# Slack Setup

> Set up a personal Slack bot — create the app, configure scopes, store the token, verify the connection.

- Skill: `digitalpine/slack-setup` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add digitalpine/slack-setup`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/digitalpine/slack-setup/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs
- Author: DigitalPine (https://skillmd.com/u/digitalpine)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/digitalpine/slack-setup

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# Slack Bot Setup

## Goal

Get the user from zero to a working personal Slack bot. By the end, they have a Slack app installed in their workspace, a bot token in their shell profile, and a verified connection.

## What Needs to Happen

1. **Choose a bot display name** — this becomes the app name and bot username in Slack
2. **Create a Slack app from manifest** — the template is at `skills/slack-setup/assets/slack-app-manifest.json` (relative to plugin root). Replace `{{BOT_NAME}}` with their chosen name. The manifest includes 16 bot scopes covering read/write for messages, channels, users, files, pins, and reactions.
3. **Install the app to their workspace** — this happens in the Slack admin UI at api.slack.com
4. **Store the Bot User OAuth Token** — goes in `~/.zshrc` as `export SLACK_BOT_TOKEN="xoxb-..."`. This is the only auth method the MCP server supports.
5. **Verify the connection** — DM the user in Slack (not a public channel). Use `post_message` to their user's DM channel. This proves the token works and they see the bot come alive.

## Constraints

- Never hardcode the token in any committed file
- Check `echo $SLACK_BOT_TOKEN` first — skip to verify if they're already set up
- The manifest has 16 scopes. Don't add or remove scopes without explaining why.
- Chrome automation is available for co-piloting the Slack admin UI if the user wants help navigating it — offer but don't assume

## After Setup

Show them what they can do. The plugin gives them 15 tools across messaging, reactions, channels, users, and files. All messages go through the `slack-format` agent automatically.

