# Slack Thread > Read and summarize Slack channel history and thread conversations. Use when receiving Slack links (https://...slack.com/archives/...) or requests to view channel/thread/reply conversations, summarize discussions, or check recent messages in a channel. - Skill: `dvcrn/slack-thread` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dvcrn/slack-thread` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dvcrn/slack-thread/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Research & Search - Author: dvcrn (https://skillmd.com/u/dvcrn) - Updated: 2026-09-08 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dvcrn/slack-thread --- # Slack Thread Reader Script to fetch Slack channel history, threads, and individual replies. Output is LLM-friendly format: one message per line, ascending order (oldest→newest), minimal whitespace. ## Script Location `scripts/slack-thread.sh` (entry point) → `scripts/slack-thread.py` (main logic) ## Slack Link Structure ``` https://abstract-im.slack.com/archives/C0AE4MGLNUU ^^^^^^^^^^^ Channel ID https://abstract-im.slack.com/archives/C0AE4MGLNUU/p1770775935866499 ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Channel ID Message ts (parent) https://abstract-im.slack.com/archives/C0AE4MGLNUU/p1770776063826049?thread_ts=1770775935.866499&cid=C0AE4MGLNUU ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ Channel ID Reply ts (child) Parent ts Channel ID (duplicate) ``` - **pTS**: Timestamp in URL path. `p` + 10 digits (seconds) + 6 digits (microseconds). API uses `seconds.microseconds` format (e.g., `p1770775935866499` → `1770775935.866499`) - **thread_ts**: Parent message ts of the thread. If present, it's a reply link - **cid**: Duplicate channel ID info (for app deep links, ignored by script) - **ts**: Unique ID and timestamp of a Slack message. Unique within a channel ## Usage ### 3 Modes | Link Format | Mode | Behavior | |-----------|------|------| | `/archives/CHANNEL` | Channel | Fetch channel history | | `/archives/CHANNEL/pTS` | Thread | Fetch full thread with ts as parent | | `/archives/CHANNEL/pTS?thread_ts=...` | Reply | Fetch single reply only | ### Read Thread ```bash scripts/slack-thread.sh https://abstract-im.slack.com/archives/CHANNEL/pTIMESTAMP scripts/slack-thread.sh ``` ### Read Channel History ```bash scripts/slack-thread.sh https://abstract-im.slack.com/archives/CHANNEL scripts/slack-thread.sh scripts/slack-thread.sh --limit 100 ``` ### Channel History + Thread Replies (Full) ```bash scripts/slack-thread.sh --with-threads scripts/slack-thread.sh --with-threads --thread-limit 5 ``` ### Read Single Reply ```bash scripts/slack-thread.sh https://abstract-im.slack.com/archives/CHANNEL/pREPLY_TS?thread_ts=PARENT_TS&cid=CHANNEL ``` ## Workflow 1. When given a Slack link or channel ID, use this script to fetch conversation history. 2. **⚠️ If the link type and request content don't match, always ask a clarifying question.** - Link formats: `/archives/CHANNEL` = channel, `/archives/CHANNEL/pTS` = thread, `/archives/CHANNEL/pTS?thread_ts=...` = reply - Example: If given a thread link but asked to "fetch channel history", ask for clarification 3. **When asked to summarize channel history**: Confirm "Should thread replies be included?" before deciding on `--with-threads`. 4. Summarize the fetched content or deliver it as-is. ## Options | Option | Description | Default | |------|------|--------| | `--limit N` | Number of channel history messages (0=all) | 0 (all) | | `--from YYYY-MM-DD` | Messages after this date only (channel mode) | none | | `--to YYYY-MM-DD` | Messages up to this date only (channel mode) | none | | `--with-threads` | Include thread replies inline | off | | `--thread-limit N` | Max replies per thread (0=all) | 0 | | `--desc` | Descending order (newest→oldest) | off (default ascending) | ## Output Format ### Sort Order: Ascending (oldest → newest, conversation flow) Use `--desc` to switch to descending order. ### Reply Mode ``` [reply] ch:C0AE4MGLNUU(#dev-backend) thread:1770775935.866499 [2026-03-04T14:32:28|1770776063.826049] user1: Confirmed, will apply the fix ``` ### Thread Mode ``` [thread] ch:C0AE4MGLNUU(#dev-backend) parent:1770775935.866499 replies:144 range:2026-02-25~2026-03-04 [participants] user1, user2, user3, absbot (4) [2026-02-25T22:57:27|1770775935.866499] user1: Parent message (oldest) [2026-03-04T14:31:05|1770776005.123456] user1: Second message [2026-03-04T14:32:28|1770776063.826049] absbot: Latest message text 📎file.png [:thumbsup:user2,user3] ``` ### Channel Mode ``` [channel] ch:C0AE4MGLNUU(#dev-backend) msgs:200 threads:3 [participants] user1, user2, user3, absbot (4) [2026-03-04T14:29:00|1770775740.111111] user1: Message text [2026-03-04T14:32:28|1770775948.222222] absbot: Message text [thread replies:13 latest:2026-03-04T16:00:00] [2026-03-04T14:30:00|1770775800.333333] user3: Thread reply (older) [2026-03-04T14:31:00|1770775860.444444] user2: Thread reply (newer) ``` ### Output Elements | Element | Format | Example | |------|------|------| | Timestamp+ID | ISO 8601 + ts | `[2026-02-11T17:45:56\|1770775935.866499]` | | Sender | Real name (including bots) | `user1:`, `absbot:` | | Mention | @name | `@user3` | | Reaction | [:emoji:names] | `[:thumbsup:user2,user3]` | | Attachment | 📎filename userID/fileID | `📎image.png U0ADM19GY6N/F0ADRC9PEHL` | | Thread info | [thread replies:N latest:time] | `[thread replies:13 latest:2026-03-04T16:00:00]` | | Inline reply | 1-space indentation | ` [ts] user: text` | | Participants | [participants] names (N) | `[participants] user1, user2 (2)` | | Channel name | ch:ID(#name) | `ch:C0AE4MGLNUU(#dev-backend)` | ### LLM Optimization - Default ascending: LLM naturally follows conversation flow in chronological order - Newlines/consecutive spaces within messages → collapsed to single space - No decorative characters (📌, ---, ├ └ etc. removed) - No blank lines (messages separated by single newline) - Thread mode: fetches all messages without omission (automatic pagination) - Each message includes ts (unique ID): enables referencing specific messages - Attachment permalink shortened: shows only userID/fileID (removes URL-encoded filename duplication) - Output: `📎filename U0ADM19GY6N/F0ADRC9PEHL` - Full URL reconstruction: `https://abstract-im.slack.com/files/{userID}/{fileID}` ## Technical Details ### Pagination & Deduplication - `conversations.replies` API duplicates parent message at `[0]` on every page - Automatic deduplication via `seen_ts` set - Cursor-based pagination collects all replies without omission - `--limit` applies only in channel mode (thread mode always fetches all) ### Parallel Processing - Channel name lookup and data fetch run concurrently (saves 1 round-trip) - `--with-threads` fetches thread replies in parallel with up to 8 workers - User name lookups also run in parallel with up to 5 workers ### User Cache - User ID → real name cache at `~/.cache/slack-reader/users.json` (TTL 24 hours) - Cached users are resolved instantly without API calls ### Rate Limit - On 429 response, waits for `Retry-After` header duration then retries (max 3 attempts) - Rate limit wait timestamp shared across parallel workers (prevents thundering herd) ### Error Handling - In `--with-threads`, if an individual thread fetch fails, only that thread is skipped; the rest outputs normally - Summary of failed thread count and ts printed to stderr ## Notes - Bot must be a member of the channel. On `channel_not_found`, suggest `/invite @absbot`. - Fetching only channel history without `--with-threads` may miss conversations inside threads.