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GuidesFebruary 2, 2025•5 min read

OpenClaw AI & Clawdbot: The Complete GitHub Installation & Configuration Guide

OpenClaw AI is a revolutionary open-source AI agent framework. Learn how to install, configure, and use OpenClaw with Telegram, Discord, Reddit integration. Supports Claude, Gemini, Ollama, and more.

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw AI is a revolutionary open-source AI agent framework that is rapidly becoming the top choice for developers and AI enthusiasts worldwide. In the past week alone, search terms like "openclaw ai" and "clawdbot" have seen explosive growth, reflecting the tremendous impact this tool is making in the tech community.

OpenClaw enables users to create intelligent AI bots that support multiple LLM models (including Claude, Gemini, Ollama, and more) and can be integrated across various platforms like Telegram, Discord, and Reddit. Whether you're looking to build chatbots, automate tasks, or explore the infinite possibilities of AI, OpenClaw provides a powerful solution.

Why Choose OpenClaw?

  1. Multi-Platform Support: Telegram, Discord, Reddit, WhatsApp
  2. Flexible Model Selection: Support for Claude, Gemini, Ollama, OpenAI, and other leading LLMs
  3. Open Source & Free: Completely open source with an active community
  4. Easy Deployment: Support for Docker, local installation, and VPS deployment
  5. Extensible: Support for custom Skills and extensions

OpenClaw Installation Guide

Method 1: Install via GitHub Clone

# Clone the OpenClaw repository
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

pnpm install
pnpm ui:build # auto-installs UI deps on first run
pnpm build

pnpm openclaw onboard --install-daemon

# Dev loop (auto-reload on TS changes)
pnpm gateway:watch

Docker installation is the quickest and easiest method:

docker pull openclaw/latest
docker run -d --name openclaw openclaw/latest

Method 3: Windows/Mac Installation

Windows Installation:

  1. Download the Windows installer
  2. Run the installation program
  3. Configure environment variables

Mac Installation:

brew install openclaw

OpenClaw Configuration Tutorial

Basic Configuration

The OpenClaw configuration file is typically located at config/config.yaml:

# OpenClaw basic configuration
bot:
  token: "your-bot-token"
  platform: "telegram"  # or discord, reddit

llm:
  provider: "claude"  # or gemini, ollama, openai
  api_key: "your-api-key"
  model: "claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022"

Language Configuration

OpenClaw provides full support for multiple languages including Chinese:

language: "zh-CN"
encoding: "utf-8"

OpenClaw with Ollama Integration

Ollama is a popular choice for running LLMs locally, and OpenClaw integration with Ollama is straightforward:

llm:
  provider: "ollama"
  base_url: "http://localhost:11434"
  model: "llama2"

OpenClaw Telegram Bot Setup

Telegram is one of the most popular integration platforms:

  1. Create a Telegram Bot (via @BotFather)
  2. Get your Bot Token
  3. Add the Token to your OpenClaw configuration
  4. Start OpenClaw
npm start -- --platform telegram

OpenClaw Discord Bot

Discord integration makes OpenClaw even more powerful:

discord:
  token: "your-discord-bot-token"
  client_id: "your-client-id"
  guild_id: "your-guild-id"

OpenClaw Skills and Extensions

The power of OpenClaw lies in its extensible Skills system:

Built-in Skills

  • Search capabilities
  • Code execution
  • File processing
  • Web browsing

Custom Skills

// Create a custom Skill
module.exports = {
  name: 'my-custom-skill',
  execute: async (context) => {
    // Your logic here
    return result;
  }
};

Using OpenClaw Gateway

OpenClaw Gateway provides a unified API interface:

curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/chat \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"message": "Hello OpenClaw"}'

Security Considerations (OpenClaw Security)

When using OpenClaw, keep these security best practices in mind:

  1. API Key Protection: Never hardcode API keys in your code
  2. Permission Management: Limit bot access permissions
  3. Data Privacy: Understand how your data is processed
  4. Regular Updates: Keep OpenClaw updated to the latest version

Deploying OpenClaw on VPS

For production environments, VPS deployment is recommended:

# Connect to your VPS
ssh user@your-vps-ip

# Install Docker
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

# Run OpenClaw
docker run -d \
  --name openclaw \
  --restart always \
  -v /path/to/config:/config \
  openclaw/latest

OpenClaw Chrome Extension

OpenClaw offers a Chrome extension for direct browser usage:

  1. Install the OpenClaw Chrome extension
  2. Configure your API Key
  3. Start using AI features directly in your browser

Moltbot and Moltbook

Moltbot is part of the OpenClaw ecosystem, providing additional functionality. Moltbook serves as the documentation and tutorial resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is OpenClaw free?

A: Yes, OpenClaw is completely open source and free, but you'll need to pay for LLM API costs (such as Claude, Gemini) separately.

Q: Which LLMs does OpenClaw support?

A: OpenClaw supports Claude, Gemini, Ollama, OpenAI, and other major LLM providers.

Q: How do I run OpenClaw locally?

A: Use Docker or clone the repository from GitHub and install locally.

Q: What advantages does OpenClaw have compared to other AI bot frameworks?

A: OpenClaw's advantages include multi-platform support, flexible model selection, an active community, and user-friendly configuration.

Conclusion

OpenClaw AI is transforming the way we interact with AI. Whether you're a developer, AI enthusiast, or enterprise user, OpenClaw provides a powerful and flexible solution. From GitHub installation to configuration and deployment, from Telegram bots to Discord integration, OpenClaw makes creating AI agents easier than ever before.

Visit the OpenClaw GitHub repository to start your AI journey today!

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