Slack MCP
by feamster
README.md
# Slack MCP
Read and respond to Slack from Claude. Works as an MCP server (for Claude Desktop/Claude Code) and as a standalone CLI (for GitHub Actions).
## Features
- **Multi-workspace support** - Configure multiple Slack workspaces
- **Read tools** - Summarize activity, list channels, read messages, search
- **Write tools** - Send messages, reply to threads, add reactions
- **Standalone CLI** - Generate markdown summaries for GitHub Actions
## Installation
### 1. Create Slack App(s)
For each workspace you want to connect:
1. Go to https://api.slack.com/apps → **Create New App** → **From manifest**
2. Select your workspace
3. Paste this manifest:
```yaml
display_information:
name: Claude Slack Reader
description: Read and respond to Slack from Claude
oauth_config:
scopes:
user:
# Read
- channels:history
- channels:read
- groups:history
- groups:read
- im:history
- im:read
- mpim:history
- mpim:read
- users:read
- search:read # slack_search
# Write
- chat:write # send messages to channels + DMs
- reactions:write # add emoji reactions
- files:write # upload files / images
- im:write # open a NEW DM with someone you've never messaged (existing DMs work without this)
settings:
org_deploy_enabled: false
socket_mode_enabled: false
token_rotation_enabled: false
```
4. Click **Install to Workspace** → Allow
5. Copy the **User OAuth Token** (starts with `xoxp-`)
> **Note**: Slack requires a separate app per workspace (public distribution requires Slack approval).
### 2. Configure Tokens
Create `~/.mcp-auth/slack/config.json`:
```json
{
"workspaces": {
"work": {
"name": "Work Slack",
"token": "xoxp-your-token-here",
"priority": 1
},
"research": {
"name": "Research Group",
"token": "xoxp-your-token-here",
"priority": 2
}
},
"default_workspace": "work"
}
```
Or use environment variables:
```bash
export SLACK_USER_TOKEN=xoxp-... # Single workspace
export SLACK_TOKEN_WORK=xoxp-... # Multiple workspaces
export SLACK_TOKEN_RESEARCH=xoxp-...
```
### 3. Install Dependencies
```bash
cd ~/src/slack-mcp
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
### 4. Add to Claude Desktop
Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"slack": {
"command": "python3",
"args": ["/path/to/slack-mcp/server.py"]
}
}
}
```
Restart Claude Desktop.
## Project Structure
```
slack-mcp/
├── src/
│ ├── config.py # Multi-workspace configuration
│ ├── slack_client.py # Slack API wrapper (read + write)
│ ├── summarizer.py # Message categorization
│ └── mcp_server.py # MCP server with tools
├── server.py # Entry point for MCP server
├── slack_summary.py # Standalone CLI
├── requirements.txt
├── pyproject.toml
└── .github/
└── workflows/
└── daily-summary.yml
```
## MCP Tools
### Read Tools
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `slack_summary` | Overview of DMs, mentions, channel activity. Use `mode: "quick"` (default) or `mode: "full"` |
| `slack_channels` | List all channels (filter by type: `all`, `channels`, `dms`, `groups`) |
| `slack_channel` | Read messages from a specific channel |
| `slack_thread` | Read messages in a thread |
| `slack_search` | Search messages |
| `slack_unread` | Get unread message counts |
| `slack_workspaces` | List configured workspaces |
### Write Tools
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `slack_send` | Send message to channel or DM |
| `slack_reply` | Reply in a thread |
| `slack_react` | Add emoji reaction |
### Example Usage in Claude
```
"What's happening in my Slack?"
→ Uses slack_summary with quick mode
"Show me the #engineering channel"
→ Uses slack_channel
"Reply to that thread saying I'll review it tomorrow"
→ Uses slack_reply
"Add a thumbsup to that message"
→ Uses slack_react
```
## Standalone CLI
Generate markdown summaries without Claude:
```bash
# Print summary to stdout
python slack_summary.py
# Save to file
python slack_summary.py --output slack-summary.md
# Look back 48 hours
python slack_summary.py --hours 48
# Specific workspace
python slack_summary.py --workspace work
# Action items only
python slack_summary.py --action-items-only
```
## GitHub Actions Workflow
The included workflow runs daily and commits a summary:
```yaml
# .github/workflows/daily-summary.yml
name: Daily Slack Summary
on:
schedule:
- cron: '0 12 * * *' # 7 AM EST
workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
summarize:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- uses: actions/setup-python@v5
with:
python-version: '3.11'
- run: pip install -r requirements.txt
- env:
SLACK_USER_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_USER_TOKEN }}
run: python slack_summary.py --output slack-summary.md
- run: |
git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
git add slack-summary.md
git diff --quiet --staged || git commit -m "Daily Slack summary [skip ci]"
git push
```
Add your token as a repository secret: **Settings → Secrets → Actions → New repository secret** → `SLACK_USER_TOKEN`
## Configuration Sync
To sync config across machines, symlink to a cloud folder:
```bash
mkdir -p ~/.mcp-auth/slack
ln -sf ~/Dropbox/mcp-auth/slack/config.json ~/.mcp-auth/slack/config.json
# or Box, iCloud, etc.
```
## Performance
- **Quick mode** (default): ~4 seconds - scans recent DMs and channels
- **Full mode**: ~20 seconds - detailed scan of all activity
- **Cached calls**: ~1.5 seconds - conversation list cached for 5 minutes
## Requirements
- Python 3.10+
- `slack-sdk` - Slack API client
- `mcp` - Model Context Protocol server
This server cannot be deployed
Maintenance
ActivityInactive
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