CLAW Agent Builder

A friendly macOS app that guides you through building an OpenClaw agent — one clear step at a time. Pick a starting preset, fine-tune the agent's identity, focus, tools, daily routine, and API keys, then export a complete workspace pack you can drop straight into ~/.openclaw/workspace.

Built for people who want an easy way into AI without giving up control.

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What it does

CLAW Agent Builder is a SwiftUI wizard that produces a real OpenClaw workspace — the same set of files OpenClaw reads at runtime. Instead of hand-editing markdown and JSON, you answer plain-English questions and the app generates:

• Real OpenClaw workspace files: AGENTS.md, SOUL.md, IDENTITY.md, USER.md, TOOLS.md, MEMORY.md, HEARTBEAT.md, BOOT.md, BOOTSTRAP.md, DREAMS.md, README.md
• Founder files: FOUNDER.md, FOUNDER_PROFILE.md, and the full questionnaire
• Scaffolding: memory/<today>.md, memory/heartbeat-state.json
• Config patch: openclaw.config.patch.json you can review and merge into your live ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
• Asset stubs: skills/, avatars/, canvas/ with starter READMEs
• Reloadable draft: hidden .claw-builder/builder-profile.json so you can reopen and retune the same agent later

The app also bundles the official OpenClaw CLI cheatsheet, a troubleshooting first-aid kit, and live status checks for Node, Homebrew, and the OpenClaw install itself — so you can spot-check prerequisites without leaving the builder.

Screens

The wizard moves through ten clear sections:

1. Welcome — pick a preset, choose your starting lane ("I already have OpenClaw" vs. full install)
2. Install OpenClaw — guided installer with Terminal automation for first-timers
3. Identity — name, slug, voice, values
4. Focus — what the agent actually does all day
5. Founder file — the "who you are" profile the agent wakes up knowing
6. Tools & Bridges — which capabilities and channels to enable
7. Daily Questions — the heartbeat prompts the agent asks itself
8. Data Sources — vaults, notes, inbox feeds
9. API Keys — provider credentials with live connectivity testing
10. Preview & Export — diff every generated file, then install

Requirements

• macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
• Swift 6.3 toolchain (ships with Xcode 16.4+)
• For the full-install edition: a login shell with node ≥ 18 on PATH (the app resolves nvm/fnm/asdf/Homebrew-on-Apple-Silicon via /bin/bash -lc)

Build & run

# Build + run the full Developer ID edition
./script/build_and_run.sh

That wraps the Swift Package Manager executable in a proper .app, writes the Info.plist, and launches.

Two editions from one codebase

	Developer ID edition	App Store edition
Install wizard	✅ Full — runs install.sh, drives Terminal	❌ Hidden (sandbox restriction)
Live workspace writes	✅ Writes to ~/.openclaw/workspace	❌ User-picked folder only
"Run in Terminal" buttons	✅ Everywhere	❌ Replaced with Copy
Node / Brew / CLI detection	✅ Live via login shell	❌ Fixed "unknown"
Provider key testing	✅	✅
Agent generation + preview	✅	✅

Build the App Store edition with:

swift build -c release -Xswiftc -DAPPSTORE_BUILD
# or, for a signed + packaged build ready for Transporter:
APP_SIGN_IDENTITY="3rd Party Mac Developer Application: Your Name (TEAMID)" \
INSTALLER_SIGN_IDENTITY="3rd Party Mac Developer Installer: Your Name (TEAMID)" \
./script/build_appstore.sh pkg

The -DAPPSTORE_BUILD flag strips all Process, NSAppleScript, and shell-out code out of the binary at compile time and hides the install wizard from the UI, so the sandboxed build contains nothing Apple can reject for out-of-sandbox execution.

Project layout

Sources/ClawAgentBuilder/
├── Models/              # BuilderDraft, presets, install targets
├── Services/            # BuilderStore, TemplateRenderer, WorkspaceInstaller,
│                         # OpenClawInstaller, ProviderKeyTester, DraftService
├── Support/             # BuildFlavor flag, artwork, string utilities
└── Views/
    ├── Sections/        # One view per wizard section
    └── Shared/          # Sidebar, header bar, footer, reference cards

script/
├── build_and_run.sh              # Developer ID build
├── build_appstore.sh             # Sandboxed App Store build + sign + pkg
└── ClawAgentBuilder.entitlements # Sandbox entitlements for the App Store build

How the generated files get into OpenClaw

The Preview & Export section lets you pick the install target:

• Desktop preview — timestamped folder under ~/Desktop/, safe to inspect
• Live main workspace — writes directly to ~/.openclaw/workspace (existing files backed up first)
• Isolated workspace — writes to ~/.openclaw/workspace-<slug>; run openclaw agents add <slug> --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace-<slug> --non-interactive to register it
• Custom folder — any location you pick via the file picker

The App Store edition is restricted to "Custom folder" because the sandbox can't reach ~/.openclaw/ without a user-granted bookmark — you pick a staging folder, then cp -R into your workspace yourself.

Drafts

Every export also drops a .claw-builder/builder-profile.json into the package. Load it back in from the Drafts card on the Preview page to pick up exactly where you left off and retune without starting over.

License

Copyright © 2026 Shadowfetch. All rights reserved.

Acknowledgments

Built on top of the official OpenClaw CLI and file conventions. This app doesn't replace OpenClaw — it helps you configure it.