openclaw-local-mac-mini
openclaw-local-mac-mini is an engineering AI skill with a core value of Set up OpenClaw locally and run it reliably on a Mac mini for private, always-on local agent workflows. It
helps developers solve real-world problems in the engineering domain, boosting
efficiency, automating repetitive tasks, and optimizing workflows.
Set up OpenClaw locally and run it reliably on a Mac mini for private, always-on local agent workflows.
Quick Facts
mkdir -p ./skills/openclaw-local-mac-mini && curl -sfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/main/skills/openclaw-local-mac-mini/SKILL.md -o ./skills/openclaw-local-mac-mini/SKILL.md Run in terminal / PowerShell. Requires curl (Unix) or PowerShell 5+ (Windows).
Skill Content
# OpenClaw Local + Mac mini Setup
Use this skill when you want to run [OpenClaw](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) on a developer laptop or promote it to a stable Mac mini host. Covers cloning and bootstrapping, Docker Compose configuration, Mac mini hardware optimization, networking, monitoring, and production-grade launchd services.
Prerequisites
- macOS 13 (Ventura) or later on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M4 Mac mini recommended)
- Docker Desktop for Mac or OrbStack installed
- Git, Node.js (v18+), and a package manager (npm or pnpm)
- API keys for your chosen LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, or local Ollama)
- At least 16 GB RAM (32 GB recommended for local model serving)
Local Setup (Any Dev Machine)
Clone and Bootstrap
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
# Review the upstream README for current prerequisites
cat README.md
# Copy the example environment file
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your provider keys and configuration
# At minimum, set the model provider and API key
cat > .env << 'ENV'
# LLM Provider Configuration
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-openai-key-here
# Or for Anthropic:
# ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-key-here
# Or for local Ollama:
# OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://localhost:11434
# Application settings
NODE_ENV=development
PORT=3000
HOST=0.0.0.0
LOG_LEVEL=info
# Database (if applicable)
DATABASE_URL=sqlite:./data/openclaw.db
ENVInstall Dependencies and Run
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Or with pnpm:
# pnpm install
# Run database migrations if needed
npm run db:migrate
# Start the development server
npm run dev
# Verify startup
curl -s http://localhost:3000/api/health | jq .
# Expected: {"status":"ok","version":"..."}Validate the Setup
# Check the API health endpoint
curl -f http://localhost:3000/api/health
# Check the UI loads
curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' http://localhost:3000/
# Expected: 200
# Run built-in tests if available
npm testDocker Compose Setup
docker-compose.yml
version: "3.8"
services:
openclaw:
build:
context: .
dockerfile: Dockerfile
image: openclaw:latest
container_name: openclaw
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "3000:3000"
env_file:
- .env
environment:
- NODE_ENV=production
- HOST=0.0.0.0
- PORT=3000
volumes:
- openclaw-data:/app/data
- ./config:/app/config:ro
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:3000/api/health"]
interval: 30s
timeout: 10s
retries: 3
start_period: 15s
deploy:
resources:
limits:
memory: 4G
reservations:
memory: 1G
logging:
driver: json-file
options:
max-size: "50m"
max-file: "5"
# Optional: Redis for caching/queues
redis:
image: redis:7-alpine
container_name: openclaw-redis
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
- redis-data:/data
command: redis-server --appendonly yes --maxmemory 512mb --maxmemory-policy allkeys-lru
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD", "redis-cli", "ping"]
interval: 10s
timeout: 5s
retries: 3
# Optional: Ollama for local model serving
ollama:
image: ollama/ollama:latest
container_name: openclaw-ollama
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "11434:11434"
volumes:
- ollama-models:/root/.ollama
deploy:
resources:
limits:
memory: 16G
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:11434/api/tags"]
interval: 30s
timeout: 10s
retries: 3
volumes:
openclaw-data:
redis-data:
ollama-models:Running with Docker Compose
# Build and start all services
docker compose up -d --build
# Check service status
docker compose ps
# View logs
docker compose logs -f openclaw
docker compose logs -f --tail=100 ollama
# Pull a model into Ollama (if 🎯 Best For
- Claude users
- AI users
💡 Use Cases
- Using openclaw-local-mac-mini in daily workflow
- Automating repetitive engineering tasks
📖 How to Use This Skill
- 1
Install the Skill
Copy the install command from the Terminal tab and run it. The SKILL.md file downloads to your local skills directory.
- 2
Load into Your AI Assistant
Open Claude and reference the skill. Paste the SKILL.md content or use the system prompt tab.
- 3
Apply openclaw-local-mac-mini to Your Work
Provide context for your task — paste source material, describe your audience, or share existing work to guide the AI.
- 4
Review and Refine
Edit the AI output for accuracy, tone, and completeness. Add human insight where the AI lacks context.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install openclaw-local-mac-mini?
Copy the install command from the Terminal tab and run it. The skill downloads to ./skills/openclaw-local-mac-mini/SKILL.md, ready to use.
Can I customize this skill for my team?
Absolutely. Edit the SKILL.md file to add team-specific instructions, examples, or workflows.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not reading the full skill
Skills contain important context and edge cases beyond the quick start.