Installation

Use this as the canonical setup path for ClawVault + OpenClaw.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• qmd installed and available on PATH (qmd --version)

ClawVault currently relies on qmd for core query and context workflows.

1) Install ClawVault CLI

npm install -g clawvault
clawvault --version

2) Initialize a Vault

clawvault init ~/memory --name my-brain --qmd-collection my-memory
clawvault setup --theme neural --canvas

Optional environment setup:

export CLAWVAULT_PATH="$HOME/memory"

3) OpenClaw Hook Setup (Canonical)

openclaw hooks install clawvault
openclaw hooks enable clawvault

# Verify discovery + eligibility + wiring
openclaw hooks list --verbose
openclaw hooks info clawvault
openclaw hooks check
clawvault compat

Restart your OpenClaw gateway process after installing/enabling hooks.

Skill vs Hook (Important)

• clawhub install clawvault installs skill guidance into workspace flows.
• openclaw hooks install clawvault installs the runtime hook pack.
• openclaw hooks enable clawvault enables the hook entry in OpenClaw config.

For lifecycle automation (gateway:startup, command:new, session:start, etc.), you need the hook install/enable flow.

AGENTS.md Guidance (Safe Change)

Keep your existing AGENTS instructions. Append a minimal ClawVault block:

## ClawVault
- Run `clawvault wake` at session start.
- Run `clawvault checkpoint` during heavy work.
- Run `clawvault sleep "summary" --next "next steps"` at session end.
- Use `clawvault context "<task>"` before complex planning/execution.

Do not replace your whole AGENTS.md unless you intentionally want to.

Shell Integration (Optional)

eval "$(clawvault shell-init)"

Current aliases added by shell-init:

• cvwake -> clawvault wake
• cvsleep -> clawvault sleep
• cvcheck -> clawvault doctor

Troubleshooting

openclaw hooks enable clawvault fails (hook not found)

openclaw hooks install clawvault
openclaw hooks list --verbose

OpenClaw discovers hooks by precedence:

1. workspace hooks (<workspace>/hooks/)
2. managed hooks (~/.openclaw/hooks/)
3. bundled hooks

If a same-named hook exists in workspace hooks, it can shadow the managed hook.

qmd issues

qmd --version
clawvault doctor

Validate integration state

clawvault compat --strict