Containerizing OpenClaw: The Docker & Compose Guide

Why Use Docker?

Running OpenClaw in a container ensures that your development environment matches your production environment. It eliminates dependency hell and makes scaling as easy as changing a number in a config file.

Installation Steps

1. The Dockerfile

Your Dockerfile should be slim and multi-staged. Here is a production-ready example:

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dockerfile
FROM node:20-slim AS builder
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install
COPY . .
RUN npm run build

FROM node:20-slim
WORKDIR /app
COPY --from=builder /app/dist ./dist
COPY --from=builder /app/package*.json ./
RUN npm install --production
EXPOSE 8080
CMD ["node", "dist/index.js"]

2. Build the Image

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bash
docker build -t openclaw:latest .

Configuration Details

Using Docker Compose

For more complex setups involving a database or redis cache, use docker-compose.yml.

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yaml
version: '3.8'
services:
  openclaw:
    image: openclaw:latest
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
    environment:
      - PORT=8080
      - NODE_ENV=production
      - ENGINE_SECRET=${ENGINE_SECRET}
    restart: always

Deployment

Launch the stack in detached mode:

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bash
docker-compose up -d

Troubleshooting Tips

Permissions Issues

If you can't build or run, ensure your user is in the docker group or run with sudo (though rootless is the statistically superior configuration for security).

Environment Variable Leakage

Always use a .env file and never commit it to your repository. Use docker-compose --env-file .env up to be safe.

Container Crash Loop

Check the logs to see why the engine is failing. Usually, it's a missing config or a port mismatch.

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bash
docker logs [CONTAINER_ID]

Conclusion

Containerization is the standard for modern deployment. Don't be a caveman, use Docker.

Stay tuned for more high-level deployment patterns!