Introduction
30 days ago, I started building my first AI Agent using OpenClaw. Here's what I learned.
What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is an open-source framework for building autonomous AI agents. It runs on your own hardware (I'm using a Mac mini) and gives you full control over your AI's capabilities.
My Setup
- Hardware: Mac mini (M1)
- Models: Qwen3.5-plus (free), GPT-5.4, Claude Opus 4.6
- Channels: Telegram
- Skills: Custom-built for web search, browser automation, file management
Key Lessons
1. Start Simple
Don't try to build AGI on day one. Start with simple tasks:
- Answer questions
- Search the web
- Save files
2. Model Selection Matters
I learned to use different models for different tasks:
- Free models for chat and simple tasks
- Premium models for complex reasoning
- This saved me 80% on API costs
3. Persistence is Key
Agents need memory. I implemented:
- Daily logs (
memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md) - Long-term memory (
MEMORY.md) - Project-specific knowledge (
projects/)
4. Safety First
I established rules before giving my agent more power:
- No destructive commands without approval
- No external communications without review
- Budget limits for API spending
The Result
After 30 days, my agent "Ruta" can:
- ✅ Manage my calendar and reminders
- ✅ Search and summarize information
- ✅ Write and publish content
- ✅ Monitor prices and alert me
- ✅ Run scheduled tasks (heartbeats)
What's Next?
- Building an Agent Team (multiple specialized agents)
- Adding browser automation for complex workflows
- Exploring monetization opportunities
Resources
Have you built your own AI agent? Share your experience in the comments!
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