# Slack

> Read Slack messages, threads, channels, users, and files via CLI. Use when asked to view Slack URLs, search Slack, look up users, or work with Slack files.

- Skill: `lox/slack-2` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add lox/slack-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/lox/slack-2/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs
- Author: lox (https://skillmd.com/u/lox)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/lox/slack-2

---


# Slack CLI

A CLI for reading Slack content, searching messages, browsing users, and working with files.

## Installation

If `slack-cli` is not on PATH, install it:

```bash
brew install --cask lox/tap/slack-cli
```

Or: `go install github.com/lox/slack-cli@latest`

See https://github.com/lox/slack-cli for setup instructions (Slack app creation and OAuth).

## Available Commands

```
slack-cli view <url>          # View any Slack URL (message, thread, or channel)
slack-cli search <query>      # Search messages
slack-cli channel list        # List channels you're a member of
slack-cli channel read        # Read recent messages from a channel name, ID, or URL
slack-cli channel info        # Show channel information by name, ID, or URL
slack-cli file list           # List recent files
slack-cli file info           # Show file metadata
slack-cli file download       # Download a file by ID
slack-cli file upload         # Upload and share a file
slack-cli file delete         # Delete a file by ID
slack-cli thread read         # Read a thread by URL or channel+timestamp (supports --markdown)
slack-cli user list           # List users in the workspace
slack-cli user info           # Show user information
slack-cli auth login          # Authenticate with Slack via OAuth
slack-cli auth status         # Show authentication status
```

## Common Patterns

### View a Slack URL the user shared

```bash
slack-cli view "https://workspace.slack.com/archives/C123/p1234567890" --markdown
```

### Search for messages

```bash
slack-cli search "from:@username keyword"
slack-cli search "in:#channel-name keyword"
```

### Read a channel

```bash
slack-cli channel read "#general" --limit 50
slack-cli channel read "https://workspace.slack.com/archives/C123" --markdown
```

### Upload a file

```bash
slack-cli file upload "#general" ./report.txt
slack-cli file upload @alice ./report.txt --comment "latest version"
```

### Filter by date

`search` supports calendar filters: `--after`, `--before`, and `--on`.
`channel read` and `thread read` also support rolling windows with `--last`.
Dates are interpreted in UTC and accept unambiguous calendar-day formats such
as `YYYY-MM-DD`, `YYYY/MM/DD`, `18 Apr 2026`, and `Apr 18 2026`. Timestamps,
partial dates, and other inputs with times are rejected.

```bash
slack-cli search "deploy" --after 2026-04-01 --before 2026-04-30
slack-cli search "incident" --on "Apr 18 2026"
slack-cli channel read "#general" --last 2w
slack-cli thread read "$URL" --on "18 Apr 2026" --json
```

### Machine-readable output (--json / --jsonl)

These commands support `--json` (pretty array or object) and `--jsonl` (one
record per line): `search`, `channel read`, `channel list`, `channel info`,
`file list`, `file info`, `thread read`, `user list`, `user info`.

Message records emit a full normalized shape for machines: `ts`,
`thread_ts` (when Slack provides it), `type`, `subtype` (when set, e.g.
`bot_message`, `channel_join`, `channel_archive`, `huddle_thread`),
`user`, `user_id`, `text` (resolver-formatted), `text_raw`, `channel`,
`workspace`, `permalink`, `reply_count`, and `files` when those fields are
available. When Slack channel metadata is available, `channel.type` is one
of `channel`, `private_channel`, `im`, or `mpim`.

```bash
slack-cli search "deploy" --limit 20 --jsonl | jq -c 'select(.channel.type == "channel")'
slack-cli channel read "#general" --limit 50 --json
slack-cli file list --limit 20 --jsonl
slack-cli thread read "$URL" --json
slack-cli channel list --json
slack-cli user list --json
slack-cli channel info C123 --json
```

## Discovering Options

To see available subcommands and flags, run `--help` on any command:

```bash
slack-cli --help
slack-cli view --help
slack-cli search --help
```

## Notes

- Use `--markdown` with `view`, `thread read`, or `channel read` when you need structured terminal output
- `file upload` accepts channel names, conversation IDs, `@username`, or `U123`
- Use `--json` / `--jsonl` for agent consumption; `--jsonl` pipes cleanly into `jq -c`
- Thread URLs with `thread_ts` parameter are automatically detected
- Channel names can include or omit the `#` prefix
- If you see `channel_not_found` and multiple workspaces are configured, retry with `--workspace <workspace>`
- User lookup accepts both user IDs (U123ABC) and email addresses