---
summary: "ClawHub: public registry for OpenClaw skills and plugins, native install flows, and the clawhub CLI"
read_when:
  - Searching for, installing, or updating skills or plugins
  - Publishing skills or plugins to the registry
  - Configuring the clawhub CLI or its environment overrides
title: "ClawHub"
sidebarTitle: "ClawHub"
---

ClawHub is the public registry for **OpenClaw skills and plugins**.

- Use native `openclaw` commands to search, install, and update skills, and to install plugins from ClawHub.
- Use the separate `clawhub` CLI for registry auth, publish, delete/undelete, and sync workflows.

Site: [clawhub.ai](https://clawhub.ai)

## Quick start

<Steps>
  <Step title="Search">
    ```bash
    openclaw skills search "calendar"
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Install">
    ```bash
    openclaw skills install <skill-slug>
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Use">
    Start a new OpenClaw session — it picks up the new skill.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Publish (optional)">
    For registry-authenticated workflows (publish, sync, manage), install
    the separate `clawhub` CLI:

    ```bash
    npm i -g clawhub
    # or
    pnpm add -g clawhub
    ```

  </Step>
</Steps>

## Native OpenClaw flows

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Skills">
    ```bash
    openclaw skills search "calendar"
    openclaw skills install <skill-slug>
    openclaw skills update --all
    ```

    Native `openclaw` commands install into your active workspace and
    persist source metadata so later `update` calls can stay on ClawHub.

  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Plugins">
    ```bash
    openclaw plugins install clawhub:<package>
    openclaw plugins update --all
    ```

    Bare npm-safe plugin specs are also tried against ClawHub before npm:

    ```bash
    openclaw plugins install openclaw-codex-app-server
    ```

    Use `npm:<package>` when you want npm-only resolution without a
    ClawHub lookup:

    ```bash
    openclaw plugins install npm:openclaw-codex-app-server
    ```

    Plugin installs validate advertised `pluginApi` and
    `minGatewayVersion` compatibility before archive install runs, so
    incompatible hosts fail closed early instead of partially installing
    the package.

  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Note>
`openclaw plugins install clawhub:...` only accepts installable plugin
families. If a ClawHub package is actually a skill, OpenClaw stops and
points you at `openclaw skills install <slug>` instead.

Anonymous ClawHub plugin installs also fail closed for private packages.
Community or other non-official channels can still install, but OpenClaw
warns so operators can review source and verification before enabling
them.
</Note>

## What ClawHub is

- A public registry for OpenClaw skills and plugins.
- A versioned store of skill bundles and metadata.
- A discovery surface for search, tags, and usage signals.

A typical skill is a versioned bundle of files that includes:

- A `SKILL.md` file with the primary description and usage.
- Optional configs, scripts, or supporting files used by the skill.
- Metadata such as tags, summary, and install requirements.

ClawHub uses metadata to power discovery and safely expose skill
capabilities. The registry tracks usage signals (stars, downloads) to
improve ranking and visibility. Each publish creates a new semver
version, and the registry keeps version history so users can audit
changes.

## Workspace and skill loading

The separate `clawhub` CLI also installs skills into `./skills` under
your current working directory. If an OpenClaw workspace is configured,
`clawhub` falls back to that workspace unless you override `--workdir`
(or `CLAWHUB_WORKDIR`). OpenClaw loads workspace skills from
`<workspace>/skills` and picks them up in the **next** session.

If you already use `~/.openclaw/skills` or bundled skills, workspace
skills take precedence. For more detail on how skills are loaded,
shared, and gated, see [Skills](/tools/skills).

## Service features

| Feature                  | Notes                                                               |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Public browsing          | Skills and their `SKILL.md` content are publicly viewable.          |
| Search                   | Embedding-powered (vector search), not just keywords.               |
| Versioning               | Semver, changelogs, and tags (including `latest`).                  |
| Downloads                | Zip per version.                                                    |
| Stars and comments       | Community feedback.                                                 |
| Security scan summaries  | Detail pages show the latest scan state before install or download. |
| Scanner detail pages     | VirusTotal, ClawScan, and static-analysis results have deep links.  |
| Owner recovery dashboard | Publishers can see scan-held owned content from `/dashboard`.       |
| Owner-requested rescans  | Owners can request limited rescans for false-positive recovery.     |
| Moderation               | Approvals and audits.                                               |
| CLI-friendly API         | Suitable for automation and scripting.                              |

## Security and moderation

ClawHub is open by default — anyone can upload skills, but a GitHub
account must be **at least one week old** to publish. This slows down
abuse without blocking legitimate contributors.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Security scans">
    ClawHub runs automated security checks on published skills and plugin
    releases. Public detail pages summarize the current result, and scanner
    rows link to dedicated detail pages for VirusTotal, ClawScan, and static
    analysis.

    Scan-held or blocked releases may be unavailable on public catalog and
    install surfaces while still visible to their owner in `/dashboard`.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Reporting">
    - Any signed-in user can report a skill.
    - Report reasons are required and recorded.
    - Each user can have up to 20 active reports at a time.
    - Skills with more than 3 unique reports are auto-hidden by default.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Moderation">
    - Moderators can view hidden skills, unhide them, delete them, or ban users.
    - Abusing the report feature can result in account bans.
    - Interested in becoming a moderator? Ask in the OpenClaw Discord and contact a moderator or maintainer.

  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## ClawHub CLI

You only need this for registry-authenticated workflows such as
publish/sync.

### Global options

<ParamField path="--workdir <dir>" type="string">
  Working directory. Default: current dir; falls back to OpenClaw workspace.
</ParamField>
<ParamField path="--dir <dir>" type="string" default="skills">
  Skills directory, relative to workdir.
</ParamField>
<ParamField path="--site <url>" type="string">
  Site base URL (browser login).
</ParamField>
<ParamField path="--registry <url>" type="string">
  Registry API base URL.
</ParamField>
<ParamField path="--no-input" type="boolean">
  Disable prompts (non-interactive).
</ParamField>
<ParamField path="-V, --cli-version" type="boolean">
  Print CLI version.
</ParamField>

### Commands

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Auth (login / logout / whoami)">
    ```bash
    clawhub login              # browser flow
    clawhub login --token <token>
    clawhub logout
    clawhub whoami
    ```

    Login options:

    - `--token <token>` — paste an API token.
    - `--label <label>` — label stored for browser login tokens (default: `CLI token`).
    - `--no-browser` — do not open a browser (requires `--token`).

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Search">
    ```bash
    clawhub search "query"
    ```

    Searches skills. For plugin/package discovery, use `clawhub package explore`.

    - `--limit <n>` — max results.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Browse / inspect plugins">
    ```bash
    clawhub package explore --family code-plugin
    clawhub package explore "episodic-claw" --family code-plugin
    clawhub package inspect episodic-claw
    ```

    `package explore` and `package inspect` are the ClawHub CLI surfaces for plugin/package discovery and metadata inspection. Native OpenClaw installs still use `openclaw plugins install clawhub:<package>`.

    Options:

    - `--family skill|code-plugin|bundle-plugin` — filter package family.
    - `--official` — show only official packages.
    - `--executes-code` — show only packages that execute code.
    - `--version <version>` / `--tag <tag>` — inspect a specific package version.
    - `--versions`, `--files`, `--file <path>` — inspect package history and files.
    - `--json` — machine-readable output.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Install / update / list">
    ```bash
    clawhub install <slug>
    clawhub update <slug>
    clawhub update --all
    clawhub list
    ```

    Options:

    - `--version <version>` — install or update to a specific version (single slug only on `update`).
    - `--force` — overwrite if the folder already exists, or when local files do not match any published version.
    - `clawhub list` reads `.clawhub/lock.json`.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Publish skills">
    ```bash
    clawhub skill publish <path>
    ```

    Options:

    - `--slug <slug>` — skill slug.
    - `--name <name>` — display name.
    - `--version <version>` — semver version.
    - `--changelog <text>` — changelog text (can be empty).
    - `--tags <tags>` — comma-separated tags (default: `latest`).

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Publish plugins">
    ```bash
    clawhub package publish <source>
    ```

    `<source>` can be a local folder, `owner/repo`, `owner/repo@ref`, or a
    GitHub URL.

    Options:

    - `--dry-run` — build the exact publish plan without uploading anything.
    - `--json` — emit machine-readable output for CI.
    - `--source-repo`, `--source-commit`, `--source-ref` — optional overrides when auto-detection is not enough.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Request rescans">
    ```bash
    clawhub skill rescan <slug>
    clawhub skill rescan <slug> --yes --json

    clawhub package rescan <name>
    clawhub package rescan <name> --yes --json
    ```

    Rescan commands require a logged-in owner token and target the latest
    published skill version or plugin release. In non-interactive runs, pass
    `--yes`.

    JSON responses include the target kind, name, version, rescan status, and
    remaining/max request counts for that version or release.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Delete / undelete (owner or admin)">
    ```bash
    clawhub delete <slug> --yes
    clawhub undelete <slug> --yes
    ```
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Sync (scan local + publish new or updated)">
    ```bash
    clawhub sync
    ```

    Options:

    - `--root <dir...>` — extra scan roots.
    - `--all` — upload everything without prompts.
    - `--dry-run` — show what would be uploaded.
    - `--bump <type>` — `patch|minor|major` for updates (default: `patch`).
    - `--changelog <text>` — changelog for non-interactive updates.
    - `--tags <tags>` — comma-separated tags (default: `latest`).
    - `--concurrency <n>` — registry checks (default: `4`).

  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Common workflows

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Search">
    ```bash
    clawhub search "postgres backups"
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Find a plugin">
    ```bash
    clawhub package explore --family code-plugin
    clawhub package explore "memory" --family code-plugin
    clawhub package inspect episodic-claw
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Install">
    ```bash
    clawhub install my-skill-pack
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Update all">
    ```bash
    clawhub update --all
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Publish a single skill">
    ```bash
    clawhub skill publish ./my-skill --slug my-skill --name "My Skill" --version 1.0.0 --tags latest
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Sync many skills">
    ```bash
    clawhub sync --all
    ```
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Publish a plugin from GitHub">
    ```bash
    clawhub package publish your-org/your-plugin --dry-run
    clawhub package publish your-org/your-plugin
    clawhub package publish your-org/your-plugin@v1.0.0
    clawhub package publish https://github.com/your-org/your-plugin
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Plugin package metadata

Code plugins must include the required OpenClaw metadata in
`package.json`:

```json
{
  "name": "@myorg/openclaw-my-plugin",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "type": "module",
  "openclaw": {
    "extensions": ["./src/index.ts"],
    "runtimeExtensions": ["./dist/index.js"],
    "compat": {
      "pluginApi": ">=2026.3.24-beta.2",
      "minGatewayVersion": "2026.3.24-beta.2"
    },
    "build": {
      "openclawVersion": "2026.3.24-beta.2",
      "pluginSdkVersion": "2026.3.24-beta.2"
    }
  }
}
```

Published packages should ship **built JavaScript** and point
`runtimeExtensions` at that output. Git checkout installs can still fall
back to TypeScript source when no built files exist, but built runtime
entries avoid runtime TypeScript compilation in startup, doctor, and
plugin loading paths.

## Versioning, lockfile, and telemetry

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Versioning and tags">
    - Each publish creates a new **semver** `SkillVersion`.
    - Tags (like `latest`) point to a version; moving tags lets you roll back.
    - Changelogs are attached per version and can be empty when syncing or publishing updates.

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Local changes vs registry versions">
    Updates compare the local skill contents to registry versions using a
    content hash. If local files do not match any published version, the
    CLI asks before overwriting (or requires `--force` in
    non-interactive runs).
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Sync scanning and fallback roots">
    `clawhub sync` scans your current workdir first. If no skills are
    found, it falls back to known legacy locations (for example
    `~/openclaw/skills` and `~/.openclaw/skills`). This is designed to
    find older skill installs without extra flags.
  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Storage and lockfile">
    - Installed skills are recorded in `.clawhub/lock.json` under your workdir.
    - Auth tokens are stored in the ClawHub CLI config file (override via `CLAWHUB_CONFIG_PATH`).

  </Accordion>
  <Accordion title="Telemetry (install counts)">
    When you run `clawhub sync` while logged in, the CLI sends a minimal
    snapshot to compute install counts. You can disable this entirely:

    ```bash
    export CLAWHUB_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1
    ```

  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Environment variables

| Variable                      | Effect                                          |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `CLAWHUB_SITE`                | Override the site URL.                          |
| `CLAWHUB_REGISTRY`            | Override the registry API URL.                  |
| `CLAWHUB_CONFIG_PATH`         | Override where the CLI stores the token/config. |
| `CLAWHUB_WORKDIR`             | Override the default workdir.                   |
| `CLAWHUB_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1` | Disable telemetry on `sync`.                    |

## Related

- [Community plugins](/plugins/community)
- [Plugins](/tools/plugin)
- [Skills](/tools/skills)
