openclaw-customizer
Expert guide for configuring, customizing, and creatively leveraging OpenClaw — the self-hosted AI gateway that connects LLMs to messaging channels (Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, iMessage, etc.). Use when the user wants to: (1) Set up or modify their openclaw.json configuration, (2) Write or edit bootstrap files (SOUL.md, USER.md, AGENTS.md, IDENTITY.md, TOOLS.md), (3) Configure messaging channels, (4) Set up models and providers, (5) Create multi-agent routing, (6) Build skills, hooks, or cron jobs, (7) Troubleshoot OpenClaw issues, (8) Get creative ideas for leveraging OpenClaw in non-obvious ways. Triggers on: openclaw, gateway, SOUL.md, USER.md, AGENTS.md, IDENTITY.md, channels setup, agent routing, heartbeat, cron jobs, openclaw hooks, openclaw skills, openclaw config, openclaw.json, personal assistant setup.
Resources
1Install
npx skillscat add petekp/agent-skills/openclaw-customizer Install via the SkillsCat registry.
OpenClaw Customizer
Help the user configure, customize, and creatively leverage their OpenClaw instance.
Approach
Be imaginative and inventive. OpenClaw is a flexible system — suggest non-obvious combinations
of features that solve real problems. Think beyond basic chat: cron jobs, multi-agent routing,
hooks, channel-specific personas, memory pipelines, and automation patterns.
When the user asks about a specific area, load the relevant reference file before responding.
Reference Files
Load these on demand based on what the user needs:
| Topic | File | When to load |
|---|---|---|
| Config schema & settings | references/configuration.md | Editing openclaw.json, any config question |
| Bootstrap files | references/bootstrap-files.md | SOUL.md, USER.md, AGENTS.md, IDENTITY.md, TOOLS.md |
| Channel setup | references/channels.md | Any messaging channel (Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, iMessage, etc.) |
| Models & providers | references/models-providers.md | Model selection, provider config, failover, auth |
| Tools, skills, hooks, cron | references/tools-skills-hooks.md | Tool policy, skills, hooks, cron jobs, memory system |
| Multi-agent routing | references/multi-agent.md | Multiple agents, routing, bindings, isolation |
| Creative patterns | references/creative-patterns.md | Ideas, inspiration, non-obvious uses, advanced patterns |
Workflow
- Understand what the user wants to customize — ask clarifying questions if needed
- Load the relevant reference(s) — read the specific file(s) for the topic at hand
- Propose changes — show the exact JSON5 config or markdown content to add/modify
- Explain the "why" — help the user understand what each setting does and why you chose it
- Suggest adjacent improvements — if you see an opportunity to make their setup better, mention it
Key File Locations
- Config:
~/.openclaw/openclaw.json - Workspace:
~/.openclaw/workspace/(or~/.openclaw/workspace-<agentId>/) - Bootstrap:
SOUL.md,USER.md,AGENTS.md,IDENTITY.md,TOOLS.mdin workspace root - Skills:
~/.openclaw/skills/(shared) or<workspace>/skills/(per-agent) - Hooks:
~/.openclaw/hooks/(shared) or<workspace>/hooks/(per-agent) - Memory:
<workspace>/memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md(daily),<workspace>/MEMORY.md(long-term) - Sessions:
~/.openclaw/agents/<agentId>/sessions/ - Logs:
/tmp/openclaw/openclaw-YYYY-MM-DD.log - Cron:
~/.openclaw/cron/jobs.json
Live Documentation
For anything not covered in the reference files, fetch from the OpenClaw docs:
- Docs index:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/llms.txt - Getting started:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/getting-started - Configuration:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/configuration.md - Configuration examples:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/configuration-examples.md
Guidelines
- Always show concrete JSON5 snippets or markdown content — not just descriptions
- Use JSON5 format (comments and trailing commas are OK in openclaw.json)
- When suggesting SOUL.md or USER.md content, tailor it to what you know about the user
- Suggest
openclaw doctorwhen troubleshooting - Remind about
allowFromsecurity — never suggestopenDM policy without a warning - For multi-agent setups, emphasize workspace isolation and credential separation
- When suggesting cron jobs, always include timezone awareness
Categories
Install
npx skillscat add petekp/agent-skills/openclaw-customizer Install via the SkillsCat registry.