JSON parsing failed, treating as plain text", map[string]any{
-			logger.InfoCF("mqtt", "Received plain text message (not JSON-like)", map[string]any{
+				"error":   err.Error(),
-				"payload": content,
+				"payload": string(msg.Payload()),
 			})
+			content = string(msg.Payload())
 		}
+	} else {
+		// No JSON key configured, treat as plain text
+		content = string(msg.Payload())
+		logger.InfoCF("mqtt", "Received plain text message", map[string]any{
+			"payload": content,
+		})
 	}
 
 	if content == "" {
@@ -292,13 +255,22 @@ func (c *MQTTChannel) Send(ctx context.Context, msg bus.OutboundMessage) error {
 	replyTopic = strings.ReplaceAll(replyTopic, "{topic}", msg.ChatID)
 	// Add more placeholders as needed
 
-	mqttMsg := MQTTMessage{
+	var payload []byte
-		Status: msg.Content,
+	var err error
-	}
 
-	payload, err := json.Marshal(mqttMsg)
+	// Check if reply_json_key is configured
-	if err != nil {
+	if c.config.ReplyJSONKey != nil && *c.config.ReplyJSONKey != "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal MQTT message: %w", err)
+		// Send as JSON with the specified key
+		jsonMsg := map[string]string{
+			*c.config.ReplyJSONKey: msg.Content,
+		}
+		payload, err = json.Marshal(jsonMsg)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal MQTT JSON message: %w", err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Send as plain text
+		payload = []byte(msg.Content)
 	}
 
 	token := c.client.Publish(replyTopic, byte(c.config.QoS), c.config.Retain, payload)
@@ -311,4 +283,4 @@ func (c *MQTTChannel) Send(ctx context.Context, msg bus.OutboundMessage) error {
 		"payload": string(payload),
 	})
 	return nil
-}
+}

pkg/config/config.go

@@ -600,7 +600,9 @@ type MQTTConfig struct {
 	Username           string              `json:"username"                env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_MQTT_USERNAME"`
 	Password           string              `json:"password"                env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_MQTT_PASSWORD"`
 	SubscribeTopics    []string            `json:"subscribe_topics"        env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_MQTT_SUBSCRIBE_TOPICS"`
+	SubscribeJSONKey   *string             `json:"subscribe_json_key,omitempty"`
 	ReplyTopic         string              `json:"reply_topic"             env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_MQTT_REPLY_TOPIC"`
+	ReplyJSONKey       *string             `json:"reply_json_key,omitempty"`
 	TLS                bool                `json:"tls"                     env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_MQTT_TLS"`
 	TLSCA              string              `json:"tls_ca"                  env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_MQTT_TLS_CA"`
 	TLSCert            string              `json:"tls_cert"                env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_MQTT_TLS_CERT"`