Post Epic free games on first run instead of silently recording them

On first startup, _populate_initial_state() was marking current Epic free
games as "posted" without actually sending them to the room. This meant
users had to wait until the next cycle of new games before seeing anything.

Now only CheapShark deals are silently recorded on first run (there can be
dozens). Epic free games are left for check_epic_free_games() to pick up
and post immediately, since they are few in number and time-limited.

https://claude.ai/code/session_017eMsVwUopgmnEyd6JJedpV

.env.example

@@ -12,5 +12,8 @@ MIN_DEAL_RATING=8.0
 MIN_DISCOUNT_PERCENT=50
 MAX_PRICE_USD=20
 
+# Send an intro message to the room on startup (true/false)
+SEND_INTRO_MESSAGE=false
+
 # Database path (inside the container, mount a volume for persistence)
 DATABASE_PATH=/data/deals.db

.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc

README.md

@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ All configuration is via environment variables (see `.env.example`):
 | `MIN_DEAL_RATING` | No | 8.0 | Minimum CheapShark deal rating (0-10) |
 | `MIN_DISCOUNT_PERCENT` | No | 50 | Minimum discount percentage |
 | `MAX_PRICE_USD` | No | 20 | Maximum sale price in USD |
+| `SEND_INTRO_MESSAGE` | No | false | Send "The deals must flow." to the room on startup |
 | `DATABASE_PATH` | No | deals.db | Path to SQLite database file |
 
 ## Preflight Check

gaming_deals_bot/__main__.py

@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ async def main():
     scheduler.start()
     logger.info("Bot started — scheduler running")
 
+    await bot.send_intro()
+
     # Run initial checks immediately (after first-run population is done)
     await bot.check_cheapshark()
     await bot.check_epic_free_games()

gaming_deals_bot/bot.py

@@ -53,7 +53,13 @@ class DealsBot:
         await self.db.close()
 
     async def _populate_initial_state(self):
-        """Fetch current deals and record them without posting (avoids spam on first run)."""
+        """Fetch current CheapShark deals and record them without posting (avoids spam on first run).
+
+        Epic free games are intentionally *not* recorded here so that the
+        subsequent ``check_epic_free_games`` call will post them.  There are
+        only a handful at any time and they are time-limited, so users should
+        see them immediately rather than waiting for the next cycle.
+        """
         deals = await fetch_deals(
             self._http,
             max_price=self.config.max_price_usd,
@@ -63,14 +69,13 @@ class DealsBot:
         for deal in deals:
             await self.db.mark_posted(deal.dedup_id, "cheapshark", deal.title)
 
-        current_free, upcoming = await fetch_free_games(self._http)
-        for game in current_free:
-            await self.db.mark_posted(game.dedup_id, "epic", game.title)
-        for game in upcoming:
-            await self.db.mark_posted(game.dedup_id, "epic", game.title)
+        logger.info("First run: recorded %d existing CheapShark deals", len(deals))
 
-        total = len(deals) + len(current_free) + len(upcoming)
-        logger.info("First run: recorded %d existing deals/games", total)
+    async def send_intro(self):
+        """Send an intro message to the Matrix room if configured."""
+        if not self.config.send_intro_message:
+            return
+        await self.matrix.send_notice("The deals must flow.")
 
     async def check_cheapshark(self):
         """Poll CheapShark for deals and post new ones."""

gaming_deals_bot/cheapshark.py

@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ async def fetch_deals(
     client: httpx.AsyncClient,
     *,
     max_price: float = 20,
-    min_rating: int = 80,
-    min_discount: int = 50,
+    min_rating: float = 8.0,
+    min_discount: float = 50,
     page_size: int = 10,
 ) -> list[CheapSharkDeal]:
     """Fetch top deals from CheapShark across configured stores."""
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async def fetch_deals(
     params = {
         "storeID": store_ids,
         "upperPrice": str(int(max_price)),
-        "sortBy": "Deal Rating",
+        "sortBy": "recent",
         "desc": "1",
         "pageSize": str(page_size),
     }
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ async def fetch_deals(
         if savings < min_discount:
             logger.debug("Filtered out %s: savings %.1f%% < %.1f%%", title, savings, min_discount)
             continue
-        if rating < min_rating:
+        if rating > 0 and rating < min_rating:
             logger.debug("Filtered out %s: rating %.1f < %.1f", title, rating, min_rating)
             continue
 

gaming_deals_bot/config.py

@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ class Config:
         self.min_discount_percent = int(os.environ.get("MIN_DISCOUNT_PERCENT", "50"))
         self.max_price_usd = float(os.environ.get("MAX_PRICE_USD", "20"))
 
+        # Intro message on startup
+        self.send_intro_message = os.environ.get(
+            "SEND_INTRO_MESSAGE", "false"
+        ).lower() in ("true", "1", "yes")
+
         # Database
         self.database_path = os.environ.get("DATABASE_PATH", "deals.db")
 

gaming_deals_bot/matrix_client.py

@@ -47,5 +47,26 @@ class MatrixDealsClient:
             logger.error("Matrix send error: %s", exc)
             return False
 
+    async def send_notice(self, text: str) -> bool:
+        """Send a plain m.notice (non-highlight) message to the configured room."""
+        content = {
+            "msgtype": "m.notice",
+            "body": text,
+        }
+
+        try:
+            resp = await self._client.room_send(
+                room_id=self.room_id,
+                message_type="m.room.message",
+                content=content,
+            )
+            if isinstance(resp, RoomSendError):
+                logger.error("Failed to send notice: %s", resp.message)
+                return False
+            return True
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.error("Matrix send error: %s", exc)
+            return False
+
     async def close(self):
         await self._client.close()