The History of Clawdbot
The evolution of Clawdbot - from WhatsApp gateway to full-featured AI assistant.
Origin Story
Clawdbot began as a simple WhatsApp gateway project, evolving into a comprehensive personal AI assistant platform.
Project Evolution
Early Days
The project started as Warelay - a WhatsApp relay gateway that connected messaging platforms to AI models. The goal was simple: let users interact with Claude through their favorite messaging apps.
Growth & Features
As the community grew, so did the feature set:
- Multi-channel support (Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage)
- Workspace system for persistent memory
- Skill extensions for custom capabilities
- Browser automation
- Proactive heartbeat tasks
Name Changes
The project underwent several name changes as it evolved:
- Warelay - Original WhatsApp gateway
- Clawd - Claude-based assistant
- Moltbot - After trademark considerations
- Clawdbot - Current name
The "claw" theme emerged from the crustacean mascot, representing the project's ability to grab and manipulate data across platforms.
Key Milestones
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Initial WhatsApp gateway release |
| Late 2025 | Multi-channel support added |
| Jan 2026 | Major rebrand and community growth |
| Jan 2026 | macOS native app release |
Philosophy
Core Principles
- Privacy First - Run locally, keep your data yours
- Open Source - Community-driven development
- Extensible - Skills and plugins for any use case
- Multi-Platform - Work where you work
The "Molt" Concept
The project embraces "molting" as a metaphor for growth and transformation. Like a crustacean shedding its shell to grow, Clawdbot continuously evolves to better serve its users.
Community
The Clawdbot community has been instrumental in shaping the project:
- Discord - Active community discussions
- GitHub - Open source contributions
- Showcase - User-built projects and integrations
Notable Community Contributions
- Home automation integrations
- Language learning tools
- Productivity workflows
- Hardware control systems
The Mascot
The crustacean mascot represents:
- Adaptability - Works across platforms
- Protection - Keeps your data safe
- Growth - Continuous improvement through molting
Looking Forward
Clawdbot continues to evolve with:
- Enhanced AI model support
- More channel integrations
- Improved skill ecosystem
- Better cross-platform experience
Related Documentation
- Getting Started - Begin your journey
- Showcase - See what's possible
- Community - Join the discussion