slack-personal
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
# 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):
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:
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 savedduring heartbeat, reads full threads withslk thread, summarizes or extracts action items - Daily channel digest —
slk read <channel> 100across 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"orslk 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_conflictif 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