Development channels

Last updated: 2026-01-21

OpenClaw ships three update channels:

  • stable: npm dist-tag latest.
  • beta: npm dist-tag beta (builds under test).
  • dev: moving head of main (git). npm dist-tag: dev (when published).

We ship builds to beta, test them, then promote a vetted build to latest without changing the version number β€” dist-tags are the source of truth for npm installs.

Switching channels

Git checkout:

openclaw update --channel stable
openclaw update --channel beta
openclaw update --channel dev
  • stable/beta check out the latest matching tag (often the same tag).
  • dev switches to main and rebases on the upstream.

npm/pnpm global install:

openclaw update --channel stable
openclaw update --channel beta
openclaw update --channel dev

This updates via the corresponding npm dist-tag (latest, beta, dev).

When you explicitly switch channels with --channel, OpenClaw also aligns the install method:

  • dev ensures a git checkout (default ~/openclaw, override with OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR), updates it, and installs the global CLI from that checkout.
  • stable/beta installs from npm using the matching dist-tag.

Tip: if you want stable + dev in parallel, keep two clones and point your gateway at the stable one.

Plugins and channels

When you switch channels with openclaw update, OpenClaw also syncs plugin sources:

  • dev prefers bundled plugins from the git checkout.
  • stable and beta restore npm-installed plugin packages.

Tagging best practices

  • Tag releases you want git checkouts to land on (vYYYY.M.D or vYYYY.M.D-<patch>).
  • Keep tags immutable: never move or reuse a tag.
  • npm dist-tags remain the source of truth for npm installs:
    • latest β†’ stable
    • beta β†’ candidate build
    • dev β†’ main snapshot (optional)

macOS app availability

Beta and dev builds may not include a macOS app release. That’s OK:

  • The git tag and npm dist-tag can still be published.
  • Call out β€œno macOS build for this beta” in release notes or changelog.
← Back to docs