The Short Answer

OpenClaw is an AI agent framework that runs as a daemon on your machine. You interact with it through chat, and it can autonomously execute tasks — reading files, running commands, sending emails, and more.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you’ll need:

  • A macOS or Linux machine (Windows WSL2 support coming soon)
  • Node.js 18+ installed
  • Basic comfort with terminal commands

Installation

Step 1: Install OpenClaw

npm install -g openclaw

Step 2: Start the Gateway

openclaw gateway start

The gateway runs in the background and handles all agent communications.

Step 3: Connect Your First Agent

openclaw connect

This launches an interactive session where you can chat with your AI agent directly.

What Can OpenClaw Do?

OpenClaw agents can:

  • Read, write, and edit files anywhere on your machine
  • Execute shell commands
  • Send and receive emails
  • Browse the web
  • Manage your calendar and reminders
  • Control smart home devices
  • Run on a schedule (cron jobs)
  • Coordinate with other agents

Basic Usage Patterns

Direct Commands

Tell me what's in my Downloads folder

Multi-Step Tasks

Find all PDF files in my home directory, zip them, and email them to me

Scheduled Tasks

Set up automated jobs via cron:

openclaw cron add "every hour" "check my calendar and tell me what's coming up"

Getting Help

  • GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features
  • Documentation: Check the /docs folder in the workspace
  • Just ask — your agent can help you learn

Start small. Automate one thing. Then build from there.