add-imessage

---
name: add-imessage
description: Add iMessage channel integration via Chat SDK. Local (macOS) or remote (Photon API) mode.
---

# Add iMessage Channel

Adds iMessage support via the Chat SDK bridge. Two modes: local (macOS with Full Disk Access) or remote (Photon API).

## Install

NanoClaw doesn't ship channels in trunk. This skill copies the iMessage adapter in from the `channels` branch.

### Pre-flight (idempotent)

Skip to **Credentials** if all of these are already in place:

- `src/channels/imessage.ts` exists
- `src/channels/index.ts` contains `import './imessage.js';`
- `chat-adapter-imessage` is listed in `package.json` dependencies

Otherwise continue. Every step below is safe to re-run.

### 1. Fetch the channels branch

```bash
git fetch origin channels
```

### 2. Copy the adapter

```bash
git show origin/channels:src/channels/imessage.ts > src/channels/imessage.ts
```

### 3. Append the self-registration import

Append to `src/channels/index.ts` (skip if the line is already present):

```typescript
import './imessage.js';
```

### 4. Install the adapter package (pinned)

```bash
pnpm install chat-adapter-imessage@0.1.1
```

### 5. Build

```bash
pnpm run build
```

## Credentials

### Local Mode (macOS)

Requirements: macOS with Full Disk Access granted to the Node.js binary.

The Node binary path is buried deep (e.g. `~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.x.x/bin/node`). To make it easy, open the folder in Finder so the user can drag the file into System Settings:

```bash
open "$(dirname "$(which node)")"
```

Then tell the user:

1. Open **System Settings** > **Privacy & Security** > **Full Disk Access**
2. Click **+**, then drag the `node` file from the Finder window that just opened
3. Toggle it on

Stop and wait for the user to confirm before continuing.

### Remote Mode (Photon API)

1. Set up a [Photon](https://photon.codes) account
2. Get your server URL and API key

### Configure environment

**Local mode** -- add to `.env`:

```bash
IMESSAGE_ENABLED=true
IMESSAGE_LOCAL=true
```

**Remote mode** -- add to `.env`:

```bash
IMESSAGE_LOCAL=false
IMESSAGE_SERVER_URL=https://your-photon-server.com
IMESSAGE_API_KEY=your-api-key
```

Sync to container: `mkdir -p data/env && cp .env data/env/env`

## Next Steps

If you're in the middle of `/setup`, return to the setup flow now.

Otherwise, run `/manage-channels` to wire this channel to an agent group.

## Channel Info

- **type**: `imessage`
- **terminology**: iMessage has "conversations." Each conversation is with a contact identified by phone number or email address. Group chats are also supported.
- **how-to-find-id**: The platform ID is the contact's phone number (e.g. `+15551234567`) or email address. For group chats, the ID is assigned by iMessage internally.
- **supports-threads**: no
- **typical-use**: Interactive 1:1 chat — personal messaging
- **default-isolation**: Same agent group if you're the only person messaging the bot across iMessage and other channels. Separate agent group if different contacts should have information isolation.

More agent context in microsoft/amplifier-app-nanoclaw

51 other files this repository gives its agents.