Slack Moves AI Coding from Terminal to Group Chat
With Slack Code, teams can collaboratively manage AI coding processes.
1What is Slack Code?
Slack Code is a new product by Slack, the messaging platform owned by Salesforce. It integrates AI coding tools into Slack channels, enabling teams to collaboratively monitor, guide, and complete coding processes. Popular AI coding tools like Anthropic’s Claude Code, Cognition’s Devin, GitHub Copilot, and Vercel’s agent are supported. It’s available on any Slack plan, but users need access to these tools.
2Collaboration in AI Coding
Traditional AI coding processes typically occur between a single developer and an AI tool. Slack Code makes this process multiplayer. When a user tags a coding tool, it creates a project-specific channel and performs the work openly. Code changes, live previews, and work plans are visible in the channel. Once the job is done, the channel is archived, leaving a searchable audit trail.
3Advantages of Slack Code
Slack Code removes coding as a bottleneck. According to Slack’s interim CEO Rob Seaman, the real bottlenecks are ideas, taste, judgment, and craftsmanship. Slack Code increases the number of people who can contribute to these processes. This represents a shift from individual productivity to team productivity in AI coding tools. Slack aims to own the collaboration layer.
4Cognition’s Devin Example
Cognition’s AI coding tool, Devin, demonstrated how it works with Slack Code. When a broken feature is reported in an engineering channel, Devin acknowledges it with an emoji, investigates the issue, and opens a pull request. It also knows the code owner and tags the relevant person. Devin uses tools like Chrome and DevTools to test and verify the feature.
5Multi-Role Participation
Slack Code is not just for engineers; it’s also a platform for product managers and designers. For example, a designer can drop a Figma file into the channel, and the AI tool seamlessly integrates it. This allows different roles to actively participate in the coding process. Cloud-based AI tools create an auditable record of the work.
6Expanded Features of Slack Code
Slack Code offers a range of new features beyond code channels. These include one-on-one chats with AI tools, a new “Agents” tab with live status and a stop button, and the ability to add AI tools from platforms like Lovable, n8n, OpenAI, LangChain, and Airtable with a few clicks. OAuth and configuration are automated.
7Paradigm Shift in Software Development
Slack Code argues that AI has inverted the economics of software development. Writing code was once a rare and expensive step, but it has now become cheap. The constraint has shifted to human judgment. According to Slack’s executives, ideas, taste, and craftsmanship are now more important. This redefines AI’s role in software development.
8Cognition’s Internal Data
Cognition shared internal data to prove the speed of AI coding tools. The number of merged pull requests increased tenfold in recent months, while headcount only grew by 40%. Engineers can launch Devin tasks, move on to other work, and manage multiple AI tools simultaneously. This model isn’t limited to engineers; even the sales team can report bugs.
9The Future of Automation
Cognition’s Jeff Wang predicts that AI’s role in software development will expand. While every merge is still gated by a human today, this process could become automated within a year. Wang believes tasks like bug fixing, CI/CD issues, and vulnerability patching will be automated, leaving humans to focus on creativity and business logic.
10Strategic Importance of Slack Code
The launch of Slack Code is a strategic move for Slack. Salesforce’s initiative reflects its goal to own the collaboration layer around AI coding tools. This is crucial for Salesforce’s efforts to remain competitive in the AI space. Slack Code could redefine AI’s role in software development processes.
11Auditability and Scalability in AI Coding
Cloud-based AI tools offer advantages in auditability and scalability compared to local tools. Slack Code creates an auditable record of work, enabling teams to operate more reliably and at scale. This is particularly critical for large teams and complex projects.
12The Future of AI Coding
Slack Code offers significant insights into the future of AI coding. AI tools represent a shift from individual productivity to team productivity. This could lead to greater collaboration and transparency in software development processes. As AI’s role expands, humans may focus more on creativity and strategy.
Original article: VentureBeat — Slack, AI Kodlamayı Terminalden Grup Sohbetine Taşıyor