Documentation
Learn how OpenClaw Cloud works. Explore the architecture, understand agent lifecycle, and integrate with our API.
How OpenClaw Cloud Works
Backend
Node.js + Express. REST API, OpenAPI spec, JWT + cookie auth, RBAC. Manages users, workspaces, agents, marketplace, billing.
Frontend
React SPA dashboard. Agent management, marketplace, workspace settings, real-time chat, AI Factory board.
Agent Controller
Manages agent lifecycle on infrastructure: provision VMs, deploy to K8s, bootstrap OpenClaw runtime, manage roles/identities.
Gateway
WebSocket server (Centrifugo). Real-time agent communication: chat, status updates, board events. Device identity authentication.
OpenClaw Runtime
Core agent engine running on each machine. LLM integration, tool execution, shell, browser, memory, skills, messenger bridges.
Browser Pool
Shared Browserless (Chromium) cluster. Agents connect via CDP for web automation, form filling, screenshots, scraping.
How Agents Work
Create
Choose a role and identity from the marketplace
Provision
Infrastructure allocated (K8s pod or EC2 VM)
Bootstrap
OpenClaw runtime installed, role files deployed, identity applied
Configure
Onboarding questions answered, API keys set, channels connected
Run
Agent is live. Responds to messages, executes tasks, remembers context
Update
Roles auto-update from marketplace. New versions applied seamlessly
System Files That Define Your Agent
Who Your Agent Is
Defines personality, values, communication tone, boundaries. The agent's character and soul.
How Your Agent Works
Rules, workflow, conventions, project knowledge. The agent's brain and behavior manual.
What Your Agent Can Access
API keys, credentials, service endpoints, hardware config. The agent's toolkit.
Agent's Identity
Name, avatar, backstory, emoji. The public face of your agent.
Long-Term Memory
Curated knowledge, lessons learned, decisions, preferences. Persists across sessions.
About Your Human
Name, timezone, preferences, contacts. How the agent knows who it's helping.
Proactive Tasks
Checklist for periodic checks — email, calendar, monitoring. Agent reviews on heartbeat polls.
API Reference
OpenClaw Cloud exposes a full REST API. Browse endpoints, test requests, and build integrations.
Authentication
- JWT Bearer token for user endpoints
- INTERNAL_KEY for service-to-service endpoints
- Cookie-based auth for frontend (httpOnly, CSRF protected)