OpenClaw Capabilities Matrix: Complete Guide to 7 Core Modules & 100+ Skills

It’s 2 AM, and I’m staring at my freshly installed OpenClaw terminal, excitedly typing my first question: “What can you help me do?”

Five seconds later, my screen starts scrolling. One skill, two skills, ten skills… over 50 skill listings flood the entire screen. I’m overwhelmed — run_shell_command, browser_navigate, homeassistant_control, whatsapp_send… Each looks impressive, but honestly, I have no idea where to start.

I close the terminal and open OpenClaw’s GitHub repository. That dazzling 162k stars makes me even more anxious: are all these people using features I’m missing? The 700+ community skills on ClawHub feel like a maze. I click through a few — Tesla vehicle control, Gmail automation, GitHub auto-fix… Each one sounds amazing, yet each one leaves me feeling lost.

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If you’ve felt this way too, this article is for you. I’ll systematically walk you through OpenClaw’s 7 core capability modules, explain what those 100+ pre-configured skills actually do, and more importantly — where you should start.

OpenClaw Full Capability Overview

AgentSkills: Installing “Skill Packages” for AI

Let’s start with a fundamental concept — what exactly is AgentSkills?

Think of it as installing “skill packages” for AI, similar to learning new skills in a game. This standard was developed by Anthropic, and it’s not just OpenClaw using it — Claude Code and Cursor support it too. The benefit is these skills can be packaged, version-controlled, and reused — theoretically, skills you develop for OpenClaw can also run in Cursor.

To be honest, I was initially confused about the differences between OpenClaw, AutoGPT, and LangChain. After using them for a while, I figured it out:

OpenClaw vs AutoGPT: OpenClaw directly executes system commands, while AutoGPT simulates browser operations like a human. The former is more efficient but requires careful permission management; the latter is safer but slower.

OpenClaw vs LangChain: OpenClaw is ready to use out of the box — install and go. LangChain is a framework that requires you to write code to assemble functionality. It’s like buying a pre-built computer versus building your own.

OpenClaw’s core advantages boil down to three points: local-first (data stays home), open-source (MIT license, modify freely), and active community (162k GitHub stars is no joke). As of February 2026, ClawHub has over 700 community-contributed skills, from Tesla control to grocery ordering — pretty much anything you can think of has been built.

Deep Dive into 7 Core Capability Modules

Module 1: Shell Command Execution — AI’s System Control

This is OpenClaw’s most fundamental and powerful capability. Simply put, it lets AI directly invoke system commands, just like you typing commands in a terminal.

The first time I had it run a Python script, I felt a bit uncomfortable — I used to run everything manually, now AI does it for me. But once I got used to it, the efficiency gain was obvious. For example, my daily morning log analysis task used to require 3-4 commands. Now I just tell OpenClaw “analyze yesterday’s error logs,” and it automatically finds files, runs scripts, and generates reports.

Typical Applications:

• Automated deployment: complete code pull, build, and service restart with one command
• System monitoring: scheduled checks of disk space, memory usage, process status
• Batch processing: bulk file renaming, format conversion, data cleaning

Core Skills: run_shell_command, execute_python_script, process_monitor

Of course, this capability is also the most “dangerous” — after all, you’re giving AI system-level permissions. I’ll cover this in the security section later.

Module 2: File System Management — AI’s “Read-Write Vision”

This module lets OpenClaw browse, read, and modify local files just like you would.

One scenario particularly impressed me: I needed to find all code containing a specific API call across 50 project folders. Manual search? At least an hour. I told OpenClaw one sentence, 30 seconds done, and it even sorted by call frequency.

What’s more impressive is it understands file content. Not just keyword searching, but actually “comprehending” — for example, when I asked it to “find all functions with unhandled exceptions,” it analyzed code logic to give me results.

Typical Applications:

• Code review: automatically find potential bugs, unused variables
• Log analysis: extract critical error information from GB-sized logs
• Documentation generation: scan code comments to auto-generate API docs

Core Skills: file_search, read_file, write_file, directory_scan

Module 3: Browser Automation — Beyond Clumsy Screenshot Recognition

This module is one of my favorite features.

How do traditional browser automation tools (like Selenium) work? Screenshot → recognize → click → wait → screenshot again. Slow and error-prone. OpenClaw uses Chrome DevTools Protocol, directly operating the browser’s underlying code.

How fast? I tested it — filling out a 10-field form takes Selenium 15 seconds, OpenClaw only 2 seconds. And accuracy is nearly 100% — because it operates on DOM elements, not fuzzy image recognition.

Typical Applications:

• Web data scraping: auto-login, pagination, extract structured data
• Form auto-fill: repetitive registration and application processes
• Automated testing: simulate user actions, discover UI bugs

Core Skills: browser_navigate, element_interact, tab_management, cookie_handler

Once I used it to auto-fill a tedious government form — 20 pages, 5-10 fields per page. Manual filling took half an hour; OpenClaw did it in 3 minutes. That sense of liberation was incredible.

Module 4: Messaging Platform Integration — Connecting Your Digital Life

Supports 13+ messaging platforms. This number sounds exaggerated, but it’s genuinely useful.

My use case is like this: work chat on Slack, family on WhatsApp, tech discussions on Discord, clients via Telegram. I used to switch between 4 apps; now everything aggregates in OpenClaw, which alerts me to important messages by priority.

Even better is the auto-reply feature. When on weekend break and work messages come in, it automatically replies “I’m on vacation, will respond Monday.” Clients don’t feel ignored, and I don’t have to watch my phone.

Typical Applications:

• Cross-platform message sync: view all platform messages in one place
• Smart auto-reply: automatically categorize and respond based on message content
• Notification aggregation: unified push from GitHub, Jira, email notifications

Core Skills: whatsapp_send, telegram_bot, slack_integration, discord_webhook

Supported Platforms: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, WeChat (via third-party), Line, Signal, etc.

Module 5: Smart Home Control — The Sci-Fi Feel of Voice Control

This feature made me feel “the future has arrived” for the first time.

Through Home Assistant integration, OpenClaw can control almost all smart devices. On winter mornings, lying in bed, I tell it “prepare to wake up,” and it will:

1. Open bedroom curtains
2. Increase heating temperature
3. Start the coffee maker
4. Play morning news

The whole process takes 5 seconds while I’m still in bed.

Honestly, I initially thought this was a “pseudo-need” — can’t phone apps control things too? But after using it for a month, I realized the difference is between “conversation” and “operation.” I don’t need to remember which menu each device is in; I just state my need, and AI combines the actions itself.

Typical Applications:

• Scene linkage: trigger multi-device coordination with one phrase (home mode, sleep mode)
• Voice control: hands-free, control entire home while lying down
• Smart response: automatically adjust devices based on temperature, lighting

Core Skills: homeassistant_control, turn_off_lights, climate_adjust, scene_trigger

Supported Devices: Philips Hue, Xiaomi smart home, Nest, Sonos speakers, etc.

Module 6: Workflow Automation — The Magic of Your Time Manager

Cron jobs sound technical, but they’re essentially “automatically doing things on schedule.”

I’ve set up these workflows:

• Every Monday at 8 AM: Summarize last week’s GitHub code changes, generate weekly report and send to me
• Every day at 11 PM: Backup important documents to cloud
• 1st of each month: Organize last month’s expenses, generate financial report

I used to do all this manually; now it’s completely automated. The time saved goes to truly important things — that’s what efficiency tools are about.

Typical Applications:

• Scheduled reports: daily, weekly, monthly reports auto-generated
• Calendar management: meeting reminders, schedule sync, conflict detection
• Backup tasks: code, documents, config files scheduled backup

Core Skills: cron_scheduler, calendar_management, workflow_chain, event_trigger

One particularly thoughtful detail: it learns your habits. For example, I’m usually less productive Friday afternoons, so it automatically schedules lighter tasks for that time.

Module 7: Visualization & Interaction — Communication Beyond Text

The Canvas interface is one of OpenClaw’s “black technologies.”

Traditional AI conversations are pure text, but some things can’t be explained clearly with words — like data trends, architecture designs, flowcharts. Canvas lets AI directly “draw” for you.

My most common use case is data analysis. When I tell it “analyze this month’s sales data,” it doesn’t just give me numbers but also draws line charts, pie charts, and marks key inflection points. That visual clarity beats reading a bunch of numbers any day.

Typical Applications:

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• Data visualization: charts, trend lines, heatmaps generated in real-time
• Voice dialogue: no typing, just speak to control
• Remote collaboration: screen sharing, real-time annotation and discussion

Core Skills: canvas_render, voice_wake, screen_share, chart_generate

Community Popular Skills: Real-World Cases

ClawHub has 700+ community-contributed skills, but honestly, most people don’t know which to use after installing OpenClaw. Here I’ve selected 4 popular cases, all real-world scenarios users are implementing.

Case 1: Tesla Vehicle Control — Sci-Fi Becomes Reality

This skill gave me a taste of “the future.”

The scenario: on winter mornings, 10 minutes before leaving, I lie in bed and tell OpenClaw “preheat my car.” It will automatically:

• Turn on Tesla’s remote heating
• Check if battery is sufficient
• If battery below 30%, remind me to charge first

By the time I’m dressed and downstairs, the car is nice and warm. This experience genuinely made me feel “AI changing life” isn’t empty talk.

Feature List:

• Remote lock/unlock
• Climate control
• View real-time battery and range
• Charging status monitoring

Skill Source: ClawHub community contribution, requires Tesla API key

Case 2: Gmail Automation — A Blessing for Email Obsessives

My Gmail inbox perpetually had 800+ unread emails; seeing that number always stressed me out. After using this skill, the situation completely changed.

Every morning at 8 AM, OpenClaw automatically:

1. Archives promotional emails to “Marketing” folder
2. Filters important emails mentioning me, pins them and sends notification
3. Auto-replies to common inquiries (like “Materials received, will respond shortly”)
4. Organizes unread emails older than 7 days into a “To-Do List” and sends it to me

Now my inbox stays under 20 emails. That sense of control feels amazing.

Skill Combination: email_read + email_filter + notification_send + auto_reply

Important Note: Requires Gmail API permissions, recommend using OAuth2 authorization

Case 3: GitHub Workflow Automation — Code Review Assistant

This is my favorite skill; it truly changed how I work.

Previously when CI tests failed, I had to manually:

1. Check logs to find error cause
2. Modify code
3. Commit and wait for tests
4. If still failing, repeat above steps

Now OpenClaw can automatically complete the entire cycle. It will:

• Detect CI failure
• Analyze error logs, pinpoint problem code
• Attempt fixes (like updating dependency versions, correcting syntax errors)
• Automatically open PR and clearly describe what was changed in the description

Real case: a test failed because a dependency library updated its API. OpenClaw analyzed the issue on its own, modified the calling method, opened a PR — the whole process without me lifting a finger. That feeling of “AI actually doing work for me” was surreal.

Real User Feedback: “autonomous code loops that fix tests and open pull requests” — GitHub user review

Skill Chain: CI monitoring → log analysis → code fixing → PR creation → notification

Case 4: Automated Grocery Ordering — The Ultimate Lazy Solution

This feature is a bit “futuristic,” but people are actually using it.

Setup is simple: create a “staples list” (like milk, eggs, bread), and OpenClaw will:

• Check refrigerator inventory weekly (via smart fridge API or manual updates)
• Automatically order from supermarket app when items are low
• Select nearest delivery time
• Send confirmation notification after ordering

I’ve used it for a month; it’s genuinely convenient. But honestly, this feature suits people with extremely regular lifestyles — if you eat similar things weekly, automation saves lots of time; if your diet is highly variable, manual shopping might be better.

Skill Source: ClawHub community skill, supports Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and other platforms

Skills Usage Path from Beginner to Expert

Many people’s first question after installing OpenClaw is: “Where should I start?”

I asked myself this question too. With 700+ skills in front of me, wanting to try everything resulted in not going deep into anything. Later I figured out a progressive learning path to share with you.

Beginner Stage (Week 1): Building Trust

Core Goal: Understand skill invocation mechanism, overcome fear of “will AI mess up my system”

Recommended Skills:

• file_search: Have it help you find a file on your desktop
• whatsapp_send: Send a test message to yourself
• run_shell_command: Execute simple commands like ls or date

Practice Task: Organize desktop files

Specific operation: Tell OpenClaw “help me move all screenshots on desktop to Screenshots folder.” It will:

1. Scan desktop
2. Identify screenshot files
3. Create folder (if it doesn’t exist)
4. Move files
5. Report results

The first time I saw it complete this task on its own, I was both excited and nervous — immediately checked if any files were lost. After checking three times and confirming everything was fine, that feeling of “AI can actually help me work” truly established itself.

Beginner Pitfall Guide:

• Don’t give root permissions right away
• Test in a test folder first
• Manually verify results after each task completes

Intermediate Stage (Weeks 2-4): Building Automated Workflows

Core Goal: Master multi-step workflows, make OpenClaw your daily assistant

Recommended Skills:

• browser_navigate + element_interact: Browser automation
• cron_scheduler: Scheduled tasks
• Skill combinations: Chain 3-5 skills together to complete complex tasks

Practice Task: Daily news summary push

Setup process:

1. Every morning at 7 AM, OpenClaw visits your followed news sites
2. Scrapes headlines and summaries from tech and finance sections
3. Uses AI to summarize into a 200-word brief
4. Sends via WhatsApp to you

My own version added a feature: if the summary mentions companies I follow (like OpenAI, Tesla), it highlights them and sends separate notification.

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Intermediate Tips:

• Learn to check execution logs: openclaw logs
• Understand skill parameters: not just default invocation, learn to customize parameters
• Error handling: Set up failure retry and notification mechanisms

Real Experience:

The biggest challenge at this stage is “debugging.” Once my scheduled task never executed; after troubleshooting for a while, I found the timezone setting was wrong. OpenClaw uses UTC time; I set local time, so tasks always ran while I was asleep. Once you step in this pothole, you remember it.

Advanced Stage (Months 2-3): Becoming a Community Contributor

Core Goal: Develop custom skills, build complex automation systems

Recommended Skills:

• Custom skill development: Write your own skill packages in Python
• Inter-agent communication: Have multiple OpenClaw instances work together
• Docker sandbox: Test dangerous operations in isolated environment

Practice Task: Develop and publish your own skill to ClawHub

My first custom skill was “Douban Movie Recommendations.” The function was simple:

• Every Friday evening, scrape this week’s popular movies from Douban
• Recommend 3 films based on my viewing history (fetched from Douban API)
• Find nearby cinema showtimes
• Generate “viewing plan” and send to me

From development to publication took two weeks, but seeing 20 people star my skill on ClawHub — that sense of achievement was indescribable.

Advanced Player’s World:

At this stage, you’ll find OpenClaw isn’t just a tool; it’s more like a programmable digital assistant. Some people have built complete home automation systems with it, others use it to manage small team DevOps processes, and some have integrated it into their startup projects.

The possibilities are endless, but you need to first walk through the previous two stages.

Security Best Practices

Now for something serious.

There’s a line in OpenClaw’s official documentation that particularly stuck with me: “Running an AI agent with shell access is… spicy.” This isn’t a joke; there are real risks.

Understanding Risk Boundaries: This Isn’t a Toy

Let me share a real case first.

In 2025, security researchers discovered over 21,000 OpenClaw instances exposed on the public internet due to misconfiguration. The results were:

• API keys stolen
• Chat records leaked (including sensitive business discussions)
• Some instances used by hackers for mining
• More seriously, some people’s entire systems were compromised

When I saw this number, I was shocked too. I immediately checked my own configuration; fortunately I was using SSH tunnel with no directly exposed ports.

Three Core Risks:

1. Prompt injection: Malicious users execute dangerous commands through carefully crafted inputs
2. Credential leakage: API keys, database passwords, and other sensitive information get read
3. System intrusion: With shell access, theoretically anything is possible

Snyk’s security report points out that prompt injection is the biggest threat AI Agents face, bar none.

7 Security Golden Rules (Just Follow These)

I’ve compiled a security configuration checklist I always use:

1. Never Expose to Public Internet

Use SSH tunnel or tools like Tailscale to access OpenClaw; never directly open ports. My approach:

• Run OpenClaw locally
• Access remotely via Tailscale VPN
• Secure usage even in coffee shops

2. Principle of Least Privilege

Start restrictive, gradually open up. My permission strategy:

• Week 1: Only allow file reading, sending messages
• Week 2: Add simple shell commands (ls, pwd)
• Week 3: Gradually open file writing, system management permissions

Don’t give root permissions right away; things can really go wrong.

3. Dangerous Command Blacklist

Explicitly prohibit certain commands in config file:

blocked_commands:
  - rm -rf /
  - sudo rm
  - chmod 777
  - dd if=/dev/zero

While OpenClaw has built-in protections, an extra layer of insurance is always good.

4. Sensitive Operation Confirmation Mechanism

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Set operations like file deletion and config modification to require manual confirmation. My configuration:

• Delete file → requires confirmation
• Execute sudo command → requires confirmation
• Access sensitive directories (like ~/.ssh) → requires confirmation

It might feel tedious at first, but it becomes muscle memory with habit.

5. Independent Key Management

Put all API keys and passwords in a separate secrets.yaml file and protect with chmod 600:

chmod 600 ~/.openclaw/secrets.yaml

Never hardcode keys in skill code; this is the most common beginner mistake.

6. Docker Sandbox Isolation

Run non-primary OpenClaw instances in Docker containers. Benefits:

• Even if something goes wrong, it can’t affect the main system
• Can reset container anytime
• Convenient for testing new skills

My test environment is a Docker container; I can experiment freely without worry.

7. Regular Security Audits

Monthly check:

• Any abnormal commands in logs
• Permission settings modified
• API keys leaked (use GitHub’s key scanning tool)

Sounds professional, but it’s really just spending 10 minutes reviewing logs. Make it a habit.

Warning Case: The Moltbook Lesson

Moltbook was an AI-driven social network using OpenClaw for backend tasks. In 2025, due to misconfiguration, it led to:

• All user chat records leaked
• Database credentials stolen
• System implanted with backdoor

Post-incident analysis found the problem was using default configuration without changes, directly exposed on public internet. The lesson: never use default config, never think “probably no one will attack my small project.”

Security Expert Advice:

Treat OpenClaw as “privileged infrastructure,” managing it as rigorously as production servers. Not trying to scare you from using it, but to use it with proper respect.

Conclusion

Writing this, I think back to that night at 2 AM when I first opened OpenClaw, the 50 skill listings scrolling on screen making me both excited and confused. Now months later, it’s become part of my digital life — helping me organize emails in the morning, assisting with code review during the day, automatically backing up documents at night.

If I had to summarize OpenClaw’s core value, I’d say three points:

1. This Isn’t a Toy, It’s a Productivity Tool

Many people treat AI Agents as “show-off” tools, installing them for two days then uninstalling. But OpenClaw’s real value lies in long-term use — when it learns your work habits, when automated workflows truly run, you’ll find what you save isn’t just time, but mental energy. Those repetitive, attention-draining small tasks, once handed to AI, let you focus on truly important things.

2. Start Small, Explore Progressively

Don’t be intimidated by 700+ skills, and don’t try to build complex systems right away. Start with organizing desktop files, start with sending a WhatsApp message. After building trust, gradually try browser automation, scheduled tasks, skill combinations. This process might take weeks or even months, but you’ll feel every step of progress.

3. Security Always Comes First

The lesson of 21,000 exposed instances is right there. Using OpenClaw is like driving — powerful, convenient, but requires following rules. No public internet exposure, least privilege principle, regular audits — these aren’t optional, they’re mandatory.

Take Action Now

If you’ve already installed OpenClaw but don’t know where to start, my recommendation:

1. Today: Try file_search, have it help you find a file
2. This week: Set up a simple automation task (like daily scheduled backup of a folder)
3. Next month: Explore ClawHub, try a community skill (recommend Gmail management or GitHub automation)

OpenClaw’s capability boundaries depend on your imagination and patience. 7 modules and 100+ skills are just the starting point; the real magic happens when you combine them to solve your unique problems.

After all this, it’s your turn to try it out. Have fun, and remember — safety first.

18 min read · Published on: Feb 4, 2026 · Modified on: Feb 5, 2026

Easton

AI & Intelligence