Slab

collaborationknowledge baseteam wikireal-time editingknowledge managementAPI

Collaboration Tool

Slab

Overview

Slab is an internal knowledge base and team wiki platform for the modern workplace. It features a beautiful editor, blazing fast search, and dozens of integrations (G Suite, GitHub, etc.), achieving a balance of simplicity and functionality optimized for both technical and non-technical teams. Provides efficient knowledge management and information sharing through real-time collaboration, hierarchical topic organization, and analytics capabilities. Enhanced in 2024-2025 with API & Webhook functionality, SSO authentication expansion, and integration feature enhancement, evolving as a modern organizational knowledge management solution.

Details

Slab 2025 edition is positioned as a leading collaboration platform for enterprise knowledge management. Its intuitive WYSIWYG editor enables efficient creation and editing of diverse content from technical documentation to operational manuals. Real-time collaborative editing allows multiple members to simultaneously edit the same document, with comment features, emoji reactions, and appreciation functions building an active feedback culture. Hierarchical topic management and labeling provide flexible information organization, while high-speed search with instant results enables quick access to necessary information. Analytics capabilities allow identification of most helpful posts and discovery of unanswered questions. API & Webhook functionality supports custom workflow construction and external system integration, while SSO (OAuth, SAML) and custom labels provide advanced security and access control.

Key Features

Real-time Collaborative Editing: Simultaneous editing, conflict avoidance, latest version assurance
Fast Search and Topic Organization: Instant search results, hierarchical classification, labeling
Rich Integration Features: Integration with Google Drive, Slack, GitHub, Jira, etc.
Analytics and Insights: Helpful post identification, unanswered question discovery, usage analysis
API & Webhooks: Custom tool building, external system integration
Advanced Security: SSO, OAuth, SAML, custom access control

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

Usability optimized for both technical and non-technical teams
Efficient team collaboration and conflict avoidance through real-time editing
Quick access to necessary information through high-speed search functionality
Flexible knowledge classification through hierarchical topic organization and labeling
Rich external service integrations (Google, Slack, GitHub, etc.)
Knowledge base utilization visualization through analytics features
Advanced customization and automation through API & Webhooks
Low learning cost due to simple and intuitive UI/UX

Disadvantages

Some advanced features only available in Business and Enterprise plans
Limited embeddable file formats (images only, no PDFs, etc.)
Constraints in API integration features compared to competitors
Scalability challenges with complex document structures or large organizations
Technical knowledge required for advanced customization
Limited offline functionality
Constraints in enterprise-level advanced permission management
Performance issues when processing large amounts of data

Reference Links

Usage Examples

Basic Setup and Workspace Construction

# Slab basic setup
# 1. Create Slab account: https://slab.com/
# 2. Create team and initial configuration
# 3. Configure SSO (OAuth, SAML)
# 4. Invite team members
# 5. Design topic structure
# 6. Configure integration features (Slack, GitHub, etc.)

# Recommended topic structure example
Company Knowledge Base/
├── Getting Started/
│   ├── New Employee Guide
│   ├── Company Policies
│   └── Frequently Asked Questions
├── Development Team/
│   ├── Technical Documentation/
│   │   ├── API Specifications
│   │   ├── System Design
│   │   └── Coding Standards
│   ├── Project Management/
│   │   ├── Active Projects
│   │   ├── Completed Projects
│   │   └── Issue Management
│   └── Tools & Environment/
│       ├── Development Environment Setup
│       ├── Tool Usage Methods
│       └── Troubleshooting
├── Product Team/
│   ├── Requirements Definition
│   ├── User Research
│   └── Product Roadmap
├── Sales & Marketing/
│   ├── Sales Materials
│   ├── Marketing Strategy
│   └── Customer Case Studies
└── HR & Administration/
    ├── HR Systems
    ├── Benefits
    └── Equipment & Supplies Management

# Label configuration example
Label Categories:
- Urgency: [urgent, high, medium, low]
- Target Audience: [all-company, development, sales, hr]
- Document Type: [guide, specifications, faq, policy]
- Project: [project-a, project-b, operations]

Slab API Basic Operations

// Slab API basic configuration
const SLAB_API_BASE = 'https://api.slab.com/v1';
const SLAB_TOKEN = process.env.SLAB_TOKEN;

class SlabAPI {
  constructor(token) {
    this.token = token;
    this.headers = {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    };
  }

  // Get posts list
  async getPosts(options = {}) {
    try {
      const params = new URLSearchParams();
      if (options.topic) params.append('topic', options.topic);
      if (options.author) params.append('author', options.author);
      if (options.limit) params.append('limit', options.limit);
      if (options.offset) params.append('offset', options.offset);

      const url = `${SLAB_API_BASE}/posts${params.toString() ? '?' + params.toString() : ''}`;
      
      const response = await fetch(url, {
        method: 'GET',
        headers: this.headers,
      });

      if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`HTTP Error: ${response.status}`);
      }

      return await response.json();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Posts list retrieval error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Get specific post
  async getPost(postId) {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(`${SLAB_API_BASE}/posts/${postId}`, {
        method: 'GET',
        headers: this.headers,
      });

      if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`HTTP Error: ${response.status}`);
      }

      return await response.json();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Post retrieval error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Create new post
  async createPost(postData) {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(`${SLAB_API_BASE}/posts`, {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: this.headers,
        body: JSON.stringify(postData),
      });

      if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`HTTP Error: ${response.status}`);
      }

      return await response.json();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Post creation error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Update post
  async updatePost(postId, updateData) {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(`${SLAB_API_BASE}/posts/${postId}`, {
        method: 'PATCH',
        headers: this.headers,
        body: JSON.stringify(updateData),
      });

      if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`HTTP Error: ${response.status}`);
      }

      return await response.json();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Post update error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Search posts
  async searchPosts(query, options = {}) {
    try {
      const params = new URLSearchParams();
      params.append('query', query);
      if (options.topic) params.append('topic', options.topic);
      if (options.author) params.append('author', options.author);

      const response = await fetch(`${SLAB_API_BASE}/search/posts?${params.toString()}`, {
        method: 'GET',
        headers: this.headers,
      });

      if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`HTTP Error: ${response.status}`);
      }

      return await response.json();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Post search error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Get team members list
  async getTeamMembers() {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(`${SLAB_API_BASE}/team/members`, {
        method: 'GET',
        headers: this.headers,
      });

      if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`HTTP Error: ${response.status}`);
      }

      return await response.json();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Team members retrieval error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Get topics list
  async getTopics() {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(`${SLAB_API_BASE}/topics`, {
        method: 'GET',
        headers: this.headers,
      });

      if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`HTTP Error: ${response.status}`);
      }

      return await response.json();
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Topics retrieval error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

// Usage example
const slab = new SlabAPI(SLAB_TOKEN);

// Knowledge base management example
async function manageKnowledgeBase() {
  try {
    // Create technical documentation post
    const newPost = await slab.createPost({
      title: 'API Integration Guide',
      content: `
# API Integration Guide

## Overview
This guide explains how to integrate with our company API.

## Authentication
\`\`\`javascript
const apiKey = 'your-api-key';
const headers = {
  'Authorization': \`Bearer \${apiKey}\`,
  'Content-Type': 'application/json'
};
\`\`\`

## Endpoint List
- GET /api/users
- POST /api/users
- PUT /api/users/:id
- DELETE /api/users/:id
      `,
      topic: 'development',
      tags: ['API', 'guide', 'technical-documentation'],
      publish: true,
    });

    console.log('New post created:', newPost.id);

    // Get recent posts list
    const recentPosts = await slab.getPosts({
      limit: 10,
      topic: 'development',
    });

    console.log('Recent development posts:', recentPosts.data.length);

    // Search for specific keywords
    const searchResults = await slab.searchPosts('API integration');
    console.log('API-related posts:', searchResults.data.length);

  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Knowledge base management error:', error);
  }
}

Webhook Configuration and Event Processing

// Slab Webhook configuration and event processing
const express = require('express');
const crypto = require('crypto');

const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

// Webhook signature verification
function verifySlabSignature(payload, signature, secret) {
  const expectedSignature = crypto
    .createHmac('sha256', secret)
    .update(payload)
    .digest('hex');
  
  return crypto.timingSafeEqual(
    Buffer.from(signature, 'hex'),
    Buffer.from(expectedSignature, 'hex')
  );
}

// Slab Webhook endpoint
app.post('/webhooks/slab', (req, res) => {
  const signature = req.headers['x-slab-signature'];
  const payload = JSON.stringify(req.body);
  const secret = process.env.SLAB_WEBHOOK_SECRET;

  // Signature verification
  if (!verifySlabSignature(payload, signature, secret)) {
    return res.status(401).send('Invalid signature');
  }

  const event = req.body;
  
  try {
    switch (event.event_type) {
      case 'post.published':
        handlePostPublished(event.data);
        break;
      case 'post.updated':
        handlePostUpdated(event.data);
        break;
      case 'post.deleted':
        handlePostDeleted(event.data);
        break;
      case 'comment.created':
        handleCommentCreated(event.data);
        break;
      default:
        console.log('Unhandled event:', event.event_type);
    }

    res.status(200).send('OK');
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Webhook processing error:', error);
    res.status(500).send('Internal Server Error');
  }
});

// Post published event handler
async function handlePostPublished(postData) {
  console.log('New post published:', postData.title);
  
  // Slack notification
  await sendSlackNotification({
    channel: '#knowledge-base',
    message: `📝 New post published: "${postData.title}"`,
    url: postData.url,
    author: postData.author.name,
  });

  // Email notification for important posts
  if (postData.tags.includes('important')) {
    await sendEmailNotification({
      to: '[email protected]',
      subject: `Important Post: ${postData.title}`,
      content: `
        A new important post has been published.
        
        Title: ${postData.title}
        Author: ${postData.author.name}
        URL: ${postData.url}
        
        Please review.
      `,
    });
  }
}

// Post updated event handler
async function handlePostUpdated(postData) {
  console.log('Post updated:', postData.title);
  
  // Log update history to external system
  await logUpdateHistory({
    postId: postData.id,
    title: postData.title,
    updatedBy: postData.updated_by.name,
    updatedAt: postData.updated_at,
    changes: postData.changes,
  });
}

// Comment created event handler
async function handleCommentCreated(commentData) {
  console.log('New comment:', commentData.content);
  
  // Send mention notification to post author
  if (commentData.author.id !== commentData.post.author.id) {
    await sendMentionNotification({
      to: commentData.post.author.email,
      postTitle: commentData.post.title,
      commentAuthor: commentData.author.name,
      commentContent: commentData.content,
      postUrl: commentData.post.url,
    });
  }
}

// Send Slack notification
async function sendSlackNotification({ channel, message, url, author }) {
  const slackPayload = {
    channel: channel,
    text: message,
    attachments: [
      {
        color: 'good',
        fields: [
          {
            title: 'Author',
            value: author,
            short: true,
          },
          {
            title: 'Link',
            value: `<${url}|View Post>`,
            short: true,
          },
        ],
      },
    ],
  };

  await fetch(process.env.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify(slackPayload),
  });
}

// Start server
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
app.listen(PORT, () => {
  console.log(`Webhook server running on port ${PORT}`);
});

Automation Workflows and Integration Features

// Slab automation workflows and batch processing
class SlabAutomation {
  constructor(slabApi) {
    this.slab = slabApi;
  }

  // Periodic content audit
  async performContentAudit() {
    try {
      const sixMonthsAgo = new Date();
      sixMonthsAgo.setMonth(sixMonthsAgo.getMonth() - 6);

      // Identify outdated posts
      const allPosts = await this.slab.getPosts({ limit: 1000 });
      const outdatedPosts = allPosts.data.filter(post => 
        new Date(post.updated_at) < sixMonthsAgo
      );

      // Generate audit report
      const auditReport = {
        totalPosts: allPosts.data.length,
        outdatedPosts: outdatedPosts.length,
        outdatedPercentage: (outdatedPosts.length / allPosts.data.length * 100).toFixed(1),
        recommendations: [],
      };

      // Identify posts recommended for updates
      for (const post of outdatedPosts) {
        if (post.view_count > 100) { // High-traffic posts
          auditReport.recommendations.push({
            id: post.id,
            title: post.title,
            lastUpdated: post.updated_at,
            viewCount: post.view_count,
            priority: 'high',
            reason: 'High traffic but not updated for long time',
          });
        }
      }

      // Send report
      await this.sendAuditReport(auditReport);
      return auditReport;

    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Content audit error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // New employee onboarding support
  async createOnboardingGuide(newEmployeeData) {
    try {
      const onboardingContent = `
# Onboarding Guide for ${newEmployeeData.name}

## Basic Information
- Department: ${newEmployeeData.department}
- Position: ${newEmployeeData.position}
- Start Date: ${newEmployeeData.startDate}
- Mentor: ${newEmployeeData.mentor}

## First Week Tasks
- [ ] Complete account setup
- [ ] Attend mandatory training
- [ ] Meet with team members
- [ ] Set up development environment

## Required Reading
${await this.getRelevantDocuments(newEmployeeData.department)}

## Contacts
- HR: [email protected]
- IT Support: [email protected]
- Mentor: ${newEmployeeData.mentorEmail}
      `;

      const post = await this.slab.createPost({
        title: `${newEmployeeData.name} Onboarding Guide`,
        content: onboardingContent,
        topic: 'onboarding',
        tags: ['new-employee', newEmployeeData.department],
        publish: true,
      });

      return post;

    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Onboarding guide creation error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Popular posts trend analysis
  async analyzeContentTrends() {
    try {
      const allPosts = await this.slab.getPosts({ limit: 1000 });
      
      // Topic-based analysis
      const topicAnalysis = {};
      const tagAnalysis = {};

      for (const post of allPosts.data) {
        // Topic analysis
        if (!topicAnalysis[post.topic]) {
          topicAnalysis[post.topic] = {
            count: 0,
            totalViews: 0,
            totalComments: 0,
          };
        }
        topicAnalysis[post.topic].count++;
        topicAnalysis[post.topic].totalViews += post.view_count || 0;
        topicAnalysis[post.topic].totalComments += post.comment_count || 0;

        // Tag analysis
        for (const tag of post.tags || []) {
          if (!tagAnalysis[tag]) {
            tagAnalysis[tag] = {
              count: 0,
              avgViews: 0,
            };
          }
          tagAnalysis[tag].count++;
          tagAnalysis[tag].totalViews = (tagAnalysis[tag].totalViews || 0) + (post.view_count || 0);
        }
      }

      // Calculate averages
      Object.keys(tagAnalysis).forEach(tag => {
        tagAnalysis[tag].avgViews = tagAnalysis[tag].totalViews / tagAnalysis[tag].count;
      });

      // Generate trend report
      const trendReport = {
        generatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
        totalPosts: allPosts.data.length,
        topTopics: Object.entries(topicAnalysis)
          .sort(([,a], [,b]) => b.totalViews - a.totalViews)
          .slice(0, 10),
        trendingTags: Object.entries(tagAnalysis)
          .sort(([,a], [,b]) => b.avgViews - a.avgViews)
          .slice(0, 15),
      };

      return trendReport;

    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Trend analysis error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Get relevant documents
  async getRelevantDocuments(department) {
    const departmentKeywords = {
      'engineering': ['API', 'development', 'code', 'deployment'],
      'sales': ['sales', 'customer', 'CRM'],
      'marketing': ['marketing', 'campaign', 'brand'],
      'hr': ['human resources', 'hiring', 'evaluation', 'benefits'],
    };

    const keywords = departmentKeywords[department.toLowerCase()] || [];
    const relevantDocs = [];

    for (const keyword of keywords) {
      const searchResults = await this.slab.searchPosts(keyword, { limit: 3 });
      relevantDocs.push(...searchResults.data.map(post => 
        `- [${post.title}](${post.url})`
      ));
    }

    return relevantDocs.slice(0, 10).join('\n');
  }

  // Send audit report
  async sendAuditReport(report) {
    // Slack notification
    const slackMessage = {
      channel: '#knowledge-management',
      text: '📊 Monthly Content Audit Report',
      attachments: [
        {
          color: 'warning',
          fields: [
            {
              title: 'Total Posts',
              value: report.totalPosts,
              short: true,
            },
            {
              title: 'Update Recommended',
              value: report.outdatedPosts,
              short: true,
            },
            {
              title: 'Update Recommended Rate',
              value: `${report.outdatedPercentage}%`,
              short: true,
            },
          ],
        },
      ],
    };

    await fetch(process.env.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
      body: JSON.stringify(slackMessage),
    });
  }
}

// Usage example
const automation = new SlabAutomation(slab);

// Execute monthly audit
setInterval(async () => {
  await automation.performContentAudit();
}, 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000); // Every 30 days

// New employee onboarding
async function onboardNewEmployee(employeeData) {
  const guide = await automation.createOnboardingGuide(employeeData);
  console.log('Onboarding guide created:', guide.url);
}