Add Mattermost Channel

Adds Mattermost DMs, channels, threads, files, reactions, and interactive approval cards. Messages arrive over Mattermost's WebSocket; card clicks return to NanoClaw over an authenticated HTTP callback. Every step is safe to re-run.

Discover the server first

Do this before installing the adapter or asking for a URL. The goal is to reuse a healthy Mattermost the user already has and establish one canonical base URL.

1. Check an existing MATTERMOST_BASE_URL in the current environment and NanoClaw env/config files. Do not print tokens or dump whole env files.
2. Probe likely local URLs, at least http://localhost:8065 and http://127.0.0.1:8065, using GET /api/v4/system/ping. A listening port alone is not evidence that the service is Mattermost.
3. Inspect Docker/Compose for Mattermost containers. If a matching container exists but is stopped, offer to start it with its original mechanism; do not start or recreate it without the user's approval.
4. If you find a healthy server, show its URL and ask the user to use it or enter a different URL. Do not select a server automatically. Treat the localhost and 127.0.0.1 endpoints for the same container as one server.
5. If nothing healthy is found, offer Mattermost's maintained evaluation and deployment guidance from SERVER_SETUP.md, then ask for the server URL after the operator has one running.

Set MATTERMOST_BASE_URL to the chosen canonical URL (scheme included, no trailing slash), then use that exact hostname in browser/Desktop setup. NanoClaw connects to Mattermost; it does not install or manage the server.

Apply

1. Detect or select the server

Test the configured URL and the standard local URLs. A detected server is only a suggestion. The user must select it.

node .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/discover-server.mjs

NanoClaw found a healthy Mattermost server at {{detected_url}}. You can use this server or enter a different Mattermost URL.

Enter `use` to use {{detected_url}}. Enter `enter` to specify a different Mattermost URL.

node .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/select-server.mjs use "{{detected_url}}" "{{detected_config_access}}" "{{detected_container}}"

Enter the Mattermost base URL. Include the scheme, for example `https://mattermost.example.com`.

node .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/select-server.mjs enter "{{entered_url}}"

NanoClaw did not find a healthy Mattermost server. NanoClaw connects to a server but does not install or operate one. For a temporary local trial, follow Mattermost's official Quick Start Evaluation: https://docs.mattermost.com/deployment-guide/quick-start-evaluation. For a persistent or production installation, choose a supported path in Mattermost's deployment guide: https://docs.mattermost.com/deployment-guide/server/deploy-server. Return here when the server is running.

Mattermost base URL. Include the scheme, for example `https://mattermost.example.com`.

node .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/select-server.mjs enter "{{entered_url_new}}"

2. Set the server SiteURL

Mattermost Desktop sends its configured server URL as the WebSocket Origin. Before you install the adapter, set ServiceSettings.SiteURL to the same URL: {{base_url}}. Keep ServiceSettings.WebsocketURL blank. Do not change ServiceSettings.AllowCorsFrom to correct an Origin error.

When discovery found host-local mmctl, ask before changing the server:

Enter `set` to set SiteURL to {{base_url}} and clear WebsocketURL. Enter `already` if these values are already correct.

mmctl config set ServiceSettings.SiteURL "{{base_url}}" --local
mmctl config set ServiceSettings.WebsocketURL "" --local

When discovery found mmctl inside a local Mattermost container, ask before changing it there:

Enter `set` to set SiteURL to {{base_url}} in {{mattermost_container}} and clear WebsocketURL. Enter `already` if these values are already correct.

docker exec "{{mattermost_container}}" mmctl config set ServiceSettings.SiteURL "{{base_url}}" --local
docker exec "{{mattermost_container}}" mmctl config set ServiceSettings.WebsocketURL "" --local

If local configuration access is unavailable, tell the operator:

Set Mattermost ServiceSettings.SiteURL to {{base_url}}. Leave ServiceSettings.WebsocketURL blank. As a System Admin, run `mmctl config set ServiceSettings.SiteURL "{{base_url}}"`. Run `mmctl config set ServiceSettings.WebsocketURL ""`. You can also use System Console → Environment → Web Server. Do not change ServiceSettings.AllowCorsFrom to correct an Origin error.

Enter `ready` after you save these Mattermost settings.

Use the public client configuration endpoint to verify the settings. The command must print {{base_url}} and then a blank line.

curl -fsS "{{base_url}}/api/v4/config/client?format=old" | node .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/read-response.mjs config "{{base_url}}"

3. Copy and register the channel

Copy the canonical adapter and registration test from the channels branch. The payload must include authenticated transport liveness and setup callback probes. Existing files are preserved by installation; on an older installation, run /update-skills to refresh Mattermost before rerunning this skill.

src/channels/mattermost.ts
src/channels/mattermost-registration.test.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/adapter.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/adapter.test.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/format.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/index.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/rest.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/thread-id.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/types.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/websocket.ts
src/channels/mattermost-adapter/websocket.test.ts

Append the channel's single reach-in to the barrel, skipping it if present.

import './mattermost.js';

Remove the unscoped chat-adapter-mattermost package when it is installed. Nothing in this repository imports it: it is typosquat-shaped against the scoped @chat-adapter family, so any copy in package.json is stale or mistaken and would sit beside the audited implementation copied from the channels branch.

if node -e "const p=require('./package.json'); process.exit(p.dependencies?.['chat-adapter-mattermost'] ? 0 : 1)"; then pnpm remove chat-adapter-mattermost; fi

Install the vendored adapter's direct WebSocket dependencies at the exact supported versions.

ws@8.21.3
@types/ws@8.18.1

4. Create and authenticate the bot

Tell the operator:

Now create a Mattermost bot for NanoClaw:
1. As a System Admin, open System Console → Integrations → Bot Accounts. Turn on Enable Bot Account Creation. This setting permits bot creation. You do not create the bot on this page.
2. Return to the Mattermost workspace. Open Product menu → Integrations → Bot Accounts. Select Add Bot Account. Create a bot, for example `nanoclaw`.
3. Copy the access token.
4. Add the bot to each required team and channel. Mattermost does not add bots to teams or channels automatically.
5. Keep the token secret. If you lose the token, create a replacement. Deactivate the old token after the replacement works.

Mattermost bot access token (20 or more letters, digits, underscores, or hyphens).

The configuration helper below authenticates this token and captures the bot identity before it saves any settings.

5. Configure authenticated card callbacks

Approvals require Mattermost itself—not the browser—to reach NanoClaw. Ask for a URL routable from the Mattermost server. It may be NanoClaw's base URL or the full /webhook/mattermost route; the adapter normalizes either form.

Callback URL reachable from Mattermost, such as `https://nanoclaw.example.com` or `http://host.docker.internal:3000/webhook/mattermost`.

Save the selected server, authenticated bot token, and callback URL. On a rerun, offer to reuse each existing setting; save replacements when the operator chooses them. Mattermost does not sign action callbacks, so the helper creates a random shared secret locally on first setup. It preserves that secret on reruns so existing approval cards keep working. Never print the secret.

pnpm exec tsx .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/configure.ts "{{base_url}}" "{{bot_token}}" "{{callback_url}}"

Tell the operator:

Make sure that the Mattermost server can reach the callback host. For a private host or Docker bridge name, add the host name or IP address in System Console → Environment → Developer → Allow untrusted internal connections. Use a publicly trusted HTTPS certificate in production.

6. Resolve the owner's DM

Ask for the Mattermost username that will own this NanoClaw installation.

Your Mattermost username, without `@`.

Resolve that user and open the DM shared with the bot.

curl -sf "{{base_url}}/api/v4/users/username/{{owner_username}}" -H "Authorization: Bearer {{bot_token}}"

curl -sf -X POST "{{base_url}}/api/v4/channels/direct" -H "Authorization: Bearer {{bot_token}}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '["{{owner_user_id}}","{{bot_user_id}}"]' | node .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/read-response.mjs dm

The resolved platform_id, owner_handle, and owner_username are used by /init-first-agent. If an owner exists, use /manage-channels instead.

7. Build, test, and restart

Build the composed host to guard the typed Chat SDK bridge call and dependency.

pnpm run build

Run the registration test through the channel barrel. Also run the installed adapter regression tests.

pnpm exec vitest run src/channels/mattermost-registration.test.ts src/channels/mattermost-adapter/adapter.test.ts src/channels/mattermost-adapter/websocket.test.ts

Restart NanoClaw so the channel and credentials load.

bash setup/lib/restart.sh --channel mattermost

Verify the new host loaded the selected bot and settings, and that the selected bot and owner belong to the DM. The helper checks the host's actual listener, then creates a temporary diagnostic card in that DM and invokes its action through Mattermost. It requires receipt by this host and deletes the diagnostic card afterward. This exercises Mattermost's outbound routing and TLS policy. It reads the saved settings without printing credentials.

pnpm exec tsx .claude/skills/add-mattermost/scripts/verify-runtime.ts "{{bot_user_id}}" "{{owner_user_id}}" "{{platform_id}}"

Next steps

For a first channel, continue with /init-first-agent using mattermost, {{platform_id}}, and {{owner_username}}. Otherwise run /manage-channels.

Send the bot a DM and mention it in a joined channel. The first mention in an unwired channel sends an approval card to the owner's bot DM. Approve it there; NanoClaw replays the held message after creating the wiring.

Click a real approval card to verify the approval workflow beyond the automated callback transport check. Success replaces the buttons with the chosen result. An unsigned probe must return 401 (alone this does not identify the host):

curl -sS -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}\n' -X POST \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' -d '{}' \
  http://<nanoclaw-host>:3000/webhook/mattermost

Channel information

• type: mattermost
• platform ID: mattermost:<channel-id> for channels and DMs
• threads: channel posts use optional Mattermost reply roots
• group trigger: mention-sticky, scoped per thread
• DM trigger: every message
• unknown channels: request owner approval
• transport: WebSocket inbound, REST outbound, HTTP action callbacks

Troubleshooting

The token check returns 401. The token is stale, belongs to a deactivated bot, or was pasted incorrectly. Create a replacement token and deactivate the old token after the replacement works.

The bot ignores a channel. Add it to that team and channel. Membership changes are observed, but restarting NanoClaw forces a fresh subscription.

A new channel gets no immediate reply. Check the owner's DM with the bot. NanoClaw holds the first message behind a channel-approval card and deduplicates later mentions until that card is resolved.

Desktop messages appear only after a manual refresh. The server can reject the WebSocket Origin. Use the same host name in the Desktop server URL, MATTERMOST_BASE_URL, and ServiceSettings.SiteURL. Keep ServiceSettings.WebsocketURL blank. Verify the values through /api/v4/config/client?format=old. Check the server logs for request origin not allowed. Do not change ServiceSettings.AllowCorsFrom to correct this error. For a container installation, set SiteURL in the server configuration.

Cards render but clicks do nothing. Rerun the runtime helper above. It binds the listener and callback receipt to this host; a 401 alone cannot do that. Mattermost logs report blocked hosts and TLS errors. If a verification request times out after creating a card, remove that diagnostic card from the owner DM.

Runtime verification requests a payload refresh. Run /update-skills for Mattermost, rebuild, and rerun this skill. The normal install path preserves existing adapter files; old payloads cannot prove the running configuration.

The adapter repeatedly reconnects. Confirm /api/v4/websocket supports WebSocket upgrades through every reverse proxy and that idle connections live longer than the adapter heartbeat.

Messages arrive but no agent runs. Inspect ncl dropped-messages list and ncl wirings list. no_agent_wired means approval is pending or no wiring was created; it is not an adapter failure.