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Background
Open Source AI Agent

OpenClaw AI Agent
Open Source Analysis

Any OS. Any Platform. The Lobster Way. 🦞
Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord & More to Local AI.

Why OpenClaw?

The only AI assistant that truly integrates with your digital life while respecting your privacy.

Local-First
Data stays on your device. You own the intelligence.
Universal Inbox
WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord... all in one place.
Live Canvas
Interactive UI rendering controlled by Agents. Not just text.
Voice Mode
Always-on voice wake and talk mode for hands-free interaction.
Multi-Agent
Route specific tasks to specialized Agents automatically.
Skill System
Extensible toolset including Browser, Cron, and Webhooks.

Source Structure

openclaw/
apps
Native applications
mac
macOS Menu Bar App (Swift/Electron)
ios
iOS Node Companion
android
Android Node Companion
packages
Core Monorepo Packages
gateway
The Brain: WebSocket Control Plane
client
SDK for building clients
types
Shared TypeScript definitions
channels
Messaging Adapters
whatsapp
Baileys based adapter
telegram
grammY based adapter
discord
discord.js adapter
slack
Bolt adapter
skills
Built-in Capabilities
browser
Headless Chrome control
canvas
UI Rendering Engine
ui
Frontend Projects
webchat
Web-based chat interface
dashboard
Gateway Control Panel
AGENTS.md
Default Agent Definitions
openclaw.json
Main Configuration

Architecture

Architecture Diagram
1

Gateway Control Plane

The brain of OpenClaw. A local WebSocket server that manages sessions, routing, and tool execution. It's the central hub where all apps and nodes connect.

2

Multi-Channel Adapters

Connects to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, etc. via specialized adapters. These adapters normalize messages into a standard format for the Gateway.

3

Distributed Nodes

iOS and Android devices act as "Nodes" providing sensory input (Camera, GPS, Mic) and execution capabilities to the central Gateway.

Get Started in Seconds

Requires Node.js ≥ 22. Runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows (WSL2).

bash
# # Install CLI globally
npm install -g openclaw@latest
# # Start the interactive wizard
openclaw onboard --install-daemon