Note: The tool mentioned in this article, formerly known as Clawdbot, has been rebranded to OpenClaw. This article has been updated to reflect the new name and installation instructions. For the latest information, please visit the official website: openclaw.ai.
There’s a tool that has been gaining significant traction lately called OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot). The initial hype was easy to miss, but after spending some time with it, the appeal is crystal clear. This article serves as a simple but effective tutorial on how to set up OpenClaw and configure it for maximum utility. We will walk through the entire process, step by step.
What Exactly is OpenClaw?
First, let’s break down what it is and how you should approach setting it up. Think of OpenClaw as an interactive, personified version of Claude code. Imagine using a platform like Discord to communicate with your team. OpenClaw can exist there as a team member, available 24/7, ready to perform tasks for you. It’s a truly amazing concept.
But its power doesn’t stop there. Because it’s built on the foundation of Claude code, you can configure it to do almost anything. Need it to write code for you? It can do that. Want it to monitor your step-tracking data and send you motivational messages to be more active? It can do that, too. This makes it incredibly useful even if you have no interest in coding. It’s like having a Claude-powered coworker who is more accessible and perpetually active.
I use the word “active” because it runs around the clock. You can assign it scheduled tasks, and it will ping you directly when they are due. For instance, you could ask it to remind you about a meeting at 10:00 AM. It will send a message to any of your configured channels at that exact time. It’s an awesome feature. You can also schedule recurring tasks. Ask it to report on Nvidia’s stock price every day at 10 p.m., and it will deliver that information daily with a ping.
Beyond tasks, you can simply chat with it as a bot. It’s surprisingly good. You can configure it on almost any device, including the desktop you’re likely reading this on.
Getting Started with Installation
Many users are configuring OpenClaw on dedicated machines like the Mac Mini, but we’ll discuss hardware recommendations toward the end of this article. First, let’s get it installed.
You can install it with a simple command.
# Run the official installer
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
Once the installation is complete, you can begin the setup process by running the openclaw onboard command. This will present you with several configuration options.
- Select Your Provider: First, choose the AI provider you want to use. It works with a ton of them, including the GLM coding plan, which can be a very cost-effective and powerful option.
- Configure Channels: Next, you can link it to various communication channels. It supports Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, and many others. For this guide, I’ll select “no channels” and stick with the default OpenClaw web interface.
- Add Skills: You can also configure specific skills that expand its capabilities.
Follow the remaining on-screen instructions, and you should see the web interface launch. It will provide the port number where the service is running. From here, you can start making requests. While the web interface is perfectly fine, you’ll generally want to set it up on a channel like Discord for seamless access.
Navigating the OpenClaw Interface
The interface is clean and organized into several key sections.
- Channels: This is where you can manage connections to external services, refresh them, and so on.
- Connected Instances & Sessions: These are simply the active Claude code sessions. You can configure sessions to break up based on the number of messages or other criteria.
- Scheduler: This is where the magic of automation happens. When you ask OpenClaw to perform a task at a later time, it creates a cron job here. The job can be daily, hourly, or any custom interval you define. The best part is you don’t need to configure this manually; OpenClaw understands natural language commands to schedule tasks.
- Skills: You can manage and configure the skills you want the bot to have from this panel.
- Nodes: This section allows you to set up allow lists and deny lists, which is essential for securing your deployment.
- Settings: Here, you’ll find all kinds of configuration options for authentication providers and other core settings.
Choosing the Right Hardware for OpenClaw
If you’re active on platforms like Twitter, you’ve likely seen that everyone seems to be buying a Mac Mini to run OpenClaw. Why is that?
The Mac Mini M4, priced at around $599, is a very capable and incredibly power-efficient machine. You can install OpenClaw, tuck it away in a closet, and let it run 24/7 without worrying about electricity costs. It just works. You get a local, private AI assistant that fulfills the promise Siri never could.
If you can afford to spend $600 on a top-tier agentic assistant, I highly recommend it. However, to be honest, it’s not a necessity.
Smarter, Cheaper Alternatives
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VPS (Virtual Private Server): For as little as $5 a month, you can get a VPS that is potentially more capable. While it isn’t a “local” solution, it saves you the significant headache of configuring firewalls for security. You can easily connect it to a domain for public access, which is tricky to do on a home machine. A VPS is also a versatile tool for other projects.
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Old Hardware: Do you have an old laptop or desktop gathering dust? You can resurrect it. Install a lightweight Linux distribution, set up OpenClaw, and let it run in a closet. You can get fantastic output from junk you already own.
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Secondhand Optiplex: For a super-budget option, an old Dell Optiplex can be found for around $60 and is more than sufficient for this use case.
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Beelink Mini PC: In my opinion, the best option for most people is a Beelink Mini PC, which costs about $270. You can install a 512GB or 1TB SSD, run an OS like Unraid, and operate OpenClaw in a containerized environment. This setup costs significantly less than a Mac Mini and offers more flexibility. With up to six storage slots, it can also function as a Network Attached Storage (NAS), something the Mac Mini can’t do.
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the verdict? If you want a no-hassle, hyper-efficient machine that just works for this specific purpose, the Mac Mini is a great choice. It idles at a mere 5-7 watts and only hits about 70 watts under maximum load. Plus, it can serve as an emergency computer if your primary machine fails. It’s by no means a bad option.
However, you can save a lot of money by running it on your current computer or by choosing one of the more affordable alternatives.
Of course, I won’t stop you from buying a new Mac Mini. The appeal of new, shiny technology is strong. So go ahead, run OpenClaw on that new machine you’ve been eyeing.
I’m enjoying OpenClaw immensely and highly recommend you check it out. It’s a pretty cool piece of technology that opens up a world of possibilities for personal automation.