Agent Create + Dedicated Telegram Group

Create one dedicated Telegram group per agent, bind the agent to that group, and set an isolated workspace path.

Script-first Rule

Prefer bundled scripts for deterministic steps (more stable + lower token cost). Only do manual JSON editing when scripts cannot cover a special case.

Use:

• scripts/provision_config.py for agent/config/binding/no-mention setup (with automatic backup of openclaw.json)
• scripts/init_workspace.py for USER.md / IDENTITY.md / SOUL.md initialization

Access Scope

This skill accesses the following files on the host:

• ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json — read (model discovery) and write (agent binding)
• ~/.openclaw/cron/jobs.json — read-only (for job listing if needed)
• ~/claw-\x3Cagent-name>/ — workspace directory created by script
• ~/.openclaw/agents/\x3Cagent-id>/agent/ — directory created (no auth files copied)

Config Safety

• scripts/provision_config.py reads and writes ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.
• By default it creates a backup file: ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.bak.\x3Ctimestamp>.
• It updates only:
  • agents.list (add/update target agent) — does NOT copy auth credentials
  • bindings (add target telegram group binding)
  • channels.telegram.groups.\x3Cchat_id>.requireMention=false
  • gateway.reload.mode only if missing (sets default hybrid)
• The skill does NOT propagate API keys or auth tokens between agents.
• Gateway-level auth is inherited automatically; do not manually copy auth files.

Inputs

Collect (before executing):

• agent_name (required)
• model (required): ask user explicitly which model to use; model options must be read live from the user’s ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json (do not hardcode examples)
• Optional telegram_group_title override (custom group name)
• Initialization preferences (required ask):
  • whether to create/update USER.md
  • whether to create/update IDENTITY.md
  • whether to create/update SOUL.md
• If initialization is enabled, collect content fields before writing files:
  • USER.md: user name / preferred call name / language / goals / notes
  • IDENTITY.md: agent display name / vibe / emoji (optional)
  • SOUL.md: role/mission / tone / constraints (short bullet points)

Normalize agent_name:

• Keep lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens only.
• Replace spaces/underscores with -.
• Use this value in paths and IDs.

Telegram group title rule:

• If user provides telegram_group_title, use it directly.
• If not provided, generate default title from agent name in PascalCase.
  • Example: test-skill -> TestSkill, bilingual-agent -> BilingualAgent.

Workflow

1. Read available models from ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json first, then confirm inputs with user (agent name, model, init-file preferences, optional telegram group title).
2. Build workspace path as ~/claw-\x3Cagent-name> and create it if missing.
3. Resolve group title:
   • custom telegram_group_title if provided
   • otherwise PascalCase(agent_name)
4. Create and bind Telegram group (use resolved group title):
   • use browser automation/user-account flow (Telegram bot API cannot reliably create groups)
   • CONFIRM with user before triggering browser automation (explicit yes/no required)
   • if browser automation is unavailable, request the minimal manual steps and resume
5. Create/update OpenClaw config via script (preferred):
   • CONFIRM with user before modifying openclaw.json (explicit yes/no required)
   • python3 scripts/provision_config.py --agent-name \x3Cagent_name> --model \x3Cmodel> --chat-id \x3Cchat_id>
   • this sets: agent entry, workspace, binding, and requireMention=false
6. Apply config and activate it:
   • if hot reload is enabled, verify reload logs show applied changes
   • if reload is off or not applied, CONFIRM with user before restarting gateway (explicit yes/no required)
   • restart gateway only after user approval
7. Bootstrap agent runtime files (required for first-run stability):
   • ensure ~/.openclaw/agents/\x3Cagent-id>/agent exists
   • do NOT copy any auth files from other agents (this prevents credential/API key propagation)
   • new agents inherit authentication from the gateway's shared auth context automatically
   • do NOT manually copy or create auth-profiles.json, auth.json, or models.json
8. If initialization is requested, ask user for file content fields first, then write files:
   • collect required values for USER.md / IDENTITY.md / SOUL.md
   • then run: python3 scripts/init_workspace.py --workspace \x3Cworkspace> --agent-name \x3Cagent_name> [--with-user] [--with-identity] [--with-soul]
   • if user provided custom text, apply it after script initialization (overwrite placeholders)
9. Ensure routing validity for current schema (no invalid allowFrom entries for groups).
10. Post-provision verification:

• send a test message in group and ask user to send ping
• confirm agent responds without @mention

11. Return completion summary with:

• agent name
• model
• workspace path
• group title
• chat_id
• no-mention reply mode (enabled/disabled)
• status and next step (if any)

Telegram Automation Rules

• Group creation/deletion and member operations should use browser automation (user-account flow).
• For browser flow, prefer Chrome relay profile for existing logged-in Telegram sessions.
• If no connected Chrome tab is available, ask user to attach once, then continue.
• If Telegram shows confirmation/captcha that cannot be automated, request one manual click, then resume.

OpenClaw Command Discovery

Do not invent OpenClaw commands.

When agent create/update command syntax is unknown:

1. Run openclaw help.
2. If needed, run openclaw \x3Csubcommand> --help for the relevant subcommand.
3. Use only discovered command forms.

Idempotency

• If ~/claw-\x3Cagent-name> already exists, reuse it.
• If a same-name group already exists, confirm whether to reuse or create a fresh one.
• If agent already exists, update model/binding/workdir instead of duplicating.

Reliability Checks (must do)

• Verify requireMention=false for the bound group.
• Verify gateway config actually applied:
  • check reload mode/status logs (config hot reload applied, restarting telegram channel)
  • if reload is off or not applied, restart gateway and re-check logs.
• Send one bot-originated test message to the new group, then require one live user ping.
• Verify agent replies without @mention.
• Do not claim success before ping -> pong verification passes.

Failure Handling

If group creation succeeds but binding fails:

• Keep created group.
• Report exact failed step.
• Provide one-command resume instruction for the next run.

If chat_id cannot be resolved automatically:

• Report that as a partial success.
• Provide the shortest fallback step to fetch chat_id, then continue binding.

Output Template

Return concise status:

• agent: \x3Cagent-name>
• model: \x3Cselected-model>
• workspace: ~/claw-\x3Cagent-name>
• telegram_group: \x3Ctitle>
• chat_id: \x3Cid or PENDING>
• binding: \x3Cdone|pending>
• reply_without_mention: \x3Cenabled|disabled>
• initialized_files: \x3CUSER.md, IDENTITY.md, SOUL.md or subset>
• verification: \x3Cpassed|failed>
• next_step: \x3Cnone or exact minimal action>