Coding

OpenClaw CLI

Run and troubleshoot OpenClaw CLI workflows with consistent profiles, cautious execution, and explicit verification.

What it does

Operate and troubleshoot OpenClaw from the CLI with consistent default, dev, or named-profile context. Route requests to the appropriate command family, inspect help before risky operations, use JSON output for automation where available, and verify results with status, health, node, or command-specific checks.

When to use it

  • Diagnosing OpenClaw health failures
  • Managing gateway or node lifecycle issues
  • Running commands in isolated profiles
  • Automating verified CLI checks with JSON

The skill document

OpenClaw CLI

Run OpenClaw commands safely and efficiently. Choose the right command family, execute with the correct profile context, and verify postconditions.

Execution Workflow

  1. Clarify the target state. Ask what should change and what must remain untouched.

  2. Select runtime scope first. Use default profile unless isolation is requested. Use:

  • openclaw --dev ... for isolated dev state under ~/.openclaw-dev.
  • openclaw --profile ... for named isolated state under ~/.openclaw-.
  1. Choose the command family. Use references/command-map.md to route the request quickly.

  2. Expand command details before running risky operations. Run openclaw --help for starred families and confirm flags.

  3. Prefer machine-readable output when automation is needed. Use --json where available, then parse/verify.

  4. Verify outcomes explicitly. Check with openclaw status, openclaw health, openclaw nodes status --json, or command-specific follow-up.

Safety Rules

  • Require explicit user confirmation before reset, uninstall, destructive --force flows, or credential-clearing operations.
  • Prefer non-destructive diagnostics first: status, health, doctor, logs.
  • Keep profile usage consistent across a workflow. Do not mix default and --dev/--profile commands accidentally.
  • For gateway issues, diagnose before restart unless restart is explicitly requested.

Triage Sequence

For generic "OpenClaw not working" issues:

  1. Run openclaw status.
  2. Run openclaw health.
  3. Run openclaw doctor.
  4. Check openclaw gateway ..., openclaw node ..., or openclaw nodes ... based on where failure appears.
  5. Escalate to targeted commands in references/command-map.md.

Resources

  • references/command-map.md: Command families, routing guidance, and practical recipes.

Questions people ask

How does it handle an “OpenClaw not working” report?
It follows a non-destructive triage sequence: run `openclaw status`, `openclaw health`, and `openclaw doctor`, then inspect gateway or node commands based on where the failure appears.
How are isolated environments handled?
It uses `openclaw --dev ...` for state under `~/.openclaw-dev` or `openclaw --profile ...` for named isolated state, and keeps that profile context consistent throughout the workflow.
What safeguards apply to destructive commands?
Explicit user confirmation is required before reset, uninstall, destructive `--force` flows, or credential-clearing operations. Diagnostics are preferred before changes, and gateway issues are diagnosed before restart unless a restart was requested.

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