slack
Build secure, reliable Slack integrations and bots. Use for webhook design, Block Kit UI, Socket Mode, and API best practices.
What this skill does
# Slack Integration Engineering
## Current Versions (Verify Before Use)
```bash
# Check Slack API changelog for breaking changes
curl -s https://api.slack.com/changelog | grep -i "breaking"
```
The [Slack API changelog](https://api.slack.com/changelog) tracks all changes. The [Slack Bolt SDK](https://slack.dev/bolt-js/) is the recommended framework for bots.
## Core Principles
1. **Never trust incoming webhooks.** Verify Slack request signatures on every request.
2. **OAuth over tokens.** Use OAuth 2.0 for workspace installs. Bot tokens are for development only.
3. **Block Kit for rich UI.** Use structured blocks instead of raw markdown for interactive experiences.
4. **Async acknowledgment.** Acknowledge Slack events within 3 seconds, process asynchronously.
5. **Rate limits are real.** The Slack API has tiered rate limits. Handle `429` responses with exponential backoff.
## Webhook Security
### Request Verification
```javascript
import { createHmac } from 'crypto';
function verifySlackRequest(req) {
const signature = req.headers['x-slack-signature'];
const timestamp = req.headers['x-slack-request-timestamp'];
const body = req.rawBody;
// Reject old requests (5 min window)
if (Date.now() / 1000 - Number(timestamp) > 300) return false;
const base = `v0:${timestamp}:${body}`;
const hash = createHmac('sha256', process.env.SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET)
.update(base)
.digest('hex');
return signature === `v0=${hash}`;
}
```
### Token Storage
- Store tokens encrypted at rest (AES-256 or KMS)
- Rotate tokens quarterly
- Use per-workspace token isolation
- Never log tokens
## Block Kit Patterns
```json
{
"blocks": [
{
"type": "section",
"text": {
"type": "mrkdwn",
"text": "*Deployment Complete*\n<https://github.com/org/repo|org/repo>"
}
},
{
"type": "actions",
"elements": [
{
"type": "button",
"text": { "type": "plain_text", "text": "View Logs" },
"url": "https://logs.example.com/run/123"
}
]
}
]
}
```
## Common Anti-Patterns
| Anti-Pattern | Why It's Wrong | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No signature verification | Anyone can spoof Slack requests | Verify `x-slack-signature` |
| Hardcoded bot token | Can't rotate, workspace-locked | OAuth + encrypted storage |
| Synchronous processing | >3s = timeout error | Ack immediately, process async |
| Ignoring rate limits | 429 errors, broken integration | Exponential backoff, respect Retry-After |
| Raw markdown for complex UI | Limited interactivity, inconsistent rendering | Block Kit structured blocks |
| Storing tokens in plaintext | Data breach exposure | Encrypted at rest |
| No error handling | Silent failures, missed messages | Log and alert on API errors |
## Validation Checklist
- [ ] All incoming webhooks verify Slack signature
- [ ] OAuth flow implemented for workspace installation
- [ ] Tokens encrypted at rest
- [ ] Async processing with 3-second acknowledgment
- [ ] Rate limit handling with exponential backoff
- [ ] Block Kit used for interactive messages
- [ ] Error handling and retry logic for all API calls
## Official Resources
- [Slack API docs](https://api.slack.com/)
- [Bolt SDK](https://slack.dev/bolt-js/)
- [Block Kit Builder](https://app.slack.com/block-kit-builder)
- [OAuth guide](https://api.slack.com/authentication/oauth-v2)
- [Rate limits](https://api.slack.com/docs/rate-limits)
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