TL;DR
Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw are all the same project. It was renamed twice due to trademark considerations. Your configs and skills work across all versions.
The Timeline
2025 - Original Launch
Clawdbot
The project launched as "Clawdbot" - a portmanteau of "Claude" and "bot". It quickly gained traction, reaching 100k+ GitHub stars. The name resonated with users who associated it with Anthropic's Claude model.
December 2025
Moltbot
Anthropic reached out regarding trademark concerns around the "Clawd" name's similarity to "Claude". The project was renamed to "Moltbot" - referencing molting, or shedding an old skin for new growth.
January 2026
OpenClaw
The project settled on "OpenClaw" as the final name. "Open" emphasizes the open-source nature, while "Claw" maintains connection to the original brand. The project now has 153k+ GitHub stars.
What This Means for Users
Config Compatibility
All configuration files work across all versions. No migration needed.
Skills Work
Skills built for Clawdbot or Moltbot work with OpenClaw. ClawHub hosts them all.
Search Confusion
People still search for all three names. Tutorials may reference any version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which name should I use?
"OpenClaw" is the current official name. Use that for new installations and documentation.
Do I need to reinstall?
No. Just update your package: npm update -g @anthropic/openclaw
Why does HyperNest use "Clawdbot" in URLs?
"Clawdbot" has the highest legacy search traffic. We keep our service pages at /clawdbot for SEO while supporting all versions.