FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Quickly find answers to the most common questions about KataBump.

General

What is KataBump?

KataBump is a hosting platform for Discord bots developed in Node.js or Python. We provide the infrastructure needed to host your bot 24/7.

Is it really free?

Yes! The basic hosting plan is entirely free, with no credit card required. You get access to a free server with 308 MB RAM and 716 MB of storage.

Why is it free?

We offer paid plans (Starter, Pro, Advanced, Expert) to fund the infrastructure. The free plan allows everyone to get started and test their projects.

Can I earn free credits?

Yes! With the referral program, you earn 5 credits for every person who creates a KataBump account with your referral link. Credits can be spent on paid plans.

Server Creation

How many servers can I create?

The number of servers depends on your plan. See Plans for details.

What Node.js/Python version should I choose?

It depends on your bot. Choose the version required by your code and its libraries — ideally the same one you use on your computer. Check:

• The documentation of your main libraries (discord.js, discord.py...), which lists the versions they support
• The "engines" field of your package.json (Node.js), if you set one

You can change the version at any time from the "Startup" tab on control.katabump.com, then restart the server.

Can I change the server type after creation?

Yes, you can switch between Node.js and Python at any time from the "Startup" tab on control.katabump.com.

Files and Deployment

What files are required?

Node.js:

• package.json (required)
• Entry point file (usually index.js)

Python:

• requirements.txt (required)
• Main file (usually main.py)

How does dependency installation work?

KataBump automatically detects your project type and installs dependencies:

• Node.js: Runs npm install automatically on first start
• Python: Runs pip install -r requirements.txt automatically

Can I use Git?

Yes! You can clone a Git repository directly from the console:

# In your server console
git clone https://github.com/user/my-bot.git .

What is the maximum upload size?

• Via Web: 100 MB per file (ZIP upload)
• Via SFTP: No theoretical limit
• Total storage: 716 MB per server (Free plan)

For large projects, create a ZIP file before uploading, then unzip it via the file manager.

Environment Variables

Where are variables stored?

Variables are securely stored on our servers, separate from your files. They are only accessible by your process.

Why isn't my token recognized?

Check:

• That the variable is properly named (usually DISCORD_TOKEN)
• That there are no spaces before/after the value
• That you restarted the server after modification
• That you're using process.env.DISCORD_TOKEN (Node.js) or os.getenv('DISCORD_TOKEN') (Python)

How do I set environment variables?

Create a .env file at the root of your project and upload it to your server. Use dotenv (Node.js) or python-dotenv (Python) to load the variables in your code. See Set Environment Variables for details.

When should I restart after modifying variables?

Always! Variables are loaded at process startup. A restart is required for changes to take effect.

Connection and Errors

Quick checks below — for step-by-step fixes and code examples, see the Troubleshooting section.

"Something went wrong" on the control panel

You are logged in to control.katabump.com with the wrong account. Log out, open your server from dashboard.katabump.com, click "Access server" and log in with the credentials displayed. See Something Went Wrong.

"Invalid token" / "TOKEN_INVALID"

• Check your token in environment variables
• Make sure there are no spaces or line breaks
• Regenerate the token on the Discord Developer Portal if needed

Full guide: Invalid Token.

"Module not found" (Node.js)

• Verify that package.json contains all dependencies
• Restart the server to reinstall dependencies
• Check spelling in your require() statements

Full guide: Module Not Found.

"No module named" (Python)

• Verify that requirements.txt exists and contains the modules
• Restart the server
• Make sure you're using the correct casing (Discord ≠ discord)

Full guide: Module Not Found.

Server keeps restarting

This usually indicates a fatal error:

• Check the logs to identify the error
• Verify your code (syntax error, infinite loop)
• Make sure the bot handles errors correctly
• Check that you don't have unnecessary process.exit() calls
• If there is no error at all, your bot may be running out of memory

See Identify Errors to find the cause.

SFTP and Connection

What are the SFTP credentials?

Retrieve them from your server panel at control.katabump.com, in the "Settings" section:

• Host: sftp://fr-node-xx.katabump.fr:2022 (depends on the node hosting your server)
• Username: Your server ID
• Password: Same as your control panel password (found on dashboard.katabump.com)

Can't connect via SFTP

Check:

• That you're using the correct server address (it depends on the node hosting your server)
• That you're using the SFTP protocol (not FTP)
• That your credentials are correct (no extra spaces)
• That your IP isn't blocked after too many failed attempts

Full guide: SFTP Connection Issues.

Where should I upload files via SFTP?

Always to /home/container, never to the root (/). This is your application's working directory.

Renewal

When do I need to renew my server?

Every 4 days for free servers. You will receive reminders by email and on Discord.

What happens if I don't renew?

• Expiration: Server suspended
• 1 day after expiration: Server and files permanently deleted

Can I renew early?

It depends on your plan:

• Free servers: You can only renew within the 2 days before expiration (due date included).
• Paid servers: You can renew at any time.

Can I recover a deleted server?

No, once deleted, data is irreversibly lost. Make regular backups!

Resources and Limits

What are the quotas?

Free plan:

• 308 MB RAM
• 716 MB storage
• 25% CPU

See Plans for paid plan resources (up to 8 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, 500% CPU).

What happens if I exceed RAM?

The process will be killed (OOM - Out of Memory) and restarted automatically. See Out of Memory to reduce your bot's memory usage, or check out the paid plans for more resources.

Can I use a database?

• SQLite: Yes, included in all plans
• MariaDB: Available in paid plans (Starter and above)
• MongoDB: Use MongoDB Atlas (free cloud tier available)
• External databases: You can connect to any database outside our infrastructure

Limitations

API Rate Limits

Each hosting account is limited to 250 requests per minute to the Discord API. This threshold can be increased if needed by contacting our team on Discord.

See Discord Rate Limits for details.

Prohibited Usage

Self-bots are not allowed on our infrastructure. Requests will be blocked and your account will be reported. All bots must comply with Discord's Terms of Service.

See Limitations & Rules for full details.

Support

How do I contact support?

• Discord - Fast response
• Email: support@katabump.com

Where do I report a bug?

Open a ticket on our Discord server in the #support channel.

Can I suggest a feature?

Yes! Post your suggestions on Discord in #suggestions. We review them regularly.

Security

Is my data safe?

Yes:

• Tokens are encrypted and isolated
• SFTP connections are secured
• Servers are isolated from each other

Can I share my account?

No, account sharing is prohibited and may result in suspension.

What if my token is compromised?

1. Immediately revoke the token on the Discord Developer Portal
2. Generate a new token
3. Update the environment variable on KataBump
4. Restart your server

Specific Problems

My bot doesn't respond to commands

Check:

• That the bot is online (status "Online")
• That intents are correctly configured (prefix commands need the Message Content intent)
• That the bot has the necessary permissions on the server
• Error logs in the console

Slash commands don't appear

• Slash commands can take up to 1 hour to appear globally
• For a specific server, they should appear instantly
• Verify that you've synced commands in your code
• Regenerate the invite link with the applications.commands scope

"The application did not respond"

Your bot took more than 3 seconds to answer a slash command, or two copies of the bot are running at the same time. Defer the reply for slow commands — see Unknown Interaction.

My bot disconnects randomly

Possible causes:

• Unhandled error in code
• Temporary network issue
• Invalid or revoked token
• Discord rate limit (see Rate Limited)

Add robust error handling and check the logs.