# OpenClaw Runbook: Real-World Production Setup

**Source:** Reddit r/openclaw - u/digitalknk  
**Date:** February 2026  
**URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/openclaw/s/PKq2CUUYMC

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## Overview

A practical, battle-tested guide for running OpenClaw in production after "breaking it a bunch of times." Not a hype post—just what actually works for stable, predictable, cost-effective operation.

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## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Model Architecture: Coordinator vs Worker

**Default model should be a coordinator, not a worker**

- Main session orchestrates
- Heavy work delegated to subagents
- Prevents context bloat and credit burn

### 2. Cost-Optimized Background Tasks

**Heartbeat and background tasks on GPT-5 Nano**
- Fractions of a cent per operation
- Efficient polling without expensive model calls
- Keeps main session responsive

### 3. Memory Configuration

**Solved the "why did it forget that" problem**
- Proper memory persistence setup
- External memory patterns
- Config validation

### 4. Infrastructure & Operations

**VPS hardening**
- Security best practices
- Config validation
- Git-tracking configs for rollback

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## Resources

### Main Runbook
**GitHub Repo:** https://github.com/digitalknk/openclaw-runbook
- Real config snippets
- Tradeoffs documented
- Community contributions welcome

### Gist: Detailed Setup
**Link:** https://gist.github.com/digitalknk/ec360aab27ca47cb4106a183b2c25a98
- Day-to-day operations
- Credit optimization
- Avoiding quota/loop issues

### Gist: Sanitized Config
**Link:** https://gist.github.com/digitalknk/4169b59d01658e20002a093d544eb391
- Production-ready configuration
- Stripped of sensitive data
- Reference implementation

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## Target Audience

- New to OpenClaw
- Frustrated with quotas and loops
- Want "planning forever" issues solved
- Need stable, predictable operations

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## Philosophy

> "This is not a hype post and it's not a 'best setup' claim. It's just what ended up working for me once the novelty wore off and I wanted something stable, predictable, and not constantly burning credits."

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## Action Items

- [ ] Review runbook repo for coordinator patterns
- [ ] Implement GPT-5 Nano for background tasks
- [ ] Audit memory config against guide
- [ ] Set up git-tracked config with rollback capability
- [ ] Compare current setup to production patterns

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## Related

- OpenClaw official docs
- Community Discord/Reddit r/openclaw
- Author: u/digitalknk (contributor to OpenClaw ecosystem)

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*Compiled from Reddit post*  
*Status: Active community resource, accepting contributions*