Let's build a simple Slack bot

You love Slack. Your team loves Slack. You've integrated other services like Github or Trello into Slack, but there is one little thing you wish Slack could do and there is no integration for it. It's time to build a Slack bot.

Transcript

1. Let’s build a Slack bot Rob Knight, UC Santa Cruz
2. You need an empty conference room
3. /room 30
4. Why Slack?
5. Why Slack? • Friendliness makes it easy for
 newbies and technophobes • Keeps remote team members connected • Channels let new team members
 see the history of a conversation
6. Also…
7. It’s fun.!"
8. But also…
9. • Github pushes, Travis builds, code deployments • Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram mentions • Wufoo form submissions • Trello Notifications and service integrations
10. Building a bot
11. Kinds of integrations • Webhook: post message a channel via HTTP POST • Slash command: user-invoked keyword starting with / • Bot user: Appears as a user. Parses and responds to natural language in messages.
12. Kinds of integrations • Webhook: post message a channel • Slash command: user-invoked keyword starting with / • Bot user: Appears as a user. Parses and responds to natural language in messages.
13. How it works /room 30 1. 3. 2.
14. Step 1: user input /room 30 /command text
15. Step 2: your server 1. Verify token 2. Check for TEXT value 3. Query Google API
 for available rooms 4. Construct and return plain
 text response
16. Step 2: your server • An HTTPS endpoint URL • Ruby/Sinatra running on Heroku (Hobby Dyno: $7/month) • Takes MINUTES as a variable. Default is 30 minutes • Uses “FreeBusy” Google Calendar API method • Returns an array of calendars that are open
 for the duration requested • Plain text response is sent back to Slack
17. Step 3: response Configured when you setup the integration Returned as a response to your slash command
18. Response types Basic Formatted
19. Response types Basic • Simple messages • Returned within 3 seconds of request • That don’t need layout or color
20. Response types Formatted • Rich or actionable messages • Longer than 3 seconds to process • Use fancy layout or color
21. On with the code
23. Thank you • Slack brand elements: https://brandfolder.com/slack • Organized desktop: https://unsplash.com/photos/9dI3g8owHiI • Man on surfboard with dog: https://unsplash.com/photos/98Rcate6GCU • Hipster phone guy: https://unsplash.com/photos/Q12JPPvF7eQ • Crafting tools: https://unsplash.com/photos/9OKGEVJiTKk • Conference room: https://unsplash.com/photos/GWe0dlVD9e0 • GIFs: http://giphy.com Images • raknight@ucsc.edu • github.com/knice/slack-roomicorn • api.slack.com/slash-commands Links