Introduction
# slk — Slack CLI
Session-based Slack CLI for macOS. Auto-authenticates from the Slack desktop app — no tokens, no OAuth, no app installs. Acts as your user (`xoxc-` session tokens).
## Commands
```bash # Auth slk auth # Test authentication, show user/team
# Read slk channels # List channels (alias: ch) slk dms # List DM conversations with IDs (alias: dm) slk read <channel> [count] # Read recent messages, default 20 (alias: r) slk read @username [count] # Read DMs by username slk read <channel> --threads # Auto-expand all threads slk read <channel> --from 2026-02-01 # Date range filter slk thread <channel> <ts> [count] # Read thread replies, default 50 (alias: t) slk search <query> [count] # Search messages across workspace slk users # List workspace users (alias: u)
# Activity slk activity # All channels with unread/mention counts (alias: a) slk unread # Only unreads, excludes muted (alias: ur) slk starred # VIP users + starred items (alias: star) slk saved [count] [--all] # Saved for later items (alias: sv) slk pins <channel> # Pinned items in a channel (alias: pin)
# Write slk send <channel> <message> # Send a message (alias: s) slk react <channel> <ts> <emoji> # React to a message
# Drafts (synced to Slack editor UI) slk draft <channel> <message> # Draft a channel message slk draft thread <ch> <ts> <message> # Draft a thread reply slk draft user <user_id> <message> # Draft a DM slk drafts # List active drafts slk draft drop <draft_id> # Delete a draft ```
Channel accepts name (`general`), ID (`C08A8AQ2AFP`), `@username` for DMs, or user ID (`U07RQTFCLUC`).
## Auth
Automatic — extracts session token from Slack desktop app's LevelDB + decrypts cookie from macOS Keychain.
**First run:** macOS will show a Keychain dialog asking to allow access to "Slack Safe Storage": - **Allow** — one-time access, prompted again next time - **Always Allow** — permanent, no future prompts (convenient but any process running as your user can extract credentials silently) - **Deny** — blocks access, slk cannot authenticate
**Token cache:** `~/.local/slk/token-cache.json` — auto-validated, auto-refreshed on `invalid_auth`.
If auth fails (token rotated, Slack logged out): ```bash rm ~/.local/slk/token-cache.json slk auth ```
Slack desktop app must be installed and logged in. Does not need to be running if token is cached.
## Reading Threads
Threads require a Slack timestamp. Use `--ts` to get it, then read the thread:
```bash slk read general 10 --ts # Output: [1/30/2026, 11:41 AM ts:1769753479.788949] User [3 replies]: ...
slk thread general 1769753479.788949 ```
## Agent Workflow Examples
- **Heartbeat/cron unread check** — `slk unread` → `slk read <channel>` for channels that need attention - **Save & pick up** — Human saves threads in Slack ("Save for later"). Agent runs `slk saved` during heartbeat, reads full threads with `slk thread`, summarizes or extracts action items - **Daily channel digest** — `slk read <channel> 100` across key channels → compile decisions, open questions, action items → `slk send daily-digest "📋 ..."` - **Weekly DM summary** — `slk read @boss 200 --from 2026-02-01 --threads` → extract action items, decisions, context - **Thread monitoring** — Watch specific threads for new replies (incidents, PR reviews, decisions) - **Draft for human review** — `slk draft <channel> "..."` posts to Slack's editor UI for human to review before sending - **Search-driven context** — `slk search "deployment process"` or `slk pins <channel>` to pull context before answering questions
## Limitations
- **macOS only** — uses Keychain + Electron storage paths - **Session-based** — acts as your user, not a bot. Be mindful of what you send - **Draft drop** may fail with `draft_has_conflict` if Slack has that conversation open - **Session token** expires on logout — keep Slack app running or rely on cached token
## Missing Features & Issues
Create PR or Report Issue at: https://github.com/therohitdas/slkcli