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Post into a channel from another tool

How-toFor adminsReviewed Guides: API and webhooks

An incoming webhook is a secret URL that posts into one channel. Use it when a tool can “send to a webhook” or “post to Slack”: monitoring alerts, deploy notices, form submissions, low-stock warnings. It accepts the same messages as Slack’s incoming webhooks and Microsoft Teams’ webhooks, so a tool already set up for either only needs the new URL. You need to be a Freesbe owner or admin to make one.

A low stock card from a webhook in #engineering, with Reorder and Open inventory buttons

1. Make the webhook

Section titled “1. Make the webhook”
  1. Open Workspace settings → Integrations & apps → Webhooks → Incoming and click Add incoming webhook.
  2. Give it a name people will recognize, such as “Deploy notifications”. Messages show under it.
  3. Pick the channel it posts to.
  4. Copy the Webhook URL. It looks like https://api.freesbe.net/hooks/custom/…/… and is only shown once.

Workspace settings, Webhooks: an incoming webhook that posts to #engineering

Treat the URL like a password: anyone who has it can post into the channel.

2. Paste it into your tool

Section titled “2. Paste it into your tool”
  • A tool with a Slack option: choose Slack (or “Slack-compatible webhook”) and paste the Freesbe URL where it asks for the Slack webhook URL.
  • A tool with a Microsoft Teams option: choose Teams and paste the Freesbe URL. Adaptive Cards and the older message cards both show.
  • A generic webhook: have it send a POST with a JSON body containing text.

3. Try it

Section titled “3. Try it”

From a terminal:

Terminal window
curl -X POST -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"text": "Deploy finished :rocket:", "username": "CI"}' \
  https://api.freesbe.net/hooks/custom/<id>/<token>

Freesbe answers ok, and the message appears in the channel. Add Slack Block Kit blocks for a card with headers, facts, pictures and link buttons.

If something’s wrong

Section titled “If something’s wrong”
  • The tool gets 404 no_service. The URL was copied wrong, the webhook is turned off, or someone made a new URL. Check the webhook isn’t Off (⋯ → Turn on), or choose ⋯ → Make a new URL and paste the new one into the tool.
  • The tool gets 410 channel_is_archived. The channel was archived. Unarchive it, or choose ⋯ → Edit and pick another channel.
  • The tool gets 400 no_text. The message had nothing to show. Send text, blocks or attachments.
  • The URL leaked. Choose ⋯ → Make a new URL. The old one stops working right away.
  • Buttons are missing from a card. Only buttons that open a link show. Buttons and menus that call back a Slack app are left out.
  • An old URL like https://api.freesbe.net/hooks/<token>. It still works; there’s no need to change it.

For a bot that posts in many channels, reads and reacts, build an app instead. See API and webhooks for every field.