What is OpenClaw (Clawdbot)? — A Complete Guide

OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot) is a free, open-source AI assistant that can control your computer, automate tasks, and work across macOS, Windows, and Linux. It has over 80,000 GitHub stars and is one of the fastest-growing open-source AI projects as of 2025. You can self-host it or use a managed cloud service like MyClaw.ai to run it with zero setup.

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw, formerly known as Clawdbot (and briefly Moltbot), is an open-source AI assistant that can control your computer, automate complex tasks, and work across multiple platforms. With over 80,000 GitHub stars, it has quickly become one of the most popular open-source AI projects in the world.

Whether you've heard it called OpenClaw, Clawdbot, or Moltbot, it's the same powerful tool — the project has gone through a few names but was ultimately renamed to better reflect its open-source nature and growing community.

What Can OpenClaw Do?

OpenClaw is designed to be a general-purpose AI assistant with real computer interaction capabilities:

• Computer control — OpenClaw can navigate your desktop, click buttons, type text, and interact with any application
• Task automation — Automate repetitive workflows like data entry, file management, and web scraping
• Multi-platform support — Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux
• Natural language interface — Simply describe what you want in plain English
• Extensible — Build custom plugins and integrations for your specific needs

Why Was Clawdbot / Moltbot Renamed to OpenClaw?

The project has had a few names on its journey. It started as Clawd (a pun on "Claude"), was briefly renamed to Moltbot (inspired by lobsters molting their shells), and then became Clawdbot before finally settling on OpenClaw. Each rename reflected the project's growth — and OpenClaw was chosen to emphasize its open-source, community-driven nature. If you're searching for Clawdbot or Moltbot, you're in the right place — OpenClaw is the same project with the same features and team behind it.

How to Get Started with OpenClaw

There are two main ways to start using OpenClaw:

Self-hosting

You can clone the OpenClaw repository and run it on your own machine. This requires some technical setup — you'll need to configure dependencies, manage updates, and ensure your system meets the requirements.

Managed cloud hosting

If you'd rather skip the technical setup, services like MyClaw.ai offer fully managed OpenClaw instances in the cloud. You get a dedicated instance that's always online, with zero configuration required. This is ideal if you want to start using OpenClaw immediately without worrying about infrastructure.

OpenClaw vs Other AI Assistants

What makes OpenClaw unique compared to other AI tools:

• Truly open-source — Full access to the source code, no vendor lock-in
• Computer control — Goes beyond text chat to actually interact with your desktop
• Self-hostable — Run it on your own hardware for complete data privacy
• Community-driven — Active development with contributions from thousands of developers
• Free to use — No subscription required for the base software

The OpenClaw Community

OpenClaw has one of the most active open-source communities in the AI space. With thousands of contributors, regular updates, and an active Discord community, the project is evolving rapidly. Whether you're a developer looking to contribute or a user looking for support, the community is welcoming and helpful.

What's Next for OpenClaw?

The project continues to grow with new features, improved performance, and expanded platform support. Keep an eye on the official GitHub repository for the latest updates and releases.

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