---
summary: "CLI reference: commands, flags, config, lockfile, sync behavior."
read_when:
- Using the ClawHub CLI
- Debugging install, update, publish, or sync
---
# CLI
CLI package: `clawhub`, bin: `clawhub`.
Install it globally with npm or pnpm:
```bash
npm i -g clawhub
# or
pnpm add -g clawhub
```
Then verify it:
```bash
clawhub --help
clawhub login
clawhub whoami
```
## Global flags
- `--workdir
`: working directory (default: cwd; falls back to Clawdbot workspace if configured)
- `--dir `: install dir under workdir (default: `skills`)
- `--site `: base URL for browser login (default: `https://clawhub.ai`)
- `--registry `: API base URL (default: discovered, else `https://clawhub.ai`)
- `--no-input`: disable prompts
Env equivalents:
- `CLAWHUB_SITE` (legacy `CLAWDHUB_SITE`)
- `CLAWHUB_REGISTRY` (legacy `CLAWDHUB_REGISTRY`)
- `CLAWHUB_WORKDIR` (legacy `CLAWDHUB_WORKDIR`)
### HTTP proxy
The CLI respects standard HTTP proxy environment variables for systems behind
corporate proxies or restricted networks:
- `HTTPS_PROXY` / `https_proxy`
- `HTTP_PROXY` / `http_proxy`
- `NO_PROXY` / `no_proxy`
When any of these variables is set, the CLI routes outbound requests through
the specified proxy. `HTTPS_PROXY` is used for HTTPS requests, `HTTP_PROXY`
for plain HTTP. `NO_PROXY` / `no_proxy` is respected to bypass the proxy for
specific hosts or domains.
This is required on systems where direct outbound connections are blocked
(e.g. Docker containers, Hetzner VPS with proxy-only internet, corporate
firewalls).
Example:
```bash
export HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy.example.com:3128
export NO_PROXY=localhost,127.0.0.1
clawhub search "my query"
```
When no proxy variable is set, behavior is unchanged (direct connections).
## Config file
Stores your API token + cached registry URL.
- macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/clawhub/config.json`
- Linux/XDG: `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/clawhub/config.json` or `~/.config/clawhub/config.json`
- Windows: `%APPDATA%\\clawhub\\config.json`
- Legacy fallback: if `clawhub/config.json` does not exist yet but `clawdhub/config.json` does, the CLI reuses the legacy path
- override: `CLAWHUB_CONFIG_PATH` (legacy `CLAWDHUB_CONFIG_PATH`)
## Commands
### `login` / `auth login`
- Default: opens browser to `/cli/auth` and completes via loopback callback.
- Headless: `clawhub login --token clh_...`
### `whoami`
- Verifies the stored token via `/api/v1/whoami`.
### `star ` / `unstar `
- Adds/removes a skill from your highlights.
- Calls `POST /api/v1/stars/` and `DELETE /api/v1/stars/`.
- `--yes` skips confirmation.
### `search `
- Calls `/api/v1/search?q=...`.
- Search favors exact slug/name token matches before download popularity. A standalone slug token such as `map` matches `personal-map` more strongly than the substring inside `amap`.
- Downloads are a small popularity prior, not a guarantee of top placement.
- If a skill should appear but does not, run `clawhub inspect ` while logged in to check owner-visible moderation diagnostics before renaming metadata.
### `explore`
- Lists newest skills via `/api/v1/skills?limit=...&sort=createdAt` (sorted by `createdAt` desc).
- Flags:
- `--limit ` (1-200, default: 25)
- `--sort newest|updated|downloads|rating|installs|installsAllTime|trending` (default: newest)
- `--json` (machine-readable output)
- Output: ` v` (summary truncated to 50 chars).
### `inspect `
- Fetches skill metadata and version files without installing.
- `--version `: inspect a specific version (default: latest).
- `--tag `: inspect a tagged version (e.g. `latest`).
- `--versions`: list version history (first page).
- `--limit `: max versions to list (1-200).
- `--files`: list files for the selected version.
- `--file `: fetch raw file content (text files only; 200KB limit).
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
### `install `
- Resolves latest version via `/api/v1/skills/`.
- Downloads zip via `/api/v1/download`.
- Extracts into `//`.
- Writes:
- `/.clawhub/lock.json` (legacy `.clawdhub`)
- `/.clawhub/origin.json` (legacy `.clawdhub`)
### `uninstall `
- Removes `//` and deletes the lockfile entry.
- Interactive: asks for confirmation.
- Non-interactive (`--no-input`): requires `--yes`.
### `list`
- Reads `/.clawhub/lock.json` (legacy `.clawdhub`).
### `update [slug]` / `update --all`
- Computes fingerprint from local files.
- If fingerprint matches a known version: no prompt.
- If fingerprint does not match:
- refuses by default
- overwrites with `--force` (or prompt, if interactive)
### `skill publish `
- Publishes via `POST /api/v1/skills` (multipart).
- Requires semver: `--version 1.2.3`.
- `--owner ` publishes under an org/user publisher handle when the
actor has publisher access.
- `--migrate-owner` moves an existing skill to `--owner` while publishing a new
version. Requires admin/owner access on both publishers.
- Owner and review behavior is explained in `docs/publishing.md`.
- Publishing a skill means it is released under `MIT-0` on ClawHub.
- Published skills are free to use, modify, and redistribute without attribution.
- ClawHub does not support paid skills or per-skill pricing.
- Legacy alias: `publish `.
### `delete `
- Soft-delete a skill (owner, moderator, or admin).
- Calls `DELETE /api/v1/skills/{slug}`.
- `--reason ` records a moderation note on the skill and audit log.
- `--note ` is an alias for `--reason`.
- `--yes` skips confirmation.
### `undelete `
- Restore a hidden skill (owner, moderator, or admin).
- Calls `POST /api/v1/skills/{slug}/undelete`.
- `--reason ` records a moderation note on the skill and audit log.
- `--note ` is an alias for `--reason`.
- `--yes` skips confirmation.
### `hide `
- Hide a skill (owner, moderator, or admin).
- Alias for `delete`.
### `unhide `
- Unhide a skill (owner, moderator, or admin).
- Alias for `undelete`.
### `skill rename `
- Rename an owned skill and keep the previous slug as a redirect alias.
- Calls `POST /api/v1/skills/{slug}/rename`.
- `--yes` skips confirmation.
### `skill merge `
- Merge one owned skill into another owned skill.
- The source slug stops listing publicly and becomes a redirect alias to the target.
- Calls `POST /api/v1/skills/{sourceSlug}/merge`.
- `--yes` skips confirmation.
### `transfer`
- Ownership transfer workflow.
- Subcommands:
- `transfer request [--message "..."] [--yes]`
- `transfer list [--outgoing]`
- `transfer accept [--yes]`
- `transfer reject [--yes]`
- `transfer cancel [--yes]`
- Endpoints:
- `POST /api/v1/skills/{slug}/transfer`
- `POST /api/v1/skills/{slug}/transfer/accept`
- `POST /api/v1/skills/{slug}/transfer/reject`
- `POST /api/v1/skills/{slug}/transfer/cancel`
- `GET /api/v1/transfers/incoming`
- `GET /api/v1/transfers/outgoing`
### `package explore [query...]`
- Browses or searches the unified package catalog via `GET /api/v1/packages` and `GET /api/v1/packages/search`.
- Use this for plugins and other package-family entries; top-level `search` remains the skill search surface.
- Flags:
- `--family skill|code-plugin|bundle-plugin`
- `--official`
- `--executes-code`
- `--target `, `--os `, `--arch `, `--libc `
- `--requires-browser`, `--requires-desktop`, `--requires-native-deps`
- `--requires-external-service`, `--external-service `
- `--binary `, `--os-permission `
- `--artifact-kind legacy-zip|npm-pack`
- `--npm-mirror`
- `--limit ` (1-100, default: 25)
- `--json`
Examples:
```bash
clawhub package explore --family code-plugin
clawhub package explore --family code-plugin --os darwin --requires-desktop
clawhub package explore --family code-plugin --artifact-kind npm-pack
clawhub package explore --npm-mirror
clawhub package explore episodic-claw --family code-plugin
```
### `package inspect `
- Fetches package metadata without installing.
- Use this for plugin metadata, compatibility, verification, source, and version/file inspection.
- `--version `: inspect a specific version (default: latest).
- `--tag `: inspect a tagged version (e.g. `latest`).
- `--versions`: list version history (first page).
- `--limit `: max versions to list (1-100).
- `--files`: list files for the selected version.
- `--file `: fetch raw file content (text files only; 200KB limit).
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
### `package download `
- Resolves a package version through
`GET /api/v1/packages/{name}/versions/{version}/artifact`.
- Downloads the artifact from the resolver's `downloadUrl`.
- Verifies ClawHub SHA-256 for all artifacts.
- For ClawPack npm-pack artifacts, also verifies npm `sha512` integrity,
npm shasum, and the tarball's `package.json` name/version.
- Legacy ZIP versions download through the legacy ZIP route.
- Flags:
- `--version `: download a specific version.
- `--tag `: download a tagged version (default: `latest`).
- `-o, --output `: output file or directory.
- `--force`: overwrite an existing output file.
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Examples:
```bash
clawhub package download @openclaw/example-plugin --tag latest
clawhub package download @openclaw/example-plugin --version 1.2.3 -o artifacts/
```
### `package verify `
- Computes ClawHub SHA-256, npm `sha512` integrity, and npm shasum for a local
artifact.
- With `--package`, resolves expected metadata from ClawHub and compares the
local file against the published artifact metadata.
- With direct digest flags, verifies without a network lookup.
- Flags:
- `--package `: package name to resolve expected artifact metadata.
- `--version ` or `--tag `: expected package version.
- `--sha256 `: expected ClawHub SHA-256.
- `--npm-integrity `: expected npm integrity.
- `--npm-shasum `: expected npm shasum.
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Examples:
```bash
clawhub package verify ./example-plugin-1.2.3.tgz --package @openclaw/example-plugin --version 1.2.3
clawhub package verify ./example-plugin-1.2.3.tgz --sha256
```
### `package delete `
- Soft-deletes a package and all releases.
- Requires the package owner, an org publisher owner/admin, platform moderator,
or platform admin.
- Flags:
- `--yes`: skip confirmation.
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Example:
```bash
clawhub package delete @openclaw/example-plugin --yes
```
### `package report`
- Authenticated command for reporting a package to moderators.
- Calls `POST /api/v1/packages/{name}/report`.
- Reports are package-level, optionally tied to a version, and become visible
to moderators for review.
- Reports do not auto-hide packages or block downloads by themselves.
- Flags:
- `--version `: optional package version to attach to the report.
- `--reason `: required report reason.
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Example:
```bash
clawhub package report @openclaw/example-plugin --version 1.2.3 --reason "suspicious native payload"
```
### `package appeal`
- Owner/publisher command for appealing release moderation.
- Calls `POST /api/v1/packages/{name}/appeal`.
- Appeals are accepted for quarantined, revoked, suspicious, or malicious
releases.
- Flags:
- `--version `: required package version.
- `--message `: required appeal message.
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Example:
```bash
clawhub package appeal @openclaw/example-plugin --version 1.2.3 --message "linked source release explains the native binary"
```
### `package moderation-status`
- Owner command for checking package moderation visibility.
- Calls `GET /api/v1/packages/{name}/moderation`.
- Shows current package scan state, open report count, latest release manual
moderation state, download block state, and moderation reasons.
- Flags:
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Example:
```bash
clawhub package moderation-status @openclaw/example-plugin
```
### `package readiness `
- Checks whether a package is ready for future OpenClaw consumption.
- Calls `GET /api/v1/packages/{name}/readiness`.
- Reports blockers for official status, ClawPack availability, artifact digest,
source provenance, OpenClaw compatibility, host targets, environment metadata,
and scan state.
- Flags:
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Example:
```bash
clawhub package readiness @openclaw/example-plugin
```
### `package migration-status `
- Shows operator-oriented migration status for a package that may replace a
bundled OpenClaw plugin.
- Calls the same computed readiness endpoint as `package readiness`, but prints
migration-focused status, latest version, official-package state, checks, and
blockers.
- Flags:
- `--json`: machine-readable output.
Example:
```bash
clawhub package migration-status @openclaw/example-plugin
```
### `package publish `
- Publishes a code plugin or bundle plugin via `POST /api/v1/packages`.
- `` accepts:
- Local folder path: `./my-plugin`
- Local ClawPack npm-pack tarball: `./my-plugin-1.2.3.tgz`
- GitHub repo: `owner/repo` or `owner/repo@ref`
- GitHub URL: `https://github.com/owner/repo`
- Metadata is auto-detected from `package.json`, `openclaw.plugin.json`, and
real OpenClaw bundle markers such as `.codex-plugin/plugin.json`,
`.claude-plugin/plugin.json`, and `.cursor-plugin/plugin.json`.
- `.tgz` sources are treated as ClawPack. The CLI uploads the exact npm-pack
bytes and uses the extracted `package/` contents only for validation and
metadata prefill.
- Code-plugin folders are packed into a ClawPack npm tarball before upload so
OpenClaw installs can verify the exact artifact. Bundle-plugin folders still
use the extracted-file publish path.
- For GitHub sources, source attribution is auto-populated from the repo, resolved commit, ref, and subpath.
- For local folders, source attribution is auto-detected from local git when the origin remote points at GitHub.
- External code plugins must declare `openclaw.compat.pluginApi` and
`openclaw.build.openclawVersion` explicitly.
Top-level `package.json.version` is not used as a fallback for publish validation.
- `--dry-run` previews the resolved publish payload without uploading.
- `--json` emits machine-readable output for CI.
- `--owner ` publishes under a user or org publisher handle when the actor has publisher access.
- Scoped package names must match the selected owner. See `docs/publishing.md`.
- Existing flags (`--family`, `--name`, `--version`, `--source-repo`, `--source-commit`, `--source-ref`, `--source-path`) still work as overrides.
- Private GitHub repos require `GITHUB_TOKEN`.
#### Recommended local flow
Use `--dry-run` first so you can confirm the resolved package metadata and
source attribution before creating a live release:
```bash
npm pack
clawhub package publish ./my-plugin-1.2.3.tgz --family code-plugin --dry-run
clawhub package publish ./my-plugin-1.2.3.tgz --family code-plugin
```
#### Local folder flow
For code plugins, folder publish builds and uploads a ClawPack artifact from
the package folder:
```bash
clawhub package publish ./my-plugin --family code-plugin --dry-run
clawhub package publish ./my-plugin --family code-plugin
```
#### Minimal `package.json` for `--family code-plugin`
External code plugins need a small amount of OpenClaw metadata in
`package.json`. This minimal manifest is enough for a successful publish:
```json
{
"name": "@myorg/openclaw-my-plugin",
"version": "1.0.0",
"type": "module",
"openclaw": {
"extensions": ["./index.ts"],
"compat": {
"pluginApi": ">=2026.3.24-beta.2"
},
"build": {
"openclawVersion": "2026.3.24-beta.2"
}
}
}
```
Required fields:
- `openclaw.compat.pluginApi`
- `openclaw.build.openclawVersion`
Notes:
- `package.json.version` is your package release version, but it is not used as
a fallback for OpenClaw compatibility/build validation.
- `openclaw.hostTargets` and `openclaw.environment` are optional metadata.
ClawHub may surface them when present, but they are not required for publish.
- `openclaw.compat.minGatewayVersion` and
`openclaw.build.pluginSdkVersion` are optional extras if you want to publish
more detailed compatibility metadata.
- If you are using an older `clawhub` CLI release, upgrade before publishing so
the local preflight checks run before upload.
#### GitHub Actions
ClawHub also ships an official reusable workflow at
[`/.github/workflows/package-publish.yml`](../.github/workflows/package-publish.yml)
for plugin repos.
Typical caller setup:
```yaml
name: Package Publish
on:
pull_request:
workflow_dispatch:
push:
tags:
- "v*"
jobs:
dry-run:
if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
uses: openclaw/clawhub/.github/workflows/package-publish.yml@v0.12.0
with:
dry_run: true
publish:
if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
permissions:
contents: read
id-token: write
uses: openclaw/clawhub/.github/workflows/package-publish.yml@v0.12.0
with:
dry_run: false
secrets:
clawhub_token: ${{ secrets.CLAWHUB_TOKEN }}
```
Notes:
- The reusable workflow defaults `source` to the caller repo.
- For monorepos, pass `source_path` so the workflow publishes the plugin
package folder, for example `source_path: extensions/codex`.
- Pin the reusable workflow to a stable tag or full commit SHA. Do not run release publishing from `@main`.
- `pull_request` should use `dry_run: true` so CI stays non-polluting.
- Real publishes should be limited to trusted events such as `workflow_dispatch` or tag pushes.
- Trusted publishing without a secret only works on `workflow_dispatch`; tag pushes still need `clawhub_token`.
- Keep `clawhub_token` available for first publish, untrusted packages, or break-glass publishes.
- The workflow uploads the JSON result as an artifact and exposes it as workflow outputs.
### `sync`
- Scans for local skill folders and publishes new/changed ones.
- Roots can be any folder: a skills directory or a single skill folder with `SKILL.md`.
- Auto-adds Clawdbot skill roots when `~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json` is present:
- `agent.workspace/skills` (main agent)
- `routing.agents.*.workspace/skills` (per-agent)
- `~/.clawdbot/skills` (shared)
- `skills.load.extraDirs` (shared packs)
- Respects `CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH` / `CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR` and `OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH` / `OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR`.
- Flags:
- `--root ` extra scan roots
- `--all` upload without prompting
- `--dry-run` show plan only
- `--bump patch|minor|major` (default: patch)
- `--changelog ` (non-interactive)
- `--tags a,b,c` (default: latest)
- `--concurrency ` (default: 4)
Telemetry:
- Sent during `sync` when logged in, unless `CLAWHUB_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1` (legacy `CLAWDHUB_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1`).
- Details: `docs/telemetry.md`.