What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is a powerful, open-source AI agent platform that allows you to run autonomous AI agents across multiple chat channels including WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and more. It acts as a central gateway for managing AI-powered conversations and automating tasks.

With OpenClaw, you can:

• Connect multiple AI models (OpenAI, Ollama, Anthropic, and more)
• Run agents across multiple chat platforms simultaneously
• Automate workflows with cron jobs and webhooks
• Manage conversations with a built-in Terminal UI (TUI)
• Extend functionality with plugins and skills

System Requirements

Before installing OpenClaw, ensure your system meets these requirements:

• Operating System: macOS or Linux (Windows via WSL)
• Node.js: Version 18.x or higher
• npm: Version 9.x or higher
• RAM: Minimum 4GB (8GB recommended)
• Storage: At least 2GB free space

Installation Methods

Method 1: Quick Install (Recommended)

The easiest way to install OpenClaw is using the official installer script:

curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

This script will:

1. Check your system requirements
2. Install Node.js if not present
3. Download and install the latest OpenClaw version
4. Set up the necessary directories and configurations

Method 2: Manual Installation via npm

If you prefer manual installation:

# Create a global npm directory (optional but recommended)
mkdir -p ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix ~/.npm-global
export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH

# Install OpenClaw globally
npm install -g @openclaw/cli

Add the PATH to your shell profile (~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc):

echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Initial Configuration

After installation, run the interactive setup wizard:

openclaw configure

This will guide you through:

• Setting up your preferred LLM provider (OpenAI, Ollama, etc.)
• Configuring API keys securely
• Setting up chat channels
• Configuring the gateway service

Configuration File

OpenClaw stores its configuration in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. Here is an example configuration structure:

{
  "llm": {
    "provider": "ollama",
    "model": "llama3.1:8b",
    "baseUrl": "http://localhost:11434"
  }
}

How OpenClaw Works

Architecture Overview

OpenClaw operates on a Gateway-Agent architecture:

1. Gateway: The central WebSocket server that manages connections, routes messages, and coordinates agents
2. Agents: Autonomous AI workers that process messages and execute tasks
3. Channels: Integrations with chat platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack)
4. Node Host: Runs headless services for agent execution

Starting the Gateway

To start the OpenClaw gateway:

# Start on default port (18789)
openclaw gateway

# Or specify a custom port
openclaw gateway --port 19000

# Force restart (kills existing process)
openclaw gateway --force

Running in Development Mode

For development and testing:

openclaw --dev gateway

This isolates state under ~/.openclaw-dev and uses port 19001.

Key Commands

Channel Management

# Login to WhatsApp
openclaw channels login --verbose

# Check channel status
openclaw status

# List connected channels
openclaw channels list

Sending Messages

# Send a message via WhatsApp

# Send via Telegram
openclaw message send --channel telegram --target @username --message "Hi"

Model Configuration

# List available models
openclaw models list

# Scan for new models
openclaw models scan

# Set default model
openclaw config set llm.model "gpt-4"

Agent Operations

# Run an agent turn
openclaw agent --to +1234567890 --message "Summarize this" --deliver

# List active agents
openclaw agents list

# Check agent health
openclaw doctor

Advanced Features

Cron Jobs

Schedule automated tasks:

# List scheduled jobs
openclaw cron list

# Add a new cron job
openclaw cron add --schedule "0 9 * * *" --command "daily-report"

Webhooks

Integrate with external services:

# List webhooks
openclaw webhooks list

# Create a webhook endpoint
openclaw webhooks create --name "notify"

Skills & Plugins

# List available skills
openclaw skills list

# Install a plugin
openclaw plugins install @openclaw/plugin-example

Terminal UI (TUI)

OpenClaw includes a beautiful terminal interface:

openclaw tui

The TUI allows you to:

• Monitor active conversations in real-time
• Switch between channels
• View agent logs and responses
• Manage sessions interactively

Health Checks & Troubleshooting

# Run health checks
openclaw doctor

# Check gateway health
openclaw health

# View logs
openclaw logs

# Reset configuration (keeps CLI)
openclaw reset

Security Best Practices

• Store API keys in environment variables, not in config files
• Use the openclaw security command for config audits
• Enable sandbox mode for untrusted agent code
• Regularly update with openclaw update

Conclusion

OpenClaw is a versatile AI agent platform that simplifies building and deploying conversational AI across multiple channels. Its modular architecture, extensive CLI tooling, and support for various LLM providers make it an excellent choice for developers and businesses looking to automate their communication workflows.

For more information, visit the official documentation at docs.openclaw.ai.

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