# loki-mode-openclaw

Runs an autonomous SDLC session from a PRD through deployment, with background execution, phase tracking, and controls for long development tasks.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 1108
- Author: asklokesh
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/asklokesh/loki-mode/tree/HEAD/integrations/openclaw/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/loki-mode-openclaw

## What it does

\`loki-mode-openclaw` starts Loki Mode for end-to-end software work. Use it when a feature must be built from a PRD, a set of bugs needs attention, or a codebase should go through a full SDLC cycle. The session starts with `loki start <prd-path> --bg --yes --no-dashboard` from the project directory.

The workflow moves through phases such as BOOTSTRAP, DISCOVERY, ARCHITECTURE, DEVELOPMENT, QA, and DEPLOYMENT. Check progress with `loki status --json`; pause, resume, or stop the run with `loki pause`, `loki resume`, and `loki stop`. A spending cap can be passed with `--budget <amount>`, while `--provider <claude|codex|gemini>` selects the AI provider.

The host needs the `loki` CLI, one of Claude Code, Codex CLI, or Gemini CLI, and the matching API key. Without the CLI and provider key, the session cannot start. Run it outside the OpenClaw workspace; after a crash, inspect `loki logs` before restarting.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add asklokesh/loki-mode --skill openclaw -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/openclaw/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/openclaw/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add asklokesh/loki-mode --skill openclaw -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/openclaw/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add asklokesh/loki-mode --skill openclaw -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/openclaw/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install asklokesh/loki-mode openclaw
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/openclaw/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add asklokesh/loki-mode --skill openclaw -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/asklokesh/loki-mode --path integrations/openclaw
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/openclaw/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add asklokesh/loki-mode --skill openclaw -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/asklokesh/loki-mode/tree/HEAD/integrations/openclaw/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- build a feature from a PRD
- run a multi-phase bug-fixing campaign
- take a codebase through QA and deployment
- track background tasks and session spending

## Example prompts
- Run Loki Mode in the background for `<prd-path>` inside `<project-dir>`.
- Implement the requirements in `<prd-path>` through the autonomous development cycle with the `claude` provider.
- Check the run with `loki status --json`; if it fails, show `loki logs --tail 50`.

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 95619576c2874cec.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 95619576c2874cec
````text
---
name: loki-mode-openclaw
description: "Launch Loki Mode autonomous SDLC agent. Handles PRD-to-deployment with minimal human intervention. Invoke for multi-phase development tasks, bug fixing campaigns, or full product builds."
---

# Loki Mode - OpenClaw Skill

## When to use
- User asks to "build", "implement", or "develop" a feature from a PRD
- User provides a requirements document and wants autonomous execution
- User says "loki mode" or references autonomous development
- User wants to run a full SDLC cycle on a codebase

## Prerequisites
- `loki` CLI installed on the host (via `npm install -g loki-mode` or Homebrew)
- One of: Claude Code, Codex CLI, or Gemini CLI installed
- Corresponding API key set (ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, or GOOGLE_API_KEY)

## How to invoke

### Start a session
Use the bash tool with background mode:
```
bash(command: "loki start <prd-path> --bg --yes --no-dashboard", pty: true, background: true, workdir: "<project-dir>")
```

Key flags:
- `--bg`: Background mode (session outlives the tool call)
- `--yes`: Skip confirmation prompts
- `--no-dashboard`: Avoid port conflicts in sandboxed environments
- `--provider <claude|codex|gemini>`: Select AI provider (default: claude)
- `--budget <amount>`: Set cost limit in USD (auto-pause when exceeded)

### Monitor progress
Poll status every 30 seconds:
```
bash(command: "loki status --json", workdir: "<project-dir>")
```

The JSON output contains:
- `version`: Loki Mode version string
- `status`: inactive, running, paused, stopped, completed, unknown
- `phase`: Current SDLC phase (e.g., BOOTSTRAP, DISCOVERY, ARCHITECTURE, DEVELOPMENT, QA, DEPLOYMENT)
- `iteration`: Current iteration number
- `provider`: Which AI provider is active (claude, codex, gemini)
- `pid`: Process ID of the running session (null if not running)
- `elapsed_time`: Seconds since session start
- `dashboard_url`: URL of the web dashboard (null if disabled)
- `task_counts`: Object with `total`, `completed`, `failed`, `pending` counts

For budget tracking (not in JSON output), read the budget file directly:
```
bash(command: "cat .loki/metrics/budget.json 2>/dev/null || echo '{}'", workdir: "<project-dir>")
```
Budget JSON fields: `budget_limit`, `budget_used`

### Report progress to channel
After each poll, summarize changes:
- Phase transitions ("Moved from ARCHITECTURE to DEVELOPMENT")
- Task completion counts ("12/20 tasks complete, 0 failed")
- Elapsed time ("Running for 45 minutes")
- Error states that need attention (failed tasks > 0, status is unknown)

If budget tracking is active, include cost in updates:
- "Estimated cost: $4.50 / $50.00 budget"

### Control commands
- Pause: `bash(command: "loki pause", workdir: "<project-dir>")`
- Resume: `bash(command: "loki resume", workdir: "<project-dir>")`
- Stop: `bash(command: "loki stop", workdir: "<project-dir>")`
- Status: `bash(command: "loki status", workdir: "<project-dir>")`
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 95619576c2874cec

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 95619576c2874cec tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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