$cd ../tutorials/
essential15 min readβ’March 2026
$ cat getting-started.md
export GettingStarted
/** Everything you need to get your personal AI assistant running */
table-of-contents.ts
const sections = [
]
section_01_intro.md
π¦## What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted personal AI assistant created by Peter Steinberger and the community. Unlike cloud-based AI assistants, OpenClaw runs entirely on your own hardware.
// Key features:
β’ Multi-channel: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal
β’ Local-first: Your data stays on your machine
β’ System access: Run commands, manage files, control browser
β’ Extensible: Add custom skills and plugins
β’ Model agnostic: Claude, OpenAI, or local models
section_02_prerequisites.md
## π¦ Prerequisites
βNode.js 22+// Required runtime
βmacOS | Linux | Windows (WSL2)
βAI Provider Account// Anthropic recommended
// β οΈ Windows users: WSL2 with Ubuntu is strongly recommended
section_03_install.sh
## π Installation
Option 1: Quick Install
# macOS / Linux
$ curl -fsSL https://clawd.bot/install.sh | bash
# Windows PowerShell
$ iwr -useb https://clawd.bot/install.ps1 | iex
Option 2: npm/pnpm
$ npm install -g OpenClaw@latest
# or
$ pnpm add -g OpenClaw@latest
section_04_config.sh
## βοΈ Configuration
Run the interactive onboarding wizard:
$ OpenClaw onboard --install-daemon
// The wizard will configure:
1. Gateway setup
2. AI provider authentication
3. Channel configuration (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)
4. Daemon installation
// π‘ Pro tip: Use Anthropic Claude Pro/Max for best experience
section_05_chat.sh
## π¬ Your First Conversation
Start the gateway:
$ OpenClaw gateway
β Gateway running at http://localhost:18789
Send your first message:
$ OpenClaw agent --message "Hello! What can you do?"
section_06_next.md
## π Next Steps
// Congratulations! Explore more tutorials:
Was this tutorial helpful?
// Let us know how we can improve