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openclaw-skill/openclaw-knowhow-skill/docs/get-started/openclaw.md
Selig 4c966a3ad2 Initial commit: OpenClaw Skill Collection
6 custom skills (assign-task, dispatch-webhook, daily-briefing,
task-capture, qmd-brain, tts-voice) with technical documentation.
Compatible with Claude Code, OpenClaw, Codex CLI, and OpenCode.
2026-03-13 10:58:30 +08:00

1.8 KiB

Personal Assistant Setup with OpenClaw

OpenClaw functions as a messaging gateway for Pi agents across WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and iMessage. This documentation covers configuring a dedicated agent assistant accessible via a second phone number.

Key Safety Considerations

The guide emphasizes several protective measures when deploying an agent with file system and command execution capabilities:

  • Always set channels.whatsapp.allowFrom (never run open-to-the-world on your personal Mac)
  • Utilize a separate phone number exclusively for the assistant
  • Disable heartbeat functionality initially by setting heartbeat to "0m" until the setup is validated

Prerequisites & Installation

The setup requires Node 22+ and can be installed globally via npm or built from source. The recommended two-phone architecture separates your personal device from the assistant's device, preventing all incoming messages from being processed as agent input.

npm install -g openclaw@latest

Or build from source:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm build

Core Configuration Elements

The minimal configuration requires specifying allowed phone numbers in the allowlist. The system supports:

  • Session management with reset triggers (/new, /reset)
  • Customizable workspace locations
  • Thinking defaults for the Claude model selection

Notable Features

  • Heartbeat functionality: Defaults to 30-minute intervals (can be disabled)
  • Session storage: JSON Lines format with token usage metadata
  • Media support: Inbound attachments and outbound responses via MEDIA:<path> syntax

Operations & Monitoring

The toolkit provides status diagnostics through commands like:

openclaw status
openclaw health --json

Logs are stored in /tmp/openclaw/.