Receive updates via Bot API when Telethon MTProto is blocked

[kinton]

Why

This Cloud Agent environment can reach api.telegram.org over HTTPS, but raw MTProto to Telegram DCs is reset (IncompleteReadError / HTTP 404 on port 443). The bot used to connect Telethon at import time, so python main.py crashed before it could serve anything.

What

• Connect Telethon lazily (try_start_telethon()), skip it when TELEGRAM_FORCE_BOTAPI=1 or when the handshake fails
• Keep rec/update worker threads alive without MTProto so they do not look “dead” and spam the creator
• Long-poll Bot API getUpdates as a receive fallback and dispatch into the existing route workers (commands, callbacks, inline, Stars pre-checkout)
• Sending still uses pyTelegramBotAPI, so /start, menus, and search work without Telethon. Large file upload via Telethon still needs MTProto

How to run here

export TELEGRAM_FORCE_BOTAPI=1
export TELEGRAM_BOT_NAME=YourInstaFeedDevelopingBot
./venv/bin/python -u main.py

Then message @YourInstaFeedDevelopingBot.

Tests

• python app/routes/test_botapi_receiver.py — command/callback routing helpers (ok)
• Live main.py with TELEGRAM_FORCE_BOTAPI=1: process stays up, logs Receiving via Bot API long polling
• Bot API getMe → YourInstaFeedDevelopingBot, webhook empty
• Sent a ping and the welcome screen to the creator chat (message ids 30621 / 30622)