Clawdbot is an open-source local AI assistant designed to facilitate interaction with AI models, primarily Anthropic's Claude, through various messaging platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord, as well as a dedicated Web UI. It targets developers, researchers, and power users seeking a flexible, locally-controlled interface for AI, offering the benefit of data privacy through local storage and multi-channel accessibility.

How It Works

Clawdbot functions as a gateway, abstracting the complexities of AI model APIs and communication channels. It utilizes Node.js to manage connections to AI providers and route messages. A key design choice is its extensibility, allowing users to configure custom API endpoints, such as redirecting requests to services like the Claude Code API, and to integrate with numerous messaging platforms. The clawdbot onboard command streamlines the initial setup process, guiding users through security considerations and AI provider configuration.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Primary Install: npm install -g clawdbot (recommended). An alternative one-click script is available: curl -fsSL https://clawd.bot/install.sh | bash. Installation from source involves cloning the repository, running pnpm install, pnpm build, and npm link.
• Prerequisites: Node.js version 22.0.0 or higher is mandatory. pnpm or npm is required as a package manager. Xcode is optional for macOS native app builds. Messaging platform accounts (e.g., Telegram Bot Token) are needed for channel integration.
• Links: Official Documentation: https://docs.clawd.bot/, GitHub Repository: https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot.

Highlighted Details

• Fully open-source with a focus on local data storage for enhanced privacy.
• Supports over 12 messaging platforms and provides a Web UI for interaction.
• Enables custom AI model and API endpoint configurations, including redirection to services like Claude Code API.
• Offers a setup-token method for Anthropic Max/Pro subscribers to utilize their existing subscription credits.

Maintenance & Community

Community discussions and support are primarily channeled through GitHub Issues. Specific details regarding core maintainers, sponsorships, or partnerships are not explicitly detailed in the provided README.

Licensing & Compatibility

The specific open-source license for Clawdbot is not stated in the README. This omission requires further investigation for users concerned about commercial use or derivative works. The project requires Node.js 22.0.0+ and is compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows.

Limitations & Caveats

A strict Node.js 22.0.0+ requirement may pose an adoption barrier. Configuring custom API endpoints is a known area of complexity, with specific requirements for the models field in clawdbot.json and a lack of support for environment variables like ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL. Users may encounter instability with certain channels, such as Telegram, potentially requiring temporary disabling. The project's detailed troubleshooting section suggests active development and potential for user-encountered quirks.