clawflows

Purpose

This skill automates workflows in OpenClaw by defining multi-step task chains, incorporating conditional logic, triggers, and scheduling to streamline complex operations.

When to Use

Use this skill for repetitive task sequences, like processing data pipelines, conditional decision-making (e.g., if a file exists, then execute), event-driven triggers (e.g., on API call), or scheduled jobs (e.g., daily reports). Apply it in scenarios requiring orchestration, such as integrating multiple OpenClaw tools or external services.

Key Capabilities

Define task chains: Specify steps in a JSON config, e.g., {"steps": [{"name": "step1", "action": "run_script"}, {"name": "step2", "action": "send_email"}]}
Conditional logic: Use if-else in configs, e.g., {"condition": "if status == 'success' then next: step2 else: abort"}
Triggers: Set event-based triggers like webhooks or file changes, e.g., via {"trigger": {"type": "http", "endpoint": "/webhook"}}
Scheduling: Use cron-style schedules, e.g., {"schedule": "0 0 * * *"} for midnight daily runs
Error recovery: Built-in retries for failed steps, configurable per step

Usage Patterns

To create and run a workflow, start by defining a config file (JSON/YAML), then use CLI or API to execute. For simple flows, use CLI directly; for programmatic use, integrate via API. Always set environment variables for authentication, e.g., export CLAWFLOWS_API_KEY=$SERVICE_API_KEY. Test flows in isolation before scheduling. Common pattern: Load config, validate, run, and monitor output.

Common Commands/API

Use the OpenClaw CLI for quick operations:

Create a flow: clawflows create --name myworkflow --config path/to/config.json --cluster community
Run a flow: clawflows run --flow-id 123 --env VAR=VALUE (outputs status JSON)
Schedule a flow: clawflows schedule --flow-id 123 --cron "0 9 * * *" --trigger-type http
API endpoints: POST /api/workflows to create (body: {"name": "myworkflow", "steps": [...] }), GET /api/workflows/{id} to retrieve Code snippet for API call in Python:

import requests
headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['CLAWFLOWS_API_KEY']}"}
response = requests.post("https://api.openclaw.com/api/workflows", headers=headers, json={"name": "test", "steps": [{"action": "echo hello"}]})
print(response.json())

Config format example (JSON): { "steps": [ {"name": "step1", "action": "run_command", "command": "ls -l"}, {"name": "step2", "condition": "step1.success", "action": "log_message", "message": "Success!"} ] }

Integration Notes

Integrate clawflows with other OpenClaw skills by referencing them in step actions, e.g., {"action": "call_skill", "skill_id": "another_skill"}. For authentication, use env vars like $CLAWFLOWS_API_KEY for API requests. When combining with external tools, map outputs via JSON paths, e.g., in config: {"input_mapping": {"var1": "$.output.data"}}. Ensure compatibility by specifying cluster in commands, e.g., --cluster community. For webhooks, expose an endpoint that triggers flows via POST /api/triggers/{flow-id}.

Error Handling

Common errors include authentication failures (HTTP 401), invalid configs (e.g., syntax errors in JSON), or step timeouts. To handle: Check for $CLAWFLOWS_API_KEY before running; use clawflows validate --config path/to/config.json to catch issues early. In code, wrap API calls in try-except blocks:

try:
    response = requests.post("https://api.openclaw.com/api/workflows", headers=headers, json=data)
    response.raise_for_status()
except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
    print(f"Error: {e.response.status_code} - {e.response.text}")

For runtime errors, configure retries in config, e.g., {"step": {"action": "...", "retries": 3, "timeout": 30}}. Monitor logs with clawflows logs --flow-id 123 and abort on critical failures using conditional steps.

Concrete Usage Examples

Example 1: Automate a data backup flow. Create a config file: {"steps": [{"name": "backup", "action": "run_command", "command": "rsync /data/ backup-server:"}, {"condition": "backup.success", "action": "send_email", "to": "admin@example.com", "subject": "Backup complete"}]} Then run: clawflows create --name backupflow --config backup.json and schedule: clawflows schedule --flow-id 456 --cron "0 2 * * *" Example 2: Trigger a workflow on file change. Define: {"trigger": {"type": "file_watch", "path": "/monitored/dir"}, "steps": [{"action": "process_file", "file": "$.trigger.file"}]} Execute via API: POST /api/workflows with the config, then monitor with clawflows run --flow-id 789 --watch.

Graph Relationships

Relates to: openclaw-core (for basic task execution), openclaw-triggers (for event handling), community-cluster (as part of the ecosystem)
Depends on: authentication services for API access
Integrates with: external APIs via steps, e.g., for data fetching or notifications