Slack Channel Summarization

Use this skill to summarize activity from one Slack channel, using a requested time window when provided or the last 100 messages otherwise, and optionally deliver the result back into Slack.

Related Skills

Start Here

• If the user did not name a channel, ask which channel to review.
• If the user provided a window, use it. For requests like "today" or "this week," resolve the user's timezone with slack_read_user_profile.
• If the user did not provide a window, default to the last 100 messages in the channel.

Workflow

1. Resolve the named channel with slack_search_channels.
2. Collect the initial pass with slack_read_channel and limit: 100. If the user gave a window, set oldest and latest. If not, read the latest messages.
3. Read a thread using slack_read_thread when the parent message looks important to the summary, for example a decision, blocker, launch, incident, or open question. Default to the last 50 replies unless the request requires more.
4. Read the full ## Formatting Rules section below.
5. Consolidate the channel activity into a short summary grouped by topic. The summary should include recurring conversations, key decisions or follow-ups, notable updates, and important threads.
6. Match the delivery format to the request:
   • short recap or brief: reply in chat or use ../slack-outgoing-message/SKILL.md for a Slack message
   • summary doc or canvas: use slack_create_canvas
7. Delivery intent rules:
   • if the user explicitly asked to post or send the summary in Slack, write it directly
   • if the user explicitly asked for a draft or review-first flow, create a draft
   • if the user asked for a canvas or summary doc in Slack, treat that as an immediate write, not a draft
   • if the user did not ask for Slack delivery, return the summary in chat

Formatting Rules

• For a concise Slack or chat summary, you MUST use exactly this structure unless the user explicitly requests a different format.
• If you use ../slack-outgoing-message/SKILL.md to draft or send the final message, this output contract remains binding. The downstream skill does not relax or rename these sections.

**Channel Summary - <channel>**
**Overview**
<1-2 sentence summary>

**Topic: <topic 1>**
- ...
- ...

**Topic: <topic 2>**
- ...
- ...

**Notes**
- <gaps, caveats, or sparse activity>

• Group the summary into 2–4 topics when possible.
• Keep each topic to 1–5 bullets.
• Use the overview to explain what the channel was focused on overall.
• Start each bullet with the main update. Add an owner or next step only when it is clear from the channel.
• Within each topic, capture decisions, action items, notable updates, and thread outcomes.
• Note if a thread is still open or unresolved instead of implying it concluded.
• Omit Notes when there are no caveats, gaps, or sparse-activity disclaimers to add.
• For a canvas, expand each topic into a short section and use slack_create_canvas. Do this only when the user explicitly asked for a canvas, doc, or Slack-hosted summary.