OpenClaw Version Management

O Integrations & Community

Basic Information

Product Description

OpenClaw adopts a date-based version numbering scheme (e.g., 2026.3.13), with patch versions using suffixes (e.g., 2026.3.23-2) and beta versions labeled with beta tags (e.g., v2026.3.24-beta.1). The project maintains a high-frequency release cadence, with 1-2 major versions released monthly during Q1 2026.

The version management strategy includes a stable auto-update channel with a 6-hour delay (to catch regression issues) and full configuration migration support (via the openclaw doctor command).

Core Features/Characteristics

Version Number Scheme

  • Date-based version number: YYYY.M.DD (e.g., 2026.3.13)
  • Patch version suffix: -N (e.g., 2026.3.23-2)
  • Beta version tag: -beta.N (e.g., v2026.3.24-beta.1)

Release Cadence

  • 1-2 major versions per month
  • Q1 2026 releases: 2026.3.2, 2026.3.8, 2026.3.13, etc.
  • Each version may include breaking changes

Update Strategy

  • openclaw update command: Automatically detects installation type, fetches the latest version, runs configuration migration, and restarts Gateway
  • openclaw doctor: Configuration migration tool
  • Stable channel with 6-hour delay (catches regressions without blocking breaking changes)

Breaking Change Management

  • CHANGELOG records all changes in detail
  • Deprecation warnings (e.g., registerHttpHandler deprecated in 2026.3.2)
  • Version release notes (GitHub Releases)
  • Third-party tool Releasebot tracks updates

Typical Version Content (v2026.3.22)

  • 45 new features
  • 13 breaking changes
  • 82 bug fixes
  • 20 security patches
  • 15 performance improvements

Business Model

Completely free and open-source. Version management and updates are provided as core services of OpenClaw.

Target Users

  • All OpenClaw users and deployers
  • System administrators (manage update policies)
  • Plugin developers (adapt to breaking changes)
  • Enterprise IT teams (assess upgrade risks)
  • Security teams (apply security patches promptly)

Competitive Advantages

  • Date-based version numbers intuitively reflect timelines
  • High-frequency releases ensure quick fixes and improvements
  • openclaw update one-click update process
  • openclaw doctor automatic configuration migration
  • 6-hour delay channel reduces regression impact
  • CHANGELOG provides complete change records

Market Performance

  • Releasebot.io automatically tracks and distributes update information
  • Platforms like BibiGPT provide multi-language version parsing
  • Blink Blog publishes comprehensive upgrade guides
  • Tencent Cloud releases guides for querying the latest stable versions
  • TechCrunch covers Nvidia's version of OpenClaw
  • Community discussions on breaking changes reflect the challenges of frequent updates

Relationship with OpenClaw Ecosystem

Version management is a critical infrastructure for the stable operation of the OpenClaw ecosystem. High-frequency releases bring the advantage of rapid iteration but also create adaptation pressure for plugin developers and enterprise users. The 6-hour delay channel and configuration migration tools are essential mechanisms for balancing innovation speed and stability.