OpenClaw Local + Mac mini Setup

Use this skill when you want to run OpenClaw on a developer laptop or promote it to a stable Mac mini host. Covers cloning and bootstrapping, Docker Compose configuration, Mac mini hardware optimization, networking, monitoring, and production-grade launchd services.

When to Use

• Running OpenClaw as a private, always-on local AI agent
• Setting up a dedicated Mac mini as a home-lab AI server
• Deploying OpenClaw with Docker Compose for reproducible environments
• Optimizing macOS for headless server operation
• Monitoring a local AI service for uptime and performance

Prerequisites

• macOS 13 (Ventura) or later on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M4 Mac mini recommended)
• Docker Desktop for Mac or OrbStack installed
• Git, Node.js (v18+), and a package manager (npm or pnpm)
• API keys for your chosen LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, or local Ollama)
• At least 16 GB RAM (32 GB recommended for local model serving)