> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://agno-v2-docs-scavio-google-v2.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Research Assistant

> An agent that combines Slack message search with web search to answer research questions.

An agent that combines Slack message search with web search to answer research questions. Searches internal Slack history first, then gathers external context from the web.

```python research_assistant.py theme={null}
"""
Research Assistant
==================

An agent that combines Slack message search with web search to answer
research questions. Searches internal Slack history first, then gathers
external context from the web.

Key concepts:
  - ``SlackTools`` search supports Slack query syntax
    (``from:@user``, ``in:#channel``, ``has:link``, ``before:/after:``).
  - ``WebSearchTools`` provides external web search.
  - The agent synthesizes internal and external findings into one summary.

Slack scopes: app_mentions:read, assistant:write, chat:write, im:history,
             search:read, channels:history, users:read

Environment variables:
    SLACK_TOKEN         Bot token (xoxb-) for standard Slack APIs
    SLACK_USER_TOKEN    User token (xoxp-) required for search_messages
"""

from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.db.sqlite import SqliteDb
from agno.models.openai import OpenAIChat
from agno.os.app import AgentOS
from agno.os.interfaces.slack import Slack
from agno.tools.slack import SlackTools
from agno.tools.websearch import WebSearchTools

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Create Example
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

agent_db = SqliteDb(session_table="agent_sessions", db_file="tmp/research_assistant.db")

research_assistant = Agent(
    name="Research Assistant",
    model=OpenAIChat(id="gpt-4o"),
    db=agent_db,
    tools=[
        SlackTools(
            enable_search_messages=True,
            enable_get_thread=True,
            enable_list_users=True,
            enable_get_user_info=True,
        ),
        WebSearchTools(),
    ],
    instructions=[
        "You are a research assistant that helps find information.",
        "You can search Slack messages using: from:@user, in:#channel, has:link, before:/after:date",
        "You can also search the web for current information.",
        "When asked to research something:",
        "1. Search Slack for internal discussions",
        "2. Search the web for external context",
        "3. Synthesize findings into a clear summary",
        "Identify relevant experts by looking at who contributed to discussions.",
    ],
    add_history_to_context=True,
    num_history_runs=3,
    add_datetime_to_context=True,
    markdown=True,
)

agent_os = AgentOS(
    agents=[research_assistant],
    interfaces=[
        Slack(
            agent=research_assistant,
            reply_to_mentions_only=True,
        )
    ],
)
app = agent_os.get_app()

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Run Example
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

if __name__ == "__main__":
    agent_os.serve(app="research_assistant:app", reload=True)
```

## Run the Example

<Steps>
  <Snippet file="create-venv-step.mdx" />

  <Step title="Install dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    uv pip install -U "agno[os,slack]" ddgs openai
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export environment variables">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Mac/Linux theme={null}
      export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      export SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET="your_slack_signing_secret_here"
      export SLACK_TOKEN="your_slack_token_here"
      export SLACK_USER_TOKEN="your_slack_user_token_here"
      ```

      ```bash Windows theme={null}
      $Env:OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      $Env:SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET="your_slack_signing_secret_here"
      $Env:SLACK_TOKEN="your_slack_token_here"
      $Env:SLACK_USER_TOKEN="your_slack_user_token_here"
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Slack">
    Complete [Slack setup](/agent-os/interfaces/slack/setup): create and install the app, expose the server through public HTTPS, and add the scopes listed in the example. The default event request URL is `<public-url>/slack/events`; HITL examples also use `<public-url>/slack/interactions` for interactivity. Use any custom prefix shown in the example instead of `/slack`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the example">
    Save the code above as `research_assistant.py`, then run:

    ```bash theme={null}
    python research_assistant.py
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

Full source: [cookbook/05\_agent\_os/interfaces/slack/research\_assistant.py](https://github.com/agno-agi/agno/blob/main/cookbook/05_agent_os/interfaces/slack/research_assistant.py)