How to Install ClawdBot (Moltbot) on macOS

ClawdBot (also known as Moltbot) is a powerful automation bot that helps streamline your workflow on macOS. This guide will walk you through the complete installation process, from prerequisites to verification.

Prerequisites

Before installing ClawdBot, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later
Python 3.8 or higher
Homebrew package manager
At least 2GB of free disk space
Administrator access to your Mac

Step 1: Install Homebrew (If Not Already Installed)

Homebrew is the package manager we'll use to install dependencies. If you don't have it installed, open Terminal and run:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

After installation, verify Homebrew is working:

brew --version

Step 2: Install Python 3

While macOS comes with Python, we recommend installing the latest version via Homebrew:

brew install python3

Verify the installation:

python3 --version

You should see Python 3.8 or higher.

Step 3: Install Required Dependencies

ClawdBot requires several system dependencies. Install them using Homebrew:

brew install git curl wget openssl

Step 4: Clone the ClawdBot Repository

Navigate to your desired installation directory and clone the repository:

cd ~/Documents
git clone https://github.com/clawdbot/moltbot.git
cd moltbot

Note: Replace the repository URL with the actual ClawdBot/Moltbot repository if different.

Step 5: Create a Virtual Environment

It's best practice to use a virtual environment for Python projects:

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

Your terminal prompt should now show (venv) indicating the virtual environment is active.

Step 6: Install ClawdBot

With the virtual environment activated, install ClawdBot and its dependencies:

pip install --upgrade pip
pip install -r requirements.txt

If ClawdBot is available on PyPI, you can alternatively install it directly:

pip install clawdbot

Step 7: Configure ClawdBot

Create a configuration file in your home directory:

mkdir -p ~/.clawdbot
cp config.example.yml ~/.clawdbot/config.yml

Edit the configuration file with your preferred text editor:

nano ~/.clawdbot/config.yml

Update the following settings:

API keys (if required)
Bot preferences
Automation triggers
Notification settings

Step 8: Verify Installation

Test that ClawdBot is properly installed:

clawdbot --version

Run a test command to ensure everything works:

clawdbot test

Step 9: Set Up Auto-Start (Optional)

To have ClawdBot start automatically when you log in, create a launch agent:

mkdir -p ~/Library/LaunchAgents
nano ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.clawdbot.plist

Add the following content (adjust paths as needed):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.clawdbot</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/Documents/moltbot/venv/bin/clawdbot</string>
        <string>start</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Load the launch agent:

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.clawdbot.plist

Troubleshooting

Issue: Python Command Not Found

If python3 is not recognized, add it to your PATH:

echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/opt/python/libexec/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Issue: Permission Denied Errors

Some operations might require elevated permissions:

sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/Documents/moltbot

Issue: SSL Certificate Errors

If you encounter SSL errors, update your certificates:

pip install --upgrade certifi
/Applications/Python\ 3.*/Install\ Certificates.command

Issue: Dependencies Conflict

If you have dependency conflicts, try creating a fresh virtual environment:

deactivate
rm -rf venv
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

Updating ClawdBot

To update ClawdBot to the latest version:

cd ~/Documents/moltbot
git pull origin main
source venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade -r requirements.txt

Uninstalling ClawdBot

If you need to uninstall ClawdBot:

Deactivate and remove the virtual environment:

deactivate
rm -rf ~/Documents/moltbot

Remove configuration files:

rm -rf ~/.clawdbot

Remove the launch agent (if configured):

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.clawdbot.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.clawdbot.plist

Conclusion

You now have ClawdBot (Moltbot) successfully installed and configured on your macOS system. Explore the official documentation to learn about advanced features and automation capabilities.

For support and community discussions, join the ClawdBot Discord server or check out the GitHub Issues page.

Happy automating!