/messaging

name: messaging
description: Set up a messaging channel (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage, Slack) to reach this agent from outside Claude Code. Triggers on /agent:messaging, "configurar whatsapp", "setup messaging", "conectar telegram", "agregar canal".
user-invocable: true
argument-hint: [platform]

Set Up a Messaging Channel

Guide the user through installing a messaging plugin so they can reach this agent from their phone or desktop.

**IMPORTANT — architectural limitation**: The agent CANNOT execute `/plugin marketplace add` or `/plugin install` — these are REPL-only commands. This skill SHOWS the user the exact commands to run, and guides them through the flow.

Available platforms

| # | Platform | Marketplace | Launch flag | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | **WhatsApp** ⭐ | `crisandrews/claude-whatsapp` | `--dangerously-load-development-channels` | Rich access control, voice transcription (Whisper local), Baileys (unofficial WhatsApp Web API). Not on official allowlist. | | 2 | **Telegram** | `anthropics/claude-plugins-official` | `--channels` | Official Bot API, pairing. Requires Bun + claude.ai login. | | 3 | **Discord** | `anthropics/claude-plugins-official` | `--channels` | Official Bot API, requires bot creation + Message Content Intent. | | 4 | **iMessage** | `anthropics/claude-plugins-official` | `--channels` | macOS only. Reads chat.db directly, no token. Needs Full Disk Access. | | 5 | **Fakechat** (demo) | `anthropics/claude-plugins-official` | `--channels` | Localhost UI for testing the channel flow. No real platform. |

**Note**: Slack is NOT a channel plugin. See [Claude in Slack](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/slack) for the different integration model.

**Prerequisites for official channels** (Telegram/Discord/iMessage/Fakechat):

• Claude Code v2.1.80 or later
• [Bun](https://bun.sh) installed
• claude.ai login (API key auth is NOT supported for channels)
• Team/Enterprise: admin must enable channels in managed settings

Steps

1. **Ask the user** which platform (unless specified in the argument). Default recommendation: WhatsApp.

2. **Check if the plugin is already installed**:

   ls ~/.claude/plugins/cache/ 2>/dev/null | grep -iE "whatsapp|telegram|discord|imessage|slack"

If already installed, skip to the relaunch step.

3. **Show the EXACT commands from the plugin's README** (do not invent or simplify):

WhatsApp — complete flow (from `crisandrews/claude-whatsapp` README)

**Prerequisites**: Node.js v18+

**Step 1 — Create a folder for the WhatsApp agent** (if not already in one):

mkdir ~/my-whatsapp-agent && cd ~/my-whatsapp-agent
claude

**Step 2 — Install the plugin** (inside Claude Code):

/plugin marketplace add crisandrews/claude-whatsapp
/plugin install whatsapp@claude-whatsapp

When prompted for scope, select **"Install for you, in this repo only (local scope)"** — isolates the agent to this folder.

**Step 3 — Exit and relaunch with the channel flag**:

/exit

Then from the terminal:

claude --dangerously-load-development-channels plugin:whatsapp@claude-whatsapp --dangerously-skip-permissions

**Flag explanation**:

• `--dangerously-load-development-channels plugin:whatsapp@claude-whatsapp` — loads the whatsapp channel plugin
• `--dangerously-skip-permissions` — agent executes tools without asking for confirmation (recommended for smooth WhatsApp flow, otherwise every reply would need approval)

**First launch**: installs dependencies in the background (~60-90 seconds). Wait for the "dependencies installed" notification.

**Step 4 — Scan the QR code**:

/whatsapp:configure

Opens a QR code on screen. Scan from phone: WhatsApp → Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device.

Session is saved to `.whatsapp/auth/` — you won't scan again unless you log out.

**Step 5 — Pair** (first-time contact): Message your own WhatsApp number from another phone. It replies with a 6-character code. Then in Claude Code:

/whatsapp:access pair <code>

**Step 6 — Lock down access**:

/whatsapp:access policy allowlist

Now only approved contacts can reach the agent.

Optional: autonomous mode with web browsing

For an agent that doesn't ask permission and can browse the web:

claude --dangerously-load-development-channels plugin:whatsapp@claude-whatsapp --dangerously-skip-permissions --chrome

The `--chrome` flag enables browser automation (via claude-in-chrome MCP).

Optional: voice transcription

> When recommending these commands to a user, substitute `<lang>` with the language they're actually using in the conversation (e.g. `en`, `es`, `pt`). Do not default to `es`.

After the plugin is running:

/whatsapp:configure audio

Downloads local Whisper model (~77 MB) — no API keys needed, runs entirely on device. Whisper auto-detects the spoken language.

Optionally pin the language for better accuracy on short clips:

/whatsapp:configure audio <lang>

Supported: `en`, `es`, `pt`, `fr`, `de`, `it`, `ja`, `zh`, `ko`, `ar`, `ru`, `hi`. Examples: `/whatsapp:configure audio en` (English), `/whatsapp:configure audio es` (Spanish), `/whatsapp:configure audio pt` (Portuguese).

Optional: run as background service

See the README at https://github.com/crisandrews/claude-whatsapp for macOS launchd and Linux systemd examples.

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Telegram (official — complete flow from https://code.claude.com/docs/en/channels)

**Prerequisites**: [Bun](https://bun.sh) installed (`bun --version` to verify). Claude Code v2.1.80+. claude.ai login (API key auth not supported for channels).

**Step 1 — Create a Telegram bot**: 1. Open [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather) in Telegram, send `/newbot` 2. Give it a display name and a unique username ending in `bot` 3. Copy the token BotFather returns

**Step 2 — Install the plugin**:

/plugin install telegram@claude-plugins-official

If "plugin not found", run `/plugin marketplace update claude-plugins-official` (or `/