Master Clawdbot in 5 Minutes: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Building Your Custom AI Assistant

Want a personal AI assistant you can use across all your chat apps—one that remembers what you've said and can even proactively send you reminders? Clawdbot is exactly that kind of revolutionary open-source project, turning Claude AI into your very own dedicated assistant.

Core Value: By the end of this article, you'll master Clawdbot's core concepts, setup process, and how to use APIs to get it running on 8+ platforms like Discord, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

What is Clawdbot? A Quick Breakdown

Clawdbot is an open-source personal AI assistant project developed by Peter Steinberger (founder of PSPDFKit). Unlike traditional web-based versions of ChatGPT or Claude, Clawdbot runs directly within your favorite chat apps. Message it on WhatsApp, and it replies on WhatsApp; ask a question on Discord, and it answers on Discord.

Feature	Clawdbot	Standard AI Chat
Usage	Use within everyday chat apps	Requires opening a dedicated website
Conversation Memory	Cross-platform persistent memory	Sessions are usually independent
Proactive Messaging	Supports scheduled reminders and notifications	Passive response only
Data Storage	Local Markdown files	Stored in the cloud
Customization	Fully programmable Skills system	Limited custom options

🎯 Key Understanding: Clawdbot isn't an AI model itself; it's an "AI Gateway." It connects your chat apps with Large Language Model APIs, seamlessly integrating AI capabilities into your daily communication tools.

Clawdbot's Core Architecture: A 3-Layer Design

Understanding Clawdbot's architecture helps a lot when you're configuring or troubleshooting. It uses a clean, three-layer design:

Layer 1: The Gateway

The Gateway is Clawdbot's core control plane. By default, it listens on localhost:18789:

It manages all your message sessions.
It routes messages across different channels.
It handles tool calls and skill execution.
It maintains the conversation history and memory system.

Layer 2: Channels

Channels are responsible for connecting to various chat platforms:

Channel Type	Supported Platforms	Connection Method
Instant Messaging	WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal	Bot API / Web Protocol
Collaboration	Discord, Slack, Teams	Bot API
Apple Ecosystem	iMessage, macOS	imsg CLI / Native integration
Open Protocols	Matrix, WebChat	Standard protocol integration
Regional Apps	Zalo, BlueBubbles	Community plugins

Layer 3: Large Language Models (LLMs)

Clawdbot supports several AI model backends:

Model Provider	Auth Method	Best For…
Anthropic Claude	API Key / OAuth	The recommended choice; Clawdbot is natively optimized for it.
OpenAI GPT	API Key / OAuth	General use cases.
3rd-Party API Proxy	API Key	Cost optimization and easier access.

🎯 Technical Tip: For calling Claude models, we recommend getting an API key through the APIYI (apiyi.com) platform. It supports the entire Claude 4 model series, provides a unified OpenAI-compatible interface, is more affordable, and doesn't require international payment methods.

A Detailed Breakdown of Clawdbot's 4 Core Advantages

Advantage 1: Seamless Omni-Channel Access

Clawdbot's "omni-channel" philosophy means:

One assistant, multiple entry points: You can ask a question on WhatsApp via your phone and follow up on Discord from your computer.
Automatic context synchronization: No matter which channel the conversation takes place in, the assistant remembers your previous interactions.
Intelligent message routing: You can configure specific types of messages to be routed through specific channels.

Advantage 2: Persistent Memory System

Traditional AI chats usually start in a state of "amnesia" with every new session. Clawdbot, however:

Stores memories as Markdown files, similar to Obsidian notes.
Supports semantic retrieval, so it can link back to information you've mentioned before.
Is entirely locally stored, meaning your data isn't uploaded to the cloud.

~/clawd/
├── memories/           # 对话记忆
│   ├── 2026-01-26.md  # 按日期组织
│   └── topics/        # 按主题分类
├── skills/            # 自定义技能
└── config.yaml        # 配置文件

Advantage 3: Proactive Push Capabilities

This is Clawdbot's killer feature that sets it apart from other AI assistants:

Proactive Push Scenarios	Example
Morning Briefing	Pushes your schedule and weather every morning at 8:00 AM.
Task Reminders	Reminds you before the deadlines you've mentioned.
Monitoring Alerts	Actively notifies you if a monitored website goes down.
Scheduled Execution	Periodically runs scripts and reports the results.

Advantage 4: Skills System

Skills are Clawdbot's "add-on" system, defined through Markdown or TypeScript files:

# skill: web-search
使用 Brave Search API 搜索网络内容


## 触发条件
当用户询问需要实时信息的问题时

Execution Steps

Call the Brave Search API
Parse the search results
Generate a summary response

The community has already contributed 100+ ready-to-use Skills, covering:

Web browsing and screenshots
File read/write operations
Calendar management integration
Code execution environments
Smart home control

Clawdbot Installation & Configuration: 3 Quick Steps to Get Started

Environment Requirements

Item	Requirement
Node.js	≥ 22.x
Operating System	macOS / Linux / Windows (WSL2)
Memory	≥ 2GB available
AI API	Claude or OpenAI API Key

Step 1: Global Installation

# Install via npm (recommended)
npm install -g clawdbot@latest

# Or use pnpm
pnpm add -g clawdbot@latest

Step 2: Run the Configuration Wizard

# Start the interactive configuration wizard
clawdbot onboard --install-daemon

The wizard will walk you through:

AI Model Configuration – Enter your Claude or OpenAI API Key
Working Directory Setup – Defaults to ~/clawd
Channel Enablement – Select the chat platforms you want to connect
Daemon Installation – Keeps the Gateway running in the background

🚀 Quick Start: If you don't have a Claude API Key yet, we recommend using the APIYI (apiyi.com) platform to get one quickly. It provides out-of-the-box API access, offers free test credits upon registration, and you'll be finished with the configuration in just 5 minutes.

Step 3: Verify Installation

# Check service status
clawdbot status

# Perform a deep health check
clawdbot health

# Diagnose configuration issues
clawdbot doctor

Expected output:

Gateway: ✓ Running on localhost:18789
Channels: ✓ Discord, Telegram connected
LLM: ✓ Claude API configured
Memory: ✓ 42 memories indexed

Clawdbot Discord Integration Guide

Discord is one of Clawdbot's most popular channels. Here are the configuration steps:

Step 1: Create a Discord Bot

Head over to the Discord Developer Portal: discord.com/developers/applications
Click "New Application" to create your app.
Go to the "Bot" page and click "Add Bot".
Copy and save your Bot Token (click "Reset Token" to generate it).

Step 2: Configure Bot Permissions

In "OAuth2 → URL Generator", check the following options:

Permission Category	Specific Permissions
Scopes	bot, applications.commands
Bot Permissions	Send Messages, Read Message History, Embed Links

Step 3: Invite the Bot to Your Server

Use the generated OAuth2 URL to invite the bot to your Discord server.

Step 4: Configure Clawdbot

# Interactively configure the Discord channel
clawdbot configure --section channels.discord

Once you enter the Bot Token, Clawdbot will handle the connection automatically.

Step 5: Test the Chat

Mention (@) your bot in a Discord server or send it a direct message:

@ClawdBot Hi, tell me a bit about yourself.

The bot will use the Claude API to generate a response and send it back to Discord.

Deep Dive: Clawdbot API Configuration

Clawdbot's intelligence comes from the underlying Large Language Model. Getting your API configuration right is crucial.

Official Anthropic API

# ~/clawd/config.yaml
llm:
  provider: anthropic
  model: claude-sonnet-4-20250514
  apiKey: sk-ant-xxxxx

Pros:

Direct connection to the source with the lowest latency.
Supports the very latest models.

Limitations:

Requires an international credit card for payment.
Access may be restricted in some regions.

Third-party API Proxy (Recommended)

# ~/clawd/config.yaml
llm:
  provider: openai-compatible
  model: claude-sonnet-4-20250514
  apiKey: sk-xxxxx
  baseUrl: https://api.apiyi.com/v1  # Using APIYI unified interface

💰 Cost Optimization: For users in China, using APIYI (apiyi.com) as an API proxy is a much better choice. The platform offers an OpenAI-compatible interface, supports the full Claude series, is more affordable than official pricing, and supports local payment methods like Alipay and WeChat—no international card needed.

OAuth Subscription Authentication

If you already have a Claude Pro/Max subscription:

clawdbot configure --section llm.oauth

The advantage here is that it uses your existing subscription quota, so you don't have to pay extra for API usage.

Common Clawdbot Skill Configs

Web Search Skill

# Configure Brave Search API
clawdbot configure --section web

# Enter your Brave Search API Key

Once configured, Clawdbot can search the web in real-time to answer your questions.

File Operation Skill

Clawdbot comes with built-in file read/write capabilities:

Me: Help me read the content of ~/Documents/notes.md
Bot: Reading file... [File content]

Me: Add a line "Today's Todo: Finish report" to the end of the file
Bot: Added content to the file

Browser Skill

Me: Help me visit example.com and take a screenshot
Bot: [Launching browser] → [Loading page] → [Generating screenshot] → [Returning image]

Custom Skills

Just create a Markdown file in the ~/clawd/skills/ directory:

# skill: daily-report
Daily Work Report Generator

## Description
Generates a daily work report based on today's chat logs.

Trigger Keywords

Generate daily report, Today's summary

Execution Logic

Read all of today's conversation history
Extract work-related content
Generate a structured daily report

Clawdbot Cost Estimation & Comparison

Expense Item	Monthly Cost	Description
VPS Server	¥35-70	Optional; free if run locally
Claude API	¥70-140	Depends on usage
Claude Pro Subscription	¥140	Save on API costs with OAuth authentication
Claude Max Subscription	¥1400	For power users; unlimited Opus access

Cost Optimization Tips

Run Locally: Use your home computer or a Mac mini to run the bot and eliminate VPS costs.
API Proxy: Use APIYI (apiyi.com) to call the Claude API for better pricing.
Model Choice: Use claude-haiku for daily chats and switch to claude-sonnet only for complex tasks.
Memory Management: Regularly clean up unnecessary memory to reduce token consumption.

Clawdbot vs. Other Solutions

Comparison Dimension	Clawdbot	ChatGPT App	Claude App	DIY Bot
Multi-platform Support	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8+ Platforms	⭐⭐ App only	⭐⭐ App only	⭐⭐⭐ Requires individual dev
Conversation Memory	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Persistent Local Storage	⭐⭐⭐ Limited Cloud	⭐⭐⭐ Limited Cloud	⭐⭐ Requires DIY
Proactive Push	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full Support	❌ Not supported	❌ Not supported	⭐⭐⭐ Requires DIY
Privacy Protection	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Local Storage	⭐⭐ Cloud Storage	⭐⭐ Cloud Storage	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Depends on implementation
Customization	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Skills System	⭐⭐ Limited GPTs	⭐⭐ Projects	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fully Customizable
Ease of Setup	⭐⭐⭐ Needs technical background	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Out of the box	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Out of the box	⭐ Heavy development required

💡 Recommendation: Clawdbot is perfect for users with a technical background who prioritize privacy and deep customization. If you just need simple AI chats, the official apps are plenty; but if you want AI to truly integrate into your daily workflow, Clawdbot is well worth the learning curve.

FAQ

Q1: Do I need a VPS for Clawdbot?

It's not strictly required. You can run Clawdbot on your personal computer as long as it's powered on. However, if you want it online 24/7, we recommend using:

An always-on home computer (like a Mac mini)
A cloud server (VPS, roughly $5-$10/month)
A local NAS device

Q2: How can I get the Claude API without an international credit card?

You can access the Claude API through the APIYI (apiyi.com) platform. This platform supports Alipay and WeChat Pay, providing an API interface identical to the official one but with more flexible pricing. Once you register, just grab your API Key, configure it in Clawdbot, and you're ready to go.

Q3: Does Clawdbot support Chinese?

Absolutely. Clawdbot itself is just a gateway; the AI's capabilities come from the underlying Large Language Models (Claude/GPT). These models have excellent support for Chinese, so you can handle all your interactions with Clawdbot in Chinese.

Q4: How is conversation privacy guaranteed?

Clawdbot follows a "local-first" design philosophy:

Conversation history is stored on your own device (as Markdown files).
The Gateway runs on localhost and isn't exposed to the public internet.
You can access it securely via SSH tunnels or Tailscale.
Only the AI model calls require an internet connection (API requests).

Q5: Where can I get help if I run into issues?

Clawdbot has a vibrant community:

Discord Server: Join to chat directly with two Clawdbot instances and ask questions.
GitHub Issues: github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot
Official Docs: docs.clawd.bot

Bug reports usually get a quick response, and sometimes the author even fixes things in real-time during a chat.

Q6: How do Windows users install it?

We strongly recommend that Windows users use WSL2:

Install WSL2 (the Ubuntu distribution is recommended).
Install Node.js 22+ inside WSL2.
Follow the Linux installation steps for Clawdbot.

Native Windows support isn't quite there yet, and you'll likely run into various issues if you try it.

Clawdbot Advanced Usage

1. Multi-Agent Collaboration

Clawdbot lets you create multiple Sessions that can communicate with one another:

Session A (Research Assistant): Research market data
Session B (Writing Assistant): Receive data from A and generate a report
Session C (Review Assistant): Check B's report and suggest edits

2. Automated Workflows

Combine it with Cron scheduled tasks:

8:00 AM daily: Summarize important emails.
9:00 AM every Monday: Generate a summary of last week's work.
1st of every month: Tally up this month's API usage.

3. Smart Home Integration

Connect to smart devices via Home Assistant or MQTT:

Me: Dim the living room lights a bit.
Bot: [Calling Home Assistant API] Living room brightness set to 50%.

4. Coding Assistance

Clawdbot can:

Read and explain code files.
Execute shell commands.
Browse GitHub repositories.
Generate code and save it directly to files.

Summary and Next Steps

Clawdbot represents a new paradigm for personal AI assistants:

Core Value	Description
Everywhere	Use AI right inside the chat apps you use every day
Never Forgets	Persistent memory that truly gets to know you
Proactive Service	No more passive waiting; it proactively pushes reminders to you
Fully Controllable	Open-source and self-hosted—your data always stays yours
Infinitely Extensible	The Skills system means there's no ceiling on its capabilities

Next Steps:

Install Clawdbot: npm install -g clawdbot@latest
Get your Claude API: We recommend using APIYI (apiyi.com) for quick access
Run the setup wizard: clawdbot onboard --install-daemon
Connect your first channel (we recommend starting with Discord)
Join the Clawdbot Discord community to swap tips and experiences

References

Clawdbot Official Website: Product intro and quick start
- Link: clawd.bot
Clawdbot Documentation: Complete configuration guide
- Link: docs.clawd.bot
GitHub Repository: Open-source code and issues
- Link: github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot
MacStories In-depth Review: Shared user experience
- Link: macstories.net/stories/clawdbot-showed-me-what-the-future-of-personal-ai-assistants-looks-like/
Peter Steinberger's Personal Site: Author's blog
- Link: steipete.me

📝 Author: APIYI Team
🔗 Tech Exchange: Visit apiyi.com for more tips on using Large Language Model APIs
📅 Updated: January 2026