Build a Slack Bot

Overview

This guide walks you through setting up profClaw as a Slack bot that can respond to messages, execute tools, and run agentic workflows directly in your Slack channels.

Prerequisites

profClaw installed and running (mini or pro mode) - see Installation
A Slack workspace where you have admin access
An AI provider configured (e.g., Anthropic or OpenAI) - see AI Providers

Step 1: Create a Slack App

Create the app

Go to api.slack.com/apps and click Create New App.Select From scratch, name it “profClaw”, and choose your workspace.

Configure Bot Token Scopes

Navigate to OAuth and Permissions and add these Bot Token Scopes:

Scope	Purpose
`chat:write`	Send messages
`app_mentions:read`	Respond to @mentions
`channels:history`	Read channel messages
`channels:read`	List channels
`files:read`	Access shared files
`files:write`	Upload files
`im:history`	Read direct messages
`im:read`	Access DM channels
`im:write`	Send direct messages

Enable Socket Mode

Go to Socket Mode and enable it. Create an app-level token with connections:write scope.Save the token - it starts with xapp-.Socket Mode connects to Slack over a persistent WebSocket, so you do not need a public webhook URL for development.

Enable Events

Go to Event Subscriptions and enable events. Subscribe to:

message.channels
message.im
app_mention

Install to workspace

Go to Install App and click Install to Workspace. Authorize the permissions.Save the Bot User OAuth Token - it starts with xoxb-.

Copy the Signing Secret

Go to Basic Information and copy the Signing Secret from the App Credentials section.

Step 2: Configure profClaw

Set the required environment variables:

export SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=xoxb-your-bot-token
export SLACK_APP_TOKEN=xapp-your-app-token
export SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET=your-signing-secret

Or add to .profclaw/settings.yml:

chat:
  channels:
    slack:
      enabled: true
      botToken: ${SLACK_BOT_TOKEN}
      appToken: ${SLACK_APP_TOKEN}
      signingSecret: ${SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET}

Step 3: Start profClaw

profclaw serve

You should see:

✓ Slack bot connected via Socket Mode
✓ Listening for events in workspace: Your Workspace

Run profclaw doctor --chat to verify Slack connectivity without starting the full server.

Step 4: Test It

Invite the bot to a channel first:

/invite @profClaw

Then mention it or send a direct message:

@profClaw What files are in the src/ directory?
@profClaw Summarize the open issues in our repo

The bot replies in a thread by default, showing tool execution progress as it runs.

Configuration Options

Variable	Default	Description
`SLACK_RESPONSE_THREAD`	`true`	Reply in threads instead of inline
`SLACK_TYPING_INDICATOR`	`true`	Show typing indicator while processing
`SLACK_MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH`	`4000`	Max message length (Slack API limit)
`SLACK_ALLOWED_CHANNELS`	`*`	Comma-separated channel IDs to respond in

Security Considerations

The Slack bot inherits your profClaw security mode. In permissive mode, anyone who can message the bot can execute file operations and shell commands. Use standard or ask mode for any shared workspace.

Restrict which channels the bot responds in using allowlists:

chat:
  channels:
    slack:
      allowedChannels:
        - C0123456789  # #engineering
        - C9876543210  # #devops
      allowedUsers:
        - U012345678   # restrict to specific users

See Security Overview for how security modes affect tool execution.

Multi-Workspace Setup

To run the bot across multiple Slack workspaces, configure multiple accounts:

chat:
  slack:
    accounts:
      - id: work
        botToken: xoxb-work-...
        appToken: xapp-work-...
        signingSecret: ...
        isDefault: true
      - id: community
        botToken: xoxb-community-...
        appToken: xapp-community-...
        signingSecret: ...

Chat Providers Overview

Connect profClaw to Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp, and more.

Docker Deployment

Run profClaw and your Slack bot in production with Docker.

​Overview

​Prerequisites

​Step 1: Create a Slack App

​Step 2: Configure profClaw

​Step 3: Start profClaw

​Step 4: Test It

​Configuration Options

​Security Considerations

​Multi-Workspace Setup

​Related Guides

Chat Providers Overview

Docker Deployment

Overview

Prerequisites

Step 1: Create a Slack App

Step 2: Configure profClaw

Step 3: Start profClaw

Step 4: Test It

Configuration Options

Security Considerations

Multi-Workspace Setup

Related Guides