Summary
Add support for updating OpenClaw — the open-source autonomous AI agent platform (318K+ GitHub stars, viral in China). OpenClaw has its own plugin ecosystem (skills + extensions) that can be bulk-managed.
Background
OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot) is a local-first AI agent by Peter Steinberger that runs as a gateway daemon. It has:
- npm-based installation:
npm install -g openclaw@latest
- Built-in update command:
openclaw update --channel stable|beta|dev
- Skills system:
~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/<skill>/SKILL.md (bundled, global, or workspace-scoped)
- Extensions directory:
extensions/ in the repo (TypeScript-based)
- Config:
~/.openclaw/openclaw.json (JSON)
Scope
Phase 1: Self-update
- Detect if OpenClaw is installed (
which openclaw or check package.json global)
- Run
openclaw update --channel stable (or respect user's channel preference)
- Report current version vs. latest available
Phase 2: Skills updates
- Discover skills at
~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/
- Determine which skills are git-backed vs. bundled vs. manually installed
git pull on git-backed skills
- Skip bundled skills (they update with OpenClaw itself)
Phase 3: Extensions (future)
- Explore the
extensions/ directory structure and update mechanism
- May require OpenClaw's own extension manager — needs research
Implementation approach
- Add OpenClaw detection to the tool discovery phase (check for
openclaw binary)
- Add
--tool openclaw flag support
- Implement self-update via
openclaw update
- Scan
~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/ for git-backed skills
- Reuse existing git pull logic from Claude Code marketplace updates
Considerations
- OpenClaw requires Node ≥22
- The gateway daemon may need restart after update
- Skills precedence: workspace > global > bundled — only update git-backed ones
- Config format is JSON (
~/.openclaw/openclaw.json)
- China users may need npm mirror support
References
Summary
Add support for updating OpenClaw — the open-source autonomous AI agent platform (318K+ GitHub stars, viral in China). OpenClaw has its own plugin ecosystem (skills + extensions) that can be bulk-managed.
Background
OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot) is a local-first AI agent by Peter Steinberger that runs as a gateway daemon. It has:
npm install -g openclaw@latestopenclaw update --channel stable|beta|dev~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/<skill>/SKILL.md(bundled, global, or workspace-scoped)extensions/in the repo (TypeScript-based)~/.openclaw/openclaw.json(JSON)Scope
Phase 1: Self-update
which openclawor checkpackage.jsonglobal)openclaw update --channel stable(or respect user's channel preference)Phase 2: Skills updates
~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/git pullon git-backed skillsPhase 3: Extensions (future)
extensions/directory structure and update mechanismImplementation approach
openclawbinary)--tool openclawflag supportopenclaw update~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/for git-backed skillsConsiderations
~/.openclaw/openclaw.json)References