> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://opensandbox-oc-s-762ac928075c46d2828bcb22.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# OpenClaw

> Multi-channel AI gateway with plugin SDK, native MCP support, and hot-reload config

[OpenClaw](https://openclaw.ai) is a multi-channel AI gateway with a rich plugin SDK, native MCP support, and hot-reload configuration. It comes with 6 built-in channels and 20+ plugin channels.

## What you get

| Capability                | Description                                                   |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Multi-channel gateway** | Serves Telegram, Slack, Discord, and more from a single agent |
| **Plugin SDK**            | Extend the agent with custom plugins                          |
| **Native MCP**            | First-class Model Context Protocol support for tool servers   |
| **Hot-reload config**     | Configuration changes take effect without gateway restart     |
| **Built-in channels**     | 6 built-in channel types out of the box                       |
| **Plugin channels**       | 20+ additional channels via the plugin ecosystem              |

## Create an OpenClaw agent

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash CLI theme={null}
  oc agent create my-claw --core openclaw
  ```

  ```bash REST API theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.opencomputer.dev/v1/agents \
    -H "X-API-Key: $OC_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{"id": "my-claw", "core": "openclaw"}'
  ```
</CodeGroup>

This boots a sandbox with OpenClaw pre-installed, an LLM key configured, and the gateway running. An instance is created automatically.

## Configuration

OpenClaw uses JSON5 configuration at `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` inside the sandbox. Unlike Hermes, OpenClaw supports **hot-reload** — config changes take effect without restarting the gateway.

To inspect or edit manually:

```bash theme={null}
oc shell my-claw
cat ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
```

## MCP servers

OpenClaw has native MCP support. When you [install a package](/agents/packages/gbrain) like gbrain, the platform adds it as an MCP server in the OpenClaw config. To see what MCP servers are configured:

```bash theme={null}
oc shell my-claw
openclaw mcp list
```

## Extending with packages

OpenClaw supports [packages](/agents/packages/gbrain) that add capabilities via MCP servers. Because of hot-reload, package installation takes effect immediately without a gateway restart.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create an OpenClaw Agent" icon="rocket" href="/guides/create-openclaw-agent">
    Step-by-step guide
  </Card>

  <Card title="oc agent CLI" icon="terminal" href="/cli/agents">
    CLI commands for managing agents
  </Card>
</CardGroup>