Openclaw Config

OpenClaw Config

Complete agent and configuration management for OpenClaw, with automatic binding setup and progressive documentation.

Quick Start

Create a new agent (one command)

python3 scripts/create_agent.py <agent-id> <agent-name> <bot-token> [workspace-path]

This automatically:

• ✅ Adds Telegram bot account
• ✅ Registers agent
• ✅ Configures binding (routing)
• ✅ Backs up configuration

Example:

python3 scripts/create_agent.py project-manager "项目管理助手" "8794745677:AAGusS8oi..."

See agent-creation.md for complete agent creation guide.

Add a binding (routing rule)

python3 scripts/add_binding.py <agent-id> <channel> <account-id>

Example:

python3 scripts/add_binding.py project-manager telegram project-manager

For peer-specific routing (specific user/group/channel):

python3 scripts/add_binding.py family whatsapp personal --peer-kind group --peer-id "120363999@g.us"

See binding-management.md for complete binding guide.

View configuration

python3 scripts/list_config.py

Shows agents, bindings, and channel accounts.

Core Concepts

Agents

Isolated "brains" with their own workspace, sessions, and configuration.

Bindings

Route messages to agents based on channel, account, and optionally peer (user/group/channel).

Priority: Peer > Guild > Team > Account > Channel > Default

Channels

Communication platforms: telegram, whatsapp, discord, slack, etc.

Common Workflows

Create a complete agent setup

# 1. Create agent with automatic binding
python3 scripts/create_agent.py my-agent "My Assistant" "bot-token"

# 2. Create workspace
mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/workspace/my-agent

# 3. Add configuration files (use templates in assets/)
cp assets/SOUL.md.template ~/.openclaw/workspace/my-agent/SOUL.md
cp assets/AGENTS.md.template ~/.openclaw/workspace/my-agent/AGENTS.md
cp assets/USER.md.template ~/.openclaw/workspace/my-agent/USER.md

# 4. Edit templates (replace {{placeholders}})

# 5. Restart
openclaw gateway restart

Route specific group to dedicated agent

# Add peer-specific binding (higher priority)
python3 scripts/add_binding.py family whatsapp personal --peer-kind group --peer-id "120363999@g.us"

# Add account-level binding (lower priority, catches everything else)
python3 scripts/add_binding.py main whatsapp personal

Multiple Telegram bots → Multiple agents

python3 scripts/create_agent.py main "Main Assistant" "token1"
python3 scripts/create_agent.py work "Work Assistant" "token2"
python3 scripts/create_agent.py family "Family Assistant" "token3"

Each bot automatically routes to its agent.

Official CLI Commands

OpenClaw provides built-in commands:

# Agent management
openclaw agents list
openclaw agents add <id> --workspace <path>
openclaw agents set-identity --agent <id> --name "Name"

# Configuration
openclaw config get agents.defaults.workspace
openclaw config set agents.list[0].workspace "/path"

# Gateway
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway logs

# Diagnostics
openclaw doctor

See cli-reference.md for complete CLI guide.

Configuration Templates

Templates in assets/ directory:

• SOUL.md.template - Agent personality and behavior
• AGENTS.md.template - Agent role and responsibilities
• USER.md.template - User information and preferences

Replace placeholders:

• {{agent_name}} - Agent display name
• {{agent_purpose}} - Agent's main purpose
• {{workspace_path}} - Workspace directory path

Troubleshooting

Agent not responding:

1. Check binding: python3 scripts/list_config.py --bindings
2. Verify agent exists: python3 scripts/list_config.py --agents
3. Check logs: openclaw gateway logs
4. Run diagnostics: openclaw doctor
5. Restart: openclaw gateway restart

Config validation error:

• Restore backup: cp ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.backup-* ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
• Run diagnostics: openclaw doctor --fix

Wrong agent responding:

• Check binding priority (peer > account > channel)
• Ensure more specific bindings come first
• Verify account IDs match

Progressive Documentation

This skill uses progressive disclosure for efficient context usage:

Core workflow (this file):

• Quick start commands
• Common patterns
• Basic troubleshooting

Detailed guides (references/):

• agent-creation.md - Complete agent creation process
• binding-management.md - Routing rules and scenarios
• config-guide.md - Configuration schema and examples
• cli-reference.md - OpenClaw CLI commands

When to read detailed guides:

• agent-creation.md - When creating your first agent or troubleshooting creation
• binding-management.md - When setting up complex routing or debugging routing issues
• config-guide.md - When manually editing configuration or understanding structure
• cli-reference.md - When using OpenClaw CLI commands or automation

Important Notes

❌ Don't use these fields (they don't exist)

• agents.list[].channels
• channels.telegram.accounts[].agent

✅ Use bindings instead

{
  "bindings": [
    {
      "agentId": "project-manager",
      "match": {
        "channel": "telegram",
        "accountId": "project-manager"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Configuration Validation

OpenClaw uses strict validation:

• Unknown keys → startup failure
• Type errors → rejected
• Invalid values → prevented

Always run openclaw doctor after manual config changes.

Reference

Official OpenClaw documentation:

• Multi-agent: docs/zh-CN/concepts/multi-agent.md
• Configuration: docs/zh-CN/gateway/configuration.md
• Telegram: docs/zh-CN/channels/telegram.md
• CLI: docs/zh-CN/cli/

All paths relative to: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v24.14.0/lib/node_modules/openclaw/