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 read <channel> [count]            # Read recent messages, default 20 (alias: r)
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, ai-coding) or ID (C08A8AQ2AFP).

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 "📋 ..."
•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