---
title: 'panguard chat'
description: 'Configure notification channels for security alerts and interact with the AI assistant.'
icon: 'message-bot'
---

The `chat` command manages how Panguard communicates with you. Set up Telegram, Slack, or Email notifications for security events, configure alert preferences, and test that messages are delivered correctly.

## Usage

```bash
panguard chat <subcommand> [options]
```

## Subcommands

| Subcommand | Description                                                            |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `setup`    | Interactive setup wizard for a notification channel                    |
| `test`     | Send a test message to verify channel connectivity                     |
| `status`   | Show configured channels and their health                              |
| `config`   | View or modify chat configuration                                      |
| `prefs`    | Set notification preferences (severity filters, quiet hours, language) |

## Options

<ParamField path="--channel" type="string">
  Specify the notification channel type: `telegram`, `slack`, or `email`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--user-type" type="string">
  Set the user role for notification routing: `owner`, `admin`, or `viewer`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--lang" type="string" default="en">
  Set the language for notifications (e.g., `en`, `zh-TW`, `ja`).
</ParamField>

## Examples

<CodeGroup>
```bash Set up Telegram notifications
panguard chat setup --channel telegram
```

```bash Set up Slack notifications
panguard chat setup --channel slack
```

```bash Test current configuration
panguard chat test
```

```bash Check channel status
panguard chat status
```

```bash Set notification preferences
panguard chat prefs --lang zh-TW
```

```bash View chat configuration
panguard chat config
```

</CodeGroup>

## Notification Channels

| Channel  | Setup Method                        | Delivery Speed |
| -------- | ----------------------------------- | -------------- |
| Telegram | Bot token + chat ID (guided wizard) | Instant        |
| Slack    | Webhook URL or Slack App install    | Instant        |
| Email    | SMTP config or Panguard relay       | 1-5 minutes    |

<Tip>
  Telegram is the recommended channel for individual developers. It supports rich formatting, inline
  actions, and two-way AI chat.
</Tip>

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Notifications Setup Guide" icon="bell" href="/guides/notifications-setup">
    Step-by-step guide for each notification channel.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Chat Product Overview" icon="comments" href="/products/chat/overview">
    Full documentation of the Chat notification system.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Chat Configuration" icon="gear" href="/configuration/chat-config">
    Advanced configuration options for notification routing.
  </Card>
  <Card title="User Roles" icon="users" href="/products/chat/user-roles">
    How notification routing differs by user role.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>
