06ae605051
Address findings from pedagogical review simulating a non-expert user: - Add CLAUDE.md to project root (was referenced but missing) - Fix README score from 12/9/1 to 13/8/1 (match feature-map.md) - Add Expected Output sections to examples 01, 02, 05, 09, 10 - Create pipeline-output/ and briefings/ directories - Add example ordering guidance in README - Add plan requirements for examples 11/13 in prerequisites - Add skill frontmatter explanation in GETTING-STARTED.md - Explain Cowork/Dispatch with links in cowork-integration - Expand .gitignore with node_modules and generated output files - Add model override hints in agent frontmatter comments Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
112 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
112 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
# Cowork Integration: The Full OpenClaw Alternative
|
|
|
|
Claude Code alone covers 59% of OpenClaw features with a full
|
|
match and 36% with a different approach. But Claude Code is just
|
|
one product in Anthropic's ecosystem. Together, Claude Code +
|
|
Cowork + Dispatch get you closer to 95% of what OpenClaw does.
|
|
|
|
**What are Cowork and Dispatch?**
|
|
- [Claude Cowork](https://claude.ai/cowork) is Anthropic's desktop agent for non-developers.
|
|
It can control your screen, connect to apps (Slack, Google, Notion), and run scheduled tasks.
|
|
- [Dispatch](https://claude.ai/dispatch) is the mobile app for sending tasks to your desktop
|
|
agent from your phone. Think of it as texting your computer.
|
|
- Both are part of the Claude Max subscription.
|
|
|
|
## The ecosystem
|
|
|
|
```
|
|
┌─────────────────────┐
|
|
│ Your Phone │
|
|
│ (Dispatch app) │
|
|
└────────┬────────────┘
|
|
│ assigns tasks
|
|
┌────────▼────────────┐
|
|
│ Your Mac │
|
|
│ │
|
|
│ ┌───────────────┐ │
|
|
│ │ Claude Cowork │ │ ← Desktop agent, computer use,
|
|
│ │ (Desktop app) │ │ connected apps, scheduled tasks
|
|
│ └───────────────┘ │
|
|
│ │
|
|
│ ┌───────────────┐ │
|
|
│ │ Claude Code │ │ ← Developer agent, terminal,
|
|
│ │ (CLI/IDE) │ │ plugins, hooks, agents, MCP
|
|
│ └───────────────┘ │
|
|
│ │
|
|
└─────────────────────┘
|
|
│
|
|
┌────────▼────────────┐
|
|
│ VPS / Server │
|
|
│ (Headless CC) │ ← Always-on, cron, /schedule
|
|
└─────────────────────┘
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
## Which product for which use case
|
|
|
|
| Use case | Best tool | Why |
|
|
|----------|-----------|-----|
|
|
| Write code, manage repos | Claude Code (CLI) | Full terminal access, hooks, plugins |
|
|
| Control desktop apps (Photoshop, Excel) | Cowork (Computer Use) | Screen control, native app access |
|
|
| Send tasks from phone | Dispatch | Mobile-first, paired to desktop |
|
|
| Continue CC session remotely | /rc (Remote Control) | Works with CLI sessions |
|
|
| Run agent 24/7 on server | Headless CC on VPS | No display needed |
|
|
| Scheduled autonomous tasks | /schedule or CronCreate | Triggers from web or crontab |
|
|
| Connect to Slack, Google, Notion | Cowork connectors | Built-in, no config |
|
|
| Connect to any API | Claude Code + MCP | Flexible, developer-controlled |
|
|
|
|
## Can you build an OpenClaw replacement with this?
|
|
|
|
Mostly, yes. Here is how each OpenClaw selling point maps:
|
|
|
|
### "Runs 24/7 on your hardware"
|
|
- **Cowork** with "keep computer awake" on a Mac Mini
|
|
- **Headless CC** on a VPS ($5/month server)
|
|
- **Both** require internet for Anthropic API calls (same as
|
|
OpenClaw when using cloud models)
|
|
|
|
### "Control it from Telegram/WhatsApp"
|
|
- **Dispatch** from Claude mobile app (closest match)
|
|
- **/rc** from any browser on your phone
|
|
- **Telegram** via Claude Code Channels (v2.1.80+)
|
|
- Gap: no WhatsApp, Discord, Signal, iMessage native support
|
|
(OpenClaw has 15+ channels)
|
|
|
|
### "It manages files, emails, calendars, browsers"
|
|
- **Cowork** has Slack, Google Workspace, Notion connectors
|
|
- **Claude Code** has file management + Playwright MCP for browser
|
|
- **Computer Use** handles anything with a GUI
|
|
- Gap: no native email/calendar integration in CC CLI (use MCP)
|
|
|
|
### "It remembers everything about you"
|
|
- **CLAUDE.md** hierarchy + auto-memory for CC
|
|
- **Cowork** has its own context/memory system
|
|
- Gap: no vector search. OpenClaw's SQLite-vec/LanceDB memory
|
|
is more sophisticated for semantic recall
|
|
|
|
### "Open source, works with any LLM"
|
|
- **Not replicable.** Claude Code only works with Claude models.
|
|
This is a fundamental architectural difference. If model
|
|
flexibility matters to you, OpenClaw is the better choice.
|
|
|
|
### "5,700+ community skills"
|
|
- **2,300+** in Claude marketplace, growing fast
|
|
- Claude Code skills + plugins are a younger but active ecosystem
|
|
- You can write your own skills in minutes (see `.claude/skills/`)
|
|
|
|
## The honest assessment
|
|
|
|
If you are a developer who primarily wants an AI coding agent
|
|
with deep terminal integration, hooks, plugins, and MCP: Claude
|
|
Code is the better choice. It is more polished, more secure, and
|
|
requires no self-hosting.
|
|
|
|
If you want a general-purpose life automation agent that runs 24/7
|
|
across 15+ messaging channels with any LLM: OpenClaw is still the
|
|
better choice. The ecosystem is larger and more flexible.
|
|
|
|
If you want both: run Claude Code for development work and
|
|
OpenClaw for life automation. They do not conflict.
|
|
|
|
Ethan Mollick put it well: Anthropic's offering is "90% of
|
|
everything I wanted from OpenClaw, but far less likely to post
|
|
all my personal information on the internet."
|