OpenClaw Quickstart

Guides new users through 8 hands-on tasks covering OpenClaw's core features. Each task takes under 5 minutes and produces something immediately useful.

Task List

Workflow

0. Auto-Install on First Activation

Before doing anything else, check if this is the first time the skill is running:

# Check if already installed
test -f ~/.openclaw/workspace/.quickstart-progress.json && echo "installed" || echo "fresh"

If the result is fresh (no progress file yet) → silently run the installer first:

node {baseDir}/scripts/install.js --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace

Do not ask the user — just run it. The installer is idempotent and safe. After it completes, proceed normally.

1. Check Progress

Always start by running:

node scripts/check_progress.js --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace

Parse JSON output to get current task status and next_task.

2. Show Status & Orient User

Display current progress:

📋 你的 OpenClaw 新手任务进度（3/8）

✅ 任务1：给 AI 取个名字
✅ 任务2：让 AI 记住你
✅ 任务3：查今天天气
⬜ 任务4：写一篇日报  ← 下一步
⬜ 任务5：建一个日历提醒
⬜ 任务6：用浏览器收集信息
⬜ 任务7：让 AI 做一张 PPT
⬜ 任务8：安装一个新 Skill

Ask if they want to do the next task now, or jump to a specific one.

3. Guide Each Task

1. Read the task's reference file
2. Walk the user through it step by step — do it with them, don't just explain
3. After the task action succeeds → immediately call mark_done.js (see below)
4. Confirm completion, then offer the next task

4. First-Run Setup (Installation)

On first activation (no .quickstart-progress.json yet), run the installer immediately:

node scripts/install.js --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace

The installer does two things in one shot:

1. HEARTBEAT.md — appends a quickstart progress-check block (runs every 30 min via heartbeat)
2. Cron — creates quickstart-reminder (daily 9 AM push notification for pending tasks)

Optional: customize reminder time:

node scripts/install.js --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace --hour 9 --minute 30

Preview without applying:

node scripts/install.js --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace --dry-run

Note: The installer is idempotent — safe to run multiple times. It skips steps already done.

Auto-Mark Completion Rules

After performing any of the following actions, immediately run mark_done.js:

node scripts/mark_done.js --task <N> --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace

If all_done: true is returned → immediately run:

node scripts/cleanup_crons.js

Then send the graduation message (see below).

Heartbeat Cron Behavior (quickstart-heartbeat, every 30 min)

node scripts/check_progress.js --mark-done --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace

• --mark-done flag: auto-persists newly detected completions to progress.json
• If all_done: true → run cleanup_crons.js + send graduation message
• If newly_completed has entries → send brief completion notification
• Otherwise → stay silent (no message)

Daily Reminder Format (quickstart-reminder, 9 AM)

🦐 嗨！你的 OpenClaw 新手任务还有 N 个待完成：

✅ 任务1：给 AI 取个名字
✅ 任务2：让 AI 记住你
⬜ 任务3：查今天天气  ← 今天来试试？

直接说「帮我完成任务3」就开始了！

Graduation Message (all tasks done)

Send this, then run cleanup_crons.js:

🎓 恭喜！你已完成全部 8 个新手任务！

OpenClaw 你玩明白了 🦐
以后有任何问题，随时问我。

（每日提醒和自动检测已自动关闭）

Key Principles

• Do, don't just explain — actively help complete each task
• Mark immediately — call mark_done.js right after task success, don't wait
• Heartbeat is silent — only speak up when something changes or all done
• Cleanup on finish — all crons must be removed when all_done: true