Prerequisites

Before installing OpenClaw, ensure you have the following:

Node.js 18+: OpenClaw requires a modern Node.js runtime
npm or pnpm: Package manager for dependencies
Git: For cloning the repository
API Key: Access to an LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)

Installation Steps

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

Step 2: Install Dependencies

npm install
# or
pnpm install

Step 3: Configure Environment

Create a .env file in the project root:

# LLM Configuration
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-api-key-here
# or
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-key-here

# Messaging Platform (choose one)
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your-telegram-token
# DISCORD_TOKEN=your-discord-token
# SLACK_TOKEN=your-slack-token

# Optional: Memory persistence
MEMORY_STORAGE_PATH=./data/memory

Step 4: Initialize Bootstrap Files

Create the workspace directory and bootstrap files:

mkdir -p workspace
touch workspace/AGENTS.md
touch workspace/SOUL.md
touch workspace/IDENTITY.md

Step 5: Start the Agent

npm run start
# or for development
npm run dev

Your First Interaction

Once the agent is running, connect through your configured messaging platform and try these commands:

# Check agent status
You: "Are you online?"

# Simple file operation
You: "Create a file called hello.txt with the content 'Hello, World!'"

# System information
You: "What's the current time and date?"

# List directory
You: "Show me the files in the current directory"

Understanding the Output

OpenClaw provides detailed feedback for each action:

[Agent] Received command: Create a file...
[Tool] Executing: writeFile
[Tool] Path: ./hello.txt
[Tool] Content: Hello, World!
[Agent] ✅ File created successfully at ./hello.txt

Basic Configuration

Setting Your Agent's Persona

Edit workspace/SOUL.md to define your agent's personality:

# Agent Persona

You are a helpful AI assistant focused on productivity and automation.

## Communication Style
- Be concise and action-oriented
- Confirm before executing potentially destructive actions
- Provide clear status updates during long-running tasks

## Expertise Areas
- File management and organization
- Email and calendar automation
- Code assistance and review

Common First-Time Issues

Issue: API Key Not Found

Error: No API key configured

Solution: Ensure your .env file contains a valid API key
and the variable name matches your LLM provider.

Issue: Permission Denied

Error: EACCES permission denied

Solution: Check file permissions in your workspace directory.
Run: chmod -R 755 ./workspace

Next Steps

Now that you have OpenClaw running, explore:

Bootstrap Files: Deep dive into AGENTS.md and SOUL.md configuration
Messaging Integration: Connect to your preferred platform
Custom Tools: Add new capabilities to your agent