Src Slack Setup Guide

Last updated: October 27, 2026

The Src app for Slack lets people ask Src questions from Slack and lets Playbooks post to Slack channels and DMs. An admin installs it once from Span's integration settings.

Why it matters

Your team can get answers about engineering data where they already talk, without opening Span. Playbooks can also post weekly reports to a channel or answer recurring questions in a thread.

How it works

  • A separate Slack app. Src uses its own Slack app, installed next to Span's main Slack app.

  • Three ways to ask: send Src a direct message, @mention @Src in a channel it has joined, or use the /src slash command. /src help returns usage help.

  • Src answers as the person who asked. Src matches the Slack user to a Span person by email. That person must be active in Span with a Span login (Access Type: Account). Span's permissions then apply, so Src only uses data that person can see.

  • Admins can limit who and where. Settings → Src has Allowed Channels and Allowed Users. Leave a list empty to allow everyone.

Slack permissions the Src app requests

Scope

Used for

app_mentions:read, commands

Responding to @Src mentions and the /src command

channels:history, channels:read, groups:history, groups:read

Reading messages and channel details in public channels, and in private channels Src has been invited to

im:history, im:read, im:write, mpim:history

Direct messages and group DMs with Src

chat:write, chat:write.public

Posting answers and Playbook results

users:read, users:read.email, users.profile:read

Matching Slack users to people in Span by email

reactions:read, reactions:write

Reading and adding emoji reactions

Setup

  1. Install Src. In Span, go to Settings → Integrations and open Slack. Under Connect Src, click Enable, then Continue to Slack, and approve the install. You need the Manage Integrations permission in Span (Owners, Admins, and the Integration Admins group have it by default). If your Slack workspace requires admin approval for new apps, a Slack admin must approve it too.

  2. Invite @Src to channels. In each channel where people should use Src, invite @Src. Private channels need an invite before Src can read or post there.

  3. Optional: restrict access. In Settings → Src, under Slack Access Control, choose Allowed Channels and Allowed Users, then click Save Changes. Today this page needs the Metrics Configuration permission.

  4. Test it. Send Src a DM or @mention it in an allowed channel, or run /src help.

Things to know

  • Everyone who uses Src in Slack needs a Span login. If someone's Slack email doesn't match an active Span person with Access Type set to Account, Src can't answer them. Fix it in Settings → People Management.

  • Answers in a channel are visible to the channel. Src queries with the asker's permissions, but everyone in the channel can read the reply. Ask sensitive questions in a DM.

  • Playbooks post with their executor's access. A Playbook that posts to a channel shows data scoped to whoever it runs as. Use a service account with narrower access for broad channels. Replies inside a Playbook's Slack thread also run with the Playbook's executor.

  • Allowed lists are all-or-nothing per list. For example, if Allowed Users lists 5 people, a sixth person gets no answer, even in an allowed channel. An empty list allows everyone.

Troubleshooting

  • The Enable button doesn't appear: confirm you have Manage Integrations and that you're on the Slack integration page in Settings → Integrations.

  • Src doesn't respond in a channel: invite @Src to the channel, and check the channel is in Allowed Channels (or that the list is empty).

  • Src says it can't find your Span account: make sure your Slack profile email matches your Span email and that your Access Type is Account.

  • Src responds to some people but not others: check Allowed Users in Settings → Src.

Related articles

Using Src to understand your engineering metrics

Using Src Playbooks

How do I add a new user to Span?

How to create an Integrations Admin in Span

Need help?

Contact your Span account team or reach out to support@span.app.