Setting Up OpenClaw: Your Personal AI Agent Assistant

Hands-on workshop resource sheet for attendees. Focus: setup, power-user workflows, and security hardening.

Workshop Goal Build + Secure

By the end of this meetup, you should have OpenClaw running, reachable from your preferred interface, and locked down with a practical security baseline.

1) Fast Start Path (recommended for the workshop)

Install OpenClaw (Node 22+ required)
Run onboarding: openclaw onboard --install-daemon
Verify service: openclaw gateway status
Open UI: openclaw dashboard (or http://127.0.0.1:18789/)

From official docs: Getting Started + Onboarding Wizard.

2) Hands-On Agenda (90-minute template)

0–15 min: Install + Verify

Install CLI and check openclaw --help
Confirm Node version (node --version)
Run first onboarding pass

15–40 min: Connect a Surface

Use Control UI for guaranteed first success
Optionally connect Telegram/WhatsApp
Validate message round-trip

40–65 min: Power-User Flows

Create an isolated sub-agent task
Schedule a cron reminder/brief
Use web tools (web_search / web_fetch)

65–90 min: Security Hardening

Run openclaw security audit --deep
Apply loopback + token auth baseline
Review tool permissions and DM policies

3) Power-User Tips & Tricks

Start in the Control UI first to eliminate channel complexity during setup.
Use isolated sub-agents for long/complex work so your main session stays clean.
Use cron for exact timing (e.g., daily brief) and heartbeat for flexible periodic checks.
Keep prompts versioned in files so you can roll back quickly after experiments.
Prefer official docs-first debugging before trying random forum fixes.

4) Security Baseline (must-do)

If you only do one thing: keep Gateway private (loopback/Tailnet), not publicly exposed.

Enable gateway auth token and use a long random token.
Restrict inbound chat via pairing/allowlists; avoid open DM policies.
Disable elevated/exec tools by default unless specifically needed.
Set file permissions for ~/.openclaw and config/secrets (least privilege).
Run regular checks: openclaw security audit, --deep, and optionally --fix.

5) VPS Setup Path (for production-ish deployments)

Use a non-root user (e.g., openclaw), SSH keys only, UFW, fail2ban, unattended upgrades.
Bind Gateway to loopback and access via SSH tunnel/Tailscale.
Treat API/channel tokens as production secrets and rotate periodically.

Based on reviewed ai_resources/libraries/OpenClaw quickstart/security materials.

6) Workshop Resource Links

Official OpenClaw Docs

Repo Reviewed for this Meetup

Community + Project

7) Suggested Live Demo Script

Install + onboard live.
Send one prompt in dashboard.
Create one cron reminder.
Run openclaw security audit --deep.
Show one hardening change and re-run audit.

This flow highlights both capability and safety in one session.

Prepared for meetup: Setting Up OpenClaw: Your Personal AI Agent Assistant. Updated for current OpenClaw docs and reviewed setup/security materials.