brave-api-setup

name	brave-api-setup
description	Set up Brave Search API for OpenClaw web_search. Use when user needs to configure Brave API, get Brave API key, enable web search, or fix "missing_brave_api_key" error.
metadata	{"openclaw":{"requires":{"bins":["node"]},"triggers":["Brave Search","brave api","web_search","missing_brave_api_key","search API"]}}

Brave API Setup

Automates Brave Search API key extraction and OpenClaw configuration.

Included Files

File	Description
SKILL.md	This document
scripts/apply-api-key.js	Applies API key to OpenClaw config (Node.js)

Dependencies

• Node.js (for apply-api-key.js)
• OpenClaw browser capability (browser tool)

When to Use

• User wants to enable web_search in OpenClaw
• Error: missing_brave_api_key
• User asks to set up Brave Search API

Prerequisites

• User must have a Brave Search API account
• User must be logged in (openclaw browser profile)
• API key must exist in dashboard

Workflow

Step 1: Navigate to API keys page

browser(action="navigate", profile="openclaw", 
        targetUrl="https://api-dashboard.search.brave.com/app/keys")

Step 2: Click reveal button (eye icon)

Take snapshot, find the reveal button, click it:

browser(action="act", kind="click", ref="<eye-button-ref>")

Step 3: Extract key via JavaScript (avoids LLM transcription error)

browser(action="act", kind="evaluate", 
        fn="(() => { const cells = document.querySelectorAll('td'); for (const cell of cells) { const text = cell.textContent?.trim(); if (text && text.startsWith('BSA') && !text.includes('•') && text.length > 20) return text; } return null; })()")

The result field contains the exact API key.

Step 4: Apply to config (direct file write, no LLM involved)

Relative to skill directory:

node <skill_dir>/scripts/apply-api-key.js "<extracted-key>"

Or use gateway config.patch with the extracted key.

Why This Approach

Problem: LLM can confuse similar characters when transcribing (O vs 0, l vs 1).

Solution:

1. evaluate extracts key via JavaScript → returns exact string
2. apply-api-key.js writes directly to config → bit-perfect

The key never passes through LLM text generation.

Manual Account Setup

If user doesn't have an account:

1. Go to https://api-dashboard.search.brave.com
2. Sign up with email
3. Subscribe to Free plan (requires credit card)
4. Create API key in dashboard
5. Then run this skill