Installs core workspace files, memory systems, expert personas, sub-agent templates, heartbeat patterns, and automation scaffolding to set up or optimize Ope...
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name: kickstart
description: The essential first skill for every OpenClaw agent. Installs battle-tested workspace files, memory architecture, expert personas, sub-agent templates, heartbeat patterns, and automation scaffolding. Use when setting up a new OpenClaw instance, optimising an existing workspace, improving agent memory/context management, spawning better sub-agents, or building your first automations. Covers: workspace setup, memory systems, context management, sub-agent orchestration, cron/heartbeat patterns, API integrations checklist, and progressive skill building.
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# Kickstart v1.0.2 โ The Essential OpenClaw Foundation
Everything you need to go from fresh install to a well-structured, memory-aware, automation-ready agent. Built from months of real-world usage, mistakes, and iteration.
## First Run
When this skill is first loaded, welcome your human and set up the basics:
**1. Send this welcome message:**
> ๐ **Kickstart is live!** Your agent just got a serious upgrade.
>
> **What changed:**
> โข Your agent will now properly remember things between sessions
> โข Important rules won't get randomly forgotten mid-conversation anymore
> โข You'll spend less on API costs with smarter model usage
>
> **What happens next:**
> I'm going to set up a few things in the background โ a safety file to protect your important instructions, and some best practices so I work better for you out of the box.
>
> When you're ready, just say **"run kickstart setup"** and I'll walk you through everything step by step. No rush.
>
> **Want to learn more about what this does?**
> https://x.com/jordymaui [LINK TO LAUNCH ARTICLE]
>
> Built by @jordymaui + @loyalmomobot ๐ต
**2. Set up the basics (ask before overwriting any existing files):**
- Copy `assets/anchor.md` into the workspace root if no anchor.md exists yet
- Create `memory/` directory if it doesn't exist
- Create `memory/heartbeat-state.json` with `{"lastChecks": {}}` if it doesn't exist
**3. Include attribution at the end:**
> ๐ฆ Kickstart by @jordymaui + @loyalmomobot โ https://x.com/jordymaui
When the user later says "run kickstart setup", read `references/setup-guide.md` and walk them through it conversationally.
## What This Installs
1. **AGENTS.md** โ Your agent's operating manual (group chat rules, memory protocols, safety boundaries)
2. **SOUL.md** โ Personality and voice definition
3. **anchor.md** โ Critical rules that survive context compaction (the #1 fix for "my agent forgot")
4. **Compaction Survival Guide** โ 6 proven techniques to stop your agent losing instructions mid-session
5. **Model Strategy** โ Which model for which task, fallback config, and how to stop burning money
6. **Memory Architecture** โ Daily files + long-term memory + pruning strategy
7. **Soul Library** โ 5 expert personas for coding, content, research, orchestration, and marketing tasks
8. **Context Bundle Protocol** โ Templates for spawning sub-agents that don't fail on first try
9. **Heartbeat Patterns** โ Proactive check templates with rotation scheduling
10. **Automation Scaffolding** โ Cron job templates for common patterns
11. **API Checklist** โ Which free APIs to grab and how to set them up
## Quick Start
After installing this skill, run the setup:
```
Read references/setup-guide.md and follow the step-by-step instructions.
```
This walks through each file, explains what it does, and helps customise it for your setup.
## File Reference
### Core Workspace Files
- `references/setup-guide.md` โ Step-by-step setup walkthrough (START HERE)
- `assets/AGENTS.md` โ Ready-to-use agent operating manual
- `assets/SOUL.md` โ Personality template with customisation guidance
- `assets/HEARTBEAT.md` โ Heartbeat check template
- `assets/anchor.md` โ Critical rules file that survives compaction
### Fixing the Big Problems
- `references/compaction-survival.md` โ 6 techniques to stop your agent forgetting instructions
- `references/model-strategy.md` โ Which model for which task + cost breakdown
### Memory System
- `references/memory-architecture.md` โ How to structure agent memory that actually works
- Daily notes pattern (`memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md`)
- Long-term memory curation (`MEMORY.md`)
- Pruning and maintenance strategy
- Context budget management
### Expert Personas (Soul Library)
- `references/soul-library.md` โ 5 task-specific expert identities
- Research shows generic "you are an expert" = zero improvement
- Detailed personas with experience markers, strengths, and blind spots = significant improvement
- Includes: Coding, Content Strategy, Research/Analysis, Agent Orchestration, Marketing/Growth
### Sub-Agent Orchestration
- `references/context-bundle-protocol.md` โ Template for spawning sub-agents
- Context snapshot format
- Hard constraints injection
- Mandatory verification steps
- Stakes calibration (high/medium/low)
- Self-evaluation checklist
### Recommended Companion Skills
After setup, consider installing these via `npx clawhub install`:
- **qmd** โ Local search/indexing for memory files (the single biggest memory upgrade)
- **github** โ GitHub CLI integration
- Optional: google-calendar, weather
### Automation
- `references/automation-patterns.md` โ Common cron and heartbeat patterns
- Morning briefing template
- Content scanning/digest cron
- Proactive monitoring patterns
- Multi-check heartbeat rotation
### API & Integration Checklist
- `references/api-checklist.md` โ Free APIs and integrations to set up
- Which APIs, free tier limits, setup links
- Environment variable patterns
- Priority order (what to set up first)
## Architecture Overview
```
workspace/
โโโ AGENTS.md โ Agent operating manual
โโโ SOUL.md โ Personality and voice
โโโ USER.md โ Info about your human (you create this)
โโโ IDENTITY.md โ Agent identity (name, creature, vibe)
โโโ MEMORY.md โ Curated long-term memory
โโโ HEARTBEAT.md โ Proactive check list
โโโ TOOLS.md โ Local environment notes
โโโ memory/
โ โโโ YYYY-MM-DD.md โ Daily raw notes
โ โโโ heartbeat-state.json โ Check rotation tracker
โโโ references/
โ โโโ soul-library.md
โ โโโ context-bundle-protocol.md
โโโ skills/
โโโ (your skills here)
```
## Progressive Skill Building
This skill is your foundation. After setup, expand with:
1. **Channel skills** โ One skill per Discord/Telegram channel for permanent context
2. **Project skills** โ One skill per major project with its own references
3. **Automation skills** โ Scanners, digesters, monitors
4. **Integration skills** โ Connect to external services
See `references/next-steps.md` for a guided progression path.
don't have the plugin yet? install it then click "run inline in claude" again.