Add OpenClaw feature parity tracking matrix

Comprehensive comparison of IronClaw vs OpenClaw features to enable coordinated development. Includes status indicators, priority levels, owner fields for claiming work, and documented architectural deviations. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <[email protected]>
2026-08-25 14:53:34 +00:00 · 2026-02-03 22:06:48 -08:00
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+# IronClaw ↔ OpenClaw Feature Parity Matrix
+
+This document tracks feature parity between IronClaw (Rust implementation) and OpenClaw (TypeScript reference implementation). Use this to coordinate work across developers.
+
+**Legend:**
+- ✅ Implemented
+- 🚧 Partial (in progress or incomplete)
+- ❌ Not implemented
+- 🔮 Planned (in scope but not started)
+- 🚫 Out of scope (intentionally skipped)
+- ➖ N/A (not applicable to Rust implementation)
+
+---
+
+## 1. Architecture
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Hub-and-spoke architecture | ✅ | 🚧 | IronClaw has channels but no central gateway |
+| WebSocket control plane | ✅ | ❌ | Gateway with ws://127.0.0.1:18789 |
+| Single-user system | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Multi-agent routing | ✅ | ❌ | Workspace isolation per-agent |
+| Session-based messaging | ✅ | ✅ | Per-sender sessions |
+| Loopback-first networking | ✅ | ✅ | HTTP binds to 0.0.0.0 but can be configured |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 2. Gateway System
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Gateway control plane | ✅ | ❌ | Central WebSocket server |
+| HTTP endpoints for Control UI | ✅ | ❌ | Web dashboard |
+| Channel connection lifecycle | ✅ | 🚧 | ChannelManager handles streams |
+| Session management/routing | ✅ | ✅ | SessionManager exists |
+| Configuration hot-reload | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Network modes (loopback/LAN/remote) | ✅ | 🚧 | HTTP only |
+| OpenAI-compatible HTTP API | ✅ | ❌ | /v1/chat/completions |
+| Canvas hosting | ✅ | ❌ | Agent-driven UI |
+| Gateway lock (PID-based) | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| launchd/systemd integration | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Bonjour/mDNS discovery | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Tailscale integration | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Health check endpoints | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| `doctor` diagnostics | ✅ | ❌ | |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 3. Messaging Channels
+
+| Channel | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| CLI/TUI | ✅ | ✅ | - | Ratatui-based TUI |
+| HTTP webhook | ✅ | ✅ | - | axum with secret validation |
+| REPL (simple) | ✅ | ✅ | - | For testing |
+| WASM channels | ❌ | ✅ | - | IronClaw innovation |
+| WhatsApp | ✅ | ❌ | P1 | Baileys (Web) |
+| Telegram | ✅ | ❌ | P1 | grammY (Bot API) |
+| Discord | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | discord.js |
+| Signal | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | signal-cli |
+| Slack | ✅ | 🚧 | P1 | Stub exists, needs implementation |
+| iMessage | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | BlueBubbles recommended |
+| Feishu/Lark | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| LINE | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| WebChat | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Browser-based chat |
+| Matrix | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | E2EE support |
+| Mattermost | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Google Chat | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| MS Teams | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Twitch | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Voice Call | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Twilio/Telnyx |
+| Nostr | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+
+### Channel Features
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| DM pairing codes | ✅ | ❌ | Verification for unknown senders |
+| Allowlist/blocklist | ✅ | ❌ | Per-channel access control |
+| Self-message bypass | ✅ | ❌ | Own messages skip pairing |
+| Mention-based activation | ✅ | ❌ | Configurable patterns |
+| Per-group tool policies | ✅ | ❌ | Allow/deny specific tools |
+| Thread isolation | ✅ | ✅ | Separate sessions per thread |
+| Per-channel media limits | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Typing indicators | ✅ | 🚧 | TUI shows status |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 4. CLI Commands
+
+| Command | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| `run` (agent) | ✅ | ✅ | - | Default command |
+| `tool install/list/remove` | ✅ | ✅ | - | WASM tools |
+| `gateway start/stop` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `onboard` (wizard) | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Interactive setup |
+| `tui` | ✅ | ✅ | - | Ratatui TUI |
+| `config` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Read/write config |
+| `channels` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Channel management |
+| `models` | ✅ | 🚧 | - | Model selector in TUI |
+| `status` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | System status |
+| `agents` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Multi-agent management |
+| `sessions` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Session listing |
+| `memory` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Memory search CLI |
+| `skills` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Agent skills |
+| `pairing` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Node pairing |
+| `nodes` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Device management |
+| `plugins` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Plugin management |
+| `hooks` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Lifecycle hooks |
+| `cron` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Scheduled jobs |
+| `webhooks` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Webhook config |
+| `message send` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Send to channels |
+| `browser` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Browser automation |
+| `sandbox` | ✅ | ✅ | - | WASM sandbox |
+| `doctor` | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Diagnostics |
+| `logs` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Query logs |
+| `update` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Self-update |
+| `completion` | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Shell completion |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 5. Agent System
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Pi agent runtime | ✅ | ➖ | IronClaw uses custom runtime |
+| RPC-based execution | ✅ | 🚧 | Worker isolation |
+| Multi-provider failover | ✅ | ❌ | Provider fallback chains |
+| Per-sender sessions | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Global sessions | ✅ | ❌ | Optional shared context |
+| Session pruning | ✅ | ❌ | Auto cleanup old sessions |
+| Context compaction | ✅ | ✅ | Auto summarization |
+| Custom system prompts | ✅ | ✅ | Template variables |
+| Skills (modular capabilities) | ✅ | ❌ | Capability bundles |
+| Thinking modes (low/med/high) | ✅ | ❌ | Configurable reasoning depth |
+| Block-level streaming | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Tool-level streaming | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Plugin tools | ✅ | ✅ | WASM tools |
+| Tool policies (allow/deny) | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Exec approvals (`/approve`) | ✅ | ✅ | TUI approval overlay |
+| Elevated mode | ✅ | ❌ | Privileged execution |
+| Subagent support | ✅ | ✅ | Task framework |
+| Auth profiles | ✅ | ❌ | Multiple auth strategies |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 6. Model & Provider Support
+
+| Provider | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|----------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| NEAR AI | ✅ | ✅ | - | Primary provider |
+| Anthropic (Claude) | ✅ | 🚧 | - | Via NEAR AI proxy |
+| OpenAI | ✅ | 🚧 | - | Via NEAR AI proxy |
+| AWS Bedrock | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Google Gemini | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| OpenRouter | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Ollama (local) | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Local models |
+| node-llama-cpp | ✅ | ➖ | - | N/A for Rust |
+| llama.cpp (native) | ❌ | 🔮 | P3 | Rust bindings |
+
+### Model Features
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Auto-discovery | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Failover chains | ✅ | ❌ | Provider fallback |
+| Cooldown management | ✅ | ❌ | Skip failed providers |
+| Per-session model override | ✅ | ✅ | Model selector in TUI |
+| Model selection UI | ✅ | ✅ | TUI keyboard shortcut |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 7. Media Handling
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Image processing (Sharp) | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Resize, format convert |
+| Audio transcription | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| Video support | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| PDF parsing | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | pdfjs-dist |
+| MIME detection | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| Media caching | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Vision model integration | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Image understanding |
+| TTS (Edge TTS) | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Text-to-speech |
+| TTS (OpenAI) | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Sticker-to-image | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Telegram stickers |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 8. Plugin & Extension System
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Dynamic loading | ✅ | ✅ | WASM modules |
+| Manifest validation | ✅ | ✅ | WASM metadata |
+| HTTP path registration | ✅ | ❌ | Plugin routes |
+| Workspace-relative install | ✅ | ✅ | ~/.near-agent/tools/ |
+| Channel plugins | ✅ | ✅ | WASM channels |
+| Auth plugins | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Memory plugins | ✅ | ❌ | Custom backends |
+| Tool plugins | ✅ | ✅ | WASM tools |
+| Hook plugins | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Provider plugins | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Plugin CLI (`install`, `list`) | ✅ | ✅ | `tool` subcommand |
+| ClawHub registry | ✅ | ❌ | Discovery |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 9. Configuration System
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Primary config file | ✅ `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` | ✅ `.env` | Different formats |
+| JSON5 support | ✅ | ❌ | Comments, trailing commas |
+| YAML alternative | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Environment variable interpolation | ✅ | ✅ | `${VAR}` |
+| Config validation/schema | ✅ | ✅ | Type-safe Config struct |
+| Hot-reload | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Legacy migration | ✅ | ➖ | |
+| State directory | ✅ `~/.openclaw-state/` | ✅ `~/.near-agent/` | |
+| Credentials directory | ✅ | ✅ | Session files |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 10. Memory & Knowledge System
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Vector memory | ✅ | ✅ | pgvector |
+| Session-based memory | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Hybrid search (BM25 + vector) | ✅ | ✅ | RRF algorithm |
+| OpenAI embeddings | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Gemini embeddings | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Local embeddings | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| SQLite-vec backend | ✅ | ❌ | IronClaw uses PostgreSQL |
+| LanceDB backend | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| QMD backend | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Atomic reindexing | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Embeddings batching | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Citation support | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Memory CLI commands | ✅ | ❌ | `memory search/index/status` |
+| Flexible path structure | ✅ | ✅ | Filesystem-like API |
+| Identity files (AGENTS.md, etc.) | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Daily logs | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Heartbeat checklist | ✅ | ✅ | HEARTBEAT.md |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 11. Mobile Apps
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| iOS app (SwiftUI) | ✅ | 🚫 | - | Out of scope initially |
+| Android app (Kotlin) | ✅ | 🚫 | - | Out of scope initially |
+| Gateway WebSocket client | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Camera/photo access | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Voice input | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Push-to-talk | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Location sharing | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Node pairing | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_ (if ever prioritized)
+
+---
+
+## 12. macOS App
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| SwiftUI native app | ✅ | 🚫 | - | Out of scope |
+| Menu bar presence | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Bundled gateway | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Canvas hosting | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Voice wake | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+| Exec approval dialogs | ✅ | ✅ | - | TUI overlay |
+| iMessage integration | ✅ | 🚫 | - | |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_ (if ever prioritized)
+
+---
+
+## 13. Web Interface
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Control UI Dashboard | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Web status/config |
+| Channel status view | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| Agent management | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Model selection | ✅ | ✅ | - | TUI only |
+| Config editing | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Debug/logs viewer | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| WebChat interface | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Browser chat |
+| Canvas system (A2UI) | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | Agent-driven UI |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 14. Automation
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Priority | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Cron jobs | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Schedule-based tasks |
+| Timezone support | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| One-shot/recurring jobs | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `beforeInbound` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `beforeOutbound` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `beforeToolCall` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `onMessage` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `onSessionStart` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `onSessionEnd` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| `transcribeAudio` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| `transformResponse` hook | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| Bundled hooks | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| Plugin hooks | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+| Workspace hooks | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | Inline code |
+| Outbound webhooks | ✅ | ❌ | P2 | |
+| Heartbeat system | ✅ | ✅ | - | Periodic execution |
+| Gmail pub/sub | ✅ | ❌ | P3 | |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 15. Security Features
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Gateway token auth | ✅ | 🚧 | HTTP webhook secret |
+| Device pairing | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Tailscale identity | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| OAuth flows | ✅ | 🚧 | NEAR AI OAuth |
+| DM pairing verification | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Allowlist/blocklist | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Per-group tool policies | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Exec approvals | ✅ | ✅ | TUI overlay |
+| TLS 1.3 minimum | ✅ | ✅ | reqwest rustls |
+| SSRF protection | ✅ | ✅ | WASM allowlist |
+| Loopback-first | ✅ | 🚧 | HTTP binds 0.0.0.0 |
+| Docker sandbox | ✅ | ❌ | Uses WASM sandbox |
+| WASM sandbox | ❌ | ✅ | IronClaw innovation |
+| Tool policies | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Elevated mode | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Safe bins allowlist | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| LD*/DYLD* validation | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Path traversal prevention | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Webhook signature verification | ✅ | ✅ | |
+| Media URL validation | ✅ | ❌ | |
+| Prompt injection defense | ✅ | ✅ | Pattern detection, sanitization |
+| Leak detection | ✅ | ✅ | Secret exfiltration |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## 16. Development & Build System
+
+| Feature | OpenClaw | IronClaw | Notes |
+|---------|----------|----------|-------|
+| Primary language | TypeScript | Rust | Different ecosystems |
+| Build tool | tsdown | cargo | |
+| Type checking | TypeScript/tsgo | rustc | |
+| Linting | Oxlint | clippy | |
+| Formatting | Oxfmt | rustfmt | |
+| Package manager | pnpm | cargo | |
+| Test framework | Vitest | built-in | |
+| Coverage | V8 | tarpaulin/llvm-cov | |
+| CI/CD | GitHub Actions | GitHub Actions | |
+| Pre-commit hooks | prek | - | Consider adding |
+
+### Owner: _Unassigned_
+
+---
+
+## Implementation Priorities
+
+### P0 - Core (Already Done)
+- ✅ TUI channel with approval overlays
+- ✅ HTTP webhook channel
+- ✅ WASM tool sandbox
+- ✅ Workspace/memory with hybrid search
+- ✅ Prompt injection defense
+- ✅ Heartbeat system
+- ✅ Session management
+- ✅ Context compaction
+- ✅ Model selection
+
+### P1 - High Priority
+- ❌ Slack channel (real implementation)
+- ❌ Telegram channel
+- ❌ WhatsApp channel
+- ❌ Multi-provider failover
+- ❌ Gateway control plane + WebSocket
+- ❌ Hooks system (beforeInbound, beforeToolCall, etc.)
+
+### P2 - Medium Priority
+- ❌ Cron job scheduling
+- ❌ Web Control UI
+- ❌ WebChat channel
+- ❌ Media handling (images, PDFs)
+- ❌ CLI subcommands (config, status, memory, doctor)
+- ❌ Ollama/local model support
+- ❌ Configuration hot-reload
+
+### P3 - Lower Priority
+- ❌ Discord channel
+- ❌ Signal channel
+- ❌ Matrix channel
+- ❌ Other messaging platforms
+- ❌ TTS/audio features
+- ❌ Video support
+- ❌ Skills system
+- ❌ Plugin registry
+
+---
+
+## How to Contribute
+
+1. **Claim a section**: Edit this file and add your name/handle to the "Owner" field
+2. **Create a tracking issue**: Link to GitHub issue for the feature area
+3. **Update status**: Change ❌ to 🚧 when starting, ✅ when complete
+4. **Add notes**: Document any design decisions or deviations
+
+### Coordination
+
+- Each major section should have one owner to avoid conflicts
+- Owners can delegate sub-features to others
+- Update this file as part of your PR
+
+---
+
+## Deviations from OpenClaw
+
+IronClaw intentionally differs from OpenClaw in these ways:
+
+1. **Rust vs TypeScript**: Native performance, memory safety, single binary distribution
+2. **WASM sandbox vs Docker**: Lighter weight, faster startup, capability-based security
+3. **PostgreSQL vs SQLite**: Better suited for production deployments
+4. **NEAR AI focus**: Primary provider with session-based auth
+5. **No mobile/desktop apps**: Focus on server-side and CLI initially
+6. **WASM channels**: Novel extension mechanism not in OpenClaw
+
+These are intentional architectural choices, not gaps to be filled.