OpenClaw Update Skill

Multilingual Support / 多语言支持

Detect user language and respond accordingly:

• If user speaks Chinese → respond in Chinese (简体中文)
• If user speaks English → respond in English
• Maintain consistent language throughout the session

检测用户语言并相应回复：

• 用户使用中文 → 用简体中文回复
• 用户使用英文 → 用英文回复
• 整个会话保持语言一致

---

Prerequisites / 前置要求

Agent-Reach Detection / Agent-Reach 检测

Before using this skill, detect if agent-reach is available:

# Detection command
agent-reach --version 2>&1 || echo "Not installed"

If not installed, guide user to install:

# Method 1: pipx install (recommended)
pipx install https://github.com/Panniantong/agent-reach/archive/main.zip
agent-reach install --env=auto

# Method 2: Check for alternative GitHub access
# Such as gh CLI, curl (not recommended, may be blocked)

If user cannot install agent-reach:

• Explain the reason (network restrictions, permission issues, etc.)
• Suggest manual GitHub access to check versions
• Or guide to learn the agent-reach skill first

---

Workflow / 工作流程

Step 0: Detect Agent-Reach Availability / 检测 Agent-Reach 可用性

Use detection script (recommended):

python3 scripts/check_agent_reach.py

Or manual detection:

# Test if agent-reach is available
agent-reach read "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw" --timeout 10 2>&1

If successful: Continue to next step
If failed:

1. Inform user agent-reach is unavailable
2. Provide installation guide (see Prerequisites or run python3 scripts/check_agent_reach.py)
3. Ask if user wants to continue (manual mode) or install agent-reach first

---

Step 1: Check Current Version / 检查当前版本

Progress message:

📋 Step 1/10: Checking current version / 正在执行第 1 步：检查当前版本

openclaw --version

Record current version (e.g., v2026.3.2)

---

Step 2: Get Latest Version Info / 获取最新版本信息

Progress message:

📋 Step 2/10: Fetching latest version from GitHub / 正在执行第 2 步：从 GitHub 获取最新版本

Use agent-reach to access GitHub releases page:

agent-reach read "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases"

Extract:

• Latest stable version (e.g., v2026.3.7)
• Release date
• Release notes summary

---

Step 3: Version Comparison / 版本对比

Progress message:

📋 Step 3/10: Comparing versions / 正在执行第 3 步：版本对比

If versions match:

• Report: Current version is already the latest
• End workflow

If versions differ:

• Calculate version gap (how many minor versions behind)
• Read release notes for each version sequentially

---

Step 4: Analyze Update Content / 分析更新内容

Progress message:

📋 Step 4/10: Analyzing release notes / 正在执行第 4 步：分析更新日志

For each version to update, use agent-reach to read detailed release notes:

agent-reach read "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.X"

Record:

• New features
• Bug fixes
• Breaking changes
• Security updates

Strictly reference official release notes - do not fabricate information.

---

Step 5: Check Issues / 检查 Issues

Progress message:

📋 Step 5/10: Checking GitHub issues for risks / 正在执行第 5 步：检查 GitHub issues 评估风险

Access GitHub issues page to assess risks:

agent-reach read "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/issues"

Check:

• Any critical bug reports
• Any upgrade compatibility issues
• Any security vulnerabilities
• Number of issues and recent activity

Critical Rule: If dangerous issues are found, MUST stop and inform user. If major bugs are found, FORBID the update on behalf of user!

---

Step 6: Comprehensive Assessment / 综合评估

Progress message:

📋 Step 6/10: Scoring and assessment / 正在执行第 6 步：综合评估打分

Score based on following dimensions (0-2 points each):

Dimension	Scoring Criteria
Feature Value	0=No new features, 1=Minor improvements, 2=Major feature updates
Security	0=Security issues exist, 1=No security updates, 2=Security fixes included
Stability	0=Many bug reports, 1=Few issues, 2=Issues are clean
Breaking	0=Has breaking changes, 1=Config adjustment needed, 2=Fully compatible
Urgency	0=Optional update, 1=Recommended, 2=Strongly recommended

Total Score ≥8: Strongly recommend update
Total Score 6-7: Recommend update
Total Score 4-5: Optional update
Total Score <4: Recommend postponing

Critical Rule: Assessment must be objective, no emotional bias!

---

Step 7: Backup User Configuration / 备份用户配置

Progress message:

📋 Step 7/10: Backing up user configuration / 正在执行第 7 步：备份用户配置

Detect OS and create unique backup name:

# Detect OS
if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
    OS="macOS"
elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "linux-gnu"* ]]; then
    OS="Linux"
elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "msys" || "$OSTYPE" == "win32" ]]; then
    OS="Windows"
else
    OS="Unknown"
fi

# Generate unique backup name with timestamp
TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
BACKUP_NAME=".openclaw.backup.${TIMESTAMP}"

# Check for naming conflicts (CRITICAL RULE)
if [ -d "~/${BACKUP_NAME}" ]; then
    # Add random suffix to avoid conflict
    RANDOM_SUFFIX=$(openssl rand -hex 4)
    BACKUP_NAME=".openclaw.backup.${TIMESTAMP}.${RANDOM_SUFFIX}"
fi

# Execute backup based on OS
case "$OS" in
    "macOS"|"Linux")
        cp -r ~/.openclaw ~/${BACKUP_NAME}
        ;;
    "Windows")
        # PowerShell command
        powershell.exe -Command "Copy-Item -Recurse $env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw $env:USERPROFILE\.${BACKUP_NAME}"
        ;;
esac

echo "✅ Backup created: ~/${BACKUP_NAME}"

Critical Rules:

1. NEVER overwrite existing backups
2. ALWAYS use unique timestamp + random suffix
3. ALWAYS inform user of backup location at the end

---

Step 8: Detect Installation Method & Update / 检测安装方式并更新

Progress message:

📋 Step 8/10: Detecting installation method and updating / 正在执行第 8 步：检测安装方式并执行更新

Detect installation method:

# Check for git installation
if [ -d ~/.openclaw/.git ]; then
    INSTALL_METHOD="git"
    echo "Detected: Source installation (git clone)"
else
    INSTALL_METHOD="npm"
    echo "Detected: Global installation (npm/pnpm)"
fi

# Check Gateway running method
if launchctl list | grep -q openclaw 2>/dev/null; then
    GATEWAY_MODE="launchd"
elif systemctl list-units | grep -q openclaw 2>/dev/null; then
    GATEWAY_MODE="systemd"
else
    GATEWAY_MODE="terminal"
fi

Execute update based on installation method:

For Global Installation (npm/pnpm):

# npm
npm i -g openclaw@latest

# Or pnpm
pnpm add -g openclaw@latest

# NOT recommended: Bun (WhatsApp/Telegram bugs)

For Source Installation (git):

openclaw update
# Or with channel
openclaw update --channel stable

Official recommended method (re-run installer):

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-onboard

---

Step 9: Restart Gateway / 重启 Gateway

Progress message:

📋 Step 9/10: Restarting Gateway / 正在执行第 9 步：重启 Gateway

# Preferred for service-managed Gateway
openclaw gateway restart

# Then verify
openclaw doctor
openclaw health

If restart fails:

• Inform user immediately
• Provide manual restart instructions based on Gateway mode (launchd/systemd/terminal)

---

Step 10: Report & Recovery Info / 报告与恢复信息

Progress message:

📋 Step 10/10: Generating final report / 正在执行第 10 步：生成最终报告

Final report must include:

1. Update result (success/failure)
2. Backup location (with full path)
3. Recovery instructions
4. Any issues encountered

Recovery commands (if needed):

# macOS / Linux
rm -rf ~/.openclaw && cp -r ~/.openclaw.backup.TIMESTAMP ~/.openclaw

# Windows PowerShell
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw
Copy-Item -Recurse $env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw.backup.TIMESTAMP $env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw

When user wants to recover:

• Ask which backup to restore (list available backups)
• Confirm before executing recovery

---

Automated Daily Check / 自动定时检查

Setup Cron Task / 设置 Cron 任务

After installing this skill, offer to create a cron task for automatic daily checks:

Progress message:

🤖 Setting up automated daily update check... / 正在设置自动每日更新检查...

Create cron task that runs at 4:00 AM daily:

# Method 1: Using OpenClaw cron (recommended)
cron add --name "openclaw-daily-update-check" \
  --schedule "0 4 * * *" \
  --command "python3 ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/openclaw-update/scripts/cron_check.py"

What the cron task does:

1. Runs every day at 4:00 AM
2. Checks GitHub for latest version
3. Compares with current version
4. Checks GitHub issues for critical bugs
5. Sends system notification if update available
6. Saves detailed report to ~/.openclaw/update_check_report.txt
7. Waits for user approval before proceeding with update

User approval workflow:

• If new version found → Send notification with report
• User replies "确认更新" or "update now" → Start update workflow
• User replies "稍后" or "later" → Skip this update
• If critical issues found → FORBID update automatically

Cron Script Location / Cron 脚本位置

~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/openclaw-update/scripts/cron_check.py

Manual Setup Commands / 手动设置命令

macOS / Linux:

# Add to crontab
crontab -e

# Add this line (runs at 4:00 AM daily)
0 4 * * * /usr/bin/python3 ~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/openclaw-update/scripts/cron_check.py >> ~/.openclaw/cron_check.log 2>&1

Windows Task Scheduler:

# Create scheduled task
$action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "python" -Argument "~/.openclaw/workspace/skills/openclaw-update/scripts/cron_check.py"
$trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Daily -At 4am
Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName "OpenClaw Daily Update Check" -Action $action -Trigger $trigger

Notification Examples / 通知示例

New version available:

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║  OpenClaw Update Available / 发现新版本                    ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║  Current: v2026.3.2                                       ║
║  Latest:  v2026.3.7                                       ║
║  Issues:  Issues 状态良好                                  ║
║                                                           ║
║  ✅ Backup will be created before update                  ║
║  📋 Reply "确认更新" to start update                      ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Already up to date:

✅ OpenClaw Up to Date / 已是最新版本
Current: v2026.3.7
No update needed.

Critical issues found:

⚠️ CRITICAL ISSUES FOUND! Update NOT recommended.
Issues: 发现多个严重问题
Please wait for next release.

---

Output Format / 输出格式

Assessment Report Template / 评估报告模板

## 📊 OpenClaw Version Assessment Report / 版本评估报告

### Version Info / 版本信息
- **Current Version / 当前版本**: v2026.3.2
- **Latest Version / 最新版本**: v2026.3.7
- **Version Gap / 版本差距**: 5 minor versions

### 🔍 Update Analysis / 更新内容分析

#### New Features / 新增功能
- Feature 1
- Feature 2

#### Bug Fixes / Bug 修复
- Fix 1
- Fix 2

#### Breaking Changes / 破坏性变更
- ⚠️ Change description (if any)

### 📈 Issues Assessment / Issues 评估
- **Open Issues / 开放 issues 数量**: X
- **Critical Bugs / 严重 bug**: None/Yes (describe)
- **Upgrade Issues / 升级问题**: None/Yes (describe)

### 🎯 Scoring / 综合评分

| Dimension / 维度 | Score / 得分 |
|-----------------|-------------|
| Feature Value / 功能价值 | X/2 |
| Security / 安全性 | X/2 |
| Stability / 稳定性 | X/2 |
| Breaking / 破坏性 | X/2 |
| Urgency / 紧迫性 | X/2 |
| **Total / 总分** | **X/10** |

### 💡 Recommendation / 更新建议

**Recommendation Index / 推荐指数**: X/10 (Strongly Recommended/Recommended/Optional/Postpone)

**Reasons / 理由**:
- ✅ Pro 1
- ✅ Pro 2
- ⚠️ Considerations

### 🛠️ Update Steps / 更新步骤

```bash
# Commands

💾 Backup Info / 备份信息

Backup Location / 备份位置: ~/.openclaw.backup.20260311_155100.a3f2b1c4 Recovery Command / 恢复命令: See above

---

## Critical Rules / 铁律

### RED LINES - NEVER VIOLATE / 红线 - 禁止违反

1. **NEVER create backup naming conflicts** / **禁止备份文件名冲突**
   - Always check for existing backups
   - Use timestamp + random suffix
   - Never overwrite user's existing backups

2. **NEVER run silently** / **禁止静默运行**
   - Always report current step progress
   - Inform user before each major action
   - Report backup location at the end

3. **NO emotional assessment** / **禁止带情绪评估**
   - Assessment must be objective
   - Score based on facts, not feelings
   - Let data drive the recommendation

4. **MUST strictly reference release notes** / **必须严格参照版本更新日志**
   - Read official release notes
   - Do not fabricate information
   - Cite sources for all claims

5. **MUST check issues for threats** / **必须检查 issues 的威胁**
   - Check GitHub issues before recommending update
   - If dangerous issues found: STOP and inform user
   - If major bugs found: FORBID update on behalf of user

---

## Related Skills / 相关技能

- **agent-reach**: Internet content reading & search tool (12+ platforms)
- **skill-creator**: Skill creation guide

---

## Example Output / 示例输出

See `references/example-report.md` for complete assessment report example.