openclaw-ref
OpenClaw platform reference - plugin system, extensions, configuration, boot/provisioning, channels, models, CLI. Use when working on openclaw codebase, building openclaw plugins/extensions, configuring openclaw instances, provisioning openclaw gateways, designing agent provisioning flows (e.g. agentbox), or debugging openclaw config/plugin/channel issues. Triggers on openclaw, openclaw config, openclaw plugin, openclaw extension, openclaw channel, openclaw gateway, openclaw provisioning, openclaw onboarding, openclaw boot, openclaw skills, BOOT.md, openclaw.plugin.json, openclaw-x402, agentbox provisioning.
What this skill does
# OpenClaw Platform Reference
Structured reference for the OpenClaw assistant platform. Source repo: `~/Projects/openclaw/`. Tracking version: **2026.4.7** (refresh: 2026-04-07).
## Quick Navigation
Load the relevant reference file based on the task:
### Plugin & Extension System
- **`references/plugin-system.md`** - Plugin discovery, loading, manifest format, registration API, installation CLI, SDK exports. Read when building/debugging plugins or understanding how extensions are loaded.
### Configuration
- **`references/configuration.md`** - Full config structure (`OpenClawConfig`), config paths, file format (JSON5), env var substitution, `$include` directives, validation (Zod), per-plugin config, programmatic read/write. Read when modifying or generating openclaw config.
### Boot & Provisioning
- **`references/boot-provisioning.md`** - Gateway startup sequence, BOOT.md mechanism, onboarding flows (interactive/non-interactive), plugin loading during boot, sidecar startup order, health checks. Read when designing automated provisioning or debugging startup.
### Channels & Extensions
- **`references/channels-extensions.md`** - All built-in channels (Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, WhatsApp, Web) + extension channels (MS Teams, Matrix, Zalo, Voice Call, Feishu). Channel plugin registration, per-channel config, Telegram specifics. Read when adding/configuring channels.
### Models & Providers
- **`references/models-providers.md`** - Provider configuration, `models.mode` (merge/replace), x402 providers, model catalog structure, provider registration via plugins. Read when configuring model access or building provider plugins.
### CLI Commands
- **`references/cli-commands.md`** - Key CLI commands for config, plugins, channels, agents, onboarding, gateway, skills. Read when scripting openclaw setup or building automation.
### GitHub Context (live issues, PRs, gotchas)
- **`references/github-context.md`** - Open bugs, breaking changes, recent impactful PRs, plugin/config known issues, dev gotchas synthesized from GitHub. Refreshed via `/refresh-openclaw`. Read before starting any non-trivial openclaw work to avoid known pitfalls.
## Key File Paths (repo-root relative)
```
src/plugins/ - Plugin loader, discovery, registry, install, types
src/plugin-sdk/ - 100+ scoped exports for plugin consumption
src/config/ - Config loading, types, validation, defaults, paths
src/gateway/ - Gateway server, boot, startup, server methods
src/commands/ - CLI commands (onboard, config, etc.)
src/cli/ - CLI wiring (plugins-cli, skills-cli, etc.)
extensions/ - Extension implementations (channels, memory, etc.)
skills/ - Built-in skill definitions
docs/ - Documentation (Mintlify)
```
## Config File Locations
- Main config: `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` (parsed as JSON5)
- Extensions: `~/.openclaw/extensions/`
- Skills: `~/.openclaw/skills/` (managed) + workspace skills
- Agents: `~/.openclaw/agents/<agent-id>/`
- Sessions: `~/.openclaw/agents/<agent-id>/sessions/`
- Credentials: `~/.openclaw/credentials/`
- Override: `OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH` env var
## Plugin Manifest Quick Ref
```json
{
"id": "plugin-id",
"name": "Display Name",
"kind": "memory",
"channels": ["channel-id"],
"providers": ["provider-id"],
"configSchema": { "type": "object" },
"uiHints": { "field": { "label": "...", "sensitive": true } }
}
```
## Config Structure Quick Ref
Top-level keys in `OpenClawConfig`:
`meta`, `auth`, `acp`, `env`, `secrets`, `plugins`, `skills`, `models`, `agents`, `tools`, `channels`, `session`, `hooks`, `gateway`, `logging`, `browser`, `memory`, `messages`, `approvals`, `cron`
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