OpenClaw is a self-hosted, multi-channel AI agent gateway that connects chat apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord to AI agents. This guide covers installing OpenClaw, running the onboarding wizard, and using the dashboard as a private coding assistant. The main architectural contribution is a proposed plugin bridge connecting OpenClaw to the A2A (Agent2Agent) protocol, enabling outbound delegation to remote specialist agents. A proof-of-concept relay is provided that maps OpenClaw sessions to A2A context IDs, creates fresh A2A tasks per delegated turn, and normalizes remote artifacts back into local replies. The design deliberately starts with outbound-only delegation to preserve OpenClaw's personal-assistant trust boundary, with security guidance on keeping the Gateway private and using an allowlist-controlled relay layer.
Table of contents
PrerequisitesTable of ContentsWhat OpenClaw IsWhy Developers Are Paying Attention to OpenClawWhat the A2A Protocol IsHow OpenClaw and A2A RelateWhat You Need Before You StartStep 1: Install OpenClawStep 2: Run the Onboarding WizardStep 3: Check the Gateway and Open the DashboardStep 4: Use OpenClaw as a Private Coding AssistantStep 5: Understand Multi Agent RoutingWhere A2A Could Fit LaterA Proposed OpenClaw to A2A Plugin ArchitectureBuild the Proof of Concept RelayHow the Proof of Concept Maps to a Real OpenClaw PluginSecurity Notes Before You Go FurtherFinal ThoughtsFurther ReadingSort: