slack-agents-typescript

name

slack-agents-typescript

description

Build AI agents for Slack using Bolt for JavaScript/TypeScript. Use when building Slack bots with AI capabilities, assistant containers, agent streaming, suggested prompts, feedback buttons, App Home, modals, slash commands, @mentions, context management, or the Slack MCP Server. Also trigger for Slack CLI agent scaffolding, text streaming APIs, task cards, plan display, workspace search via assistant.search.context, or deploying Slack agents. Even if the user just says 'Slack bot with AI' or 'chat agent in Slack', use this skill.

Slack Agents (TypeScript / Bolt JS)

Build AI-powered agents that live natively inside Slack: split-pane containers, streamed responses, suggested prompts, feedback loops, workspace search, and multi-surface interactions.

Quick orientation

Slack agents are Bolt JS apps with the Agents & AI Apps feature enabled. The Assistant class provides a three-callback lifecycle (thread started → context changed → user message) that powers the split-pane container experience. Outside the container, agents respond to app_mention, message.im, slash commands, shortcuts, and App Home.

The response loop: receive input → set status → call tools/LLM → stream output → collect feedback → repeat.

When to read reference files

Topic	File	Read when…
Assistant lifecycle, entry points, surfaces	ENTRY-POINTS.md	Wiring up the container, @mentions, DMs, App Home, modals, slash commands, shortcuts, unfurls
Response loop: streaming, status, feedback, threads	RESPONSE-LOOP.md	Implementing setStatus, startStream/appendStream/stopStream, task cards, plan display, feedback buttons, thread titles, markdown blocks, notifications
Context management & workspace search	CONTEXT-MANAGEMENT.md	Using assistant.search.context, conversations.replies, structured state objects, token budgets, progressive summarization
Governance, trust, human-in-the-loop	GOVERNANCE.md	Audit trails, observability metrics, progressive trust, confirmation flows, admin controls, data retention rules
Slack MCP Server	MCP-SERVER.md	Connecting agents to Slack data via MCP, OAuth scopes, rate limits, transport protocol
Workflow integration & custom steps	WORKFLOW-INTEGRATION.md	Adding AI as a custom workflow step in Workflow Builder
Agent design principles	AGENT-DESIGN.md	Data boundaries, bounded autonomy, messaging best practices, naming

Setup

# Install Slack CLI
curl -fsSL https://downloads.slack-edge.com/slack-cli/install.sh | bash
slack login

# Scaffold from template
slack create agent   # support agent (Casey) with Claude/OpenAI SDK
# Or start blank:
# git clone https://github.com/slack-samples/bolt-js-starter-agent

Enable Agents & AI Apps in app settings → adds assistant:write scope. Subscribe to assistant_thread_started, assistant_thread_context_changed, message.im.

Minimal agent skeleton

import { App, Assistant } from '@slack/bolt';

const app = new App({
  token: process.env.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN,
  signingSecret: process.env.SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET,
});

const assistant = new Assistant({
  threadStarted: async ({ say, setSuggestedPrompts }) => {
    await say({ text: 'How can I help?' });
    await setSuggestedPrompts({
      prompts: [
        { title: 'Summarize channel', message: 'Summarize #general' },
      ],
    });
  },
  threadContextChanged: async ({ saveThreadContext }) => {
    await saveThreadContext();
  },
  userMessage: async ({ message, say, setStatus, setTitle, sayStream }) => {
    await setTitle(message.text);
    await setStatus({ status: 'Thinking...' });
    // call LLM, then stream response:
    const stream = sayStream();
    await stream.append({ markdown_text: 'Here is the answer...' });
    await stream.stop();
  },
});

app.use(assistant);

Key APIs at a glance

Method	Purpose
assistant.threads.setSuggestedPrompts	Show clickable prompts in container
assistant.threads.setStatus	Loading indicator (empty string clears)
assistant.threads.setTitle	Name the thread in History tab
chat.startStream / appendStream / stopStream	Token-by-token text streaming
assistant.search.context	Semantic workspace search (requires action_token)
conversations.replies	Drill into a thread
chat.postEphemeral	Temporary user-only messages

Deployment options

• slack run — local dev via Slack CLI (Socket Mode)
• AWS Lambda, Heroku, Vercel — see Bolt JS deployment guides
• Requires paid Slack plan (or free Developer Program sandbox)