What happens
install.sh refuses to install if any slack already exists on PATH. On a machine where the slack-ruby-client gem provides a slack executable (an rbenv shim at ~/.rbenv/shims/slack), the installer aborts:
🛑 Error: Your existing `slack` command is different from this Slack CLI!
🔖 Try using an alias when installing to avoid name conflicts:
curl -fsSL https://downloads.slack-edge.com/slack-cli/install.sh | bash -s your-preferred-alias
Repro
- Have an unrelated
slack on PATH. Concrete case: gem install slack-ruby-client (ships a slack executable; under rbenv it becomes ~/.rbenv/shims/slack).
curl -fsSL https://downloads.slack-edge.com/slack-cli/install.sh | bash
- Installer aborts instead of installing.
Why this is unhelpful
Aborting on a same-named binary is non-standard. It forced installing under an alias (| bash -s slack-cli), then manually symlinking it back to slack and reordering PATH, because rbenv shims sit ahead of ~/.local/bin, so even after installing, the CLI stayed shadowed by the gem's slack. Every other CLI installer I use just installs the binary and leaves PATH precedence to me.
Suggestion
Install regardless: place the binary + symlink as usual, and print a warning about the name collision (keep the alias tip there), instead of hard-aborting. Let the user manage their own PATH.
Env
macOS arm64, Slack CLI v4.7.0, zsh + rbenv, slack-ruby-client 2.6.0
What happens
install.shrefuses to install if anyslackalready exists onPATH. On a machine where theslack-ruby-clientgem provides aslackexecutable (an rbenv shim at~/.rbenv/shims/slack), the installer aborts:Repro
slackon PATH. Concrete case:gem install slack-ruby-client(ships aslackexecutable; under rbenv it becomes~/.rbenv/shims/slack).curl -fsSL https://downloads.slack-edge.com/slack-cli/install.sh | bashWhy this is unhelpful
Aborting on a same-named binary is non-standard. It forced installing under an alias (
| bash -s slack-cli), then manually symlinking it back toslackand reordering PATH, because rbenv shims sit ahead of~/.local/bin, so even after installing, the CLI stayed shadowed by the gem'sslack. Every other CLI installer I use just installs the binary and leaves PATH precedence to me.Suggestion
Install regardless: place the binary + symlink as usual, and print a warning about the name collision (keep the alias tip there), instead of hard-aborting. Let the user manage their own PATH.
Env
macOS arm64, Slack CLI v4.7.0, zsh + rbenv, slack-ruby-client 2.6.0