Learning how to configure OpenClaw
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I am extremely new to OpenClaw and just got it working, did the onboarding process, and went through the BOOTSTRAP.md procedures with my helper. I have many ideas about what I want to do with this, but not sure how to configure everything. I have seen in the documentation and also in the "rules" section in this server that I should switch to the git install method, and then "Fastest way to be unblocked? Switch to git install, start claude/codex in that folder." What exactly does that mean to "start claude/codex in that folder?" Am I to use my openclaw bot to answer questions about its own source code? Or is it advising me to use another AI tool to analyze the code? By the way, I first installed with npm, but I think I switched to a github install following the directions here: https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq#can-i-switch-between-npm-and-git-installs-later, so I do have the source code on my computer.
Solution
“Start claude/codex in that folder” means: run a local coding assistant (Claude Code or OpenAI Codex) on your computer with its working directory set to your OpenClaw git checkout (the
It’s not telling you to use your OpenClaw bot to introspect itself (though you can once it’s working and has file/exec tools). The point of the FAQ advice is: when you’re stuck, the fastest helper is an agent that can see your machine (read files, inspect logs, run
What that looks like in practice:
1) Open a terminal
2)
3) Start one of these tools there:
- Claude Code: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code/
- OpenAI Codex: https://openai.com/codex/
4) Ask it something like: “I’m configuring OpenClaw. Please run
The docs section you’re quoting is here (and it explicitly recommends Claude Code/Codex as the “local AI agent”):
https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq#im-stuck-whats-the-fastest-way-to-get-unstuck
Since you already switched to a git install / have the source, you’re basically set up for this workflow already. If you tell me your OS + where your repo lives (path), I can suggest the most straightforward “run Claude/Codex in this folder” setup for your machine.
openclaw/It’s not telling you to use your OpenClaw bot to introspect itself (though you can once it’s working and has file/exec tools). The point of the FAQ advice is: when you’re stuck, the fastest helper is an agent that can see your machine (read files, inspect logs, run
openclaw statusWhat that looks like in practice:
1) Open a terminal
2)
cd3) Start one of these tools there:
- Claude Code: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code/
- OpenAI Codex: https://openai.com/codex/
4) Ask it something like: “I’m configuring OpenClaw. Please run
openclaw statusopenclaw models statusThe docs section you’re quoting is here (and it explicitly recommends Claude Code/Codex as the “local AI agent”):
https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq#im-stuck-whats-the-fastest-way-to-get-unstuck
Since you already switched to a git install / have the source, you’re basically set up for this workflow already. If you tell me your OS + where your repo lives (path), I can suggest the most straightforward “run Claude/Codex in this folder” setup for your machine.
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