Let's Get to the Point
OpenClaw (affectionately known as Xiao Long Xia, or Crayfish in Chinese) is currently the fastest-growing open-source personal AI assistant on GitHub. Once connected to Feishu, it can help you handle daily tasks like scheduling and emails. I've previously written separately about its security concerns and FAQ.
Installing this used to be a hassle—I had to remote into people's machines one by one to set it up. Not anymore. We've built AIMA-Service: one command launches an AI-guided automatic installation, and you can do it yourself.
Two Things to Prepare Before Installing
1. Have your LLM API key ready, and place it on your Desktop
Find an LLM API key from a provider you use (DeepSeek, OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar). Important: It must be a paid API key or one tied to a membership. Free-tier credits won't suffice, and the installation will error out halfway through.
Once you have it, save it to a plain text file named api-key on your Desktop. The AI will read from it automatically during installation.
2. Prepare a Feishu account
You need a Feishu account with permission to create applications. During installation, you'll need to scan a QR code to log in to Feishu and give your OpenClaw assistant a name. Those are the only two manual steps.
Start the Installation
Open the corresponding terminal for your OS:
Mac / Linux: Open Terminal, paste this command, and press Enter:
curl -sL 'https://aimaserver.com/go?invite=public-web' | bashWindows: Open PowerShell, paste this command, and press Enter:
iex (irm 'https://aimaserver.com/go?invite=public-web')Follow the Prompts
- The script will auto-detect your system environment (the invite code is already embedded in the command, so no need to enter it separately).
- Type
1and select "Install OpenClaw + Connect LLM and Feishu". - From there, the AI takes over and begins installation and configuration.
The AI may ask you a few questions during the process (like naming your assistant or scanning the Feishu login QR code). Just answer as prompted. Everything else is fully automated.
More Than Just Installation
Once installed, don't close the terminal window. AIMA-Service also supports:
- Updating OpenClaw — When a new version drops, just re-run the command and select
2to upgrade. - Troubleshooting — Is your assistant throwing errors? Select
3and the AI will diagnose and fix it automatically.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Expensive?
It depends on which model you connect. Domestic Chinese models are very cost-effective. DeepSeek, for example, slashed prices to roughly 5% of OpenAI's rates. MiniMax offers a ¥200/month plan that's practically unlimited. Getting started is even cheaper—some platforms offer first-month promotions under ¥10, while normal basic usage runs about ¥30–40 per month.
That's ¥30–40 a month—cheaper than a video streaming subscription. If even ¥40 feels expensive, I'd argue it's a missed opportunity. Spending that same amount on AI in 2026 could genuinely transform your understanding of what AI is capable of.
Is It Secure?
OpenClaw ships a new version every day. Issues previously discussed in the community—like overly broad permissions and Feishu pairing concerns—are being patched rapidly. The default permissions are fairly conservative; you can configure it so the agent cannot delete or modify files.
But honestly, ask yourself: what truly valuable assets do you have on your computer? Bank card passwords saved locally? Unlikely. Instead, there are things many people overlook—like uploading their face to video-generation platforms and handing over their digital identity without a second thought.
If you want real peace of mind, grab an old computer or a cheap mini-server to run OpenClaw exclusively, and don't store important data on it. Then keep it updated with official releases. Those two actions beat anxiety every time.
Can I Use Wrapped/Forked Products?
Avoid them. Many products on the market simply repackage a specific version of OpenClaw and sell it. But official upgrades often adjust the underlying architecture, and wrapper products can't keep up for the sake of stability. That means all known vulnerabilities in that version get frozen in place—you might as well be running an unpatched Windows XP forever.
AIMA-Service installs the official, unmodified version—no wrappers, no secondary repackaging. Upgrades are straightforward.
Which Model Should I Choose?
The model you connect determines OpenClaw's capabilities. Hook it up to a cheap, weak model, and it's easily prompt-injected, leaking information left and right. A stronger model can recognize malicious instructions and refuse suspicious requests. The difference is massive.
If you have the means, don't skimp on the model. The more you have to protect, the more that investment pays off.
Claude Code or OpenClaw?
If you can, use Claude Code. "Can" means two things: first, you need unrestricted internet access, and second, you need to be able to pay for a Claude membership on the official site (usually requiring an overseas friend to attach a credit card). Those two barriers stop a lot of people. If you can clear them, give it a try—most people who use it never go back.
If overseas payments or internet access are issues, just install OpenClaw. Domestic models already handle daily scenarios quite well. The advantage of OpenClaw is simplicity—install it and start chatting, something everyone knows how to do. Plus, OpenClaw is evolving fast; more skills are coming online, and the number of integrable tools keeps growing.
The Experience Is Just Okay Now—Is It Worth Installing?
Absolutely. Models are improving far faster than you think. Last month OpenClaw might have felt a bit dumb; switch to a new model two months later, and it's practically a different species. If you install it now, when the next model drops you just swap the API endpoint, and the experience changes overnight.
A chat interface has zero learning curve. Start using it now and wait for it to get smarter. The pace of underlying model progress is faster than you expect—I wrote in Failing Faster that tasks that failed last month often succeed with a new model.
Running Into Issues?
Add me on WeChat:
Don't Wait
I've set a small goal for myself: help 1,000 people get it installed and running first. The wave is already up to our chests; we need to get a group of people around us swimming before it's too late.
You don't even need help with installation anymore. Just open a terminal and paste one command.