slack

name	slack
description	Send messages, read channel history, and reply to threads in Slack. Use when the user asks about Slack messaging, channel management, posting updates, summarizing conversations, or monitoring Slack activity.
allowed-tools	slack_list_channels slack_send_message slack_read_history slack_reply_thread
compatibility	Requires Slack App OAuth setup
license	MIT
metadata	{"author":"Chitty","version":"1.0"}

Slack Integration

Approach

Always start by listing channels to confirm bot access and get channel IDs. Show the user message content before sending. Never post without explicit user confirmation.

Listing Channels

• Use slack_list_channels to see available channels
• The bot must be invited to a channel before it can read or post
• Channel IDs (C01234...) are more reliable than channel names

Reading Messages

• Use slack_read_history with a channel name or ID
• Default to 20 messages to keep context manageable
• Summarize long histories rather than dumping all messages
• Note thread replies separately — check reply_count and thread_ts
• Use oldest and latest params for time-filtered queries

Sending Messages

• Use slack_send_message to post to a channel
• Always show the user the exact message text before sending
• Support Slack mrkdwn: bold, italic, code, code blocks
• Links: <https://example.com|display text>
• Mentions: <@USER_ID>, <!channel>, <!here>

Replying to Threads

• Use slack_reply_thread with the parent message's ts value
• Get the ts from slack_read_history results first
• Thread replies keep conversations organized

Common Errors

• channel_not_found — Bot not invited. Tell user: /invite @ChittyWorkspace
• not_in_channel — Same as above
• invalid_auth — Token expired or revoked. Re-run OAuth setup.
• Empty channel list — Bot has no channel memberships yet

Socket Mode (Real-Time Events)

When Socket Mode is enabled, the bot receives:

• @mentions — When someone @mentions the bot in a channel
• DMs — Direct messages to the bot

Events are routed to the assigned agent for automatic responses.