Clawdbot: Your Personal AI Assistant Platform 🦞

Overview

Clawdbot is an innovative open-source personal AI assistant platform that revolutionizes how users interact with artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional cloud-based assistants, Clawdbot runs entirely on your local hardware while seamlessly integrating with the messaging applications you already use daily.

Created by Peter Steinberger and maintained by an active community, Clawdbot serves as a bridge between powerful language models (Claude, GPT, Gemini) and your everyday communication channels, creating a truly personalized AI experience that respects privacy and provides unprecedented control.

🚀 Core Features

Multi-Platform Integration

• Messaging Platforms: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, Microsoft Teams, Google Chat
• Extended Channels: BlueBubbles, Matrix, Zalo, WebChat
• Mobile Support: iOS and Android companion apps
• Desktop: macOS menu bar app with voice wake functionality

Local-First Architecture

• Gateway System: Single control plane managing all connections and operations
• Self-Hosted: Runs entirely on your hardware (Mac, PC, Raspberry Pi, or cloud server)
• Privacy-Focused: Your data never leaves your control
• Persistent Memory: Long-term context retention stored locally as Markdown files

Advanced Capabilities

• Voice Integration: Always-on speech recognition with ElevenLabs TTS
• Live Canvas: Agent-driven visual workspace with A2UI
• Browser Control: Automated web navigation and form filling
• System Access: File management, shell commands, Git operations
• Smart Home: Integration with devices like Philips Hue
• Proactive Actions: Scheduled tasks, heartbeat monitoring, automated workflows

🏗️ Technical Architecture

Gateway-Centric Design

WhatsApp / Telegram / Discord / iMessage (+ plugins)
                    │
                    ▼
    ┌───────────────────────────────┐
    │         Gateway               │
    │      (control plane)          │
    │   ws://127.0.0.1:18789        │
    └──────────────┬────────────────┘
                   │
    ├─ AI Agent (RPC)
    ├─ CLI (clawdbot commands)
    ├─ WebChat UI
    ├─ macOS app
    └─ iOS / Android nodes

Key Components

1. Gateway Process

• Long-running daemon managing all messaging connections
• WebSocket control plane for client communications
• Session routing and isolation
• Real-time event processing

2. Agent System

• Multi-agent routing capabilities
• Workspace-based operation (~clawd directory)
• Tool integration layer for system access
• Sandboxing options for secure execution

3. Skills Framework

• Modular TypeScript/JavaScript extensions
• Community-driven skill marketplace (ClawdHub)
• Self-improving capabilities through AI-generated skills
• Plugin architecture for custom integrations

4. Security Model

• DM pairing system for unknown contacts
• Docker sandboxing for group conversations
• Configurable permission systems
• Audit trails and security diagnostics

🛠️ Installation & Setup

Quick Start

# Global installation
npm install -g clawdbot@latest

# Run onboarding wizard
clawdbot onboard --install-daemon

# Start the gateway
clawdbot gateway --port 18789

Development Setup

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot.git
cd clawdbot

# Install dependencies
pnpm install
pnpm ui:build
pnpm build

# Run onboarding
pnpm clawdbot onboard --install-daemon

System Requirements

• Runtime: Node.js ≥22
• Operating Systems: macOS, Linux, Windows (via WSL2)
• Memory: 2GB+ RAM recommended
• Storage: SSD recommended for optimal performance

🔧 Configuration

Core Configuration

Configuration is stored in ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json with comprehensive options for:

• Agent Settings: Workspace paths, model preferences, thinking levels
• Channel Configuration: Platform-specific settings and access controls
• Security: Sandbox modes, allowlists, DM policies
• Tools: Skill enablement and permission management

Multi-Agent Setup

# Create isolated agent instances
CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH=~/.clawdbot/agent-a.json \
CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR=~/.clawdbot-agent-a \
clawdbot gateway --port 19001

🎯 Use Cases & Applications

Personal Productivity

• Email management and automated responses
• Calendar coordination and meeting scheduling
• Task automation across multiple platforms
• Document processing and file organization

Development Workflows

• Code review and pull request management
• CI/CD pipeline monitoring
• Repository maintenance
• Automated testing and deployment

Smart Home Integration

• Device control and automation
• Environmental monitoring
• Scheduled routines
• Voice-activated commands

Creative Projects

• Content generation with multimedia support
• Image and audio processing
• Social media management
• Creative writing assistance

🌟 Community & Ecosystem

Active Development

• GitHub Repository: 18,000+ stars and growing
• Release Cycle: Frequent updates with new features
• Community Discord: Thousands of active users
• Documentation: Comprehensive guides and tutorials

Plugin Ecosystem

• ClawdHub: Centralized skill repository
• Community Contributions: User-generated skills and plugins
• Integration Libraries: Pre-built connectors for popular services
• Developer Tools: SDK and CLI utilities for extension development

📊 Performance & Scalability

Token Efficiency

• Intelligent caching to reduce API costs
• Adaptive chunking for large conversations
• Progressive fallback mechanisms
• Context optimization strategies

Resource Management

• Lightweight gateway process
• Efficient WebSocket communications
• Optimized memory usage for long-running sessions
• Configurable resource limits

🔒 Security & Privacy

Privacy-First Design

• All data processing occurs locally
• No cloud dependency for core functionality
• User-controlled data retention policies
• Transparent logging and audit capabilities

Security Features

• Sandboxed execution environments
• Permission-based tool access
• Secure credential management
• Network isolation options

🚧 Current Limitations & Considerations

Technical Challenges

• Setup Complexity: Requires technical knowledge for initial configuration
• API Costs: Relies on paid LLM services for optimal performance
• Resource Requirements: Always-on setup benefits from dedicated hardware
• Early Stage: Active development with occasional breaking changes

Mitigation Strategies

• Improved onboarding wizard reduces setup complexity
• Support for local models reduces API dependency
• Comprehensive documentation and community support
• Docker containers provide isolation and consistency

🔮 Future Roadmap

Planned Enhancements

• Enhanced Local Model Support: Improved integration with open-source LLMs
• Mobile App Expansion: Feature parity across iOS and Android
• Visual Interface Improvements: Advanced Canvas and A2UI capabilities
• Enterprise Features: Team collaboration and management tools

Community Goals

• Broader Platform Support: Additional messaging platform integrations
• Simplified Setup: One-click installation experiences
• Performance Optimization: Reduced resource consumption
• Educational Resources: Tutorials and certification programs

🤝 Getting Involved

For Users

• Installation Guide: Getting Started Documentation
• Community Discord: Join discussions and get support
• Skill Marketplace: Explore and contribute skills via ClawdHub
• Feedback: Report issues and suggest features on GitHub

For Developers

• Contributing: See CONTRIBUTING.md for development guidelines
• Plugin Development: Create custom skills and integrations
• Documentation: Help improve guides and tutorials
• Testing: Participate in beta testing and quality assurance

📚 Resources & Links

• Official Website: clawd.bot
• GitHub Repository: github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot
• Documentation: docs.clawd.bot
• Community Discord: Active support and development discussions
• NPM Package: npmjs.com/package/clawdbot

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Clawdbot represents the future of personal AI assistants: locally controlled, infinitely extensible, and seamlessly integrated into your daily workflow. Join the revolution and take control of your AI experience! 🦞