Open Source • MIT License

NanoClaw

A lightweight Claude assistant that runs securely in containers. ~500 lines of TypeScript. Built to be understood and customized.

View on GitHubGet Started
~500
Lines of Code
10 min
To Understand
100%
Container Isolated
Why NanoClaw

Security Through Simplicity

NanoClaw takes a radically different approach to AI assistants. Instead of complex permission systems, it uses real OS-level container isolation.

Small Enough to Understand
Just ~500 lines of core TypeScript code. One process, a few source files. No microservices, no message queues, no abstraction layers.

You can read and understand the entire codebase in under 10 minutes. Have Claude Code walk you through it.

Secure by Isolation
Agents run in actual Linux containers using Apple Container on macOS or Docker on Linux. Each chat gets its own sandboxed context.

Bash access is safe because commands run inside the container, not on your host system.

Built for Customization
This is not a framework—it is working software designed to be forked and modified. No configuration sprawl.

Want different behavior? Change the code directly. The codebase is intentionally small enough that modifications are safe.

Features

Everything You Need

NanoClaw comes with essential features built-in, with a skills system for adding more.

WhatsApp Integration

Message your Claude assistant directly from your phone

Container Isolation

Each chat runs in its own sandboxed environment

Scheduled Tasks

Set up recurring jobs that run Claude automatically

Web Access

Built-in web search and content fetching capabilities

Isolated Groups

Each group has its own memory and filesystem

Skills System

Add optional integrations like Gmail via skills

Comparison

NanoClaw vs Traditional AI Assistants

FeatureNanoClawOthers
Codebase Size
~500 lines
50,000+ lines
Security Model
OS-level container isolation
Application-level permissions
Dependencies
Minimal
45+ packages
Time to Understand
~10 minutes
Days or weeks
Customization
Direct code changes
Complex configuration files
Quick Start

Get Started in 4 Steps

NanoClaw uses Claude Code for setup—no manual configuration needed.

Clone the Repository
Get the NanoClaw source code from GitHub
$ git clone https://github.com/gavrielc/nanoclaw.git
Use Cases

What Can You Build?

📊Sales Pipeline Assistant

Send an overview of the sales pipeline every weekday morning at 9am

📝Documentation Maintainer

Review git history weekly and update README if there's drift

📰AI News Briefing

Compile news on AI developments from Hacker News and TechCrunch

📧Email Management

Integrate Gmail to manage inbox, draft responses, summarize emails

🏠Smart Home Control

Connect to home automation systems and control devices via WhatsApp

🔍Research Assistant

Search the web, fetch content, summarize articles, compile reports

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Requirements

What You Need

Operating System
macOS (Apple Silicon recommended)
Linux (x86_64 or ARM64)
Software
Node.js 20+
Claude Code
Apple Container (macOS) or Docker

Ready to Build Your Own AI Assistant?

NanoClaw is open source under the MIT license. Fork it, customize it, make it yours.

Get Started on GitHub