slack-updates

Overview

A lightweight node app to be used to update Slack statuses in a single workspace via the command line. Credit to ahosking for the original idea.

Getting started

• Clone this repo and run yarn -i to install dependencies
• Copy the .env.example file to .env in order to store your token you'll create later
• Create a new Slack app in your workspace
• Add the following permissions to your app:
  • users.profile:write
• Install the app to your workspace
• Copy the OAuth Access Token from the OAuth & Permissions page and paste it into your .env file
• Create the following aliases in your ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc file or add more if you'd like:

# Alias for to run the app
alias slack="node ~/dev/slack-updates/index.js"
# Aliases per status
alias brb="slack 'Be right back!' ':brb:' 0 0"              # The first 0 defaults to a status that will not expire - The second 0 ensures do not disturb is not enabled
alias lunch="slack 'Lunch' ':away:' 1 1"                    # The first 1 is the number of hours the status will last - The second 1 enables do not disturb
alias gym="slack 'Gym - Back in an hour' ':away:' 2 1"      # 2 hours with do not disturb enabled
alias ski="slack 'Ski break - Back in an hour' ':ski:' 2 1" # etc.
alias locked="slack 'Locked in' ':technologist:' 1 1"
alias errands="slack 'Errands - Back on this afternoon' ':car:' 1 0"
alias evening="slack 'Have a great evening!' ':sparkles:' 8 0"
alias weekend="slack 'Have a great weekend!' ':sparkles:' 48 0"
alias meeting="slack 'In a meeting' ':calendar:' 1 1"
alias clear="slack '' '' 0 0"                               # Clear the status
# Alias to list all available statuses
alias slacks="echo 'brb, lunch, gym, ski, locked, errands, weekend, evening, meeting, clear'"

Using the app

• Run source ~/.zshrc or source ~/.bashrc to reload your shell
• Run slacks from anywhere to see all available statuses
• Run any of the aliases you've created to update your status (ex. brb, lunch, gym, ski, locked, errands, weekend, evening, meeting)

Future iterations

• ✅ A clear functionality to clear your status - Completed January 23rd, 2025
• ✅ Include ability to pause notifications - Completed January 23rd, 2025
• Automation to run the app at certain times of the day
• Automation to run the app when certain actions take place
• Update presence