Setup

clawctl init                        # create the database
export CLAW_AGENT=your-name         # set identity (falls back to $USER with warning)
export CLAW_DB=~/.openclaw/clawctl.db  # optional, this is the default

Operational Rhythm

Follow this pattern every session:

1. clawctl checkin — register presence, see unread count
2. clawctl inbox --unread — read messages before picking up work
3. clawctl next — find highest-priority actionable task (or clawctl list --mine)
4. clawctl claim <id> then clawctl start <id> — take ownership and begin
5. clawctl msg <agent> "update" --task <id> — coordinate during work
6. clawctl done <id> -m "what I did" then clawctl next — complete and move on

Only claim tasks assigned to you or matching your role. Completing an already-done task is a safe no-op.

Decision Tree

Situation	Command
New task	clawctl add "Subject" -d "Details"
Find work	clawctl next then clawctl claim <id>
Blocked	clawctl block <id> --by <blocker-id> and notify via clawctl msg
Finished	clawctl done <id> -m "Result"
Hand off	clawctl msg <agent> "Ready for you" --task <id> --type handoff
Ready for review	clawctl review <id>
Catch up	clawctl feed --last 20 or clawctl summary
Link artifacts	Add --meta '{"note":"path/to/file"}' to done, claim, start, or block

Task Statuses

pending → claimed → in_progress → done
                  ↘ blocked ↗    ↘ cancelled
                  ↘ review  ↗

list excludes done/cancelled by default. Use --all for history (newest first).

Commands

Tasks

Command	Description
add SUBJECT	Create task. -d desc, -p 0|1|2 priority, --for AGENT assign, --parent ID
list	Active tasks. --mine, --status STATUS, --owner AGENT, --all
next	Highest-priority actionable task for current agent
claim ID	Claim task. --force overrides ownership, --meta JSON
start ID	Begin work (in_progress). --meta JSON
done ID	Complete. -m note, --force, --meta JSON
review ID	Mark ready for review. --meta JSON
cancel ID	Cancel task. --meta JSON
block ID --by OTHER	Mark blocked. --meta JSON
board	Kanban board grouped by status

Messages

Command	Description
msg AGENT BODY	Send message. --task ID, --type TYPE (comment, status, handoff, question, answer, alert)
broadcast BODY	Alert all agents
inbox	Read messages. --unread for unread only

Fleet

Command	Description
checkin	Heartbeat — update presence, report unread count
register NAME	Register agent. --role TEXT
fleet	All agents with status and current task
whoami	Identity, role, and DB path

Monitoring

Command	Description
feed	Activity log. --last N, --agent NAME, --meta
summary	Fleet overview with counts and recent events
dashboard	Web UI. --port INT, --stop, --verbose