openclaw-installer

openclaw-installer modernizes the legacy Bash installer by splitting it into two layers:

1. Stable bootstrap script (openclaw_installer.sh) — zero prerequisites. It ensures Node.js (>= 22) + npm and then launches the installer via npm exec.
2. Maintainable Node CLI (openclaw-installer on npm) — interactive flows powered by @clack/prompts, with online updates via npm publish.

Once the bootstrap script is hosted on OSS/CDN, routine updates are delivered by publishing a new npm version (no repeated OSS uploads).

Usage

Recommended (hosted bootstrap script)

Upload openclaw_installer.sh to your OSS/CDN, then run:

curl -fsSL https://<your-host>/openclaw_installer.sh | bash

Common arguments (forwarded to the openclaw-installer CLI):

curl -fsSL https://<your-host>/openclaw_installer.sh | bash -s -- --status
curl -fsSL https://<your-host>/openclaw_installer.sh | bash -s -- --upgrade-core
curl -fsSL https://<your-host>/openclaw_installer.sh | bash -s -- --channel-add dingtalk
curl -fsSL https://<your-host>/openclaw_installer.sh | bash -s -- --configure

Bootstrap-only arguments:

./openclaw_installer.sh --installer-version [email protected]
./openclaw_installer.sh --no-self-update

CLI overview

Actions:

• install — Full install pipeline (npm or git)
• upgrade — Upgrade core and/or plugins
• status — Installed vs latest + gateway/config status
• configure — Full configuration wizard and menu
• channel — Channel plugin management (DingTalk)
• repair — Diagnostics and repair menu
• uninstall — Remove Openclaw and data

Examples:

openclaw-installer install --install-method npm
openclaw-installer upgrade --upgrade-core
openclaw-installer status
openclaw-installer configure
openclaw-installer channel list
openclaw-installer repair
openclaw-installer uninstall --purge

Options

Common:

• --no-prompt — Disable interactive prompts (CI)
• --no-onboard — Skip onboarding/config wizard
• --dry-run — Print actions without changes
• --verbose — Show command output
• --cn-mirrors|--china — Force China mirrors
• --no-cn-mirrors — Disable China mirrors
• --log — Enable installer logging
• --log-file <path> — Custom log file
• --log-level <debug|info|warn|error> — Log level (default: info)
• --log-history <n> — Log files to retain (default: 5)

Install/upgrade:

• --version <version|tag> — Openclaw version (default: latest)
• --beta — Install openclaw@beta
• --install-method npm|git — Install via npm or git
• --git-dir <path> — Git checkout directory (default: ~/openclaw)
• --no-git-update — Skip git pull for git method
• --file-tools|--no-file-tools — Install file tools (default: on)
• --python|--no-python — Install Python 3.12 (default: on)

Channels:

• --channel-add dingtalk
• --channel-configure dingtalk
• --channel-upgrade dingtalk
• --channel-remove dingtalk
• --channel-list

Uninstall:

• --purge — Remove all data (~/.openclaw + ~/clawd)
• --keep-config — Keep config while removing workspace

Environment variables

All CLI flags can be driven by env vars (legacy-compatible):

• CLAWDBOT_ACTION=install|upgrade|configure|status|repair|uninstall|menu|channel
• CLAWDBOT_INSTALL_METHOD=npm|git
• CLAWDBOT_GIT_DIR=/path/to/openclaw
• CLAWDBOT_GIT_UPDATE=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_VERSION=latest|1.2.3
• CLAWDBOT_BETA=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_UPGRADE_TARGET=all|core|plugins
• CLAWDBOT_NO_PROMPT=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_NO_ONBOARD=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_DRY_RUN=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_VERBOSE=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_USE_CN_MIRRORS=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_FILE_TOOLS=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_PYTHON=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_LOG=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_LOG_FILE=/path/to/log
• CLAWDBOT_LOG_LEVEL=debug|info|warn|error
• CLAWDBOT_LOG_HISTORY=5
• CLAWDBOT_NPM_LOGLEVEL=error|warn|notice
• CLAWDBOT_NPM_LEGACY_PEER_DEPS=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_UNINSTALL_PURGE=1|0
• CLAWDBOT_UNINSTALL_KEEP_CONFIG=1|0

Notes:

• China mirrors are process-local only (no global npm config set).
• Plugin fallback installs into ~/.openclaw/extensions/<pkg> when openclaw plugins is unavailable.

Local development

npm install
npm run build
node dist/cli.js --help

Publishing

npm publish --access public

Notes:

• The bootstrap script defaults to openclaw-installer@^1 to avoid auto-pulling future breaking changes.