Build and host a Slack bot on Val Town in minutes!

This guide walks you through creating a Slack bot that replies when mentioned in a channel. You'll use Val Town to host your bot and Slack's API to connect it to your workspace.

Get started quickly by remixing our Slack bot example:

• Remix this val to create your own copy.

Copy its HTTP endpoint URL (via the ... menu for main.tsx). You'll use this in your Slack app setup.

• Go to Slack API and create a new app From Scratch.
• Name your app and select your workspace.

In your val's sidebar, add these Environment Variables:

• slackVerificationToken: Copy from your Slack app's Settings → Basic Information → Verification Token.
• slackToken: Leave empty for now (you'll fill this in after installing the app).

• In your Slack app, go to Features → Event Subscriptions
• Enable events and paste your val's HTTP endpoint in Request URL.
• Subscribe to the app_mention event under Subscribe to bot events.

In OAuth & Permissions → Scopes, add:

• app_mentions:read (should already be there)
• chat:write

• Go to Settings → Install App and install the app to your workspace.

• In OAuth & Permissions, copy the Bot User OAuth Token.
• Update your val's slackToken environment variable with this value.

• Invite the bot to any channel you want it to respond in.
• Mention the bot and your val will reply with a hello!

Need help? Join us on Val Town Discord and we'll help you get your Slack bot running!