Run NanoClaw's setup

NanoClaw comes with a setup program. It installs the rest of what NanoClaw needs, builds your agent, and connects it to Telegram. You answer its questions as it runs.

Your agent runs on Codex. For setup itself, you can use Codex or Claude Code as your helper. The helper shows you NanoClaw's setup skill, and helps you fix things if setup stops with an error.

Meet your helper

NanoClaw comes with skills: instructions that Codex and Claude Code can read. First, see one of them in action. Click the helper you use.

Codex

You installed Codex in the Install Codex lesson.

1. In your terminal, still in the nanoclaw folder, start Codex:

   codex

   If Codex asks whether you trust this folder, say yes.

2. Type $setup and press Enter. Codex reads NanoClaw's setup skill. It tells you to run bash nanoclaw.sh.

3. Type /quit and press Enter to leave Codex. Setup asks you questions as it runs, so you run it yourself, in the terminal.

If setup stops with an error:

• After setup has connected Codex, it asks Want to debug this with Codex? Choose Yes. Codex opens. It already knows what went wrong, and helps you fix it. Type /quit to go back to setup.
• Before that, it asks Claude CLI is needed to diagnose this. Install it now? Claude needs a Claude plan. If you don't have one, choose No. Then start Codex in the nanoclaw folder and ask it: "Setup failed. Read logs/setup.log and help me fix it."

Claude Code

Claude Code needs a Claude plan: Pro or higher. The free plan doesn't include it. Your agent still runs on Codex, so you also need Codex (from Install Codex) and your ChatGPT plan.

You install Claude Code and sign in on the optional Install Claude Code page. If you skipped it, use the Codex section instead.

1. In your terminal, go to the nanoclaw folder and start Claude Code:

   cd ~/nanoclaw
   claude

   If Claude Code asks whether you trust this folder, say yes.

2. Type /setup and press Enter. Claude Code reads NanoClaw's setup skill. It tells you to run bash nanoclaw.sh.

3. Type /exit and press Enter to leave Claude Code. Setup asks you questions as it runs, so you run it yourself, in the terminal.

If setup stops with an error:

• Before setup has connected Codex, it asks Want to debug this with Claude? Choose Yes. Claude Code opens. It already knows what went wrong, and helps you fix it. Type /exit to go back to setup.
• After that, it offers Codex first: Want to debug this with Codex? Choose Yes to use Codex, and type /quit to go back to setup.

Before you run setup

• On a Mac: make sure OrbStack or Docker Desktop is running.
• On Windows: make sure Docker Desktop is running.
• On Windows or Linux: run sudo -v in your terminal and type your password. Setup installs some programs, and this lets it do that without stopping to ask.

Have the bot token from Create your Telegram bot ready. Setup asks for it.

Run it

In your terminal, in the nanoclaw folder, run:

bash nanoclaw.sh --agent-provider codex

--agent-provider codex tells setup to run your agent on Codex. Without it, setup uses Claude.

Setup installs the rest of what NanoClaw needs, and builds your agent's container. The first build usually takes 3 to 10 minutes.

Answer its questions

Use the arrow keys to pick an answer, then press Enter. Answer the questions like this:

Setup asks	Your answer
How would you like to begin?	Standard setup
How should we create your first agent?	Fresh agent
How would you like to connect Codex?	Sign in with my ChatGPT subscription. Sign in in the browser, then go back to the terminal. On Windows, if no browser opens, copy the link into your browser.
What should your assistant call you?	Your name
What next?	Continue with setup
I detected … from your computer settings. Is that right?	Yes, if it shows your time zone
Want to chat with your assistant from your phone?	Yes, connect Telegram
Connect Telegram?	Yes, connect Telegram
What should your assistant be called?	A name for your agent. The default is Nano.
How should this telegram account be registered?	Owner
Paste the bot token from BotFather	The token from the first page. It stays hidden while you paste. That is normal.
Your pairing code is ready	Open your bot in Telegram and send it the 6 digits, as a private message.

If setup asks something that isn't in this table, such as an offer of a free NanoClaw account, you can skip it.

When setup is done, it says You're set.

If setup stops

Setup offers your helper, as described above. You can also run bash nanoclaw.sh --agent-provider codex again: it continues from where it stopped. Setup keeps a record of every step in logs/setup.log.

Next

Your agent is running. Next, say hi to your agent.