Build Claw (Developer Guide)
Deep dive into OpenClaw internals and master the ability to customize your own AI Agent
Introduction
Why build your Claw from scratch, OpenClaw's complexity challenges, minimalist insights and learning roadmap
Part 1: OpenClaw Internal Analysis
Chapter 1: Core Concepts & Design Philosophy
Agent Runtime vs Chatbot essential differences, four primitive tools design philosophy, message-driven & local-first strategy
Chapter 2: Architecture Overview
Gateway, Bus, Agent, Provider four core modules, message flow analysis, event bus design patterns
Chapter 3: Prompt System
7 Markdown files prompt architecture, hot reload mechanism, Token optimization strategies
Chapter 4: Tool System
Four primitive tools deep dive, tool registration mechanism, tool descriptions impact on LLM accuracy, Skill system hierarchy
Chapter 5: Message Loop & Event Driven
ReAct loop execution flow, LLM tool selection mechanism, heartbeat & automation
Chapter 6: Multi-Channel Integration
Channel adapter design patterns, unified message format conversion, Telegram/Discord/Feishu/DingTalk integration
Part 2: Case Studies
Chapter 7: Lightweight Solutions
NanoClaw 500-line minimal implementation, Nanobot 4000-line research-friendly version, ZeroClaw vendor-independent approach
Chapter 8: Security Hardening
IronClaw security architecture, fine-grained permission control, sandbox isolation, audit logging
Chapter 9: Hardware Solutions
PicoClaw hardware selection & cost analysis, Raspberry Pi deployment, low-power optimization, edge computing
Chapter 10: Case Comparison Summary
Multi-dimensional comparison matrix, scenario selection guide, learning curve analysis, customization decision tree
Part 3: Customize Your Claw
Chapter 11: Customization Roadmap
Four-level customization difficulty, applicable scenarios & maintenance costs, learning path recommendations
Chapter 12: Configuration-Level Customization
config.json structure, tool whitelist, security options, common issues
Chapter 13: Skill Development
Skill file structure, Frontmatter format, async handlers, error handling & debugging
Chapter 14: Channel Integration
DingTalk/Feishu integration workflow, channel adapter development, multi-channel configuration
Chapter 15: Complete Customization Cases
Programming assistant Claw, personal productivity assistant, customer service bot, testing & maintenance
🚧 Content under development