Context
First external ChannelBackend implementation after the Qhorus gateway lands (casehubio/qhorus#131).
Slack is the right first external backend:
- Developer-friendly setup (5 minutes to a working Slack app, no approval gatekeeping)
- Bolt/Events API well-documented with Java client support
- Maps naturally to the casehub use case: agents post status, humans observe and interject
- Validates the connectors architecture pattern for subsequent backends (WhatsApp, Matrix, etc.)
What this is NOT
Digest/summarisation logic does not belong here yet. The gateway delivers faithfully; only add batch digest if Slack-specific volume becomes a UX problem in practice.
Sequencing
Blocked on casehubio/qhorus#131 (gateway + ChannelBackend SPI). After that:
- Implement
SlackChannelBackend implements ChannelBackend
- Outbound:
post() → Slack Bolt message to configured channel
- Inbound: Slack Events API webhook → gateway → normalised Qhorus speech act
- Registration: channel metadata stores Slack workspace + channel ID
After Slack
WhatsApp backend is the right second external backend for consumer-facing/end-user scenarios (loan applications, support tickets, human-in-the-loop approvals from non-technical users). Higher setup friction — Meta Business verification, approved templates.
Refs casehubio/qhorus#131
Context
First external
ChannelBackendimplementation after the Qhorus gateway lands (casehubio/qhorus#131).Slack is the right first external backend:
What this is NOT
Digest/summarisation logic does not belong here yet. The gateway delivers faithfully; only add batch digest if Slack-specific volume becomes a UX problem in practice.
Sequencing
Blocked on casehubio/qhorus#131 (gateway + ChannelBackend SPI). After that:
SlackChannelBackend implements ChannelBackendpost()→ Slack Bolt message to configured channelAfter Slack
WhatsApp backend is the right second external backend for consumer-facing/end-user scenarios (loan applications, support tickets, human-in-the-loop approvals from non-technical users). Higher setup friction — Meta Business verification, approved templates.
Refs casehubio/qhorus#131