# OpenClaw 🦞 — Your assistant, on your devices, in your chats

OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant that runs on your own computer and meets you in the channels you already use: Discord, iMessage, Slack, Teams, Telegram, WhatsApp, and 20+ more, plus native apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. One Gateway runs it as a personal assistant on a laptop or as a shared [team deployment](https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/teams); configuration is the only difference. **Yours, with no catch.** State, memory, and credentials live on your hardware. Models and agent harnesses (Claude, Codex, local models) are plugins you can swap without changing anything else. Your prompts go to the model provider and chat platforms you configure, plus any diagnostics export you enable yourself; by default OpenClaw itself phones home for nothing but a daily version check, anonymous feature statistics are opt-in, and `update.checkOnStart: false` disables both ([what OpenClaw sends](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/telemetry)). OpenClaw is stewarded by the [OpenClaw Foundation](https://openclaw.org), an independent 501(c)(3), and has no paid tier, hosted service, or token. The architecture case — trusted gateway, untrusted execution, deterministic policy — is in [Why OpenClaw](https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/why-openclaw). [Website](https://openclaw.ai) · [Docs](https://docs.openclaw.ai) · [Getting started](https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/getting-started) · [Why OpenClaw](https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/why-openclaw) · [FAQ](https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq) · [Vision](VISION.md) · [DeepWiki](https://deepwiki.com/openclaw/openclaw) ## Install The installer supports macOS, Linux, and Windows. It provisions a supported Node.js runtime when needed. ```bash # macOS / Linux / WSL2 curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash ``` ```powershell # Windows PowerShell iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex ``` Already manage Node.js? Install the published package instead (Node 24.16+ or 26.1+; Node 26 recommended): ```bash npm install -g openclaw@latest --allow-scripts=openclaw ``` That command is for npm 12 or npm 11.16+. On npm 11.15 and earlier, omit `--allow-scripts=openclaw`. See the [installation guide](https://docs.openclaw.ai/install) for the lifecycle script contract, Docker, Nix, and other deployment paths. ## Quick start On a fresh install, the installer scripts start onboarding automatically. Complete the wizard they open. If you installed the package directly with npm, pnpm, or Bun, run: ```bash openclaw onboard --install-daemon ``` After onboarding: ```bash openclaw gateway status openclaw dashboard ``` Onboarding verifies model access, creates the workspace, and configures the Gateway. The last command opens the Control UI; send a message there to confirm the assistant is working. See the [getting started guide](https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/getting-started) for channel setup and troubleshooting. ## How it fits together - The [Gateway](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway) is the local control plane for sessions, tools, events, and channel connections. - The [Control UI](https://docs.openclaw.ai/web/control-ui), CLI, and [TUI](https://docs.openclaw.ai/web/tui) connect to the Gateway. - [Channels](https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels) bring the assistant to WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Google Chat, Signal, iMessage, and other messaging services. - [Companion apps and nodes](https://docs.openclaw.ai/platforms) add voice, Canvas, camera, screen, and device-local actions on supported platforms. OpenClaw works with hosted and local [model providers](https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/model-providers). Its [tools](https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools), [skills](https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/skills), and [plugins](https://docs.openclaw.ai/plugins) extend what an assistant can do. ## Security Treat inbound messages as untrusted input. DM-capable channels pair unknown senders by default; approve a pairing request with `openclaw pairing approve

`.

Tools run on the host for the main session unless you configure sandboxing. Read the [security guide](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/security), [exposure runbook](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/security/exposure-runbook), and [sandboxing guide](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/sandboxing) before connecting other users or exposing the Gateway remotely.

## Documentation

| Goal                             | Start here                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Configure models and auth        | [Models](https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/models) · [Model providers](https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/model-providers)                                                                                                                                            |
| Connect a messaging service      | [Channels](https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels)                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Add tools, skills, and plugins   | [Tools](https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools) · [Skills](https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/skills) · [Plugins](https://docs.openclaw.ai/plugins) · [ClawHub](https://clawhub.ai)                                                                                              |
| Run apps and device nodes        | [Platforms](https://docs.openclaw.ai/platforms) · [Nodes](https://docs.openclaw.ai/nodes)                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Use the CLI and chat commands    | [CLI reference](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli) · [Slash commands](https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/slash-commands)                                                                                                                                                      |
| Configure or operate the Gateway | [Configuration](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/configuration) · [Architecture](https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/architecture) · [Updating](https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/updating) · [Release channels](https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/development-channels) |

## Development

The repository is a pnpm workspace. Plain `npm install` at the repository root is not supported.

```bash
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm build
pnpm ui:build
```

See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for the contribution workflow and the [source setup guide](https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/setup) for the development loop.

## Governance

OpenClaw is developed in the open by the [OpenClaw Foundation](https://openclaw.org), an independent 501(c)(3). The Foundation employs the core team and signs releases. Donors and infrastructure sponsors support the Foundation; none of them own or direct the project. OpenAI is a donor, not an owner.

## Community

See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for maintainers and contribution guidelines; AI-assisted PRs are welcome.

Use the [issue chooser](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/issues/new/choose) for bugs and feature requests, ask setup questions in [Discord](https://discord.gg/clawd), and report vulnerabilities through [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md). New capabilities usually belong in plugins built on the [plugin SDK](https://docs.openclaw.ai/plugins/building-plugins) and shared through [ClawHub](https://clawhub.ai).

OpenClaw was built for **Molty**, a space lobster AI assistant, by Peter Steinberger and the community. Explore the [project lore](https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/lore), [soul.md](https://soul.md), [Peter's site](https://steipete.me), [Star History](https://www.star-history.com/#openclaw/openclaw&type=date&legend=top-left), and [@openclaw](https://x.com/openclaw).

Special thanks to [Mario Zechner](https://mariozechner.at/) for his support and for [pi](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi), and to Adam Doppelt for the lobster.bot domain.

## Donors and sponsors

The Foundation is funded by donors including Amazon, Lobster Computer Company, Offline Holdings, OpenAI, Red Hat, and the University of Michigan, with infrastructure support from Blacksmith, Convex, GitHub, NVIDIA, and Vercel.


  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  


## Contributors

Thanks to all clawtributors:



         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
       




## License

[MIT](LICENSE) © OpenClaw Foundation. See [THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md](THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md) for incorporated or adapted code.

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