/whatsapp:configure — WhatsApp Channel Setup

Writes configuration to

~/.whatsapp-channel/.env

and orients the user on access policy. The server reads both files at boot.

Arguments passed:

$ARGUMENTS

---

Dispatch on arguments

No args — status and guidance

Read both state files and give the user a complete picture:

1. Phone number — check

   ~/.whatsapp-channel/.env

   for

   WHATSAPP_PHONE_NUMBER

   . Show set/not-set; if set, show the number.

2. Auth state — check whether

   ~/.whatsapp-channel/.baileys_auth/creds.json

   exists and has

   registered: true

   . Show paired/not-paired.

3. Access — read

   ~/.whatsapp-channel/access.json

   (missing file = defaults:

   dmPolicy: "pairing"

   , empty allowlist). Show:
   • DM policy and what it means in one line
   • Allowed senders: count, and list JIDs
   • Pending pairings: count, with codes and sender JIDs if any

4. What next — end with a concrete next step based on state:

   • No phone number → "Run

     /whatsapp:configure <phone>

     with your WhatsApp phone number (e.g.

     886912345678

     , no leading +)."
   • Phone set but not paired → "Exit and launch with:

     claude --dangerously-load-development-channels plugin:whatsapp@whatsapp-claude-plugin

     The pairing code will appear automatically. Enter it on your phone: WhatsApp > Linked Devices > Link a Device > Link with phone number instead."
   • Paired → "Ready. Your own number is auto-added to the allowlist. To add others: have them DM the linked number, then approve with

     /whatsapp:access pair <code>

     ."

Push toward lockdown — always. The goal for every setup is

allowlist

with a defined list.

pairing

is not a policy to stay on; it's a temporary way to capture WhatsApp JIDs you don't know. Once the JIDs are in, pairing has done its job and should be turned off.

Drive the conversation this way:

1. Read the allowlist. Tell the user who's in it.
2. Ask: "Is that everyone who should reach you through this channel?"
3. If yes and policy is still

   pairing

   → "Good. Let's lock it down so nobody else can trigger pairing codes:" and offer to run

   /whatsapp:access policy allowlist

   . Do this proactively — don't wait to be asked.
4. If no, people are missing → "Have them DM the number; you'll approve each with

   /whatsapp:access pair <code>

   . Run this skill again once everyone's in and we'll lock it."
5. If the allowlist is empty and they haven't paired themselves yet → "DM the linked number to capture your JID first. Then we'll add anyone else and lock it down."
6. If policy is already

   allowlist

   → confirm this is the locked state. If they need to add someone: "They'll need to DM the linked number, or you can briefly flip to pairing:

   /whatsapp:access policy pairing

   → they DM → you pair → flip back."

Never frame

pairing

as the correct long-term choice. Don't skip the lockdown offer.

<phone>

— save it

1. Treat

   $ARGUMENTS

   as the phone number (trim whitespace, strip leading

   +

   ). WhatsApp phone numbers are digits only, no spaces or dashes.

2. mkdir -p ~/.whatsapp-channel

3. Read existing

   .env

   if present; update/add the

   WHATSAPP_PHONE_NUMBER=

   line, preserve other keys. Write back, no quotes around the value.

4. chmod 600 ~/.whatsapp-channel/.env

   — the file may contain credentials.
5. Confirm, then show the no-args status so the user sees where they stand.

reset-auth

Clear the Baileys auth state so the user can re-pair with a new device or phone number.

1. Confirm the user wants to do this — re-pairing will be required.

2. rm -rf ~/.whatsapp-channel/.baileys_auth

3. Inform: "Auth cleared. Restart your session with

   --channels

   to re-pair."

clear

— remove the phone number

Delete the

WHATSAPP_PHONE_NUMBER=

line (or the file if that's the only line).

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Implementation notes

• The channels dir might not exist if the server hasn't run yet. Missing file = not configured, not an error.
• The server reads

  .env

  once at boot. Config changes need a session restart or

  /reload-plugins

  . Say so after saving.

• access.json

  is re-read on every inbound message — policy changes via

  /whatsapp:access

  take effect immediately, no restart.
• WhatsApp uses linked-device protocol, not a bot API. The server connects as a linked device (like WhatsApp Web). Only one connection per auth state is allowed — running two instances causes a 440 conflict error.