ClaudeClaw Customization

This skill helps users add capabilities or modify behavior. Use AskUserQuestion to understand what they want before making changes.

Mode Detection

Check if .claude-plugin/plugin.json exists in cwd:

cat .claude-plugin/plugin.json 2>/dev/null | grep '"name": "claudeclaw"' && echo "DEVELOPER_MODE" || echo "PLUGIN_MODE"

If plugin mode, offer the user a choice via AskUserQuestion:

• Fork to developer mode (Recommended) — Clone the repo into a new directory, copy state, full self-improvement and customization
• Continue in plugin mode — Limited to channel setup and config changes (no code editing)

If "Fork to developer mode" is chosen, run the migration flow below. Otherwise, proceed with the normal workflow (limited to invoking existing skills like /add-slack, /add-telegram).

Migration: Plugin → Developer Mode

1. AskUserQuestion: "To customize ClaudeClaw fully, you need your own fork. First, fork sbusso/claudeclaw on GitHub. What's your GitHub username?"
2. AskUserQuestion: "Where should I clone the repo?" (default: ~/Code/claudeclaw)

Service name: Derived from the directory name: com.claudeclaw.<dirname> (macOS) / claudeclaw-<dirname> (Linux). For example, if cwd is my-assistant, the service is com.claudeclaw.my-assistant. Determine the correct service name before running service commands below.

3. Stop running service (service name derived from current directory name):
   • macOS: launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claudeclaw.<dirname>.plist
   • Linux: systemctl --user stop claudeclaw-<dirname>
4. Clone: git clone https://github.com/<username>/claudeclaw.git <clone-path>
5. Copy state from current data directory: cp -r store groups .env <clone-path>/
6. AskUserQuestion: "Copy logs too?" If yes: cp -r logs <clone-path>/
7. Clear stale sessions: sqlite3 <clone-path>/store/messages.db "DELETE FROM sessions"
8. Install and build: cd <clone-path> && npm install && npm run build
9. Set up upstream: cd <clone-path> && git remote add upstream https://github.com/sbusso/claudeclaw.git
10. Run service setup: cd <clone-path> && npx tsx setup/index.ts --step service
11. Print: "Migration complete! Run cd <clone-path> && claude to use developer mode. Remove --plugin-dir from your Claude Code invocation."

Workflow

1. Understand the request - Ask clarifying questions
2. Plan the changes - Identify files to modify. If a skill exists for the request (e.g., /add-telegram for adding Telegram), invoke it instead of implementing manually.
3. Implement - Make changes directly to the code
4. Test guidance - Tell user how to verify

Key Files

Common Customization Patterns

Adding a New Input Channel (e.g., Telegram, Slack, Email)

Questions to ask:

• Which channel? (Telegram, Slack, Discord, email, SMS, etc.)
• Same trigger word or different?
• Same memory hierarchy or separate?
• Should messages from this channel go to existing groups or new ones?

Implementation pattern:

1. Create src/channels/{name}.ts implementing the Channel interface from src/orchestrator/types.ts (see src/channels/whatsapp.ts for reference)
2. Add the channel instance to main() in src/index.ts and wire callbacks (onMessage, onChatMetadata)
3. Messages are stored via the onMessage callback; routing is automatic via ownsJid()

Adding a New MCP Integration

Questions to ask:

• What service? (Calendar, Notion, database, etc.)
• What operations needed? (read, write, both)
• Which groups should have access?

Implementation:

1. Add MCP server config to the container settings (see src/orchestrator/container-runner.ts for how MCP servers are mounted)
2. Document available tools in groups/CLAUDE.md

Changing Assistant Behavior

Questions to ask:

• What aspect? (name, trigger, persona, response style)
• Apply to all groups or specific ones?

Simple changes → edit src/orchestrator/config.ts Persona changes → edit groups/CLAUDE.md Per-group behavior → edit specific group's CLAUDE.md

Adding New Commands

Questions to ask:

• What should the command do?
• Available in all groups or main only?
• Does it need new MCP tools?

Implementation:

1. Commands are handled by the agent naturally — add instructions to groups/CLAUDE.md or the group's CLAUDE.md
2. For trigger-level routing changes, modify processGroupMessages() in src/index.ts

Changing Deployment

Questions to ask:

• Target platform? (Linux server, Docker, different Mac)
• Service manager? (systemd, Docker, supervisord)

Implementation:

1. Create appropriate service files
2. Update paths in config
3. Provide setup instructions

After Changes

Always tell the user:

# Rebuild and restart
npm run build
# macOS:
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claudeclaw.plist
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claudeclaw.plist
# Linux:
# systemctl --user restart claudeclaw

Example Interaction

User: "Add Telegram as an input channel"

1. Ask: "Should Telegram use the same @Andy trigger, or a different one?"
2. Ask: "Should Telegram messages create separate conversation contexts, or share with WhatsApp groups?"
3. Create src/channels/telegram.ts implementing the Channel interface (see src/channels/whatsapp.ts)
4. Add the channel to main() in src/index.ts
5. Tell user how to authenticate and test