Crabbox

Use the Crabbox wrapper when OpenClaw needs remote Linux proof for broad tests, CI-parity checks, secrets, hosted services, Docker/E2E/package lanes, warmed reusable boxes, sync timing, logs/results, cache inspection, or lease cleanup.

Crabbox is the transport/orchestration surface. The actual backend can be:

• brokered AWS Crabbox: direct provider, provider=aws, lease ids like cbx_..., syncDelegated=false
• Blacksmith Testbox through Crabbox: delegated provider, provider=blacksmith-testbox, ids like tbx_..., syncDelegated=true

For OpenClaw maintainer broad pnpm gates, Blacksmith Testbox through the Crabbox wrapper is acceptable and often preferred when the standing Testbox rules apply. Do not describe those runs as "AWS Crabbox"; report them as Testbox-through-Crabbox with the tbx_... id and Actions run.

Use the repo .crabbox.yaml brokered AWS path when the task specifically needs direct AWS Crabbox behavior, persistent direct-provider leases, --fresh-pr, --full-resync, environment forwarding, capture/download support, or provider comparison. Use --provider blacksmith-testbox when the task needs OpenClaw maintainer Testbox proof, prepared CI environment, broad/heavy pnpm gates, or the user asks for Testbox/Blacksmith.

First Checks

• Run from the repo root. Crabbox sync mirrors the current checkout.
• Check the wrapper and providers before remote work:

command -v crabbox
../crabbox/bin/crabbox --version
pnpm crabbox:run -- --help | sed -n '1,120p'
../crabbox/bin/crabbox desktop launch --help
../crabbox/bin/crabbox webvnc --help

• OpenClaw scripts prefer ../crabbox/bin/crabbox when present. The user PATH shim can be stale.
• Check .crabbox.yaml for direct-provider defaults. Omitting --provider means brokered AWS today.
• The brokered AWS default is a Linux developer image in eu-west-1; the repo config pins hot eu-west-1a/b/c placement so Fast Snapshot Restore can apply. If warmup drifts well past the minute-scale path, verify image promotion, region/AZ placement, and FSR state before blaming OpenClaw.
• For broad OpenClaw maintainer pnpm gates, prefer the repo wrapper with --provider blacksmith-testbox or the repo Testbox helpers when the standing Testbox policy applies.
• Always report the actual provider and id. cbx_... means AWS Crabbox; tbx_... means Blacksmith Testbox through Crabbox. If the output only says blacksmith testbox list, use blacksmith testbox list --all before concluding no box exists.
• If a warm direct-provider lease smells stale, retry with --full-resync (alias --fresh-sync) before replacing the lease. This resets the remote workdir, skips the fingerprint fast path, reseeds Git when possible, and uploads the checkout from scratch.
• For live/provider bugs, use the configured secret workflow before downgrading to mocks. Copy only the exact needed key into the remote process environment for that one command. Do not print it, do not sync it as a repo file, and do not leave it in remote shell history or logs. If no secret-safe injection path is available, say true live provider auth is blocked instead of silently using a fake key.
• Prefer local targeted tests for tight edit loops. Broad gates belong remote.
• Do not treat inherited shell env as operator intent. In particular, OPENCLAW_LOCAL_CHECK_MODE=throttled from the local shell is not permission to move broad pnpm check:changed, pnpm test:changed, full pnpm test, or lint/typecheck fan-out onto the laptop.
• Only use OPENCLAW_LOCAL_CHECK_MODE=throttled|full when the user explicitly asks for local proof in the current task. If Testbox is queued or capacity is constrained, report the blocker and keep only targeted local edit-loop checks running.

macOS And Windows Targets

Use these only when the task needs an existing non-Linux host. OpenClaw broad Linux validation uses the repo Crabbox config unless a provider is explicitly requested.

Native brokered Windows is available for Windows-specific proof. Use the AWS developer image in us-west-2 on demand; it has the expected OpenClaw developer toolchain and Docker image cache. Keep broad Linux gates on Linux/Testbox unless the bug is Windows-specific:

../crabbox/bin/crabbox warmup \
  --provider aws \
  --target windows \
  --windows-mode normal \
  --region us-west-2 \
  --market on-demand \
  --timing-json

The hydrate workflow assumes Docker should already be baked into Linux images and only installs it as a fallback. Do not add per-run Docker installs to proof commands unless the image probe shows Docker is actually missing.

When the user explicitly asks for brokered macOS runners, use Crabbox AWS macOS only after confirming the deployed coordinator supports EC2 Mac host lifecycle/image routes and the operator has AWS EC2 Mac Dedicated Host quota and IAM. Prefer CRABBOX_HOST_ID for a known Crabbox-managed Dedicated Host, or run the no-spend preflight first:

crabbox admin hosts quota --provider aws --target macos --region eu-west-1 --type mac2.metal --json
crabbox admin hosts allocate --provider aws --target macos --region eu-west-1 --type mac2.metal --dry-run --json
CRABBOX_MACOS_TYPES=all scripts/macos-host-region-preflight.sh

Do not silently substitute AWS macOS for normal OpenClaw Linux proof. Report paid-host blockers as quota, IAM, coordinator deployment, or host availability instead of falling back to local macOS.

Crabbox supports static SSH targets:

../crabbox/bin/crabbox run --provider ssh --target macos --static-host mac-studio.local -- xcodebuild test
../crabbox/bin/crabbox run --provider ssh --target windows --windows-mode normal --static-host win-dev.local -- pwsh -NoProfile -Command "dotnet test"
../crabbox/bin/crabbox run --provider ssh --target windows --windows-mode wsl2 --static-host win-dev.local -- pnpm test

• target=macos and target=windows --windows-mode wsl2 use the POSIX SSH, bash, Git, rsync, and tar contract.
• Native Windows uses OpenSSH, PowerShell, Git, and tar; sync is manifest tar archive transfer into static.workRoot. Direct native Windows runs support --script*, --env-from-profile, --preflight, and PowerShell --shell.
• crabbox actions hydrate/register are Linux-only today; use plain crabbox run loops for static macOS and Windows hosts.
• Live proof needs a reachable, operator-managed SSH host. Without one, verify with ../crabbox/bin/crabbox run --help, config/flag tests, and the Crabbox Go test suite.

Direct Brokered AWS Backend

Use this when the task needs direct AWS Crabbox semantics rather than the prepared Blacksmith Testbox CI environment.

Changed gate:

pnpm crabbox:run -- \
  --idle-timeout 90m \
  --ttl 240m \
  --timing-json \
  --shell -- \
  "env CI=1 NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 OPENCLAW_TEST_PROJECTS_PARALLEL=6 OPENCLAW_VITEST_MAX_WORKERS=1 OPENCLAW_VITEST_NO_OUTPUT_TIMEOUT_MS=900000 pnpm test:changed"

Full suite:

pnpm crabbox:run -- \
  --idle-timeout 90m \
  --ttl 240m \
  --timing-json \
  --shell -- \
  "env CI=1 NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 OPENCLAW_TEST_PROJECTS_PARALLEL=6 OPENCLAW_VITEST_MAX_WORKERS=1 OPENCLAW_VITEST_NO_OUTPUT_TIMEOUT_MS=900000 pnpm test"

Focused rerun:

pnpm crabbox:run -- \
  --idle-timeout 90m \
  --ttl 240m \
  --timing-json \
  --shell -- \
  "env CI=1 NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 OPENCLAW_VITEST_MAX_WORKERS=1 OPENCLAW_VITEST_NO_OUTPUT_TIMEOUT_MS=900000 pnpm test <path-or-filter>"

Read the JSON summary. Useful fields:

• provider: aws
• leaseId: cbx_...
• syncDelegated: false
• commandPhases: populated when the command prints CRABBOX_PHASE:<name>
• commandMs / totalMs
• exitCode

Crabbox should stop one-shot AWS leases automatically after the run. Verify cleanup when a run fails, is interrupted, or the command output is unclear:

../crabbox/bin/crabbox list --provider aws

Blacksmith Testbox Through Crabbox

Use this for OpenClaw maintainer broad/heavy pnpm gates when the prepared CI environment is the right proof surface:

node scripts/crabbox-wrapper.mjs run \
  --provider blacksmith-testbox \
  --blacksmith-org openclaw \
  --blacksmith-workflow .github/workflows/ci-check-testbox.yml \
  --blacksmith-job check \
  --blacksmith-ref main \
  --idle-timeout 90m \
  --ttl 240m \
  --timing-json \
  -- \
  CI=1 NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 OPENCLAW_TEST_PROJECTS_PARALLEL=6 OPENCLAW_VITEST_MAX_WORKERS=1 OPENCLAW_VITEST_NO_OUTPUT_TIMEOUT_MS=900000 OPENCLAW_TESTBOX=1 OPENCLAW_TESTBOX_REMOTE_RUN=1 pnpm check:changed

Read the JSON summary and the Testbox line. Useful fields:

• provider: blacksmith-testbox
• leaseId: tbx_...
• syncDelegated: true
• syncPhases: delegated/skipped because Blacksmith owns checkout/sync
• Actions run URL/id from the Testbox output
• exitCode

blacksmith testbox list may hide hydrating or ready boxes. Use:

blacksmith testbox list --all
blacksmith testbox status <tbx_id>

Observability Flags

Use these on debugging runs before inventing ad hoc logging:

• --preflight: prints run context, workspace mode, SSH target, remote user/cwd, and target-specific tool probes. Defaults cover git, tar, node, npm, corepack, pnpm, yarn, bun, docker, plus POSIX sudo/apt/bubblewrap and native Windows powershell/execution_policy/longpaths/temp/pwsh. Add --preflight-tools node,bun,docker, CRABBOX_PREFLIGHT_TOOLS, or repo run.preflightTools to replace the list. default expands built-ins; none prints only the workspace summary. Preflight is diagnostic only; install toolchains through Actions hydration, images, devcontainer/Nix/mise/asdf, or the run script. On blacksmith-testbox, this prints a delegated-unsupported note because the workflow owns setup.
• CRABBOX_ENV_ALLOW=NAME,...: forwards only listed local env vars for direct providers and prints set len=N secret=true style summaries. On blacksmith-testbox, env forwarding is unsupported; put secrets in the Testbox workflow instead.
• --env-from-profile <file> plus --allow-env NAME: loads simple export NAME=value / NAME=value lines from a local profile without executing it, then forwards only allowlisted names. --allow-env is repeatable and comma-separated. Profile values override ambient allowlisted env values for that run. Direct POSIX, WSL2, and native Windows runs are supported; delegated providers are not. Crabbox probes the uploaded profile remotely and prints redacted presence/length metadata before the command.
• --env-helper <name>: with --env-from-profile on POSIX SSH targets, persists .crabbox/env/<name> and .crabbox/env/<name>.env so follow-up commands on the same lease can run through ./.crabbox/env/<name> <command>. Use only on leases you control; the profile stays until cleanup, lease reset, or --full-resync.
• --script <file> / --script-stdin: upload a local script into .crabbox/scripts/ and execute it on the remote box. Shebang scripts execute directly on POSIX; scripts without a shebang run through bash. Native Windows uploads run through Windows PowerShell, and Crabbox appends .ps1 when needed. Arguments after -- become script args.
• --fresh-pr owner/repo#123|URL|number: skip dirty local sync and create a fresh remote checkout of the GitHub PR. Bare numbers use the current repo's GitHub origin. Add --apply-local-patch only when the current local git diff --binary HEAD should be applied on top of that PR checkout.
• --full-resync / --fresh-sync: reset a stale direct-provider workdir before syncing. Use after sync fingerprints look wrong, SSH times out before sync, or rsync watchdog output suggests it. It is redundant with --fresh-pr, incompatible with --no-sync, and unsupported by delegated providers.
• --capture-stdout <path> / --capture-stderr <path>: write remote streams to local files and keep binary/noisy output out of retained logs. Parent directories must already exist. These are direct-provider only.
• --capture-on-fail: on non-zero direct-provider exits, downloads .crabbox/captures/*.tar.gz with test-results, playwright-report, coverage, JUnit XML, and nearby logs. Treat as secret-bearing until reviewed.
• --keep-on-failure: leave a failed one-shot lease alive for live debugging until idle/TTL expiry. Useful on direct providers and delegated one-shots.
• --timing-json: final machine-readable timing. Add echo CRABBOX_PHASE:install, CRABBOX_PHASE:test, etc. in long shell commands; direct providers and Blacksmith Testbox both report them as commandPhases.

Live-provider debug template for direct AWS/Hetzner leases:

mkdir -p .crabbox/logs
pnpm crabbox:run -- --provider aws \
  --preflight \
  --allow-env OPENAI_API_KEY,OPENAI_BASE_URL \
  --timing-json \
  --capture-stdout .crabbox/logs/live-provider.stdout.log \
  --capture-stderr .crabbox/logs/live-provider.stderr.log \
  --capture-on-fail \
  --shell -- \
  "echo CRABBOX_PHASE:install; pnpm install --frozen-lockfile; echo CRABBOX_PHASE:test; pnpm test:live"

Do not pass --capture-*, --download, --checksum, --force-sync-large, or --sync-only to delegated providers. Also do not pass --script*, --fresh-pr, --full-resync, or --env-helper there. Crabbox rejects these because the provider owns sync or command transport. --keep-on-failure is OK for delegated one-shots when you need to inspect a failed lease.

Efficient Bug E2E Verification

Use the smallest Crabbox lane that proves the reported user path, not just the touched code. Aim for one after-fix E2E proof before commenting, closing, or opening a PR for a user-visible bug.

When the user says "test in Crabbox", do not simply copy tests to the remote box and run them there. Crabbox is for remote real-scenario proof: copy or install OpenClaw as the user would, run the same setup/update/CLI/Gateway/API call that failed, and capture behavior from that entrypoint. For regressions or bug reports, prove the broken state first when feasible, then run the same scenario after the fix.

Pick the lane by symptom:

• Docker/setup/install bug: build a package tarball and run the matching scripts/e2e/*-docker.sh or package script. This proves npm packaging, install paths, runtime deps, config writes, and container behavior.
• Provider/model/auth bug: prefer true live E2E. Use the configured secret workflow, then inject the single needed key into Crabbox if needed. Scrub unrelated provider env vars in the child command so interactive defaults do not drift to another provider. If only a dummy key is used, label the proof narrowly, e.g. "UI/install path only; live provider auth not exercised."
• Channel delivery bug: use the channel Docker/live lane when available; include setup, config, gateway start, send/receive or agent-turn proof, and redacted logs.
• Gateway/session/tool bug: prefer an end-to-end CLI or Gateway RPC command that creates real state and inspects the resulting files/API output.
• Pure parser/config bug: targeted tests may be enough, but still run a Crabbox command when OS, package, Docker, secrets, or service lifecycle could change behavior.

Efficient flow:

1. Reproduce or prove the pre-fix symptom from the real user-facing entrypoint when feasible. If the issue cannot be reproduced, capture the exact command and observed behavior instead.
2. Patch locally and run narrow local tests for edit speed.
3. Run one Crabbox E2E command that starts from the user-facing entrypoint: package install, Docker setup, onboarding, channel add, gateway start, or agent turn as appropriate.
4. Record proof as: Testbox id, command, environment shape, redacted secret source, and copied success/failure output.
5. If the issue says "cannot reproduce", ask for the missing config/log fields that would distinguish the tested path from the reporter's path.

Keep it efficient:

• Reuse existing E2E scripts and helper assertions before writing ad hoc shell.
• Use --script <file> or --script-stdin for multi-line E2E commands instead of quote-heavy --shell strings on direct SSH providers.
• Use --fresh-pr <pr> when validating an upstream PR in isolation from the local dirty tree. Add --apply-local-patch only when testing a local fixup on top of that PR.
• Use --full-resync before replacing a warmed direct-provider lease when the remote workdir or sync fingerprint appears stale.
• Use one-shot Crabbox for a single proof; use a reusable Testbox only when several commands must share built images, installed packages, or live state.
• Prefer OPENCLAW_CURRENT_PACKAGE_TGZ with Docker/package lanes when testing a candidate tarball; prefer the repo's package helper instead of direct source execution when the bug might be packaging/install related.
• Keep secrets redacted. It is fine to report key presence, source, and length; never print secret values.
• Include --timing-json on broad or flaky runs when command duration or sync behavior matters.

Before/after PR proof on delegated Testbox:

• For PRs that should prove "broken before, fixed after", compare base and PR on the same Testbox when practical. Fetch both refs, create detached temp worktrees under /tmp, install in each, then run the same harness twice.
• Do not checkout base/PR refs in the synced repo root. Delegated Testbox sync may leave the root dirty with local files; git checkout can abort or mix proof state.
• Temp harness files under /tmp do not resolve repo packages by default. Put the harness inside the worktree, or in ESM use createRequire(path.join(process.cwd(), "package.json")) before requiring workspace deps such as @lydell/node-pty.
• For full-screen TUI/CLI bugs, a PTY harness is stronger than helper-only assertions. Use a real PTY, wait for visible lifecycle markers, send input, then send control keys and assert process exit/stuck behavior.
• When validating a rebased local branch before push, remember delegated sync usually validates synced file content on a detached dirty checkout, not a remote commit object. Record the local head SHA, changed files, Testbox id, and final success markers; after pushing, ensure the pushed SHA has the same file content.
• If GitHub CI is still queued but the exact changed content passed Testbox pnpm check:changed, pnpm check:test-types, and the real E2E proof, it is reasonable to merge once required checks allow it. Note any still-running unrelated shards in the proof comment instead of waiting forever.

Interactive CLI/onboarding:

• For full-screen or prompt-heavy CLI flows, run the target command inside tmux on the Crabbox and drive it with tmux send-keys; capture proof with tmux capture-pane, redacted through sed.
• Prefer deterministic arrow navigation over search typing for Clack-style searchable selects. Raw send-keys -l openai may not trigger filtering in a tmux pane; inspect option order locally or on-box and send exact Down/Enter sequences.
• Isolate mutable state with OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR=$(mktemp -d). Plugin npm installs live under that state dir (npm/node_modules/...), not under OPENCLAW_CONFIG_DIR. Verify downloads by checking the state dir, package lock, and installed package metadata.
• To test automatic setup installs against local package artifacts, use OPENCLAW_ALLOW_PLUGIN_INSTALL_OVERRIDES=1 plus OPENCLAW_PLUGIN_INSTALL_OVERRIDES='{"plugin-id":"npm-pack:/tmp/plugin.tgz"}'. Pack with npm pack, set an isolated OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR, and verify the package under npm/node_modules. Overrides are test-only and must not be treated as official/trusted-source installs.
• For OpenAI/Codex onboarding proof, the useful markers are the UI line Installed Codex plugin, npm/node_modules/@openclaw/codex, and the package-lock entry showing the bundled @openai/codex dependency. A dummy OpenAI-shaped key can prove only UI/install behavior; it is not live auth.

Reuse And Keepalive

For most Crabbox calls, one-shot is enough. Use reuse only when you need multiple manual commands on the same hydrated box.

If Crabbox returns a reusable id or you intentionally keep a lease:

pnpm crabbox:run -- --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --no-sync --timing-json --shell -- "pnpm test <path>"

Stop boxes you created before handoff:

pnpm crabbox:stop -- <id-or-slug>
blacksmith testbox stop --id <tbx_id>

Interactive Desktop And WebVNC

Prefer WebVNC for human inspection because the browser portal can preload the lease VNC password and avoids a native VNC client's copy/paste/password dance. Use native crabbox vnc only when WebVNC is unavailable, the browser portal is broken, or the user explicitly wants a local VNC client.

Common desktop flow:

../crabbox/bin/crabbox warmup --provider hetzner --desktop --browser --class standard --idle-timeout 60m --ttl 240m
../crabbox/bin/crabbox desktop launch --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --browser --url https://example.com --webvnc --open --take-control

Useful WebVNC commands:

../crabbox/bin/crabbox webvnc --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --open --take-control
../crabbox/bin/crabbox webvnc daemon start --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --open --take-control
../crabbox/bin/crabbox webvnc daemon status --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug>
../crabbox/bin/crabbox webvnc daemon stop --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug>
../crabbox/bin/crabbox webvnc status --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug>
../crabbox/bin/crabbox webvnc reset --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --open --take-control
../crabbox/bin/crabbox desktop doctor --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug>
../crabbox/bin/crabbox desktop click --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --x 640 --y 420
../crabbox/bin/crabbox desktop paste --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --text "user@example.com"
../crabbox/bin/crabbox desktop key --provider hetzner --id <cbx_id-or-slug> ctrl+l
../crabbox/bin/crabbox artifacts collect --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --all --output artifacts/<slug>
../crabbox/bin/crabbox artifacts publish --dir artifacts/<slug> --pr <number>

desktop launch --webvnc --open is usually the nicest one-shot: it starts the browser/app inside the visible session, bridges the lease into the authenticated WebVNC portal, and opens the portal. Keep browsers windowed for human QA; use --fullscreen only for capture/video workflows. For human handoff, include --take-control so the opened portal viewer gets keyboard/mouse control automatically instead of landing as an observer.

Human handoff preflight:

• Do not assume a visible desktop or launched browser means the repo CLI/app is installed, built, or on the interactive terminal's PATH.
• Before handing WebVNC to a human tester, prove the expected command from the same kept lease and from a neutral directory such as ~.
• If the handoff needs repo-local code, sync/build/link it explicitly on that lease. Source-tree CLIs often need build output before a symlink works.
• Prefer a real command -v <expected-command> && <expected-command> --version check over a repo-root-only pnpm ... command.

Generic handoff repair pattern:

../crabbox/bin/crabbox run --id <cbx_id-or-slug> --full-resync --shell -- \
  "set -euo pipefail
   pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
   pnpm build
   sudo ln -sf \"\$PWD/<cli-entry>\" /usr/local/bin/<expected-command>
   cd ~
   command -v <expected-command>
   <expected-command> --version"

If Crabbox Fails