# OpenClaw (Clawdbot) Guide

> OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot) is an open-source personal AI assistant powered by Claude that connects to multiple messaging platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage, SMS, Email, and Signal. It runs on your own infrastructure for complete privacy and control.

OpenClaw acts as a bridge between Anthropic's Claude AI and your favorite communication channels. Key features include multi-platform support, self-hosted privacy, extensible architecture with hooks and plugins, and cross-platform deployment on macOS, Linux, Windows, and Docker.

## Documentation

- [Introduction](https://clawdbot.blog/getting-started/introduction/): Learn what OpenClaw is, its key features, and why you should use it
- [Installation Guide](https://clawdbot.blog/getting-started/installation/): Detailed installation instructions for all platforms
- [Quick Start](https://clawdbot.blog/getting-started/quick-start/): Get OpenClaw running in under 5 minutes
- [Troubleshooting](https://clawdbot.blog/getting-started/troubleshooting/): Common issues and solutions

## Channels

- [WhatsApp](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/whatsapp/): Connect OpenClaw to WhatsApp for personal AI messaging
- [Telegram](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/telegram/): Set up OpenClaw as a Telegram bot (recommended channel)
- [Discord](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/discord/): Run OpenClaw as a Discord bot for servers
- [Slack](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/slack/): Integrate OpenClaw with Slack workspaces
- [iMessage](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/imessage/): Native macOS iMessage integration
- [SMS](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/sms/): SMS messaging via Twilio gateway
- [Email](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/email/): Email integration with IMAP/SMTP
- [Signal](https://clawdbot.blog/channels/signal/): Privacy-focused Signal messaging

## Platforms

- [macOS](https://clawdbot.blog/platforms/macos/): Installation and setup on macOS
- [Linux](https://clawdbot.blog/platforms/linux/): Deploy on Linux servers for 24/7 operation
- [Windows](https://clawdbot.blog/platforms/windows/): Running on Windows 10/11
- [Docker](https://clawdbot.blog/platforms/docker/): Containerized deployment with Docker

## Core Concepts

- [Architecture](https://clawdbot.blog/concepts/architecture/): Understanding OpenClaw's modular architecture
- [Hooks](https://clawdbot.blog/concepts/hooks/): Customize behavior with pre and post processing hooks
- [Plugins](https://clawdbot.blog/concepts/plugins/): Extend functionality with custom plugins
- [TTS](https://clawdbot.blog/concepts/tts/): Text-to-speech voice responses

## Gateway Configuration

- [Configuration](https://clawdbot.blog/gateway/configuration/): Configure the gateway for routing and middleware
- [Security](https://clawdbot.blog/gateway/security/): Secure your deployment with authentication and encryption
- [Remote Access](https://clawdbot.blog/gateway/remote-access/): Access OpenClaw remotely using tunnels or VPNs

## Comparisons

- [OpenClaw vs ChatGPT](https://clawdbot.blog/comparison/clawdbot-vs-chatgpt/): Privacy, customization, and platform comparison
- [OpenClaw vs Siri](https://clawdbot.blog/comparison/clawdbot-vs-siri/): Open-source flexibility vs ecosystem integration
- [OpenClaw vs Alexa](https://clawdbot.blog/comparison/clawdbot-vs-alexa/): Intelligent conversation vs smart home control

## Resources

- [FAQ](https://clawdbot.blog/faq/): Frequently asked questions about OpenClaw
- [Tutorials](https://clawdbot.blog/tutorials/): Step-by-step tutorials for advanced usage
- [Tools](https://clawdbot.blog/tools/): Available tools to extend Claude's capabilities

## Optional

- [Multi-Channel Tutorial](https://clawdbot.blog/tutorials/multi-channel/): Running multiple channels simultaneously
- [Chinese Documentation](https://clawdbot.blog/zh/): Complete documentation in Simplified Chinese