OpenClaw Hint Router

Hint-based model routing for OpenClaw.

OpenClaw Hint Router adds a small, explicit hint -> model routing layer without patching OpenClaw core.

What it does

• Defines stable hints like hint:fast, hint:reasoning, and hint:coding
• Maps each hint to a real provider/model
• Keeps routing policy in a user-owned config file
• Provides an RPC wrapper for using hints at runtime
• Includes an OpenClaw skill for natural-language setup and route management

Good fit for

• users who want stable logical model names such as hint:reasoning
• users who want to change model mappings without changing every caller
• OpenClaw RPC setups that need explicit, predictable routing

Install

npm install -g @krwu/openclaw-hint-router

If global install is not available, install to a user prefix and add it to PATH:

npm install --prefix ~/.local -g @krwu/openclaw-hint-router
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"

Quick start

openclaw-hint-router-bootstrap
openclaw-hint-router validate ~/.config/openclaw/hint-router.json
openclaw-hint-router-agent --model hint:reasoning --to +15555550123 --message "hello"

Binaries

• openclaw-hint-router
• openclaw-hint-router-rpc
• openclaw-hint-router-agent
• openclaw-hint-router-bootstrap

Config

Default config path:

~/.config/openclaw/hint-router.json

Example:

{
  "version": 1,
  "routes": {
    "fast": {
      "provider": "openrouter",
      "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash"
    },
    "reasoning": {
      "provider": "anthropic",
      "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5"
    },
    "coding": {
      "provider": "bailian",
      "model": "qwen3-coder-plus"
    }
  },
  "aliases": {
    "quick": "fast",
    "smart": "reasoning"
  }
}

Agent usage

openclaw-hint-router-agent --model hint:reasoning --to +15555550123 --message "hello"

When the model starts with hint:, the wrapper resolves it, temporarily applies the mapped model for the current agent run, and restores the original default model afterward.

Skill

This repository includes an OpenClaw skill package under skill/.

Use it when you want an agent to:

• install the package
• create or edit routes
• validate config
• explain how to use hint-based routing

Docs

• docs/USER-GUIDE.md
• docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
• docs/BOOTSTRAP.md
• docs/SKILL.md