2491f5c732
40 files demonstrating every major OpenClaw capability using Claude Code: - 3 agents (researcher, writer, reviewer) - 3 skills (daily-briefing, slack-message, web-research) - 2 security hooks (pre-tool-use blocker, post-tool-use logger) - 10 self-contained examples with copy-paste prompts - Complete feature map (20 capabilities, 11 full match, 7 different, 2 gap) - Security docs including NemoClaw comparison - Automation, messaging, browser, memory documentation Zero dependencies. Clone and run. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
78 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
78 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
# OpenClaw vs Claude Code: Complete Feature Map
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Every major OpenClaw capability, mapped to its Claude Code equivalent.
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## Verdict legend
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| Icon | Verdict | Meaning |
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|------|---------|---------|
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| ✅ | Full match | Claude Code achieves the same outcome |
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| ~ | Different approach | Achievable but requires more setup or different architecture |
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| ❌ | Gap | Not possible today without significant workarounds |
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## The map (20 capabilities)
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| # | Capability | OpenClaw | Claude Code | Verdict |
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|---|-----------|----------|-------------|---------|
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| 1 | Agent Runtime | Long-running daemon, tool exec, streaming | CLI agent loop, tool exec, streaming | ✅ |
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| 2 | Shell Execution | `exec` tool, PTY, background, elevated | Bash tool with permission system | ✅ |
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| 3 | File I/O | read, write, edit, apply_patch | Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep | ✅ |
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| 4 | Web Search | Brave Search, Firecrawl fallback | WebSearch + WebFetch (built-in) | ✅ |
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| 5 | Browser | CDP/Playwright, screenshots, act | Playwright MCP (same engine) | ✅ |
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| 6 | Memory | Daily logs + vector search | CLAUDE.md hierarchy + auto-memory | ~ |
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| 7 | Multi-Agent | Sub-agents, mesh, agent-to-agent | Agent Teams, SendMessage, worktree | ✅ |
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| 8 | Messaging | 15+ native channels | MCP + Telegram native (v2.1.80) | ~ |
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| 9 | Model Providers | 20+ providers, failover | Opus/Sonnet/Haiku + overrides | ~ |
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| 10 | Cron/Automation | HEARTBEAT.md, cron, webhooks | /loop, CronCreate, /schedule, hooks | ✅ |
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| 11 | Plugin System | openclaw.plugin.json, 20+ hooks | plugin.json, hooks, commands, agents | ✅ |
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| 12 | Skills | SKILL.md, ClawHub (5,700+) | Skills + marketplace (2,300+) | ✅ |
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| 13 | Security | Docker sandbox, DM pairing | Permission modes, hooks, sandbox | ~ |
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| 14 | Voice/TTS | Talk Mode, wake word | Via MCP/scripts (not built-in) | ~ |
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| 15 | Companion Apps | macOS, iOS, Android native | VS Code, JetBrains, Desktop, Web | ~ |
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| 16 | Gateway | WebSocket server, Control UI | No equivalent (Remote Control partial) | ❌ |
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| 17 | Configuration | JSON5, hot-reload, profiles | settings.json hierarchy, CLAUDE.md | ✅ |
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| 18 | Canvas/A2UI | Agent-driven HTML workspace | HTML generation + Playwright preview | ❌ |
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| 19 | Chat Commands | /status, /model, /think, /mesh | Built-in + custom skills | ✅ |
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| 20 | CLI | onboard, gateway, tui, doctor | claude CLI with subcommands | ✅ |
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## Score
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| Verdict | Count | % |
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|---------|-------|---|
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| ✅ Full match | 11 | 55% |
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| ~ Different approach | 7 | 35% |
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| ❌ Gap | 2 | 10% |
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## What the gaps mean
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**Gateway/Control Plane (❌):** OpenClaw runs a WebSocket server
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with a control UI, webchat, and an OpenAI-compatible API. Claude
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Code has no equivalent. Remote Control (research preview) partially
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addresses phone access but is not a programmable gateway.
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**Canvas/A2UI (❌):** OpenClaw's canvas is an interactive,
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agent-driven HTML workspace served by the gateway. Claude Code can
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generate HTML files and preview them via Playwright, but there is
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no persistent, interactive canvas surface.
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These are real gaps. They matter most for always-on automation and
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visual agent interfaces. For development and task execution, they
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are less relevant.
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## Version requirements
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Minimum Claude Code version for full coverage: **v2.1.81**
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| Feature | Version | OpenClaw equivalent |
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|---------|---------|-------------------|
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| Agent Teams | v2.1.32 | Multi-agent mesh |
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| Auto-memory | v2.1.32 | Vector memory |
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| Channels + Telegram | v2.1.80 | Multi-channel messaging |
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| Permission relay | v2.1.81 | DM approval |
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| /loop + CronCreate | v2.1.71 | HEARTBEAT.md + cron |
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| Worktree isolation | v2.1.50 | Agent sandboxing |
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| disallowedTools | v2.1.78 | Tool deny lists |
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| Background agents | v2.1.49 | Sub-agent spawning |
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| HTTP hooks | v2.1.63 | Webhook integrations |
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| Plugin marketplace | v2.1.6 | ClawHub |
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| managed-settings.d | v2.1.84 | Enterprise policy |
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