Improve channel message sending to use meshcore_py directly, initial implementation of optional flood scope

- Added `flood_scope` option to `[Channels]` section in `config.ini.example` for scoped flooding of channel messages.
- Updated `config-validation.md` to reflect the new `flood_scope` feature.
- Modified `CommandManager` to support optional flood scope during message sending, restoring global flood settings afterward.
- Removed unused imports from `core.py` related to meshcore-cli.

config.ini.example

@@ -157,6 +157,12 @@ respond_to_dms = true
 # Set a custom prefix length for the public keys to identify repeaters
 prefix_bytes = 1
 
+# Flood scope for channel messages (MeshCore regions; optional)
+# Empty, * or 0: classic flood (default). Set to a region name (e.g. west) to limit
+# channel sends to that scope. Dynamic "reply with same scope as sender" is not
+# supported until the protocol exposes scope on received channel messages.
+# flood_scope =
+
 [Banned_Users]
 # List of banned sender names (comma-separated). Matching is prefix (starts-with):
 # "Awful Username" also matches "Awful Username 🍆". No bot responses in channels or DMs.

docs/config-validation.md

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ The bot will not start without these sections. The validator reports them as **e
 |----------------|----------------------------------------------|
 | `[Connection]` | Serial, BLE, or TCP connection parameters   |
 | `[Bot]`        | Database path, bot name, rate limits, etc.   |
-| `[Channels]`   | Monitor channels, DM behavior                |
+| `[Channels]`   | Monitor channels, DM behavior, optional flood_scope (scoped flooding) |
 
 ### Section names
 

modules/command_manager.py

@@ -890,20 +890,13 @@ class CommandManager:
         command_id: Optional[str] = None,
         skip_user_rate_limit: bool = False,
         rate_limit_key: Optional[str] = None,
+        scope: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> bool:
-        """Send a channel message using meshcore-cli command.
+        """Send a channel message using meshcore_py (optional flood scope).
         
         Resolves channel names to numbers and handles rate limiting.
-        
-        Args:
-            channel: The channel name (e.g., "LongFast").
-            content: The message content to send.
-            command_id: Optional command_id for repeat tracking (if not provided, one will be generated).
-            skip_user_rate_limit: If True, skip user rate limiter checks (for automated responses).
-            rate_limit_key: Optional key for per-user rate limiting (e.g. from get_rate_limit_key(message)).
-            
-        Returns:
-            bool: True if sent successfully, False otherwise.
+        If [Channels] flood_scope is set (or scope is passed), uses that scope
+        for this send then restores global flood. Scope values "" / "*" / "0" mean global.
         """
         if not self.bot.connected or not self.bot.meshcore:
             return False
@@ -943,9 +936,21 @@ class CommandManager:
                 self.logger.debug(f"Error recording transmission for repeat tracking: {e}")
                 # Don't fail the send if transmission tracking fails
             
-            # Use meshcore-cli send_chan_msg function
-            from meshcore_cli.meshcore_cli import send_chan_msg
-            result = await send_chan_msg(self.bot.meshcore, channel_num, content)
+            # Optional flood scope (region): set before send, restore after
+            scope_cfg = ""
+            if self.bot.config.has_section("Channels") and self.bot.config.has_option("Channels", "flood_scope"):
+                scope_cfg = (self.bot.config.get("Channels", "flood_scope") or "").strip()
+            scope_to_use = (scope if scope is not None else scope_cfg) or ""
+            scope_is_global = scope_to_use in ("", "*", "0", "None")
+            if not scope_is_global and hasattr(self.bot.meshcore.commands, "set_flood_scope"):
+                await self.bot.meshcore.commands.set_flood_scope(scope_to_use)
+            
+            try:
+                # Use meshcore_py directly (no meshcore-cli for channel sends)
+                result = await self.bot.meshcore.commands.send_chan_msg(channel_num, content)
+            finally:
+                if not scope_is_global and hasattr(self.bot.meshcore.commands, "set_flood_scope"):
+                    await self.bot.meshcore.commands.set_flood_scope("*")
             
             # Handle result using unified handler
             target = f"{channel} (channel {channel_num})"

modules/core.py

@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 import meshcore
 from meshcore import EventType
 
-# Import command functions from meshcore-cli
-from meshcore_cli.meshcore_cli import send_cmd, send_chan_msg
-
 # Import our modules
 from .rate_limiter import RateLimiter, BotTxRateLimiter, PerUserRateLimiter, NominatimRateLimiter
 from .message_handler import MessageHandler