Build a Slack AI Agent with nanobot

This guide connects nanobot to Slack through Socket Mode. No public webhook URL is required for the first working setup.

What this guide builds

a Slack app with Socket Mode
a bot token and app-level token
the slack channel enabled in nanobot
a DM pairing flow and mention test from an approved Slack user

Prerequisites

A working nanobot reply:

nanobot agent -m "Hello!"

Permission to create a Slack app in a workspace.

Install nanobot

python -m pip install nanobot-ai
nanobot onboard --wizard

Enable the Slack channel

Install the optional channel dependency:

nanobot plugins enable slack

In Slack, create an app, enable Socket Mode, create an app-level token with connections:write, add bot scopes, subscribe to bot events, and install the app to your workspace.

Merge this snippet into ~/.nanobot/config.json:

{
  "channels": {
    "slack": {
      "enabled": true,
      "botToken": "xoxb-...",
      "appToken": "xapp-...",
      "groupPolicy": "mention",
      "dm": {
        "policy": "allowlist"
      }
    }
  }
}

Slack DMs are open by default. Setting dm.policy to "allowlist" with no dm.allowFrom entries makes new DM senders receive a pairing code. Approve the code before using the bot normally.

Run nanobot gateway

nanobot channels status
nanobot gateway

Test a message

DM the Slack bot directly. It should return a pairing code. Approve it from a trusted local surface:

nanobot agent -m "/pairing approve ABCD-EFGH"

Then DM the bot again, or mention it in a channel:

@nanobot Hello from Slack

Security notes

Keep groupPolicy as mention unless the bot is intentionally listening to every channel message.
Keep dm.policy as "allowlist" when you want pairing-based approval.
Use groupAllowFrom with allowlist mode for approved channels.
Reinstall the Slack app after changing scopes.
Keep bot and app tokens out of committed config files.

Troubleshooting

If Socket Mode fails, confirm the app-level token starts with xapp-.
If the bot cannot send files, add files:write, reinstall the app, and restart nanobot.
If a DM responds normally without pairing, check that dm.policy is "allowlist".
If channel messages are ignored, check event subscriptions and group policy.

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