OpenClaw.NET
Self-hosted OpenClaw gateway + agent runtime in .NET (NativeAOT-friendly)
What is OpenClaw.NET?
OpenClaw.NET is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to self-hosted openclaw gateway + agent runtime in .net (nativeaot-friendly)
Self-hosted OpenClaw gateway + agent runtime in .NET (NativeAOT-friendly)
This server falls under the Coding Agents category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Self-hosted OpenClaw gateway + agent runtime in .NET (Native
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx openclaw-netConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use OpenClaw.NET
OpenClaw.NET is a self-hosted AI agent gateway and runtime built on .NET with NativeAOT support, enabling deployment of a personal AI infrastructure that works across Windows, macOS, and Linux without Docker. It bundles 48 native tools spanning file operations, web requests, databases, home automation, and messaging, plus 9 channel adapters including Telegram, Slack, Discord, Teams, and WhatsApp. Developers and power users who want a fully self-hosted, multi-provider AI agent platform with persistent memory, MCP integration, and browser-accessible chat will find OpenClaw.NET a comprehensive self-contained solution.
Prerequisites
- .NET 9 SDK installed (for building from source) or a pre-built binary from the GitHub Releases page
- An API key for at least one LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, or Ollama for local models)
- Windows x64, macOS Apple Silicon, or Linux x64 operating system
- An MCP-compatible client or direct browser access for the built-in chat UI
Download the pre-built binary
Download the appropriate desktop bundle for your platform from the GitHub Releases page. Pre-built archives are available for Windows x64, macOS Apple Silicon, and Linux x64.
# Example for Linux x64 - check releases page for latest version
curl -L https://github.com/clawdotnet/openclaw.net/releases/latest/download/openclaw-linux-x64.tar.gz | tar xzSet your LLM provider API key
Export your provider API key as an environment variable before starting OpenClaw. The `MODEL_PROVIDER_KEY` variable is used for the initially configured provider.
export MODEL_PROVIDER_KEY="sk-ant-your-anthropic-key"
# or for OpenAI:
export MODEL_PROVIDER_KEY="sk-your-openai-key"Run interactive quickstart setup
Launch the quickstart wizard to configure your preferred LLM provider, model selection, and channel adapters through an interactive CLI prompt.
dotnet run --project src/OpenClaw.Gateway -c Release -- --quickstart
# or with the pre-built binary:
./openclaw-gateway --quickstartStart the OpenClaw gateway
Start the full OpenClaw runtime. Once running, the chat UI is accessible at localhost:18789/chat and the admin panel at localhost:18789/admin.
dotnet run --project src/OpenClaw.Cli -c Release -- start
# or with pre-built binary:
./openclaw startInstall optional local models
Optionally install embedded local models like Gemma for offline operation without an external API key.
openclaw models install gemma-4-e4b --accept-licenseAccess the chat and admin interfaces
Open your browser to use the built-in chat UI or configure channel adapters like Telegram, Slack, or Discord through the admin panel.
# Chat UI
open http://127.0.0.1:18789/chat
# Admin panel
open http://127.0.0.1:18789/adminOpenClaw.NET Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration to connect to a running OpenClaw.NET gateway as an MCP server.
{
"mcpServers": {
"openclaw-net": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["openclaw-net"],
"env": {
"MODEL_PROVIDER_KEY": "sk-ant-your-api-key-here"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
OpenClaw provides a rich built-in tool set. Try these through the chat UI or any connected MCP client:
- "List the available model presets and show me which providers are configured"
- "Create a new skill called 'daily-standup' that summarizes my recent git commits"
- "Send a message to my Telegram channel with today's task summary"
- "Show me the current gateway status and connected channel adapters"
- "Install and configure a local Gemma model for offline operation"Troubleshooting OpenClaw.NET
Gateway fails to start with 'MODEL_PROVIDER_KEY not set' error
Export `MODEL_PROVIDER_KEY` in the same shell session before running the gateway. Alternatively, run the `--quickstart` wizard which will prompt you for the key and store it in `~/.openclaw/config/openclaw.settings.json` for future runs.
Chat UI at localhost:18789 is not accessible
Check that the gateway process is still running and did not exit with an error. Verify no other service is using port 18789. For headless Linux deployments, start with `--host 0.0.0.0 --no-open` to bind to all interfaces.
.NET runtime errors on macOS Apple Silicon
Download the macOS Apple Silicon specific binary from the releases page — do not use the x64 binary under Rosetta for production use. If building from source, ensure .NET 9 SDK for ARM64 is installed (`dotnet --info` to verify the runtime architecture).
Frequently Asked Questions about OpenClaw.NET
What is OpenClaw.NET?
OpenClaw.NET is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that self-hosted openclaw gateway + agent runtime in .net (nativeaot-friendly) It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install OpenClaw.NET?
Follow the installation instructions on the OpenClaw.NET GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with OpenClaw.NET?
OpenClaw.NET works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is OpenClaw.NET free to use?
Yes, OpenClaw.NET is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
OpenClaw.NET Alternatives — Similar Coding Agents Servers
Looking for alternatives to OpenClaw.NET? Here are other popular coding agents servers you can use with Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Dify
★ 142.2kProduction-ready platform for agentic workflow development.
Ruflo
★ 54.0k🌊 The leading agent orchestration platform for Claude. Deploy intelligent multi-agent swarms, coordinate autonomous workflows, and build conversational AI systems. Features enterprise-grade architecture, self-learning swarm intelligence, RAG integrat
Goose
★ 45.7kan open source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions - install, execute, edit, and test with any LLM
Antigravity Awesome Skills
★ 38.3kInstallable GitHub library of 1,400+ agentic skills for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, and more. Includes installer CLI, bundles, workflows, and official/community skill collections.
AgentScope
★ 25.5kBuild and run agents you can see, understand and trust.
Serena
★ 24.5kA coding agent toolkit that provides IDE-like semantic code retrieval and editing tools, enabling LLMs to efficiently navigate and modify codebases using symbol-level operations instead of basic file reading and string replacements.
Browse More Coding Agents MCP Servers
Explore all coding agents servers available in the MCPgee directory. Each server includes setup guides for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Set Up OpenClaw.NET in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
Ready to use OpenClaw.NET?
Browse our complete directory of 33,000+ MCP servers, read setup guides for your editor, and start building with the Model Context Protocol.