Appendix J: Version Notes

This appendix documents what was current when this handbook was written (early 2026) and what practitioners should verify against current documentation as the platform evolves. OpenClaw is actively developed, so the specific details in this handbook may lag behind the current state of the platform. This appendix provides a clear dividing line between stable patterns and verifiable specifics.

The key principle here is that core concepts are stable while implementation details evolve. The mental models, patterns, file organization conventions, agent coordination approaches, and error handling strategies described in this handbook represent stable abstractions that persist across versions. However, exact tool parameter names, model names, configuration keys, channel configuration formats, node pairing procedures, and ClawHub skill availability are all things that change as the platform develops.

When in doubt about any specific detail, the authoritative source is always the current documentation at openclaw.dev. This handbook covers concepts and patterns; official docs cover current API surface. The distinction matters — following a pattern described here with slightly different parameter names is still correct; following outdated parameter names from this book when official docs show new ones is a bug, not a feature.

Version notes are updated as the handbook is revised. The source of truth remains the living document in the OpenClaw repository, with this appendix serving as a changelog of what has aged versus what remains current.

Key Items

• **Stable concepts (no verification needed)** — Core concepts (sessions, tools, Gateway, workspace), mental models and patterns, Python code examples, Unix/shell patterns, cron expressions; these describe abstractions that persist regardless of specific API changes
• **Verifiable specifics (check official docs)** — Exact tool parameter names, model names and configuration keys, channel configuration format, node pairing procedures, ClawHub skill availability; these are implementation details that change as the platform evolves
• **Official docs as source of truth** — When this appendix and openclaw.dev disagree, openclaw.dev is correct; this handbook is a learning resource, not a replacement for current documentation
• **Active development** — OpenClaw is actively developed with new capabilities likely added since this book's writing; check official docs and ClawHub regularly for new tools, new skills, and new patterns that may not be covered here

Related Concepts

• [[kelly-handbook-ch2-architecture]] for core concepts and architecture
• [[kelly-handbook-ch6-scheduling-and-cron]] for cron scheduling reference
• [[kelly-handbook-ch1-getting-started]] for platform introduction
• [[karpathy-llm-wiki]] for the LLM wiki pattern this KB follows