Replaced fallback database seeding with an informational message for empty channels.

crabstero/markov.py

@@ -111,10 +111,11 @@ async def generate(
     with metrics.GENERATION_DURATION.time():
         word = await db.get_random_start_word(channel_id)
 
-        # Seed the chain with a fallback sentence if the channel has no data yet.
         if word is None:
-            await _ingest_sentence(db, channel_id, 0, "Hello world!")
+            return (
-            word = "Hello"  # Known start word from the fallback sentence above.
+                "There's not enough data to generate a message yet."
+                " Chat a bit more so I can learn how this channel talks!"
+            )
 
         parts: list[str] = []
         parts.append(word)

tests/test_markov.py

@@ -170,9 +170,13 @@ class TestGenerate:
     """Markov chain text generation."""
 
     async def test_fallback_on_empty_channel(self, db: Database) -> None:
-        """Returns 'Hello world!' when the channel has no data."""
+        """Returns an informational message when the channel has no data."""
         result = await generate(db, 1)
-        assert result == "Hello world!"
+        expected = (
+            "There's not enough data to generate a message yet."
+            " Chat a bit more so I can learn how this channel talks!"
+        )
+        assert result == expected
 
     async def test_generates_from_ingested_data(self, db: Database) -> None:
         """Generated text uses words from ingested data."""
@@ -278,4 +282,8 @@ class TestGenerate:
 
         # Channel 3 has no data; should get the fallback.
         result = await generate(db, 3)
-        assert result == "Hello world!"
+        expected = (
+            "There's not enough data to generate a message yet."
+            " Chat a bit more so I can learn how this channel talks!"
+        )
+        assert result == expected