Local Deployment

Complete Local Clawdbot Deployment Guide

Comprehensive guide to deploying Clawdbot on local hardware. Covers Mac Mini, Raspberry Pi, Docker, and general local server setup.

This comprehensive pillar page covers everything about clawdbot local setup. Learn how to deploy clawdbot local on your own hardware for complete control, privacy, and cost savings.

Why Choose Clawdbot Local Deployment?

Clawdbot local installation offers unique advantages over cloud hosting:

  • Privacy: Your data never leaves your network
  • Control: Complete configuration freedom
  • Cost: One-time hardware investment
  • Performance: No shared resources
  • Reliability: No external dependencies

Hardware Options for Clawdbot Local Setup

Compare hardware options for your clawdbot local deployment:

HardwareCostPerformancePower UsageBest For
Mac Mini M4$599+Excellent5-10WProduction
Mac Mini M4 Pro$1,399+Outstanding10-20WHeavy workloads
Raspberry Pi 5$80+Good3-5WPersonal/Learning
Old PC/LaptopVariesVariable30-100WTesting

Mac Mini for Clawdbot Local Deployment

The Mac Mini is our top recommendation for clawdbot local setup due to its excellent performance and efficiency.

Why Mac Mini?

  • Apple Silicon efficiency
  • Silent operation
  • Excellent build quality
  • Low power consumption
  • macOS stability

Quick Setup Overview

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

# Install Node.js
brew install node@20

# Clone and install Clawdbot
git clone https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot.git
cd clawdbot
npm install

# Configure and run
cp .env.example .env
npm run build
npm start

Read full Mac Mini Guide →

Raspberry Pi for Clawdbot Local Setup

Budget-friendly option for clawdbot local deployment and home setups.

Suitable Use Cases

  • Personal projects
  • Learning and experimentation
  • Low-traffic applications
  • IoT integration

Hardware Requirements

  • Raspberry Pi 5 or Pi 4 (8GB recommended)
  • 32GB+ microSD or SSD
  • Active cooling solution
  • Reliable power supply

Quick Setup Overview

# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install Node.js
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

# Clone and install
git clone https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot.git
cd clawdbot
npm install

Read full Raspberry Pi Guide →

Docker for Clawdbot Local Deployment

Run clawdbot local in containers for portability and isolation.

Benefits of Docker

  • Consistent environment
  • Easy updates
  • Isolation from host system
  • Works on any Docker-supported OS

Quick Docker Setup

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot.git
cd clawdbot

# Build image
docker build -t clawdbot .

# Run container
docker run -d \
  --name clawdbot \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -e ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  clawdbot

Docker Compose

version: '3.8'
services:
  clawdbot:
    build: .
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      - ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=${ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}
      - NODE_ENV=production
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - clawdbot_data:/app/data

volumes:
  clawdbot_data:

Network Configuration for Clawdbot Local

Configure networking for your clawdbot local setup to enable access from other devices.

Local Network Access

To access Clawdbot from other devices:

# In .env
HOST=0.0.0.0
PORT=3000

Port Forwarding (Remote Access)

For external access (use with caution):

  1. Configure router port forwarding
  2. Point external port to internal IP:3000
  3. Set up dynamic DNS if needed
  4. Always use HTTPS for remote access

Reverse Proxy Setup

Using Nginx for HTTPS:

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name clawdbot.local;

    ssl_certificate /path/to/cert.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /path/to/key.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
    }
}

Running Clawdbot Local as a Service

Configure your clawdbot local deployment to start automatically.

macOS (launchd)

<?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.agent</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/local/bin/node</string>
        <string>/path/to/clawdbot/dist/index.js</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Linux (systemd)

[Unit]
Description=Clawdbot AI Agent
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=clawdbot
WorkingDirectory=/home/clawdbot/clawdbot
ExecStart=/usr/bin/node dist/index.js
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Performance Optimization for Clawdbot Local

Optimize your clawdbot local setup for best performance.

Memory Management

# Limit Node.js memory
export NODE_OPTIONS="--max-old-space-size=4096"

# Monitor memory usage
node --v8-options | grep -i memory

CPU Optimization

  • Enable performance mode (macOS: System Settings > Battery)
  • Disable power nap and sleep
  • Use wired network connection

Storage Optimization

  • Use SSD over HDD
  • Enable TRIM for SSDs
  • Regular log rotation

Monitoring Clawdbot Local Deployments

Keep your clawdbot local setup running smoothly with proper monitoring.

System Monitoring

# macOS
top -l 1 | head -n 10

# Linux
htop

Application Monitoring

# View logs
tail -f ~/clawdbot/logs/app.log

# Check memory usage
ps aux | grep node

Uptime Monitoring

Consider local monitoring tools:

  • Uptime Kuma (self-hosted)
  • Prometheus + Grafana
  • Simple cron health checks

Backup Strategies

Automated Backups

#!/bin/bash
# backup.sh
BACKUP_DIR="/path/to/backups"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d)

# Backup configuration
cp ~/clawdbot/.env $BACKUP_DIR/env-$DATE

# Backup data
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/data-$DATE.tar.gz ~/clawdbot/data

# Keep only last 7 backups
find $BACKUP_DIR -mtime +7 -delete

Backup Schedule

# Add to crontab
0 2 * * * /path/to/backup.sh

Security for Clawdbot Local Deployments

Even clawdbot local deployments need proper security:

  1. Firewall: Block unnecessary ports
  2. Updates: Keep OS and Clawdbot updated
  3. API Keys: Use environment variables
  4. Network: Segment from untrusted devices
  5. Physical: Secure hardware location

Read Security Best Practices →

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

IssueSolution
Won't startCheck logs, verify Node.js version
High memoryIncrease swap, limit Node.js heap
Slow performanceCheck CPU usage, use SSD
Network unreachableCheck HOST setting, firewall

Debug Mode

# Run with debug output
DEBUG=* npm start

# Check system resources
top -o MEM

Hardware Buying Guide

Budget: Under $150

Raspberry Pi 5 Complete Kit
  • Best for learning and personal use
  • Low power consumption
  • Limited concurrent users

Recommended: $600-900

Mac Mini M4 16GB
  • Excellent performance
  • Silent operation
  • Professional quality

Performance: $1,400+

Mac Mini M4 Pro 24GB
  • Maximum local performance
  • Heavy workload capable
  • Future-proof investment

Alternative: Cloud Deployment

Local not right for you? Consider:

Professional Setup Available

Need help with local deployment? Our $100 service covers Mac Mini, Raspberry Pi, and Docker setups.