fauci.d

This repository contains a Slack bot that finds COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.

The application registers each vaccine as a Slack slash command:

• /pfizer <postal code>
• /moderna <postal code>
• /jj <postal code>

For example, if you wanted to find Pfizer vaccinations near 60601, you'd run the following command:

/pfizer 60601

Architecture

This repository uses Serverless to provide bot functionality to Slack. We use Serverless to spin up the infrastructure needed to run an AWS lambda (we could also spin up BCP or Azure functions using Serverless).

The functions are stored in the functions directory, by chat program.

Within the Slack directory, there are two folders -- backend and handler. The handler is the interface that we provide to the Slack. The backend is the interface that gathers the providers, and presents them to the user. We use this pattern because Slack slash commands need to be acknowledged within 3 seconds. Some provider searches can take over 8 seconds.

The handler receives the request, and immediately responds to Slack with a 200, indicating that we've acknowledged the request. The handler also asynchronously invokes the backend lambda, which can take a little bit longer to load the providers and notify the user in Slack.

Development

If you want to test out this application locally, you'll need to set up a Slack App for your workspace. You'll also want to setup the following environment variables:

• SLACK_API_TOKEN - the token for your bot
• MAPBOX_API_TOKEN - the token to use to communicate with Mapbox
• SENTRY_DSN - URL to post messages to sentry
• SENTRY_ENVIRONMENT - which environment the application is running on
• SENTRY_RELEASE - used to tag the errors in sentry

Useful files:

• examples/sample_bot.go -- how to search for a vaccine and post a message to Slack with the results.
• slack/bot_manifest.yml -- example configuration settings for a Slack app.

To run the example:

go run example.go

Running the test suite

• Test entire suite: go test ./... or make test
• Test individual package: go test <package>
• Test vaccines package: go test github.com/hectron/fauci.d/vaccines

Deployment

The application is now automatically deployed using Github Actions when a new Release is created. Check the file .github/workflows/cd.yml for more information.

If you add any environment variable dependencies, add them to the repository's secrets in Github.

Manual Deployment

In order to manually deploy the application, you will need:

• Make
• serverless CLI, configured to support AWS
• Environment variables required in serverless.yml (these can be available using .envrc)

Actual deployment

make deploy

Testing deploy

serverless invoke -f slackbot -t

Destroying the lambda (permanently)

serverless remove