← Change Slack app choice

Selected path Existing Slack app

Set up General Purpose with an existing Slack app.

Complete the Slack app, agent settings, access rules, integrations, and final checks below.

01

SLACK API // YOUR APPS

Select the existing app.

Open Slack apps ↗

01.1
Open Slack API → Your Apps.
Sign in at api.slack.com/apps ↗.
01.2
Select the app and workspace.
Open the app that should run General Purpose. Confirm the workspace before changing its manifest.

02

SLACK APP // APP MANIFEST

Apply the recipe manifest.

The name and description are already set for General Purpose.

02.1
Open Features → App Manifest.
Choose App Manifest and select the JSON tab.
02.2
Back up the current manifest.
Copy the existing JSON to a secure working document before changing it so workspace-specific settings can be preserved or restored.
02.3
Replace or merge the configuration.
Copy the manifest below. Merge it when the existing app has settings your team still needs.
02.4
Save the manifest.
Review Slack's change summary, then click Save Changes.

JSON MANIFEST

{
  "display_information": {
    "name": "AgentBarn_General_Assistant",
    "description": "A flexible starting template for a broad range of configured Slack tasks.",
    "background_color": "#CC4400"
  },
  "features": {
    "app_home": {
      "home_tab_enabled": false,
      "messages_tab_enabled": true,
      "messages_tab_read_only_enabled": false
    },
    "bot_user": {
      "display_name": "AgentBarn_General_Assistant",
      "always_online": true
    }
  },
  "oauth_config": {
    "scopes": {
      "bot": [
        "app_mentions:read",
        "canvases:read",
        "canvases:write",
        "channels:history",
        "channels:join",
        "channels:read",
        "chat:write",
        "chat:write.customize",
        "chat:write.public",
        "emoji:read",
        "files:read",
        "files:write",
        "groups:history",
        "groups:read",
        "im:history",
        "im:read",
        "im:write",
        "mpim:history",
        "mpim:read",
        "mpim:write",
        "pins:read",
        "pins:write",
        "reactions:read",
        "reactions:write",
        "search:read.users",
        "users:read",
        "users:read.email"
      ]
    },
    "pkce_enabled": false
  },
  "settings": {
    "event_subscriptions": {
      "bot_events": [
        "app_mention",
        "channel_rename",
        "member_joined_channel",
        "member_left_channel",
        "message.channels",
        "message.groups",
        "message.im",
        "message.mpim",
        "pin_added",
        "pin_removed",
        "reaction_added",
        "reaction_removed"
      ]
    },
    "interactivity": {
      "is_enabled": true
    },
    "org_deploy_enabled": false,
    "socket_mode_enabled": true,
    "token_rotation_enabled": false,
    "is_mcp_enabled": false
  }
}

03

SLACK APP // SOCKET MODE

Create the app-level token.

03.1
Open Basic Information → App-Level Tokens.
Click Generate Token and Scopes.
Generate Token and Scopes.
03.2
Name the token and add the scope.
Use AgentBarn_General_Assistant, add connections:write, and click Generate.
Name → connections:write → Generate.
03.3
Copy the xapp- value.
Keep it ready for the Agent Barn App-level token field.
The value is blurred; use Copy.

04

SLACK APP // WORKSPACE INSTALL

Install the app and copy the bot token.

04.1
Open Install App.
Click Install to [your workspace].
Install App → Install to workspace.
04.2
Review the workspace and permissions.
Confirm the workspace, review the requested access, and choose Allow.
Confirm workspace → review access → Allow.
04.3
Copy the Bot User OAuth Token.
In Installed App Settings → OAuth Tokens, copy the xoxb- value.
Bot User OAuth Token → Copy.

05

AGENT BARN // SLACK CREDENTIALS

Connect both Slack values.

APP-LEVEL TOKENxapp-…

Paste the value from App-Level Tokens.

BOT TOKENxoxb-…

Paste the Bot User OAuth Token.

05.1
Enter the values in their matching fields.
Paste the complete xapp- and xoxb- values, then save.
05.2
Confirm the connected app.
Check that Agent Barn resolves the expected Slack app and workspace.

06

AGENT BARN // SETTINGS

Configure the agent.

06.1
Name the agent.
Use AgentBarn_General, or another role-specific name your team will recognize.
06.2
Select and test the model.
Choose an available model, then run one representative General Purpose task before connecting broader access.
06.3
Choose command approval.
Auto · Manual · Off
Auto
Runs low-risk commands automatically.
Manual
Asks before every command.
Off
Runs without approval prompts.
06.4
Choose response detail.
Verbose · Concise
Verbose
Shows progress while working.
Concise
Returns the result without step narration.
06.5
Configure the recipe trigger and workflow.

Trigger: A request arrives in an allowed Slack channel or direct message.
1. Receive request. Read the message and the allowed conversation context.
2. Apply role. Follow the configured template, restrictions, and identity.
3. Use skills. Call only the skills and connected tools it has been given.
4. Return answer. Respond in Slack with the result and relevant context.
06.6

Apply the recipe requirements and review rule.

Template
The selected model, role, restrictions, and instructions.
Skills
Only the capabilities needed for the intended workflow.
Policies
Explicit channel allowlists and direct-message behavior.

Review rule
Start with the narrowest useful scope and add tools only when the workflow genuinely needs them.

07

SLACK // ACCESS

Set Slack access rules.

07.1
Choose channel access.
Allowlist · Open
Allowlist
Respond only in channels you add.
Open
Respond in any channel the app can reach.
07.2
Choose direct-message access.
Off · Allowlist · Open
Off
Ignore direct messages.
Allowlist
Reply only to approved people.
Open
Reply to anyone who can reach the app.
07.3
Add and test the intended destinations.
Invite the Slack app to each allowed channel, add the same channels or people in Agent Barn, and send one test request.

08

AGENT BARN // INTEGRATIONS

Connect the skills for General Purpose.

OPTIONAL

Selected skills only

Add only the platforms required by the role you define for this agent.

Credential: A dedicated, least-privilege credential for each selected platform.
Permissions: No default integrations · Grant read before write where possible · Add one capability at a time and test it

Write the role and success criteria before selecting tools.
Connect the minimum useful skill set.
Re-run representative tests whenever a new integration is added.

GENERAL PURPOSE // AVAILABLE SKILLS

Select the skills this agent can use.

Select one or more skills to show their connection instructions.

Define the role before selecting skills.
Write the tasks, inputs, outputs, and prohibited actions first.
Test one skill at a time.
Connect the minimum access required, run a representative task, and confirm resources outside the selected boundary remain unavailable.
Review every selected skill.
Confirm each connection uses the intended account and resources, then remove anything the defined role does not need.

09

FINAL CHECK

Verify the complete recipe.

The existing Slack app connects with both Slack values.
The app responds in an allowed channel.
A destination outside the selected access rule receives no response.
Each required integration completes one representative task.
The command-approval and response-detail choices behave as selected.
The configured trigger runs: A request arrives in an allowed Slack channel or direct message.
The result follows Receive request → Apply role → Use skills → Return answer.
The review rule is applied: Start with the narrowest useful scope and add tools only when the workflow genuinely needs them.

RECIPE PATH COMPLETE

General Purpose is ready for a controlled pilot.

Start with a narrow audience and reversible work, then widen access after observing representative tasks.

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