GhostClaw Setup

Run setup steps automatically. Only pause when user action is required (WhatsApp authentication, configuration choices). Setup uses bash setup.sh for bootstrap, then npx tsx setup/index.ts --step <name> for all other steps. Steps emit structured status blocks to stdout. Verbose logs go to logs/setup.log.

Principle: When something is broken or missing, fix it. Don't tell the user to go fix it themselves unless it genuinely requires their manual action (e.g. scanning a QR code, pasting a secret token). If a dependency is missing, install it. If a service won't start, diagnose and repair. Ask the user for permission when needed, then do the work.

UX Note: Use AskUserQuestion for all user-facing questions.

1. Bootstrap (Node.js + Dependencies)

Run bash setup.sh and parse the status block.

• If NODE_OK=false → Node.js is missing or too old. Use AskUserQuestion: Would you like me to install Node.js 22? If confirmed:
  • macOS: brew install node@22 (if brew available) or install nvm then nvm install 22
  • Linux: curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash - && sudo apt-get install -y nodejs, or nvm
  • After installing Node, re-run bash setup.sh
• If DEPS_OK=false → Read logs/setup.log. Try: delete node_modules and package-lock.json, re-run bash setup.sh. If native module build fails, install build tools (xcode-select --install on macOS, build-essential on Linux), then retry.
• If NATIVE_OK=false → better-sqlite3 failed to load. Install build tools and re-run.
• Record PLATFORM and IS_WSL for later steps.

2. Check Environment

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step environment and parse the status block.

• If HAS_AUTH=true → note that WhatsApp auth exists, offer to skip step 5
• If HAS_REGISTERED_GROUPS=true → note existing config, offer to skip or reconfigure
• Record APPLE_CONTAINER and DOCKER values for step 3

3. Container Runtime

3a. Choose runtime

Check the preflight results for APPLE_CONTAINER and DOCKER, and the PLATFORM from step 1.

• PLATFORM=linux → Docker (only option)
• PLATFORM=macos + APPLE_CONTAINER=installed → Use AskUserQuestion: Docker (default, cross-platform) or Apple Container (native macOS)? If Apple Container, run /convert-to-apple-container now, then skip to 3c.
• PLATFORM=macos + APPLE_CONTAINER=not_found → Docker (default)

3a-docker. Install Docker

• DOCKER=running → continue to 3b
• DOCKER=installed_not_running → start Docker: open -a Docker (macOS) or sudo systemctl start docker (Linux). Wait 15s, re-check with docker info.
• DOCKER=not_found → Use AskUserQuestion: Docker is required for running agents. Would you like me to install it? If confirmed:
  • macOS: install via brew install --cask docker, then open -a Docker and wait for it to start. If brew not available, direct to Docker Desktop download at https://docker.com/products/docker-desktop
  • Linux: install with curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh && sudo usermod -aG docker $USER. Note: user may need to log out/in for group membership.

3b. Apple Container conversion gate (if needed)

If the chosen runtime is Apple Container, you MUST check whether the source code has already been converted from Docker to Apple Container. Do NOT skip this step. Run:

grep -q "CONTAINER_RUNTIME_BIN = 'container'" src/container-runtime.ts && echo "ALREADY_CONVERTED" || echo "NEEDS_CONVERSION"

If NEEDS_CONVERSION, the source code still uses Docker as the runtime. You MUST run the /convert-to-apple-container skill NOW, before proceeding to the build step.

If ALREADY_CONVERTED, the code already uses Apple Container. Continue to 3c.

If the chosen runtime is Docker, no conversion is needed — Docker is the default. Continue to 3c.

3c. Build and test

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step container -- --runtime <chosen> and parse the status block.

If BUILD_OK=false: Read logs/setup.log tail for the build error.

• Cache issue (stale layers): docker builder prune -f (Docker) or container builder stop && container builder rm && container builder start (Apple Container). Retry.
• Dockerfile syntax or missing files: diagnose from the log and fix, then retry.

If TEST_OK=false but BUILD_OK=true: The image built but won't run. Check logs — common cause is runtime not fully started. Wait a moment and retry the test.

4. Claude Authentication (No Script)

If HAS_ENV=true from step 2, read .env and check for CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN or ANTHROPIC_API_KEY. If present, confirm with user: keep or reconfigure?

AskUserQuestion: Claude subscription (Pro/Max) vs Anthropic API key?

Subscription: Tell user to run claude setup-token in another terminal, copy the token, add CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=<token> to .env. Do NOT collect the token in chat.

API key: Tell user to add ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=<key> to .env.

5. WhatsApp Authentication

If HAS_AUTH=true, confirm: keep or re-authenticate?

Choose auth method based on environment (from step 2):

If IS_HEADLESS=true AND IS_WSL=false → AskUserQuestion: Pairing code (recommended) vs QR code in terminal? Otherwise (macOS, desktop Linux, or WSL) → AskUserQuestion: QR code in browser (recommended) vs pairing code vs QR code in terminal?

• QR browser: npx tsx setup/index.ts --step whatsapp-auth -- --method qr-browser (Bash timeout: 150000ms)
• Pairing code: Ask for phone number first. npx tsx setup/index.ts --step whatsapp-auth -- --method pairing-code --phone NUMBER (Bash timeout: 150000ms). Display PAIRING_CODE.
• QR terminal: npx tsx setup/index.ts --step whatsapp-auth -- --method qr-terminal. Tell user to run npm run auth in another terminal.

If failed: qr_timeout → re-run. logged_out → delete store/auth/ and re-run. 515 → re-run. timeout → ask user, offer retry.

6. Configure Trigger and Channel Type

Get bot's WhatsApp number: node -e "const c=require('./store/auth/creds.json');console.log(c.me.id.split(':')[0].split('@')[0])"

AskUserQuestion: Shared number or dedicated? → AskUserQuestion: Trigger word? → AskUserQuestion: Main channel type?

Shared number: Self-chat (recommended) or Solo group Dedicated number: DM with bot (recommended) or Solo group with bot

7. Sync and Select Group (If Group Channel)

Personal chat: JID = NUMBER@s.whatsapp.net DM with bot: Ask for bot's number, JID = NUMBER@s.whatsapp.net

Group:

1. npx tsx setup/index.ts --step groups (Bash timeout: 60000ms)
2. BUILD=failed → fix TypeScript, re-run. GROUPS_IN_DB=0 → check logs.
3. npx tsx setup/index.ts --step groups -- --list for pipe-separated JID|name lines.
4. Present candidates as AskUserQuestion (names only, not JIDs).

8. Register Channel

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step register -- --jid "JID" --name "main" --trigger "@TriggerWord" --folder "main" plus --no-trigger-required if personal/DM/solo, --assistant-name "Name" if not Andy.

9. Mount Allowlist

AskUserQuestion: Agent access to external directories?

No: npx tsx setup/index.ts --step mounts -- --empty Yes: Collect paths/permissions. npx tsx setup/index.ts --step mounts -- --json '{"allowedRoots":[...],"blockedPatterns":[],"nonMainReadOnly":true}'

10. Start Service

If service already running: unload first.

• macOS: launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ghostclaw.plist
• Linux: systemctl --user stop ghostclaw (or systemctl stop ghostclaw if root)

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step service and parse the status block.

If FALLBACK=wsl_no_systemd: WSL without systemd detected. Tell user they can either enable systemd in WSL (echo -e "[boot]\nsystemd=true" | sudo tee /etc/wsl.conf then restart WSL) or use the generated start-ghostclaw.sh wrapper.

If DOCKER_GROUP_STALE=true: The user was added to the docker group after their session started — the systemd service can't reach the Docker socket. Ask user to run these two commands:

1. Immediate fix: sudo setfacl -m u:$(whoami):rw /var/run/docker.sock
2. Persistent fix (re-applies after every Docker restart):

sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/docker.service.d
sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/docker.service.d/socket-acl.conf << 'EOF'
[Service]
ExecStartPost=/usr/bin/setfacl -m u:USERNAME:rw /var/run/docker.sock
EOF
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Replace USERNAME with the actual username (from whoami). Run the two sudo commands separately — the tee heredoc first, then daemon-reload. After user confirms setfacl ran, re-run the service step.

If SERVICE_LOADED=false:

• Read logs/setup.log for the error.
• macOS: check launchctl list | grep ghostclaw. If PID=- and status non-zero, read logs/ghostclaw.error.log.
• Linux: check systemctl --user status ghostclaw.
• Re-run the service step after fixing.

11. Verify

Run npx tsx setup/index.ts --step verify and parse the status block.

If STATUS=failed, fix each:

• SERVICE=stopped → npm run build, then restart: launchctl kickstart -k gui/$(id -u)/com.ghostclaw (macOS) or systemctl --user restart ghostclaw (Linux) or bash start-ghostclaw.sh (WSL nohup)
• SERVICE=not_found → re-run step 10
• CREDENTIALS=missing → re-run step 4
• WHATSAPP_AUTH=not_found → re-run step 5
• REGISTERED_GROUPS=0 → re-run steps 7-8
• MOUNT_ALLOWLIST=missing → npx tsx setup/index.ts --step mounts -- --empty

Tell user to test: send a message in their registered chat. Show: tail -f logs/ghostclaw.log

Troubleshooting

Service not starting: Check logs/ghostclaw.error.log. Common: wrong Node path (re-run step 10), missing .env (step 4), missing auth (step 5).

Container agent fails ("Claude Code process exited with code 1"): Ensure the container runtime is running — open -a Docker (macOS Docker), container system start (Apple Container), or sudo systemctl start docker (Linux). Check container logs in groups/main/logs/container-*.log.

No response to messages: Check trigger pattern. Main channel doesn't need prefix. Check DB: npx tsx setup/index.ts --step verify. Check logs/ghostclaw.log.

WhatsApp disconnected: npm run auth then rebuild and restart: npm run build && launchctl kickstart -k gui/$(id -u)/com.ghostclaw (macOS) or systemctl --user restart ghostclaw (Linux).

Unload service: macOS: launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ghostclaw.plist | Linux: systemctl --user stop ghostclaw