Read, send, search, and manage Slack messages via the slk CLI. Use when the user asks to check Slack, read channels, send Slack messages, search Slack, check unreads, manage drafts, view saved items, or interact with Slack workspace. Also use for heartbeat Slack checks. Triggers on "check slack", "any slack messages", "send on slack", "slack unreads", "search slack", "slack threads", "draft on slack".
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).
# 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).
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":
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.
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
slk unread → slk read <channel> for channels that need attentionslk saved during heartbeat, reads full threads with slk thread, summarizes or extracts action itemsslk read <channel> 100 across key channels → compile decisions, open questions, action items → slk send daily-digest "📋 ..."slk draft <channel> "..." posts to Slack's editor UI for human to review before sendingslk search "deployment process" or slk pins <channel> to pull context before answering questionsdraft_has_conflict if Slack has that conversation openCreate PR or Report Issue at: https://github.com/therohitdas/slkcli