Improve NestBot UX for mentions and unanswered messages

[arkid15r]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Currently, when NestBot is mentioned or observes monitored channels, and does not immediately have an answer, it displays a "Thinking" message.

Describe the solution you'd like
Replace the "Thinking" message for mentions and monitored channels' unanswered messages with a 👀 reaction. This will visually indicate that NestBot is aware of the message and is beginning to work on it, improving the perceived responsiveness and user experience.

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Relevant code for reference

The following code handles the "Thinking" message logic for mentions and messages in monitored channels:

1. Handles posting the "Thinking" message for app mentions:
backend/apps/slack/events/app_mention.py

def handle_event(self, event, client):
    # ...
    thread_ts = event.get("thread_ts") or event.get("ts")

    placeholder = client.chat_postMessage(
        channel=channel_id,
        blocks=[markdown("⏳ Thinking…")],
        text="Thinking…",
        thread_ts=thread_ts,
    )

    reply_blocks = get_blocks(query=query)
    client.chat_update(
        channel=channel_id,
        ts=placeholder["ts"],
        blocks=reply_blocks,
        text=query,
    )

2. Handles unanswered messages in monitored channels and enqueues AI reply jobs:
backend/apps/slack/events/message_posted.py

from apps.slack.services.message_auto_reply import generate_ai_reply_if_unanswered
# ...
django_rq.get_queue("ai").enqueue_in(
    timedelta(minutes=QUEUE_RESPONSE_TIME_MINUTES),
    generate_ai_reply_if_unanswered,
    message.id,
)

3. Actual AI reply posting if a message is found to be unanswered:
backend/apps/slack/services/message_auto_reply.py

@job("ai")
def generate_ai_reply_if_unanswered(message_id: int):
    # ...
    result = client.conversations_replies(
        channel=message.conversation.slack_channel_id,
        ts=message.slack_message_id,
        limit=1,
    )
    if result.get("messages") and result["messages"][0].get("reply_count", 0) > 0:
        return

    ai_response_text = process_ai_query(query=message.text)
    if not ai_response_text:
        return

    client.chat_postMessage(
        channel=message.conversation.slack_channel_id,
        blocks=get_blocks(ai_response_text),
        text=ai_response_text,
        thread_ts=message.slack_message_id,
    )

Recommendation:
To implement this request, replace the client.chat_postMessage with the "Thinking…" message to use a Slack reaction (:eyes:) instead, e.g.

client.reactions_add(
    channel=channel_id,
    timestamp=thread_ts,
    name="eyes",
)

and ensure similar logic is applied where applicable for unanswered messages.

Are you going to work on implementing this?

• No

Additional context
Be sure to update or add tests to verify that the new 👀 reaction is used in the relevant workflows, and that prior "Thinking" messaging is no longer displayed for the specified situations.

// generated with copilot

[ShashaankS]

@arkid15r I would like to work on this.
Please assign it to me.

[mrkeshav-05]

@arkid15r , Can I work on this.

[kart-u]

@arkid15r , can i work on this??

[Shofikul-Isl4m]

could you please asign this to me?

[anurag2787]

@arkid15r I would like to work on this. Could you please assign it to me?