Agent skill · research science · steipete
openclaw-debugging
Debug OpenClaw model/provider/tool-surface/code-mode/streaming and live/Crabbox behavior; choose logs, probes, proof path before code changes; fetch stored sessions, transcripts, attachments as evidence.
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific debugging commands and log configurations for OpenClaw that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
About 3k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 385,400 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
OpenClaw Debugging Behavior differs between local tests, live models, providers, code mode, Tool Search, Crabbox, CI: get debug signal before guessing. Read First docs/logging.md: log files, openclaw logs, targeted debug flags. docs/reference/test.md: local test commands. docs/tools/code-mode.md: code-mode exec/wait + tool catalog rules. $openclaw-testing: test-lane choice. $crabbox: broad, Docker, package, Linux, live-key, CI-parity proof. Default Loop 1. State suspected boundary: config, tool construction, provider payload, fetch, stream/SSE, transcript replay, worker/runtime, package/dist, CI. 2. Add/enable narrowest signal proving boundary. 3. Reproduce with same provider/model/config. Never randomly switch models unless model itself = tested variable. 4. Compare configured state with actual run activation. 5. Patch root cause. 6. Rerun exact failing probe; broaden only if contract requires. Model Transport Logs Model request shape/stream timing: targeted env flags over global debug: Useful flags: OPENCLAWDEBUGMODELTRANSPORT=1: request start, fetch response, SDK headers, first SSE event, stream done, transport errors at info. OPENCLAWDEBUGMODELPAYLOAD=summary: bounded payload summary. OPENCLAWDEBUGMODELPAYLOAD=tools: all model-facing tool names. OPENCLAWDEBUGMODELPAYLOAD=full-redacted: capped, redacted JSON payload. Only while debugging; prompts/message text may still appear. OPENCLAWDEBUGSSE=events: first-event + stream-completion timing. OPENCLAWDEBUGSSE=peek: first five redacted SSE events. OPENCLAWDEBUGCODEMODE=1: code-mode tool-surface diagnostics. Watch logs: Common Boundaries Config vs activation: enabled config can coexist with disabled run tools, raw run, empty allowlist, missing model tool support. Check actual visible tools before enforcing provider payload invariants. Tool surface: inspect final model-visible tool names, not only registry/ config. Code mode = exactly exec + wait only after actual activation. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills steipete/openclaw-debugging