What is an OpenClaw agent?

An OpenClaw agent is an AI assistant that runs 24/7 on your own hardware (Mac, VPS, Raspberry Pi, or any server). It connects to messaging platforms like Telegram, Discord, or Slack, and uses a set of configuration files (SOUL.md, HEARTBEAT.md, MEMORY.md, etc.) to define its personality, skills, and automated behaviors. Unlike cloud-only AI chatbots, OpenClaw agents run locally, giving you full control over your data and capabilities.

How do OpenClaw agents work?

OpenClaw agents work through a workspace of configuration files. SOUL.md defines who the agent is — its personality, rules, and expertise. HEARTBEAT.md tells it what to check automatically (like monitoring emails or tracking data). MEMORY.md gives it persistent memory across sessions. The agent connects to an AI model (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, etc.) and messaging channels to operate autonomously, handling tasks, answering questions, and proactively alerting you when needed.

What can I do with an OpenClaw agent?

OpenClaw agents can handle a wide range of tasks: monitor your email inbox and draft responses, track SEO rankings and generate reports, manage social media content and scheduling, review code and pull requests, monitor server health and uptime, track trading positions and send alerts, manage project tasks and deadlines, and much more. They run 24/7 and can integrate with tools like GitHub, Google Analytics, email (IMAP/SMTP), and databases.

How do I deploy an OpenClaw agent?

Deploying an OpenClaw agent takes just a few steps: 1) Install OpenClaw on your machine (Mac, Linux VPS, Raspberry Pi, or Docker). 2) Unzip your agent workspace into the OpenClaw directory. 3) Configure your AI model API key and messaging channel (Telegram, Discord, etc.). 4) Start the OpenClaw gateway. Your agent is now live and running 24/7. Each workspace includes a detailed README.md with step-by-step instructions.

What files are included in an AutoClaw agent workspace?

Every AutoClaw agent workspace includes 9 production-ready files: SOUL.md (agent identity and rules), HEARTBEAT.md (automated checks and monitoring), MEMORY.md (persistent memory structure), TOOLS.md (tool and integration config), AGENTS.md (workspace conventions), IDENTITY.md (name, role, and model settings), USER.md (your preferences), BOOTSTRAP.md (first-run setup), and README.md (deployment guide for Mac, VPS, and Raspberry Pi).

What's the difference between AutoClaw and other AI agent builders?

AutoClaw agents are battle-tested production templates, not theoretical configs. Every template has been refined through 20+ days of continuous 24/7 operation handling real tasks. You get a complete workspace (9 files), not just a prompt. Agents run on your own hardware with no monthly hosting fees, no cloud lock-in, and full data privacy. It's a one-time purchase — you own the configs forever.

Do I need coding experience to use an OpenClaw agent?

No coding experience is required. AutoClaw agents come with a visual builder wizard where you pick a role, customize personality and settings, and download a ready-to-deploy workspace. The included README.md has copy-paste terminal commands for installation. If you can follow step-by-step instructions, you can deploy an agent.

How do I install OpenClaw on a Mac Mini?

To install OpenClaw on a Mac Mini: First install Node.js 20+ using Homebrew (brew install node). Then install OpenClaw globally with npm install -g openclaw. Create a workspace directory, run openclaw init, add your agent workspace files, configure your AI API key with openclaw config edit, and start the agent with openclaw gateway start. The whole process takes about 15 minutes.

Does OpenClaw work on Apple Silicon M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5?

Yes, OpenClaw works on all Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) as well as Intel Macs. Since OpenClaw connects to cloud AI models (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini) through your API keys, local compute requirements are minimal. Any Mac running macOS can host a 24/7 OpenClaw agent.

How do I connect an OpenClaw agent to Telegram?

To connect OpenClaw to Telegram: Open Telegram and search for @BotFather. Send /newbot and follow the prompts to create a new bot. Copy the bot token BotFather gives you (format: 123456:ABC-DEF...). Add the token to your OpenClaw config under the Telegram channel section using openclaw config edit. Then send a message to your bot in Telegram — your agent will respond.

How do I keep an OpenClaw agent running 24/7 on a Mac?

To keep OpenClaw running 24/7: Use the daemon flag when starting (openclaw gateway start --daemon) so it runs as a background service that auto-starts on boot. Also prevent your Mac from sleeping with sudo pmset -a disablesleep 1. The OpenClaw gateway will then run continuously, handling heartbeats, monitoring integrations, and responding to messages even when you're away.

What AI model API key do I need for OpenClaw?

OpenClaw supports multiple AI models. The most popular choice is Anthropic Claude (recommended for reasoning and instruction-following). You can also use OpenAI GPT-4o, Google Gemini, or any compatible model. You'll need an API key from your chosen provider. Anthropic keys start with 'sk-ant-', OpenAI keys start with 'sk-'. Each agent message costs a few cents in API fees — much less than a monthly subscription.

How to Deploy an OpenClaw Agent on a Mac Mini (Step-by-Step)

Why a Mac Mini?

The Mac Mini is the perfect always-on AI agent host. Starting at $99 for older models (or $599 for the M4), it's quiet, energy-efficient (draws about 5-15W at idle), and powerful enough to run multiple agents simultaneously. macOS handles sleep/wake gracefully, and you get a full Unix terminal.

Any Mac with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) works great. Even Intel Macs work fine — the agent itself runs on cloud AI models, so local compute requirements are minimal.

What You'll Need

✓A Mac Mini (or any Mac/Linux machine)
✓An AI model API key (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, or Google Gemini)
✓A Telegram account (for chatting with your agent)
✓An AutoClaw agent workspace (.zip download)
✓15 minutes

Step 1: Install Prerequisites

Open Terminal and install Node.js via Homebrew:

# Install Homebrew (if you don't have it)

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Install Node.js

brew install node

# Verify installation

node --version # Should show v20+

Step 2: Install OpenClaw

npm install -g openclaw

# Verify

openclaw --version

Step 3: Create Your Workspace

# Create workspace directory

mkdir ~/my-agent && cd ~/my-agent

# Initialize OpenClaw

openclaw init

This creates the basic OpenClaw configuration. Now unzip your AutoClaw agent workspace into this directory — the SOUL.md, HEARTBEAT.md, and other files will define your agent.

Step 4: Configure Your AI Model

Open the OpenClaw config and add your API key. The most popular choice is Anthropic Claude (recommended for its reasoning capabilities):

# Open config

openclaw config edit

# Set your model and API key

# model: anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5

# anthropicApiKey: sk-ant-...

You can also use OpenAI (GPT-4o), Google (Gemini), or any compatible model. Your agent workspace README.md has specific instructions for your template.

Step 5: Connect Telegram

This is how you'll chat with your agent from your phone.

Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
Send /newbot and follow the prompts to create a bot
Copy the bot token (looks like 123456:ABC-DEF1234ghIkl-zyx57W2v1u123ew11)
Add the token to your OpenClaw config under the Telegram channel section
Send a message to your new bot in Telegram — your agent will respond!

Step 6: Launch Your Agent

# Start the OpenClaw gateway

openclaw gateway start

# Check status

openclaw gateway status

That's it. Your agent is now running. Open Telegram, message your bot, and start chatting. The agent will introduce itself based on its SOUL.md and begin running heartbeat checks automatically.

Keeping It Running 24/7

To keep your agent running after you close Terminal or restart your Mac:

# OpenClaw runs as a background daemon by default

# It auto-starts on boot if configured

openclaw gateway start --daemon

# Prevent Mac from sleeping

sudo pmset -a disablesleep 1

Your Mac Mini will now run your agent continuously, checking heartbeats, monitoring integrations, and responding to messages — even when you're away.

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