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50 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
50 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
---
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summary: "Agent bootstrapping ritual that seeds the workspace and identity files"
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read_when:
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- Understanding what happens on the first agent run
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- Explaining where bootstrapping files live
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- Debugging onboarding identity setup
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title: "Agent bootstrapping"
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sidebarTitle: "Bootstrapping"
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---
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Bootstrapping is the **first‑run** ritual that prepares an agent workspace and
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collects identity details. It happens after onboarding, when the agent starts
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for the first time.
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## What bootstrapping does
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On the first agent run, OpenClaw bootstraps the workspace (default
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`~/.openclaw/workspace`):
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- Seeds `AGENTS.md`, `BOOTSTRAP.md`, `IDENTITY.md`, `USER.md`.
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- Runs a short Q&A ritual (one question at a time).
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- Writes identity + preferences to `IDENTITY.md`, `USER.md`, `SOUL.md`.
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- Removes `BOOTSTRAP.md` when finished so it only runs once.
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For embedded/local model runs, OpenClaw keeps `BOOTSTRAP.md` out of the
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privileged system context. On the primary interactive first run, it still passes
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the file contents in the user prompt so models that do not reliably call the
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`read` tool can complete the ritual. If the current run cannot safely access the
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workspace, the agent gets a limited bootstrap note instead of a generic greeting.
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## Skipping bootstrapping
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To skip this for a pre-seeded workspace, run `openclaw onboard --skip-bootstrap`.
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## Where it runs
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Bootstrapping always runs on the **gateway host**. If the macOS app connects to
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a remote Gateway, the workspace and bootstrapping files live on that remote
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machine.
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<Note>
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When the Gateway runs on another machine, edit workspace files on the gateway
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host (for example, `user@gateway-host:~/.openclaw/workspace`).
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</Note>
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## Related docs
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- macOS app onboarding: [Onboarding](/start/onboarding)
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- Workspace layout: [Agent workspace](/concepts/agent-workspace)
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