Getting Started
The shortest path from install to a real chat read.
Login-free path
No server session required — just KakaoTalk running and already logged in on this Mac.
brew tap JungHoonGhae/openkakao
brew install openkakao-cliAllowlist the chat you intend to send to (required before any real send — local-send has no chat-id to cross-check against, so this is the only guard against sending to the wrong chat):
# ~/.config/openkakao/config.toml
[safety]
allow_ax_send = true
allowed_send_chats = ["the exact display name shown in your chat list"]# Read the most recently visible messages in a chat
openkakao-cli ax-read "chat display name" -n 20
# Preview a send, then actually send it
openkakao-cli local-send "chat display name" "Hello from CLI!" --dry-run
openkakao-cli local-send "chat display name" "Hello from CLI!" -ySee local-send / ax-read for the full reference.
Introduction
The path below needs server login, which is currently broken
login --save/login --manual fail on most current KakaoTalk macOS builds (#15, #20, #22), so "Authenticate once" below will fail for most people — the Login-free path above doesn't need any of this. If you do attempt server login, do not repeatedly retry from an unregistered device — it can get your account's sub-device login blocked.
This path is intentionally narrow: install, authenticate, inspect a chat, then stop and evaluate whether the trust model fits your use case.
Install the CLI
Start with a local binary and keep the workflow on your own machine.
Authenticate once
Reuse a saved local login before you build any higher-level automation.
Inspect chats first
List chats and read a small slice before you design summaries, exports, or hooks.
Send only if needed
Outbound actions should come last, after you understand the trust and transport boundary.
Before you wire automation
If you are deciding between account checks and real chat access, read REST vs LOCO before building around watch, send, or media flows.
Account risk is real
Depending on how you use OpenKakao, Kakao may interpret that behavior as a violation of its Terms of Service or operating policies. That can lead to account restrictions, suspension, or permanent deletion.
Automatic Installation
brew tap JungHoonGhae/openkakao
brew install openkakao-cliAuthenticate
Make sure KakaoTalk is running and already logged in.
openkakao-cli login --save
openkakao-cli authInspect a Real Chat
List chats first:
openkakao-cli chatsThen read only a small slice:
openkakao-cli read <chat_id> -n 20Export Before You Automate
Move one read into a structured format before you connect other tools:
openkakao-cli read <chat_id> -n 20 --json | jq '.'Send Only If You Need It
openkakao-cli send <chat_id> "Hello from CLI!"Default prefix stays on for a reason
By default, sent messages include a visible prefix. Keep that behavior unless you have a strong reason not to and you fully understand the operational risk.