Slack

Integrate CowAgent into Slack via a Slack App in Socket Mode. Supports direct messages (DM) and channels (triggered by @mention or replying within a thread). Socket Mode uses a persistent WebSocket connection — no public IP or callback URL required, works out of the box.

1. Setup

Step 1: Create a Slack App

1. Open the Slack API apps page, click Create New App → From scratch.
2. Enter an App Name (e.g. CowAgent), pick the Workspace to install into, and create it.

Step 2: Enable Socket Mode and get the App Token

1. In the left sidebar go to Settings → Socket Mode and turn on Enable Socket Mode.
2. You will be prompted to generate an App-Level Token with the connections:write scope. Save this token starting with xapp-.

Step 3: Configure bot scopes and install

1. Go to Features → OAuth & Permissions, click Add an OAuth Scope under Bot Token Scopes, and add the following scopes one by one:

   Copy

   app_mentions:read
   channels:history
   chat:write
   commands
   files:read
   files:write
   groups:history
   im:history
   mpim:history
   users:read
   

   <Note> `files:read` / `files:write` are used for sending/receiving images and files; omit them if you only need text conversations. </Note>

2. Go to Features → Event Subscriptions, turn on Enable Events, and under Subscribe to bot events click Add Bot User Event to add:

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   app_mention
   message.im
   message.channels
   

   <Note> Add `message.groups` if you need to use the bot in private channels. </Note>

3. Go to Features → App Home, enable Messages Tab under Show Tabs, and check Allow users to send Slash commands and messages from the messages tab. Otherwise the DM input box is disabled and users cannot message the bot.

4. Back in OAuth & Permissions, click Install to Workspace. After installing, copy the Bot User OAuth Token starting with xoxb-.

Step 4: Connect to CowAgent

```json
{
  "channel_type": "slack",
  "slack_bot_token": "xoxb-xxxxxxxxxxxx",
  "slack_app_token": "xapp-xxxxxxxxxxxx",
  "slack_group_trigger": "mention_or_reply"
}
```

| Key | Description | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `slack_bot_token` | Bot User OAuth Token, like `xoxb-...` | - |
| `slack_app_token` | App-Level Token (generated after enabling Socket Mode), like `xapp-...` | - |
| `slack_group_trigger` | Channel trigger: `mention_or_reply` (@ or reply in thread) / `mention_only` (@ only) / `all` (all messages) | `mention_or_reply` |

The integration is ready when you see logs like:

[Slack] Bot logged in as user_id=U0XXXXXXX, team=Txxxxxxxx
[Slack] ✅ Slack bot ready, listening for events

2. Capabilities

3. Usage

Once connected:

• Direct message (DM): find your App under Apps in the Slack sidebar and message it directly.
• Channel: invite the App into a channel (/invite @your-app), then trigger it with @your-app hello; continue the conversation by replying within the same thread.

When sending an image or file, you can add a text caption (description / question) in the attachment input — the bot will answer based on both. Sending an attachment first and then a follow-up question also works; the two messages are merged automatically.