Clawdbot Step-by-Step Deployment Tutorial

Clawdbot (now OpenClaw) is a highly integrated open-source AI agent that has gained popularity recently. It can understand instructions like a human, break them down, and automatically run through entire task workflows you assign.

This tutorial teaches you how to deploy Clawdbot yourself.

You can use:

• Mac Mini
• Windows / Linux host / VPS

Step 1: Run Installation Script

The easiest way to get started. Open your terminal and run:

curl -fsSL https://install.clawdbot.dev | bash

Or for OpenClaw:

npm install -g openclaw

Step 2: Initialize Configuration

After installation, run the onboarding wizard:

clawdbot onboard
# Or for OpenClaw
openclaw onboard

This will guide you through:

• Selecting your AI provider (Anthropic Claude or OpenAI)
• Configuring your API key
• Setting up your preferred messaging platform

Step 3: Configure AI Model

Choose your preferred AI model:

Recommended: Claude 3.5 Sonnet

• Better long-context understanding
• More reliable for complex multi-step tasks

Alternative: GPT-4

• Good performance
• More widely available

Step 4: Configure API Key and Port

Set up your API credentials:

1. For Claude: Get API key from console.anthropic.com
2. For OpenAI: Get API key from platform.openai.com

Default port is 18789. You can customize this in the configuration.

Step 5: Configure Chat Channel

Connect to your preferred messaging platform:

Telegram (Recommended for Beginners)

1. Message @BotFather on Telegram
2. Send /newbot command
3. Set bot name and username (must end with 'bot')
4. Copy the Bot Token provided
5. Paste it in the ClawdBot configuration

Discord

1. Go to Discord Developer Portal
2. Create New Application
3. Go to Bot section, create bot
4. Copy Bot Token
5. Configure in ClawdBot

WhatsApp

Requires phone QR code login. More complex setup.

Step 6: Configure Skills

Skills extend ClawdBot's capabilities:

# List available skills
clawdbot skills list

# Install a skill
clawdbot skills install google-calendar
clawdbot skills install github
clawdbot skills install slack

Common skills:

• google-calendar: Manage calendar events
• gmail: Read and send emails
• github: View issues, PRs, code
• slack: Send messages to Slack channels

Step 7: Extended Configuration

Additional configuration options:

Memory System

Enable persistent memory:

{
  "memory": {
    "enabled": true,
    "storage": "local"
  }
}

Sub-agents

Enable parallel task execution:

{
  "subAgents": {
    "enabled": true,
    "maxConcurrent": 3
  }
}

Cron Jobs

Set up automated tasks:

openclaw cron create --name "daily-briefing" --schedule "0 8 * * *"

Step 8: Complete Configuration and Start

After configuration, start the service:

clawdbot start
# Or
openclaw start

Check if running:

ss -lntp | grep 18789

If you see output, the service started successfully!

Step 9: Start Using

1. Open your messaging app (Telegram, Discord, etc.)
2. Find your bot
3. Send /start or any message
4. Start chatting with your AI agent!

Example Commands

• "Check my calendar for today"
• "Summarize my unread emails"
• "Create a task in Linear: Fix login bug"
• "Search for recent AI news"

Troubleshooting

Service won't start:

• Check if port 18789 is available
• Verify Node.js version (must be 22+)
• Check logs: clawdbot logs

Can't connect to messaging platform:

• Verify bot token is correct
• Check firewall settings
• Ensure webhook URL is accessible

API errors:

• Verify API key is valid
• Check API rate limits
• Ensure billing is set up

Security Best Practices

1. Restrict access: Use allowFrom to limit who can use your bot
2. Use environment variables: Don't hardcode API keys
3. Enable approval mode: Require confirmation for destructive actions
4. Regular backups: Back up your workspace and configuration
5. Monitor logs: Regularly check for unusual activity

Next Steps

• Explore more Skills on ClawHub
• Set up automated workflows with Cron
• Configure sub-agents for parallel processing
• Customize your AI's personality with SOUL.md

Happy automating with your AI agent!