feat(webhook_service): start webhook service early and handle readiness

- Modified the core service to start the webhook service before establishing a radio connection, reducing the window for connection refusals.
- Implemented a readiness check in the webhook service to return a 503 status when the bot is not connected, ensuring clear communication to external callers.
- Added unit tests to verify the webhook service's behavior when the bot's connection status changes, including rate limiting and readiness responses.

modules/core.py

@@ -1990,6 +1990,20 @@ long_jokes = false
             self.web_viewer_integration.start_viewer()
             self.logger.info("Web viewer started (early, before radio connect)")
 
+        # Start the inbound webhook service early too (before radio connect). Unlike
+        # the other service plugins, this one accepts inbound connections — starting
+        # it late leaves a window (proportional to how long radio connect() takes)
+        # where external callers get connection-refused instead of a clear response.
+        # The handler itself gates on self.connected and returns 503 until the mesh
+        # link is actually ready, so it's safe to bind before we're connected.
+        webhook_service = self.services.get('webhook')
+        if webhook_service is not None and getattr(webhook_service, 'enabled', False):
+            try:
+                await webhook_service.start()
+                self.logger.info("Service 'webhook' started (early, before radio connect)")
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.logger.error(f"Failed to start service 'webhook' early: {e}")
+
         # Connect to MeshCore node
         if not await self.connect():
             self.logger.error("Failed to connect to MeshCore node")
@@ -2032,8 +2046,10 @@ long_jokes = false
         # Send startup advert if enabled
         await self.send_startup_advert()
 
-        # Start all loaded services
+        # Start all loaded services (webhook already started early, before radio connect)
         for service_name, service_instance in self.services.items():
+            if service_name == 'webhook':
+                continue
             try:
                 await service_instance.start()
                 self.logger.info(f"Service '{service_name}' started")

modules/service_plugins/webhook_service.py

@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ Response codes:
     400  {"error": "..."}   bad/missing fields
     401  {"error": "Unauthorized"}   wrong / missing token
     405  method not allowed
+    429  {"error": "Rate limit exceeded"}
+    503  {"error": "Bot not yet connected to mesh, try again shortly"}
+         The listener starts before the radio connection is established, so
+         callers may see this briefly after service start; retry after a
+         few seconds.
 """
 
 import secrets
@@ -177,6 +182,18 @@ class WebhookService(BaseServicePlugin):
                 text='{"error": "Rate limit exceeded"}',
             )
 
+        # --- Readiness ---
+        # The listener starts before the mesh connection is established (see
+        # core.py), so reject requests with a clear, retryable error until the
+        # bot is actually connected, rather than accepting them only to fail
+        # message dispatch.
+        if not getattr(self.bot, "connected", False):
+            return aio_web.Response(
+                status=503,
+                content_type="application/json",
+                text='{"error": "Bot not yet connected to mesh, try again shortly"}',
+            )
+
         # --- Auth ---
         if self.secret_token and not self._verify_token(request):
             self.logger.warning(

tests/test_webhook_service.py

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def _make_bot(mock_logger, extra_cfg=None):
     bot.command_manager = Mock()
     bot.command_manager.send_channel_message = AsyncMock(return_value=True)
     bot.command_manager.send_dm = AsyncMock(return_value=True)
+    bot.connected = True
     return bot
 
 
@@ -115,6 +116,57 @@ class TestVerifyToken:
         assert svc._verify_token(req) is True
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# TestHandleWebhook — readiness
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestHandleWebhookReadiness:
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_not_connected_returns_503(self, mock_logger):
+        svc, bot = _make_service(mock_logger)
+        bot.connected = False
+        req = _make_request(body={"channel": "general", "message": "hi"})
+        resp = await svc._handle_webhook(req)
+        assert resp.status == 503
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_not_connected_does_not_dispatch(self, mock_logger):
+        svc, bot = _make_service(mock_logger)
+        bot.connected = False
+        req = _make_request(body={"channel": "general", "message": "hi"})
+        await svc._handle_webhook(req)
+        bot.command_manager.send_channel_message.assert_not_awaited()
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_connected_true_proceeds_normally(self, mock_logger):
+        svc, bot = _make_service(mock_logger)
+        bot.connected = True
+        req = _make_request(body={"channel": "general", "message": "hi"})
+        resp = await svc._handle_webhook(req)
+        assert resp.status == 200
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_missing_connected_attr_defaults_to_not_ready(self, mock_logger):
+        """If `bot.connected` isn't present at all, fail safe (503) rather than assume readiness."""
+        svc, bot = _make_service(mock_logger)
+        del bot.connected
+        # Mock() raises AttributeError for deleted attrs, so getattr(..., False) applies.
+        req = _make_request(body={"channel": "general", "message": "hi"})
+        resp = await svc._handle_webhook(req)
+        assert resp.status == 503
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_rate_limit_checked_before_readiness(self, mock_logger):
+        """Rate limiting should still apply even while the bot isn't connected yet."""
+        svc, bot = _make_service(mock_logger, {"rate_limit_per_minute": "1"})
+        bot.connected = False
+        req = _make_request(body={"channel": "general", "message": "hi"})
+        await svc._handle_webhook(req)
+        resp = await svc._handle_webhook(req)
+        assert resp.status == 429
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # TestHandleWebhook — auth
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------