Question 1

How do I send attachments with Slackbot?

Accepted Answer

Use the message.send_webapi method with JSON-encoded attachments, as shown in the example where attachments are defined as Python dictionaries and serialized to JSON. This allows rich messaging but requires manual handling of Slack's attachment format.

Question 2

Slackbot vs Slack Bolt: which one should I use for a new bot?

Accepted Answer

Slackbot is simpler and faster for basic bots using the RTM API, but Slack Bolt (Slack's official SDK) supports the newer Events API, modals, and interactive components, making it more future-proof for complex projects. Consider Slackbot for quick prototypes and Bolt for production-ready features.

Question 3

How to debug errors in Slackbot plugins?

Accepted Answer

Configure the ERROR_TO setting in slackbot_settings.py to send tracebacks directly to a Slack channel or user. This integrates error reporting into your workflow, but ensure the bot has access to the specified recipient for it to work.

Question 4

Can Slackbot work with Slack's new block kit?

Accepted Answer

The README doesn't mention block kit support; it focuses on attachments via the web API. You might need to extend it manually using Slack's web client, or consider alternatives like Slack Bolt that have native block kit integration.

Question 5

How to create a custom command that takes parameters?

Accepted Answer

Use regular expressions in the @respond_to decorator, e.g., @respond_to('Give me (.*)') to capture parameters, which are passed as arguments to the handler function. This allows flexible command parsing but requires regex knowledge.

Question 6

What's the best way to deploy a Slackbot in production?

Accepted Answer

Since it's a Python script, deploy it on a server or cloud platform with process management (e.g., systemd or a container) to keep the bot running persistently. Ensure environment variables like SLACKBOT_API_TOKEN are set for configuration.

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