Slack
Connect Crow to Slack to read messages, post updates, and interact with channels and threads through your AI assistant.
What You Get
- Read messages from channels and threads
- Send messages to channels
- List channels and browse channel history
- Look up user profiles
Setup
Step 1: Create a Slack App
- Go to api.slack.com/apps
- Click Create New App → From scratch
- Name it (e.g., "Crow") and select your workspace
- Click Create App
Step 2: Add Bot Token Scopes
- In your app settings, go to OAuth & Permissions in the left sidebar
- Scroll to Scopes → Bot Token Scopes
- Click Add an OAuth Scope and add each scope listed in Required Permissions below
- Scroll up and click Install to Workspace
- Authorize the app when prompted
- Copy the Bot User OAuth Token (starts with
xoxb-)
Step 3: Invite the bot to channels
In Slack, go to each channel you want Crow to access and type /invite @Crow (or whatever you named the app).
Step 4: Add to Crow
Paste your bot token in Crow's Nest → Settings → Integrations, or on the Setup page at /setup.
The environment variable is SLACK_BOT_TOKEN.
Required Permissions
| Scope | Why |
|---|---|
channels:history | Read messages in public channels |
channels:read | List public channels and their details |
chat:write | Send messages to channels the bot is in |
users:read | Look up user names and profiles |
Optional scopes for expanded access:
| Scope | Why |
|---|---|
groups:history | Read messages in private channels |
groups:read | List private channels |
im:history | Read direct messages |
reactions:read | View emoji reactions on messages |
Troubleshooting
"not_in_channel" error
The bot must be invited to each channel before it can read or post messages. Use /invite @Crow in the channel.
"missing_scope" error
You need to add the missing scope in OAuth & Permissions and reinstall the app to your workspace. Slack requires reinstallation after adding new scopes.
Bot can't see messages from before it joined
Slack bots can only access message history from channels they've been invited to. They cannot retroactively access messages from before the invitation.