slack-web

Slack Web Automation

Interact with Slack through its web interface using agent-browser.

Core Workflow

Every Slack interaction follows this pattern:

1. Restore session: agent-browser state load ~/.slack-auth-state.json
2. Open Slack: agent-browser --headed open "https://app.slack.com"
3. Snapshot: agent-browser snapshot -i -c (get refs)
4. Interact: Use refs to click, type, navigate
5. Re-snapshot: After every action — Slack's DOM changes constantly

# Restore and open
agent-browser state load ~/.slack-auth-state.json
agent-browser --headed open "https://app.slack.com"
agent-browser wait --load networkidle
agent-browser set viewport 1920 1080

# Verify logged in (URL should contain /client/)
agent-browser get url

# Navigate with quick switcher
agent-browser press "Meta+k"
agent-browser wait 500
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser fill @eXX "general"
agent-browser wait 1000
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX
agent-browser wait --load networkidle

# Read messages
agent-browser snapshot -c

Authentication

First-Time Login (Manual)

agent-browser --headed open "https://app.slack.com"
# PAUSE — tell user to log in manually
# After login confirmed:
agent-browser get url  # verify /client/ in URL
agent-browser state save ~/.slack-auth-state.json

Restore Session

agent-browser state load ~/.slack-auth-state.json
agent-browser --headed open "https://app.slack.com"
agent-browser wait --load networkidle
agent-browser get url
# If URL contains "signin" → session expired, user must re-login

Actions

Read Messages

# Navigate to channel (quick switcher is fastest)
agent-browser press "Meta+k"
agent-browser wait 500
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser fill @eXX "channel-name"
agent-browser wait 1000
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX
agent-browser wait --load networkidle

# Read
agent-browser snapshot -c

Send a Message

# In the target channel, find compose box
agent-browser snapshot -i
# Look for textbox with "Message #channel" placeholder
agent-browser click @eXX  # compose area
agent-browser type @eXX "Your message"
agent-browser press "Enter"
agent-browser wait 1000
agent-browser snapshot -c  # verify sent

Use type not fill — Slack's compose box is contenteditable.

Reply to Thread

agent-browser snapshot -c
agent-browser hover @eXX  # hover message to show toolbar
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX  # reply/thread button
agent-browser wait --load networkidle
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX  # thread compose box
agent-browser type @eXX "Thread reply"
agent-browser press "Enter"

Send DM

agent-browser press "Meta+k"
agent-browser wait 500
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser fill @eXX "Person Name"
agent-browser wait 1000
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX  # person result
agent-browser wait --load networkidle
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX  # compose box
agent-browser type @eXX "Your DM"
agent-browser press "Enter"

Search

agent-browser press "Meta+g"  # Slack search
agent-browser wait 500
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser fill @eXX "search query"
agent-browser press "Enter"
agent-browser wait --load networkidle
agent-browser snapshot -c

React with Emoji

agent-browser snapshot -c
agent-browser hover @eXX  # hover over message
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX  # emoji/reaction button (smiley icon)
agent-browser wait 500
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser fill @eXX "thumbsup"  # emoji search
agent-browser wait 500
agent-browser snapshot -i
agent-browser click @eXX  # emoji result

Check Notifications

# Click "Activity" in sidebar or navigate:
agent-browser snapshot -i -c
agent-browser click @eXX  # Activity link
agent-browser wait --load networkidle
agent-browser snapshot -c

Check Unreads

agent-browser snapshot -i -c
# Look for bold channel names or "Unreads" section
agent-browser click @eXX  # Unreads link
agent-browser wait --load networkidle
agent-browser snapshot -c

Critical Rules

1. ALWAYS re-snapshot after every action — refs invalidate constantly
2. Use --headed mode so user can see and intervene
3. Set viewport 1920x1080 — Slack hides features at small widths
4. Use Meta+k (quick switcher) as primary navigation
5. Use type not fill for compose boxes (contenteditable)
6. Wait after actions: agent-browser wait --load networkidle
7. Save auth state often: agent-browser state save ~/.slack-auth-state.json

Semantic Locator Fallbacks

When refs don't match:

agent-browser find text "general" click
agent-browser find role textbox fill "Hello"
agent-browser find placeholder "Message #general" type "Hello"
agent-browser find role button click --name "Send"

Debugging

agent-browser screenshot /tmp/slack-debug.png
agent-browser get url
agent-browser snapshot  # full unfiltered tree

Deep-Dive References

Reference	When to Use
references/workflows.md	Full workflow examples