MatClaw Setup

Run setup steps automatically. Only pause when user action is required (channel authentication, configuration choices). Setup uses bash setup.sh for bootstrap, then npx tsx setup/index.ts --step <name> for all other steps. Steps emit structured status blocks to stdout. Verbose logs go to logs/setup.log.

Principle: When something is broken or missing, fix it. Don't tell the user to go fix it themselves unless it genuinely requires their manual action (e.g. authenticating a channel, pasting a secret token). If a dependency is missing, install it. If a service won't start, diagnose and repair. Ask the user for permission when needed, then do the work.

UX Note: Use AskUserQuestion for all user-facing questions.

1. Bootstrap (Node.js + Dependencies)

Run bash setup.sh and parse the status block.

• If NODE_OK=false → Node.js is missing or too old. Use AskUserQuestion: Would you like me to install Node.js 22? If confirmed:
  • macOS: brew install node@22 (if brew available) or install nvm then nvm install 22
  • Linux: curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash - && sudo apt-get install -y nodejs, or nvm
  • After installing Node, re-run bash setup.sh
• If DEPS_OK=false → Read logs/setup.log. Try: delete node_modules and package-lock.json, re-run bash setup.sh. If native module build fails, install build tools (xcode-select --install on macOS, build-essential on Linux), then retry.
• If NATIVE_OK=false → better-sqlite3 failed to load. Install build tools and re-run.
• Record PLATFORM and IS_WSL for later steps.

2. Check Environment

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step environment and parse the status block.

• If HAS_AUTH=true → WhatsApp is already configured, note for step 5
• If HAS_REGISTERED_GROUPS=true → note existing config, offer to skip or reconfigure
• Record APPLE_CONTAINER and DOCKER values for step 3

3. Container Runtime

3a. Choose runtime

Check the preflight results for APPLE_CONTAINER and DOCKER, and the PLATFORM from step 1.

• PLATFORM=linux → Docker (only option)
• PLATFORM=macos + APPLE_CONTAINER=installed → Use AskUserQuestion: Docker (cross-platform) or Apple Container (native macOS)? If Apple Container, run /convert-to-apple-container now, then skip to 4c.
• PLATFORM=macos + APPLE_CONTAINER=not_found → Docker

3a-docker. Install Docker

• DOCKER=running → continue to 4b
• DOCKER=installed_not_running → start Docker: open -a Docker (macOS) or sudo systemctl start docker (Linux). Wait 15s, re-check with docker info.
• DOCKER=not_found → Use AskUserQuestion: Docker is required for running agents. Would you like me to install it? If confirmed:
  • macOS: install via brew install --cask docker, then open -a Docker and wait for it to start. If brew not available, direct to Docker Desktop download at https://docker.com/products/docker-desktop
  • Linux: install with curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh && sudo usermod -aG docker $USER. Note: user may need to log out/in for group membership.

3b. Apple Container conversion gate (if needed)

If the chosen runtime is Apple Container, you MUST check whether the source code has already been converted from Docker to Apple Container. Do NOT skip this step. Run:

grep -q "CONTAINER_RUNTIME_BIN = 'container'" src/container-runtime.ts && echo "ALREADY_CONVERTED" || echo "NEEDS_CONVERSION"

If NEEDS_CONVERSION, the source code still uses Docker as the runtime. You MUST run the /convert-to-apple-container skill NOW, before proceeding to the build step.

If ALREADY_CONVERTED, the code already uses Apple Container. Continue to 4c.

If the chosen runtime is Docker, no conversion is needed. Continue to 4c.

3c. Build and test

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step container -- --runtime <chosen> and parse the status block.

If BUILD_OK=false: Read logs/setup.log tail for the build error.

• Cache issue (stale layers): docker builder prune -f (Docker) or container builder stop && container builder rm && container builder start (Apple Container). Retry.
• Dockerfile syntax or missing files: diagnose from the log and fix, then retry.

If TEST_OK=false but BUILD_OK=true: The image built but won't run. Check logs — common cause is runtime not fully started. Wait a moment and retry the test.

4. API Configuration

Run npm run setup:api and parse the status block.

The interactive wizard handles provider selection (34 providers: Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM, Kimi, and more), API key input with validation, and .env updates. If the user already has keys configured (detected from .env or Claude OAuth), the wizard will show the current config and offer to keep or reconfigure.

If STATUS=ok: API configured. Continue to step 5.

If STATUS=failed:

• ERROR contains "validation" → API key is invalid. Re-run the step.
• ERROR contains "non_interactive" → Not running interactively. Tell the user to run npm run setup:api in a terminal.

5. Set Up Channels

AskUserQuestion (multiSelect): Which messaging channels do you want to enable?

• WhatsApp (authenticates via QR code or pairing code)
• Telegram (authenticates via bot token from @BotFather)
• Slack (authenticates via Slack app with Socket Mode)
• Discord (authenticates via Discord bot token)

Delegate to each selected channel's own skill. Each channel skill handles its own code installation, authentication, registration, and JID resolution. This avoids duplicating channel-specific logic and ensures JIDs are always correct.

For each selected channel, invoke its skill:

• WhatsApp: Invoke /add-whatsapp
• Telegram: Invoke /add-telegram
• Slack: Invoke /add-slack
• Discord: Invoke /add-discord

Each skill will:

1. Install the channel code (via apply-skill)
2. Collect credentials/tokens and write to .env
3. Authenticate (WhatsApp QR/pairing, or verify token-based connection)
4. Register the chat with the correct JID format
5. Build and verify

After all channel skills complete, continue to step 6.

6. Mount Allowlist

AskUserQuestion: Agent access to external directories?

No: npx tsx setup/index.ts --step mounts -- --empty Yes: Collect paths/permissions. npx tsx setup/index.ts --step mounts -- --json '{"allowedRoots":[...],"blockedPatterns":[],"nonMainReadOnly":true}'

7. Start Service

If service already running: unload first.

• macOS: launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.matclaw.plist
• Linux: systemctl --user stop matclaw (or systemctl stop matclaw if root)

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step service and parse the status block.

If FALLBACK=wsl_no_systemd: WSL without systemd detected. Tell user they can either enable systemd in WSL (echo -e "[boot]\nsystemd=true" | sudo tee /etc/wsl.conf then restart WSL) or use the generated start-matclaw.sh wrapper.

If DOCKER_GROUP_STALE=true: The user was added to the docker group after their session started — the systemd service can't reach the Docker socket. Ask user to run these two commands:

1. Immediate fix: sudo setfacl -m u:$(whoami):rw /var/run/docker.sock
2. Persistent fix (re-applies after every Docker restart):

sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/docker.service.d
sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/docker.service.d/socket-acl.conf << 'EOF'
[Service]
ExecStartPost=/usr/bin/setfacl -m u:USERNAME:rw /var/run/docker.sock
EOF
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Replace USERNAME with the actual username (from whoami). Run the two sudo commands separately — the tee heredoc first, then daemon-reload. After user confirms setfacl ran, re-run the service step.

If SERVICE_LOADED=false:

• Read logs/setup.log for the error.
• macOS: check launchctl list | grep matclaw. If PID=- and status non-zero, read logs/matclaw.error.log.
• Linux: check systemctl --user status matclaw.
• Re-run the service step after fixing.

8. Verify

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step verify and parse the status block.

If STATUS=failed, fix each:

• SERVICE=stopped → npm run build, then restart: launchctl kickstart -k gui/$(id -u)/com.matclaw (macOS) or systemctl --user restart matclaw (Linux) or bash start-matclaw.sh (WSL nohup)
• SERVICE=not_found → re-run step 7
• CREDENTIALS=missing → re-run step 4
• CHANNEL_AUTH shows not_found for any channel → re-invoke that channel's skill (e.g. /add-telegram)
• REGISTERED_GROUPS=0 → re-invoke the channel skills from step 5
• MOUNT_ALLOWLIST=missing → npx tsx setup/index.ts --step mounts -- --empty

Tell user to test: send a message in their registered chat. Show: tail -f logs/matclaw.log

Troubleshooting

Service not starting: Check logs/matclaw.error.log. Common: wrong Node path (re-run step 7), missing .env (step 4), missing channel credentials (re-invoke channel skill).

Container agent fails ("Claude Code process exited with code 1"): Ensure the container runtime is running — open -a Docker (macOS Docker), container system start (Apple Container), or sudo systemctl start docker (Linux). Check container logs in groups/main/logs/container-*.log.

No response to messages: Check trigger pattern. Main channel doesn't need prefix. Check DB: npx tsx setup/index.ts --step verify. Check logs/matclaw.log.

Channel not connecting: Verify the channel's credentials are set in .env. Channels auto-enable when their credentials are present. For WhatsApp: check store/auth/creds.json exists. For token-based channels: check token values in .env. Restart the service after any .env change.

Unload service: macOS: launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.matclaw.plist | Linux: systemctl --user stop matclaw