auto-updater

name	auto-updater
description	Automatically update OpenClaw and installed skills on a schedule. Use when setting up or maintaining daily/weekly update automation, checking for OpenClaw updates, updating all skills, and sending a summary of what changed.

Auto-Updater Skill

Keep OpenClaw and installed skills up to date with a scheduled update routine.

What It Does

This skill helps set up an automated job that:

1. Updates OpenClaw itself
2. Updates installed skills via ClawHub
3. Sends a concise summary of what changed

Preferred OpenClaw Approach

For current OpenClaw versions, prefer the cron tool / scheduler over legacy clawbot / clawdbot CLI examples.

Use an isolated scheduled agent turn that:

1. Runs openclaw update (or openclaw update --dry-run for preview-only flows)
2. Runs clawhub update --all
3. Optionally runs openclaw doctor if the update flow reports config/service issues
4. Sends a short summary back to the user

Core Commands

OpenClaw updates

Preferred command:

openclaw update

Useful variants:

openclaw update status
openclaw update --dry-run
openclaw update --json
openclaw doctor

Notes:

• openclaw update is the current first-class update path.
• On source installs it handles the safe update flow.
• On package-manager installs it uses the package-manager-aware update path.
• openclaw doctor is the follow-up health/fix command, not the main updater.

Skills

clawhub update --all
clawhub list

Scheduling Guidance

When asked to configure automatic updates in OpenClaw:

• Prefer the cron tool instead of legacy CLI openclaw cron add / clawdbot cron add examples.
• Create an isolated scheduled run.
• Deliver a concise summary to the user.
• If the user does not specify a time, ask once and pick a quiet hour in the user’s timezone.

Suggested Scheduled Task Prompt

Use a prompt along these lines for the scheduled run:

Run the scheduled OpenClaw maintenance routine:

1. Check/update OpenClaw with `openclaw update`
2. Update installed skills with `clawhub update --all`
3. If update output suggests config or service problems, run `openclaw doctor`
4. Summarize:
   - whether OpenClaw changed
   - which skills updated
   - any failures or manual follow-up needed

Keep the final report concise and user-facing.

Summary Format

Preferred shape:

🔄 Auto-update complete

OpenClaw: updated / already current / failed
Skills updated: ...
Issues: none / short list

Keep it scan-friendly:

• version changes if known
• updated skills grouped together
• errors surfaced clearly
• avoid long raw logs

Manual Checks

openclaw update status
openclaw status
clawhub list

Troubleshooting

Update failed

Check:

1. openclaw update status
2. openclaw doctor
3. openclaw gateway status
4. clawhub list

Skills failed to update

Common causes:

• network failure
• registry/package resolution issue
• local file modifications in installed skill
• permission issues on the workspace

Try targeted repair:

clawhub update --all --force

Or update one skill explicitly.

Legacy Translation Notes

If older instructions mention these commands, translate them as follows:

• clawdbot / clawbot → openclaw
• clawdhub → clawhub
• clawdbot doctor as updater → usually openclaw update, with openclaw doctor as follow-up diagnostics
• legacy CLI cron examples → OpenClaw cron tool / scheduler jobs

Resources

• OpenClaw update docs: docs/cli/update.md in the local OpenClaw install
• OpenClaw doctor / status / gateway docs in local OpenClaw docs
• ClawHub CLI skill for installing/updating skills