Slack app guide

Hack Club runs on Slack, so a bot or integration is one of the more useful things you can build here. You'll actually use it.

1. Create your Slack app

1. Head to api.slack.com/apps and click Create New App.
2. Select From scratch.
3. Pick a workspace to develop against. Use a private test one, not the main Hack Club workspace.

2. Configure OAuth scopes

Under OAuth & Permissions, add the scopes your bot needs:

• chat:write: post messages.
• channels:history: read messages in public channels.
• commands: add slash commands like /pixl-stats.
• app_mentions:read: get an event when someone @mentions the bot.

Click Install to Workspace and copy your Bot User OAuth Token (xoxb-...).

3. Starter code with @slack/bolt

Bolt in Socket Mode means you can develop locally without exposing a public port:

const { App } = require('@slack/bolt');

const app = new App({
  token: process.env.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN,
  signingSecret: process.env.SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET,
  socketMode: true,
  appToken: process.env.SLACK_APP_TOKEN
});

// Responds when a user says "ping"
app.message('ping', async ({ message, say }) => {
  await say(`pong! 🏓 <@${message.user}>`);
});

(async () => {
  await app.start();
  console.log('⚡️ Slack bot is running!');
})();

4. Deploying 24/7

Once it works locally, put it on Nest, Hack Club's free Linux hosting, so it keeps running when your laptop is shut.