/agent-slackbot

name: agent-slackbot
description: Interact with Slack workspaces using bot tokens - send messages, read channels, manage reactions
version: 2.36.0
allowed-tools: Bash(agent-slackbot:*)
metadata:
  openclaw:
    requires:
      bins:
        - agent-slackbot
    install:
      - kind: node
        package: agent-messenger
        bins: [agent-slackbot]

Agent SlackBot

A TypeScript CLI tool that enables AI agents and humans to interact with Slack workspaces using bot tokens (xoxb-). Unlike agent-slack which extracts user tokens from the desktop app, agent-slackbot uses standard Slack Bot tokens for server-side and CI/CD integrations.

Key Concepts

Before diving in, a few things about Slack Bot integration:

• **Bot tokens (xoxb-)** — Issued from the Slack App config (api.slack.com/apps). Bots act as the bot user, not as you. Different name, different permissions, different identity.
• **Workspace + Bot hierarchy** — Each workspace can have multiple bot tokens (one per Slack App). The CLI stores bots under their workspace and lets you switch between them.
• **Channel access requires invitation** — Bots must be invited to private channels with `/invite @YourBotName` before they can read or post.
• **Bot scopes are immutable per-token** — Token capabilities are baked in at App creation. Adding a new scope means re-installing the App and refreshing the token.
• **Edit/delete is bot-scoped** — A bot can only edit/delete messages it sent. It cannot modify other users' messages.
• **Real-time events** — Available via the SDK's Socket Mode listener (separate `xapp-` app-level token required), not via the CLI.

Quick Start

# Set your bot token
agent-slackbot auth set xoxb-your-bot-token

# Or set with a custom bot identifier for multi-bot setups
agent-slackbot auth set xoxb-your-bot-token --bot deploy --name "Deploy Bot"

# Verify authentication
agent-slackbot auth status

# Send a message
agent-slackbot message send C0ACZKTDDC0 "Hello from bot!"

# List channels
agent-slackbot channel list

Authentication

Bot Token Setup

agent-slackbot uses Slack Bot tokens (xoxb-) which you get from the Slack App configuration:

# Set bot token (validates against Slack API before saving)
agent-slackbot auth set xoxb-your-bot-token

# Set with a custom bot identifier
agent-slackbot auth set xoxb-your-bot-token --bot deploy --name "Deploy Bot"

# Check auth status
agent-slackbot auth status

# Clear stored credentials
agent-slackbot auth clear

Multi-Bot Management

Store multiple bot tokens and switch between them:

# Add multiple bots
agent-slackbot auth set xoxb-deploy-token --bot deploy --name "Deploy Bot"
agent-slackbot auth set xoxb-alert-token --bot alert --name "Alert Bot"

# List all stored bots
agent-slackbot auth list

# Switch active bot
agent-slackbot auth use deploy

# Use a specific bot for one command (without switching)
agent-slackbot message send C0ACZKTDDC0 "Alert!" --bot alert

# Remove a stored bot
agent-slackbot auth remove deploy

# Disambiguate bots with same ID across workspaces
agent-slackbot auth use T123456/deploy

The `--bot <id>` flag is available on all commands to override the active bot for a single invocation.

For bot token setup (Slack App creation, required scopes, app manifest) and CI/CD environment variables, see [references/authentication.md](references/authentication.md).

Memory

The agent maintains a `~/.config/agent-messenger/MEMORY.md` file as persistent memory across sessions. This is agent-managed — the CLI does not read or write this file. Use the `Read` and `Write` tools to manage your memory file.

Reading Memory

At the **start of every task**, read `~/.config/agent-messenger/MEMORY.md` using the `Read` tool to load any previously discovered workspace IDs, channel IDs, user IDs, and preferences.

• If the file doesn't exist yet, that's fine — proceed without it and create it when you first have useful information to store.
• If the file can't be read (permissions, missing directory), proceed without memory — don't error out.

Writing Memory

After discovering useful information, update `~/.config/agent-messenger/MEMORY.md` using the `Write` tool. Write triggers include:

• After discovering workspace IDs (from `auth status`)
• After discovering useful channel IDs and names (from `channel list`, etc.)
• After discovering user IDs and names (from `user list`, etc.)
• After the user gives you an alias or preference ("call this the alerts bot", "my main workspace is X")
• After setting up bot identifiers (from `auth list`)

When writing, include the **complete file content** — the `Write` tool overwrites the entire file.

What to Store

• Workspace IDs with names
• Channel IDs with names and purpose
• User IDs with display names
• Bot identifiers and their purposes
• User-given aliases ("alerts bot", "deploys channel")
• Any user preference expressed during interaction

What NOT to Store

Never store bot tokens, credentials, or any sensitive data. Never store full message content (just IDs and channel context). Never store file upload contents.

Handling Stale Data

If a memorized ID returns an error (channel not found, user not found), remove it from `MEMORY.md`. Don't blindly trust memorized data — verify when something seems off. Prefer re-listing over using a memorized ID that might be stale.

Format / Example

# Agent Messenger Memory

## Slack Workspaces (Bot)

- `T0ABC1234` — Acme Corp

## Bots (Acme Corp)

- `deploy` — Deploy Bot (active)
- `alert` — Alert Bot

## Channels (Acme Corp)

- `C012ABC` — #general (company-wide announcements)
- `C034DEF` — #engineering (team discussion)
- `C056GHI` — #deploys (CI/CD notifications)

## Users (Acme Corp)

- `U0ABC123` — Alice (engineering lead)
- `U0DEF456` — Bob (backend)

## Aliases

- "deploys" → `C056GHI` (#deploys in Acme Corp)

## Notes

- Deploy Bot is used for CI/CD notifications
- Alert Bot is used for er