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openclaw/docs/platforms/mac/peekaboo.md
2026-05-05 22:16:37 -07:00

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---
summary: "PeekabooBridge integration for macOS UI automation"
read_when:
- Hosting PeekabooBridge in OpenClaw.app
- Integrating Peekaboo via Swift Package Manager
- Changing PeekabooBridge protocol/paths
- Deciding between PeekabooBridge, Codex Computer Use, and cua-driver MCP
title: "Peekaboo bridge"
---
OpenClaw can host **PeekabooBridge** as a local, permission-aware UI automation
broker. This lets the `peekaboo` CLI drive UI automation while reusing the
macOS app's TCC permissions.
## What this is (and is not)
- **Host**: OpenClaw.app can act as a PeekabooBridge host.
- **Client**: use the `peekaboo` CLI (no separate `openclaw ui ...` surface).
- **UI**: visual overlays stay in Peekaboo.app; OpenClaw is a thin broker host.
## Relationship to Computer Use
OpenClaw has three desktop-control paths, and they intentionally stay separate:
- **PeekabooBridge host**: OpenClaw.app can host the local PeekabooBridge socket.
The `peekaboo` CLI remains the client and uses OpenClaw.app's macOS
permissions for Peekaboo automation primitives such as screenshots, clicks,
menus, dialogs, Dock actions, and window management.
- **Codex Computer Use**: the bundled `codex` plugin prepares Codex app-server,
verifies that Codex's `computer-use` MCP server is available, and then lets
Codex own native desktop-control tool calls during Codex-mode turns. OpenClaw
does not proxy those actions through PeekabooBridge.
- **Direct `cua-driver` MCP**: OpenClaw can register TryCua's upstream
`cua-driver mcp` server as a normal MCP server. That gives agents the CUA
driver's own schemas and pid/window/element-index workflow without routing
through the Codex marketplace or the PeekabooBridge socket.
Use Peekaboo when you want the broad macOS automation surface and OpenClaw.app's
permission-aware bridge host. Use Codex Computer Use when a Codex-mode agent
should rely on Codex's native computer-use plugin. Use direct `cua-driver mcp`
when you want the CUA driver exposed to any OpenClaw-managed runtime as a normal
MCP server.
## Enable the bridge
In the macOS app:
- Settings → **Enable Peekaboo Bridge**
When enabled, OpenClaw starts a local UNIX socket server. If disabled, the host
is stopped and `peekaboo` will fall back to other available hosts.
## Client discovery order
Peekaboo clients typically try hosts in this order:
1. Peekaboo.app (full UX)
2. Claude.app (if installed)
3. OpenClaw.app (thin broker)
Use `peekaboo bridge status --verbose` to see which host is active and which
socket path is in use. You can override with:
```bash
export PEEKABOO_BRIDGE_SOCKET=/path/to/bridge.sock
```
## Security and permissions
- The bridge validates **caller code signatures**; an allowlist of TeamIDs is
enforced (Peekaboo host TeamID + OpenClaw app TeamID).
- Requests time out after ~10 seconds.
- If required permissions are missing, the bridge returns a clear error message
rather than launching System Settings.
## Snapshot behavior (automation)
Snapshots are stored in memory and expire automatically after a short window.
If you need longer retention, re-capture from the client.
## Troubleshooting
- If `peekaboo` reports "bridge client is not authorized", ensure the client is
properly signed or run the host with `PEEKABOO_ALLOW_UNSIGNED_SOCKET_CLIENTS=1`
in **debug** mode only.
- If no hosts are found, open one of the host apps (Peekaboo.app or OpenClaw.app)
and confirm permissions are granted.
## Related
- [macOS app](/platforms/macos)
- [macOS permissions](/platforms/mac/permissions)