OpenClaw GitHub: How to Clone, Set Up, and Start Building (2026)

OpenClaw is open source on GitHub. Here is how to clone the repo, install dependencies, configure your model, and start coding with skills.

Quick Answer: OpenClaw's source code is on GitHub. Clone it with git clone https://github.com/openclaw-ai/openclaw.git, install dependencies with the setup script, configure your API key for Claude, GPT, or a local model, and run openclaw in your terminal. Full setup takes 5-10 minutes. For a faster path, use Docker instead.

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source AI coding agent that runs in your terminal. It started as a community fork and grew into one of the most popular alternatives to Claude Code, with multi-model support (Claude, GPT, Gemini, local models via Ollama), multi-channel messaging (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp), and native SKILL.md support.

The GitHub repo is the primary distribution method. Unlike Claude Code (installed via npm from Anthropic) or Cursor (a desktop app), OpenClaw is self-hosted. You clone it, configure it, and run it on your own machine or server.

How do I clone OpenClaw from GitHub?

Open your terminal and run:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw-ai/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

The repo includes the core agent, configuration templates, and documentation. The main branch is stable. The dev branch has the latest features but may have bugs.

How do I install OpenClaw dependencies?

OpenClaw requires Node.js 18+ and a package manager (npm or bun). Run the setup script:

./setup.sh

This installs all dependencies, creates the default configuration file, and sets up the skills directory. On macOS, it also handles any Homebrew dependencies.

For manual installation without the script, install dependencies with npm install and copy the example config file to .openclaw/config.yaml.

How do I configure my model?

OpenClaw supports multiple LLM providers. Edit your config file to set your preferred model:

For Claude: add your Anthropic API key. Claude Sonnet is the default and balances speed with quality.

For GPT: add your OpenAI API key. GPT-4o works well for most tasks.

For local models: install Ollama, pull a model like CodeLlama or Qwen, and point OpenClaw at your local endpoint. See the OpenClaw + Ollama guide for details.

How do I install SKILL.md skills in OpenClaw?

Skills customize what OpenClaw does. Without skills, you get generic AI output. With skills, OpenClaw follows specific conventions for code review, commits, testing, and documentation.

Place skills in your OpenClaw skills directory:

~/.openclaw/skills/
├── code-reviewer/
│   └── SKILL.md
├── git-commit-writer/
│   └── SKILL.md

The most used skills on Agensi that work with OpenClaw:

code-reviewer (764 uses) reviews code for bugs, security, and style. Free.

git-commit-writer (232 uses) writes conventional commit messages. Free.

readme-generator (117 uses) generates README files from your project. Free.

Browse all skills compatible with OpenClaw on Agensi.

How do I run OpenClaw after setup?

Start a session:

openclaw

OpenClaw loads your config, connects to your model, reads any installed skills, and drops you into the interactive terminal. Describe what you want to build and it starts working.

What is the OpenClaw repo structure?

The key directories in the repo:

src/ contains the core agent code. config/ has example configuration files. docs/ has the official documentation. plugins/ contains the messaging channel plugins (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp). skills/ is where your SKILL.md skills go.

How do I contribute to OpenClaw?

OpenClaw accepts pull requests. The contributing guide in the repo covers the development setup, coding standards, and review process. Most contributions are plugins, integrations, and bug fixes.