openclaw-cli▌
irangareddy/openclaw-essentials · updated Apr 8, 2026
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Complete reference for openclaw command-line interface operations.
OpenClaw CLI
Complete reference for openclaw command-line interface operations.
When to Use
Managing OpenClaw gateway, agents, channels, skills, hooks, and automation.
Core Commands
Setup & Onboarding
Initial setup:
# Quick onboarding with daemon install
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
# Setup workspace and config
openclaw setup --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace
# Interactive configuration
openclaw configure
Health check:
openclaw doctor
Gateway Management
Run gateway:
# Interactive mode
openclaw gateway
# With specific port
openclaw gateway --port 18789
# With tailscale
openclaw gateway --tailscale serve
Gateway service:
# Install as system service
openclaw gateway install
# Control service
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway stop
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status
Gateway health:
openclaw status
openclaw status --deep # Probe channels
openclaw health
Agent Management
List agents:
openclaw agents list
openclaw agents list --bindings # Show routing
Add agent:
# Interactive wizard
openclaw agents add <name>
# Non-interactive
openclaw agents add dev \
--workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace-dev \
--model claude-sonnet-4.5 \
--non-interactive
Delete agent:
openclaw agents delete <id>
Set identity:
# From IDENTITY.md
openclaw agents set-identity --agent main --from-identity
# Explicit values
openclaw agents set-identity --agent main \
--name "MyAgent" \
--emoji "🤖" \
--avatar avatars/bot.png
Skills Management
List skills:
openclaw skills list
openclaw skills list --eligible # Only ready skills
openclaw skills list --json # JSON output
Skill info:
openclaw skills info <skill-name>
Check eligibility:
openclaw skills check
Hooks Management
List hooks:
openclaw hooks list
openclaw hooks list --eligible
openclaw hooks list --verbose # Show missing requirements
Hook info:
openclaw hooks info <hook-name>
Enable/disable:
openclaw hooks enable session-memory
openclaw hooks disable command-logger
Install hooks:
# From npm
openclaw hooks install @openclaw/my-hooks
# Local directory
openclaw hooks install ./my-hooks
# Link (development)
openclaw hooks install -l ./my-hooks
Update hooks:
openclaw hooks update <id>
openclaw hooks update --all
Channel Management
List channels:
openclaw channels list
Channel status:
openclaw channels status
openclaw channels status --probe
Add channel:
# Interactive
openclaw channels add
# Telegram bot
openclaw channels add --channel telegram \
--account alerts \
--name "Alerts Bot" \
--token $TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN
# Discord
openclaw channels add --channel discord \
--account work \
--token $DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN
Remove channel:
openclaw channels remove --channel telegram --account alerts
openclaw channels remove --channel discord --account work --delete
WhatsApp login:
openclaw channels login --channel whatsapp
Channel logs:
openclaw channels logs
openclaw channels logs --channel whatsapp --lines 100
Models & Authentication
Status:
openclaw models status
openclaw models status --probe # Live check
openclaw models status --probe-provider anthropic
List models:
openclaw models list
openclaw models list --all
openclaw models list --provider anthropic
Set default:
openclaw models set claude-sonnet-4.5
openclaw models set-image claude-sonnet-4.5
Auth setup:
# Anthropic (recommended)
claude setup-token
openclaw models auth setup-token --provider anthropic
# Or paste token
openclaw models auth paste-token --provider anthropic
Fallbacks:
openclaw models fallbacks list
openclaw models fallbacks add claude-opus-4.6
openclaw models fallbacks remove claude-haiku-4.5
openclaw models fallbacks clear
Scan for models:
openclaw models scan
openclaw models scan --set-default
Messaging
Send message:
openclaw message send \
--target +15555550123 \
--message "Hello from OpenClaw"
# Discord channel
openclaw message send \
--channel discord \
--target channel:123456 \
--message "Deployment complete"
Send poll:
openclaw message poll \
--channel discord \
--target channel:123 \
--poll-question "Lunch?" \
--poll-option "Pizza" \
--poll-option "Sushi"
Other message operations:
openclaw message read --target +15555550123
openclaw message react --target <id> --emoji "👍"
openclaw message edit --target <id> --message "Updated"
openclaw message delete --target <id>
Browser Control
Status & control:
openclaw browser status
openclaw browser start
openclaw browser stop
openclaw browser tabs
Navigate:
openclaw browser open https://example.com
openclaw browser navigate https://example.com --target-id <id>
Interact:
openclaw browser click "#submit-button"
openclaw browser type "#email" "[email protected]"
openclaw browser press Enter
Capture:
openclaw browser screenshot
openclaw browser screenshot --full-page
openclaw browser snapshot --format ai
Profiles:
openclaw browser profiles
openclaw browser create-profile --name dev
openclaw browser delete-profile --name old
Nodes & Devices
List nodes:
openclaw nodes list
openclaw nodes status --connected
Node operations:
# Describe node
openclaw nodes describe --node <id>
# Run command on node
openclaw nodes run --node <id> --cwd /path -- ls -la
# Notify (macOS)
openclaw nodes notify --node <id> \
--title "Build Complete" \
--body "Success" \
--sound default
Camera:
openclaw nodes camera list --node <id>
openclaw nodes camera snap --node <id> --facing front
openclaw nodes camera clip --node <id> --duration 10s
Canvas:
openclaw nodes canvas snapshot --node <id>
openclaw nodes canvas present --node <id> --target index.html
openclaw nodes canvas hide --node <id>
Screen recording:
openclaw nodes screen record --node <id> --duration 30s
System Commands
System event:
openclaw system event --text "Deployment complete" --mode now
<How to use openclaw-cli on Cursor
AI-first code editor with Composer
Prerequisites
Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
- ›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
- ›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with
node --version) - ›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add openclaw-cli
Execute installation command
Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
The skills CLI fetches openclaw-cli from GitHub repository irangareddy/openclaw-essentials and configures it for Cursor.
Select Cursor when prompted
The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:
Verify installation
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
Reload or restart Cursor to activate openclaw-cli. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /openclaw-cli) or your agent's skill management interface.
Security & Verification Notice
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.
List & Monetize Your Skill
Submit your Claude Code skill and start earning
Use Cases▌
User Story & Requirements Generation
Create detailed user stories, acceptance criteria, and feature specs
Example
Generate user stories for 'password reset feature' with acceptance criteria, edge cases, and test scenarios
Reduce spec writing time by 50%, ensure comprehensive coverage
Competitive Analysis
Research competitors, compare features, identify gaps
Example
Analyze 5 competitor products, create feature comparison matrix, suggest differentiation opportunities
Complete competitive research in 2 hours instead of 2 days
Roadmap Prioritization
Evaluate features using frameworks (RICE, ICE, Kano) and create prioritized backlogs
Example
Score 20 feature ideas using RICE framework, generate prioritized roadmap with rationale
Make data-driven prioritization decisions faster
Stakeholder Communication
Draft PRDs, status updates, and stakeholder presentations
Example
Create executive summary of Q3 roadmap, monthly progress report, feature launch announcement
Save 3-5 hours/week on communication overhead
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop or compatible AI client
- ›Access to product documentation and roadmap tools (Jira, Notion, etc.)
- ›Understanding of product management frameworks (RICE, Jobs-to-be-Done, etc.)
- ›Stakeholder contact information and communication channels
Time Estimate
30-60 minutes to see productivity improvements
Installation Steps
- 1.Install product management skill
- 2.Start with user story generation for known feature
- 3.Progress to competitive analysis: research 2-3 competitors
- 4.Use for roadmap prioritization: apply RICE/ICE scoring
- 5.Draft stakeholder communications and refine based on feedback
- 6.Build template library for recurring PM tasks
- 7.Share effective prompts with product team
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠Not validating competitive research—verify facts before sharing
- ⚠Accepting user stories without involving engineering team
- ⚠Over-relying on frameworks without qualitative judgment
- ⚠Not customizing outputs to company culture and communication style
- ⚠Skipping stakeholder validation of generated requirements
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Validate research and competitive analysis with real data
- +Collaborate with engineering when generating technical requirements
- +Customize frameworks and templates to your company context
- +Use skill for first drafts, refine with stakeholder input
- +Document successful prompt patterns for PM tasks
- +Combine AI efficiency with human judgment and intuition
✗ Don't
- −Don't publish competitive analysis without fact-checking
- −Don't finalize user stories without engineering review
- −Don't make prioritization decisions solely on AI scoring
- −Don't skip customer validation of generated requirements
- −Don't ignore company-specific context and culture
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Provide context: company goals, constraints, customer feedback
- ★Ask for alternatives: 'Show 3 ways to prioritize this roadmap'
- ★Request stakeholder-specific formatting: 'Executive summary vs. engineering spec'
- ★Use skill for 70% generation + 30% customization to company needs
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use for user story writing, competitive research, roadmap prioritization, stakeholder communication, and PRD drafting. Best for reducing repetitive documentation and research work.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid for strategic product vision (requires deep customer empathy), pricing decisions (needs market and financial expertise), or when face-to-face customer discovery is more valuable than speed.
Learning Path▌
- 1Basic: user stories, feature specs, status updates
- 2Intermediate: competitive analysis, prioritization frameworks, PRDs
- 3Advanced: product strategy, go-to-market planning, OKR setting
- 4Expert: product vision, market positioning, business model innovation
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- No comments yet — start the thread.
Ratings
4.7★★★★★32 reviews- ★★★★★Shikha Mishra· Dec 24, 2024
Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: openclaw-cli is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.
- ★★★★★Neel Desai· Dec 8, 2024
Useful defaults in openclaw-cli — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
- ★★★★★Chen Chawla· Nov 27, 2024
openclaw-cli is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.
- ★★★★★Kaira Tandon· Oct 18, 2024
Keeps context tight: openclaw-cli is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.
- ★★★★★Tariq Ndlovu· Sep 21, 2024
Useful defaults in openclaw-cli — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
- ★★★★★Kiara Wang· Sep 9, 2024
We added openclaw-cli from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.
- ★★★★★Oshnikdeep· Sep 5, 2024
I recommend openclaw-cli for anyone iterating fast on agent tooling; clear intent and a small, reviewable surface area.
- ★★★★★Amelia Gill· Sep 1, 2024
Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: openclaw-cli is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.
- ★★★★★Kiara Thompson· Aug 28, 2024
openclaw-cli fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.
- ★★★★★Ganesh Mohane· Aug 24, 2024
Useful defaults in openclaw-cli — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.
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