Getting Started with Slack Apps and Slack AI

Rita Pattni
Hello and welcome to Code[ish], an exploration of the lives of modern developers. Join us as we dive into topics like languages and frameworks, data and event driven architectures, artificial intelligence, and individual and team productivity. Tailored to developers and engineering leaders, this episode is part of our DevLife series.

Julián Duque
We are back on a new Code[ish] episode. Today I have the honor to have as guest, Maria José Hernández. She’s a senior developer advocate for Slack. Hello, Maria. How’re you doing?

Maria José Hernández
Thank you so much for having me here today, Julián. I’m the honored one to be here with you today.

Julián Duque
Awesome, awesome. I’m super, super happy to have you here, I’ve always wanted to collaborate with you. For those who don’t know this, Maria and I both speak Spanish natively, so you are going to feel our beautiful accent. But ironically, today we are collaborating in English, but in the future we are going to make sure to see what we can do in Spanish for our Spanish speaking audience.

Maria José Hernández
Maybe we will do it in Spanish.

Julián Duque
Okay, Maria, before we start. Tell me about yourself. What do you do at Slack? What are the new cool stuff that the Slack team has been working on?

Maria José Hernández
Yeah, so this week exactly, it’s my third year at Slack, so I’m really, really happy and celebrating my work anniversary.

Julián Duque
Congratulations!

Maria José Hernández
Yes. Thank you. And I’ve been working at Slack as a developer advocate, so we meet many, many of our Slack developers around the world, collecting their feedback about how they use the platform, the Slack platform, giving them advice on how to be on the platform, but also like the amazing tooling that we are building for them.

Julián Duque
Awesome. I’ve been doing apps on Slack mostly using the Bolt SDK into developers, so that’s the thing I know. But I see that there is support for other different languages. What languages or technologies can I use today to build on Slack?

Maria José Hernández
Yeah, so, let’s start like from the beginning.

So, we have amazing APIs. So regardless of the language that you use, you can just connect easily to those and start developing in the own language of your choice. But like just to make things simpler, we have different SDKs and these SDKs are available for Node, Python, Java, and Deno.

Julián Duque
Deno, okay.

Maria José Hernández
Yeah! And on top of that, we have the Bolt framework that probably you’re more like, acquainted with. But like, they use like the SDKs and the idea behind it is just to make it simpler and faster for developers to start developing in Slack.

And as I mentioned, like, we have like Deno is like our latest SDK or our latest addition to our SDK package. We just brought it because we wanted to make it simpler and more secure for developers to start developing smaller apps. Just like functions that were like easy to create, to build, and to deploy in our system. And with that came the Slack CLI, and the CLI allows us to control and manage all our apps from the terminal, basically. Thanks to that, we actually expand it and we included this to support also all the Bolt framework. The different apps that are available with Bolt that are in JavaScript, Python, and Java, and it just like makes it like a better developer experience overall.

Julián Duque
That’s amazing, I love developer tooling and CLIs. But I’ve got to be honest, I have not used Slack’s CLI. What I recently have been working mostly with, the Workflow Builder and I’ve been automating a bunch of work with that tool. And it’s very convenient, because it’s kind of like low-code. I don’t need to write like a single line of code to do automations or manage Lists or connect to Canvases or notify my coworkers. But it also allows me to do some cost-to-code execution or call to external APIs. So, can these apps created with Workflow Builder be connected with an existing Slack app or a function? How could this work?

Maria José Hernández
This is a great question, and it’s a question that we get a lot when we meet with developers. So basically, we have, I put it like, in a line, right? And one side no code and we go to pro-code, passing through low-code.

So, in the no-code section we have Workflow Builder, which is a no-code integration that helps you to create automations without writing a single line of code. And on the other side, so we already talk about the Slack SDKs, frameworks, and APIs, so we have that pro-code side with all this different tooling and in the middle we have the low-code, which is the Slack CLI and the integration between both.

So, for Workflow Builder, what I really like is that anybody in an organization can start creating their own automations to make their work, like, simpler. So, if you identify a task that is repetitive and is like really time consuming, that’s a great candidate for creating an automation with Workflow Builder.

Workflow Builder is a tool that is available for everybody in any plan in Slack. If you see on the sidebar, you’ll find it under automations. And when you start creating, you have like different steps. And then it’s really easy because you drag and drop the different steps into kind of like a canvas and this is how you create your automation.

Once it’s ready to share with the rest of the organization, you can add it to a channel, you can add it to a Canvas, which is a document within Slack, or you can send it to somebody directly in a DM or in another conversation. So, it makes it really, really easy to get started automating your work within Slack.

I feel also that an easy, like step to get into the automation mode is to start integrating the apps that you already use. So, if you have a calendar app or like an email app, it can easily go to the apps directory and check if that app is available there. And just connecting to it, like giving it permissions to be within your workspace, it makes your work more productive because you don’t have to constantly switch from one app or the app that you are working in which is Slack, to go and check your calendar and go to check your email or any other tool that you use in your department or within your team.

So, you start saving time. It’s actually known to us based on a survey that we had, I think it saves people, makes them like 47% more productive when they start integrating the tools and the apps that they are already working with and adding them to Slack.

So, if you are a productivity person, like they really chase productivity. This is like a game-changer.

Julián Duque
Nice. So, there is this marketplace for apps. An individual like myself or any of the other developers that are listening to this episode can build and distribute an app on this marketplace? Or there is kind of like a specific restriction of what type of apps can be added here?

Maria José Hernández
So, there are like two types of developer personas when it comes to creating an app. So, we have people that work for an organization or for different organizations, and they want to build apps for that specific organization or team, to increase productivity and to connect their own systems with a platform like Slack, which is like where people are already talking and collaborating in.

And that makes a majority of our developers, so people that develop in-house and to connect their own systems with Slack. On the other side, we have developers that want to create different apps, and those are the apps that you, a specific app that solves a specific problem for many companies, and they pass a process to get their app to their Slack marketplace.

It’s not a difficult process, but there is like a series of steps that our team in the Slack marketplace check to be able to publish those apps. So, if you are using Slack, if you go to see apps, more apps, you get to the Slack marketplace and if you want to have it published, I think there is a button there that gives you all the different steps that you need to follow to be able to do that.

Julián Duque
So, there is also like an option for developers to get like some sort of revenue by creating and building apps on the Slack marketplace.

Maria José Hernández
There are people that publish their apps totally for free. If they have a business idea behind it that’s completely on their side. What we do here at Slack is just like build a platform at the service of those developers and connect it with the people that are really waiting to use that specific app.

Julián Duque
Nice. You and me, we both care about our developer audience, so as an individual developer, how can I start building apps or getting access to like a Slack environment to build an application? Like sometimes, for example, I work for this big organization called Salesforce, you too, but we don’t have access to the Salesforce Enterprise Slack instance to build apps or to experiment with apps. Because of course this is the Enterprise one, but I want to get access to a sandbox or a place where I can like build applications, do my tests. How can developers get access to it? I heard previously at one event that you were sponsoring Render Atlanta, if I am not wrong, that you were launching the Slack Developer Program. So, can you tell us a little bit more about the Slack Developer Program and me as a developer, what can I get from joining that program?

Maria José Hernández
Actually you heard correctly. We do have a Slack Developer Program and the Slack Developer Program is our way of helping developers build great things on Slack faster, with confidence. It’s completely for free to join and it gives developers access to everything from an enterprise-grade sandbox for testing, to early access to new features, and curated like learning experiences and events.

So, each developer gets access to a dedicated portal where they can manage up to 10 sandboxes. They can also explore resources, they can sign up for events, opt into the different betas that we’re going to be releasing before anybody else, so they get to test those features when they’re still in beta. And then control their communications preferences all in one place in that specific dashboard.

So, we launched this program last year at TDX in March 2024 in like beta, but now it’s like fully available for everybody. And the goal in our mind was to create a true central hub for Slack developers. Something that gives them tools, learning paths, and community in just one space. So, why should people join this program? If you read Developer Building with Slack, this program is the easiest way to stay ahead, because like we give all those features in advance.

You’ll be the first to know what’s coming, get a chance to test new features before anyone else, and learn directly from the Slack experts through those different events. All while building in a safe and fully featured enterprise-grade sandbox. It’s really cool because sometimes when you are testing like you can prototype and you want to test an idea before you present it, and especially if your organization is really big, you don’t want to test it in your own workspace because you’re working with your data and anything could go wrong.

But if you test it in another environment like a sandbox, it’s really easy to prove your point and help you get buy-in from other people in your organization. And once you are completely sure that everything’s in there and everything works correctly, you can deploy that in your own workspace. And then the way you can sign up for the developer program, you can go to Slack.dev and on this page the first thing that you’re going to see is “Join the Developer Program” and it will take you to sign up for the program. And then after that you just confirm with your email and you are in. So, it’s completely for free. It’s open to everybody. It’s the best way to get started developing in Slack.

Julián Duque
Easy to memorize. Remember, Slack.dev. We are going to add, of course, the link to the show notes for all of those interested in joining the developer program. I have a question. Is the program time based? Let’s say I joined the program and I only have access for six months or one year. Or is this unlimited or is it not constrained by time? How does that work?

Maria José Hernández
It is not constrained by time, as far as I know. Like you join the program, you are in. Where we do have a little bit of like limitations is the amount of sandboxes that you can create at the same time. I don’t think anybody is going to need more than 10 sandboxes running at the same time. You can delete the previous one and you can add like new ones whenever you need.

Another thing that you get access to apart from all the different events and information and knowledge from different experts, is also the develop newsletter, which actually I curate every month and it’s just a way to stay informed of what’s relevant to you when you are developing with Slack or trying to build something for yourself or for your organization using the Slack platform.

I feel like there is also a community behind it that will support you in your developing like journey, your building journey. You get like a lot of things for free, to be able to automate work and make work like simpler for other people at your organization, not only for the things that you automate for yourself but also for the possibilities of like helping others to automate their work and let them focus what’s really important to them and what they’re really good for.

Julián Duque
This is amazing. And one of the things that I’m checking here in the Slack.dev site are the certifications. I remember like two, three years ago I got the Slack developer certification, but sadly I let that expire. So what other certifications are available and how can I get certified on Slack?

Maria José Hernández
Yeah, you can find all this information on Slack.dev. So, we have different certifications basically for becoming a Slack developer, but also on Slack admin. On top of the certifications that you have to renew every now and then as you just mentioned, we also have Trailhead modules.

Trailhead is a place where you can learn and develop different skills that is part of the Salesforce ecosystem and we have our own space there with our own modules and that will teach you the latest features, specifically like how to get started developing in Slack. One thing that connects that Trailhead modules, that is like a new feature that we launched recently, is that you can connect your developer program sandboxes with those Trailhead modules. So, you follow the learning path that we created for you, like in different courses, and you get to practice in real sandboxes.

Julián Duque
Amazing. And I’m just needing like 2500 points to get to the double Ranger. So now I know what modules I’m going to be doing on Trailhead.

Maria José Hernández
Absolutely. I’m just a Ranger, and I feel so far, like the Lone Ranger.

Julián Duque
Yeah. For those who don’t know Trailhead has like a gamification system where the more modules or courses you complete, you’re going to get points and these will give you some sort of rank within the system.

Maria José Hernández
And prizes.

Julián Duque
Awesome. This is, and prizes. Oh, my God.

Maria José Hernández
If you become a Ranger, you know, you get some swag.

Julián Duque
Sadly, my Ranger… hoodie, my dog was playing with it and destroyed it. So, I don’t know how to get a new one, but that is a story for a different day. You know, dogs are beautiful. I cannot get mad at her.

Maria José Hernández
And so now you’re getting double Ranger so you can get like different hoodie, replace that one.

Julián Duque
I’m hoping. People think that we Salesforce employees have access to those things for free and nope, that’s not how it works.

Maria José Hernández
We also work really hard to get them.

Julián Duque
Yeah, we need to work for them.

Okay, this is amazing, all of these resource things that people have access to, to start like building applications on the Slack platform. And what are the latest news around this recent topic called AI? What can I build on the platform that involves AI?

Maria José Hernández
Yeah. So, this is like the most asked question lately. Because AI is now part of our lives, everyday lives. Yeah, so we love Slack, we use Slack, and people who actually work with Slack, they love it too. And the way that people use it, it’s different depending on the organization. But I think if people that are listening to this podcast have ever used Slack, they will like, know that Slack is more than just a conversational tool.

So, it’s not just like a simple, like chat in which like you can get to talk to your coworkers. It includes more than that. And how we call it is that it is “Work OS”. So, “Work OS” is like work where it happens, but because there’s also a series of tools that allow that work to be more productive and efficient.

So, one of the things that allows that is automations on the different integrations with the apps, but also AI. The way that we combine the human side with data, with the data available in AI right from all these conversations and the things we share there, whereas the different integrations and automations and now AI is what makes it like a work OS. When we talk about AI, I like to explain this into two different parts.

So, in the product we have Slack AI, which is an add-on to every plan that allows us to have a better search. So, when you try to look something in Slack that you go to the search bar, you can have that powered by AI, this is like a feature that I use a lot. For example, I know something was shared in a channel, but I don’t know where because I have so many channels. I’m looking just for the right information about something specific, I don’t really need to like read the whole thing.

So, I asked, for example, I’m going to TDX in Bengaluru in like two weeks. I don’t know the date. So I asked “when is TDX Bengaluru?” in the search bar. And it gives me the answer based on the data from the different conversations and public channels.

So it’s a really, really nice way to find the things that you are looking for.

Julián Duque
That’s something that I’ve been using lately a lot, is using the search just to ask questions to it.

Maria José Hernández
Yeah, it’s not only good for like for finding things but also like you get answers to the questions like what is the developer program? And it gave me the complete answer based on all the data that we have shared internally.

Also, another thing that I use it for is, for example, when I have a holiday and I wasn’t able to join for like a week or something. When I come back, my fear was like, I’m going to be drowned by like all the different notifications that I’m going to get for like one week of not being in Slack. Now, in Slack AI, I can create a summary of what happened during that week on the channels that I’m really interested in knowing, like what actually happened there.

So, it gives me a summary of what happened there. Or I can also create a summary of what happened in a specific channel, what’s being said in a specific channel. With the tool there’s a little star on the upper right corner of the interface. And another way is to create recaps of those channels that are really important to you. And then we have that recap section within like the sidebar.

So, that Slack AI is making working with Slack more intuitive and easier. It is like having your personal assistant with you all the time and it knows all the context of the conversations that you are a part of. So that’s all the first part.

Now the second part is how you can integrate AI in the apps that you are building. Integrating AI or like AI capabilities into the app that you develop, thanks to the different tooling that does something specific, and then we have agents. Agents we work really hand-to-hand with Agentforce, which is our in-house tooling from Salesforce to create agents that also get all the information from context.

So, in Slack we have all this conversational data that is unstructured data that feeds an agent, or an AI, with the relevant information to help us or like solve specific requests. So, for on the one hand we have those agents that we can create with Agent Builder, but it doesn’t live in Agent Builder and we can bring them to Slack and make it accessible for people at our organization, could be like a repository of institutional knowledge for a lot of people in the organization. You can ask things like if you are like new to a company and you ask like “how is this done,” “what are the processes for this,” “can you help me with this other thing?” It just makes your work easier within Slack because it contains all that context already.

In the apps that you’re building, you have the opportunity to connect to whichever LLM that you want to use and that will power your app in a way that makes sense. If you go to the Slack marketplace, we have many, many apps that already have AI features. We have partner apps as well that are featured on top of the marketplace that are already showing how they are using AI to power their apps and make it like more relevant and helpful for the people that installed them to their workspaces.

So, we have a bunch of different ways to integrate AI into like what we’re doing. From Slack AI to developing or building Slack apps that integrate with AI, but also creating agents that will help us make our work simpler.

Julián Duque
I love it and now I have an idea of something that I could build, which is a Slack application that uses the Heroku Managed Inference and Agents, which is our managed LLM. We support different LLMs and integrate everything on a Slack application, deploy everything to Heroku and voilá, that will be the best of both worlds.

Maria José Hernández
That’s a great idea, send it my way.

Julián Duque
Once I have it ready, I will share it with you. [laughs]

Maria José Hernández
Yes, please. I’d like to try it out.

Julián Duque
Of course. Maria, this has been amazing, talking to you, learning about all of this cool stuff that Slack has for developers. Do you have any final words for our audience?

Maria José Hernández
I want to encourage everybody to get started building in Slack. We have an amazing repository of sample apps that people, they just can take a look, they can clone it, they can just run it right away, or they can just change some things and adapt it to their own needs and test it out and be like, seriously, the work that the developer experience team does is amazing in creating those tools.

We listen to all your feedback, we try to improve it every day, and once you get hands-on and developing with Slack, you’ll see it’s not really hard. They do such a good job and make it this really simple to get started. From there, it can get as complex as you want, depending on your use case, but I feel like the whole experience is really good for developers that are getting started.

But there’s also more advanced examples and use cases for developers that are already building with Slack. And what’s really nice about being part of this ecosystem, like the Slack developers ecosystem is you’re not alone. You have a community to support you, to help you out, to answer your questions. My team is in all the forums where people ask questions, but people in the community are faster than us and they actually get to answer those questions and help other people in the community.

So it is a great way to be part of this community, automate work, become more productive and help yourself but also others, to make work more enjoyable and productive in the end. So, I invite everybody to take a look into Slack.dev if you want to get started with anything and just take a look at what’s out there.

We also have a blog in which we collaborate with other developers, and sign up for the newsletter because we have really nice information that we share. And for those that are already really experts, they want to try it out developing with Slack, there is a hackathon going on right now, a virtual hackathon, and we have one prize for the best use of Slack.

So, I invite everybody to join that and maybe we can link it in the show notes. And if everybody wants to participate, it’s a great way to test your knowledge and start creating something, something pretty amazing for everybody.

Julián Duque
Awesome. Maria, thank you. Thank you very much for joining us here at Code[ish] and looking forward to have you on a future edition.

Maria José Hernández
Please, I’d be really honored to be back and thank you so much for this time and this opportunity to talk to you about what we do here at Slack.

Julián Duque
Of course, and thank you, you all for listening to Code[ish] and see you on the next one.

Rita Pattni
Thanks for joining us for this episode of the Code[ish] podcast. Code[ish] is produced by Heroku. The easiest way to deploy, manage, and scale your applications in the cloud. If you’d like to learn more about Code[ish] or any of Heroku’s podcasts, please visit Heroku.com/podcasts.