Base code for discord bot - put commands in json file, create command functions in `commands.py` of same name, everything else is done for you.

python-discord-bot-base.py

import discord
import asyncio
import json
import commands as bot_commands

client = discord.Client()

commands = {}
aliases = {}


def generate_help():
    print(''.join(commands[command].get_help() for command in commands))
    return ''.join(commands[command].get_help() for command in commands)


class Command:
    def __init__(self, name: str, command_aliases: list, description: str):
        self._name = name
        self._aliases = command_aliases
        self._description = description

        if command != 'help':
            self._function = getattr(bot_commands, self.get_name())
        else: self._function = generate_help

    def get_name(self):
        return self._name

    def get_aliases(self):
        return self._aliases

    def get_description(self):
        return self._description

    def get_help(self):
        return "\n\n**%s** - %s\n__Aliases:__ *%s*" % (self.get_name(), self.get_description(),
                                               '*, *'.join(alias for alias in self.get_aliases()))

    def run(self):
        return self._function()


def register_command(command: Command):
    if command.get_name() in commands:
        raise ValueError("A command with this name is already registered.")

    commands[command.get_name()] = command

    for alias in command.get_aliases():
        aliases[alias] = command.get_name()


with open('settings.json', 'r') as f:
    settings = json.loads(f.read())
    TOKEN = settings['token']
    PREFIX = settings['prefix']

    for command in settings['commands']:
        c = settings['commands'][command]
        register_command(Command(command, c['aliases'], c['description']))


def get_command_by_name(name: str) -> Command:
    if name in commands:
        return commands[name]
    elif name in aliases:
        return commands[aliases[name]]
    else:
        return None


@client.event
async def on_ready():
    print('Logged in as')
    print(client.user.name)
    print(client.user.id)
    print('------')


@client.event
async def on_message(message):
    if message.content.startswith(PREFIX):
        command_name = message.content.split(PREFIX)[1]
        command = get_command_by_name(command_name)

        if command:
            return_message = command.run()
            await client.send_message(message.channel, return_message)


client.run(TOKEN)

settings.json

{
  "token": "",
  "prefix": "+",
  "commands": {
    "help": {
      "aliases": ["assist"],
      "description": "Lists commands and their function."
    }
  }
}