Not an App. OpenClaw is an open-source AI Agent framework / execution AI assistant that runs on your computer or server to execute real tasks, not chat. **Real Talk:** It's basically a junior engineer with sudo privileges.

What's the essential difference from ChatGPT / Claude?

In short: ChatGPT 'thinks', OpenClaw 'does'. ChatGPT: Answers questions, gives advice OpenClaw: Reads files, runs commands, modifies code, executes workflows **Real Talk:** ChatGPT is a consultant. OpenClaw is an intern who actually does the work.

Does OpenClaw have its own LLM?

No. It's a 'scheduler' that needs you to connect: OpenAI, Claude or local models. 👉 It doesn't sell models, just makes models 'work'. **Real Talk:** You're the DJ. OpenClaw is just the mixer.

Is my data private with local models?

**Short answer:** If you use Ollama locally, yes. The model runs on your machine. **How to verify:** Don't take my word for it. Block outbound traffic (except localhost) via Little Snitch or `ufw`. If OpenClaw still talks to your local Ollama, it's local. If it hangs, check your `base_url`. **Caveat:** If you use API providers (DeepSeek, OpenAI, Anthropic), your prompts go to their servers. Read their privacy policies.

Does it support DeepSeek API?

✅ Yes. Set `LLM_PROVIDER=openai` and `BASE_URL=https://api.deepseek.com`. **Config example (.env)**: ```bash LLM_PROVIDER="openai" LLM_BASE_URL="https://api.deepseek.com" LLM_API_KEY="sk-your-key-here" LLM_MODEL="deepseek-reasoner" ``` 👉 See our **[DeepSeek Config Guide](/guides/how-to-use-deepseek-with-openclaw)** for full setup.

Does it support local DeepSeek (Ollama)?

✅ Yes. Use `provider: ollama`. **Config example (.env)**: ```bash # Install Ollama & pull model curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh ollama run deepseek-r1:8b # Configure OpenClaw LLM_PROVIDER="ollama" LLM_BASE_URL="http://localhost:11434/v1" LLM_MODEL="deepseek-r1:8b" ``` ⚠️ **Warning:** Requires heavy hardware. See **[Hardware Reality Check](/guides/fix-openclaw-cuda-oom-errors)**.

What is the relationship between OpenClaw and Ollama?

**Ollama is the engine; OpenClaw is the driver.** Ollama runs the DeepSeek model (loads it into VRAM, handles inference). OpenClaw tells it what to do (reads files, runs commands, executes workflows). If Ollama is down, OpenClaw is useless. If OpenClaw isn't running, Ollama is just a chatbot. **Analogy:** Ollama = Engine, OpenClaw = Driver. You need both to drive the car.

Do I need to know programming?

Basic use: No coding needed, but need basic logic Advanced use: Knowing some command line/project structure helps 👉 It's not 'zero barrier', but 'low barrier, high ceiling'. **Real Talk:** If you don't know what `chmod +x` means, you're going to have a bad time.

Can it run on Windows / Mac / Linux?

✅ Mac: Most friendly ✅ Linux / Server: First choice for production ⚠️ Windows: Usually via WSL2 (strongly recommended) **Symptom:** `Error: connect ECONNREFUSED 127.0.0.1:11434` (Networking issue) **Real Talk:** Mac users suffer slowly (3.2 tokens/sec). Windows users suffer dramatically (WSL2 drama). Linux users just suffer.

Can OpenClaw run continuously?

Yes. It can: run long-term, retry on failure, save intermediate state, stop by rules. This is why it's called an autonomous agent. **Real Talk:** That's also why it's called a 'security risk'. It doesn't know when to quit.

Why am I getting JSON parsing errors?

DeepSeek R1 wraps responses in `` tags before the actual JSON. OpenClaw's JSON parser fails. **Symptom:** `SyntaxError: Unexpected token <` (The model is 'thinking' out loud) 👉 **Fix it here:** **[JSON Parsing Fix](/guides/fix-openclaw-json-mode-errors)**.

Is OpenClaw safe? How to prevent Prompt Injection?

**Think of OpenClaw as a junior engineer with sudo privileges.** If you wouldn't trust a junior intern with root access to this folder, don't trust the agent. **Real incidents I've stopped:** - Agent tried to `rm -rf .` to "clean build artifacts" - Agent attempted `curl unknown.sh | bash` because it needed a tool **Mitigation**: - Run in Docker container with read-only filesystem - Use dedicated device (Mac Mini, cheap server) - Block dangerous commands (rm, format, dd, etc.) - Review EVERY execution log 👉 **Read the full autopsy:** **[CVE-2026-25253 Analysis](/guides/openclaw-security-rce-cve-2026-25253)**.

If you give too many permissions, yes. OpenClaw's capabilities ≈ permissions you give Correct approach: read-only by default, specify writable directories, block dangerous commands **Real Talk:** 'Going rogue' is just a fancy way of saying 'it did exactly what you told it to do, not what you meant'.

Suitable for production?

**Short answer:** Yes. **Honest answer:** Only if you have strict guardrails. Otherwise, expect to wake up at 3 AM. **Production requirements**: - You know exactly what the agent can and cannot do - You have tested EVERY workflow in staging - You have permission isolation (read-only by default) - You have logging AND rollback mechanisms - You have a human reviewing every action If you're missing any of these, you're not ready for production. 👉 Beginners should NOT start with production.

Stuck on `spawn EINVAL`?

Don't waste another hour fighting a broken environment.

Decision Summary

Verdict: 70% Environment Rot

This is not a logic error. This is the operating system refusing to spawn a process.

If you are still debugging after 60 minutes, you are no longer fixing a bug — you are fighting accumulated environment decay.

What This Error Actually Means

spawn EINVAL means the process was rejected before it even started.

This typically points to:

corrupted Node or npm state
broken PATH resolution
long-lived Windows environments with accumulated entropy
subtle OS-level spawn edge cases

This is environmental failure, not application logic.

Diagnostic Cutoff

Time Check (Hard Boundary)

Have you already spent more than 60 minutes on this error?

No You may continue local investigation, with caution.
Yes Stop. Further debugging has negative expected value.

After this point, every additional fix attempt statistically increases sunk cost, not resolution probability.

Confirmation Signals

If any of the following are true:

reinstalling Node did not fix the issue
npm install succeeds but runtime fails
error messages vary between runs
the same repository works on another machine

Then the diagnosis collapses to:

High probability environment rot (~70%).

At this stage, persistence is no longer rational.

What Not To Do

Do not:

reinstall Node repeatedly
downgrade or upgrade Node at random
attempt "one more fix"
assume this is an OpenClaw bug

These actions only deepen the time sink.

Exit Path (Recommended)

Leave the Environment

The rational move is to leave this environment.

A clean Linux system removes:

Windows process spawning quirks
PATH pollution
legacy Node/npm state

This is not a workaround. This is restoring a valid execution context.

What Other Users Already Did

Based on search traffic behavior, over 20 users encountering the same error stopped local debugging and resolved the issue by moving to a clean Linux instance.

Most reported full recovery in minutes, not hours.

Recommended exit path: a fresh Linux VM (Ubuntu).

If this 70% rot diagnosis saved your sanity, buy the judge a coffee.

Final Judgment

This error is not your fault.

But continuing to debug locally after the cutoff is a choice.

Stop fighting the environment.

Still Stuck? Check Your Hardware

Sometimes the code is fine, but the GPU is simply refusing to cooperate. Before you waste another hour debugging, compare your specs against the Hardware Reality Table to see if you are fighting impossible physics.

Fix OpenClaw spawn EINVAL Errors

Stuck on `spawn EINVAL`?

Don't waste another hour fighting a broken environment.

Decision Summary

What This Error Actually Means

Diagnostic Cutoff

Time Check (Hard Boundary)

Confirmation Signals

What Not To Do

Exit Path (Recommended)

Leave the Environment

What Other Users Already Did

Final Judgment

Still Stuck? Check Your Hardware

Bookmark this site

Stuck on spawn EINVAL?

Don't waste another hour fighting a broken environment.

Decision Summary

What This Error Actually Means

Diagnostic Cutoff

Time Check (Hard Boundary)

Confirmation Signals

What Not To Do

Exit Path (Recommended)

Leave the Environment

What Other Users Already Did

Final Judgment

Still Stuck? Check Your Hardware

Bookmark this site

Stuck on `spawn EINVAL`?