Quick Start

30 minutes from zero to a live JARVIS responding on Telegram. Each step takes 1-5 minutes.

Prerequisites

  • macOS 13+ or Linux (Windows works via WSL2)
  • Node.js 18+, verify with node --version
  • Python 3.10+, verify with python3 --version
  • Telegram account
  • One of: Anthropic API key, Claude Pro/Max subscription, OpenRouter key, or Ollama (local)

Step 1: Get a Telegram bot (3 min)

  1. Open Telegram, search for @BotFather, click START
  2. Send /newbot
  3. Pick a name and username (must end in bot)
  4. BotFather replies with a token like 7234567890:AAH...xyz, save it
  5. Search for @userinfobot, message it to get your numeric user ID
  6. Search for your new bot, click START (required so the bot can message you)

Step 2: Install OpenClaw (2 min)

npm install -g openclaw
openclaw --version    # should print 2026.x or later

Step 3: Run the installer (5 min)

cd jarvis-kit
bash setup.sh

The installer asks for your license key, name, Telegram bot details, and AI provider choice. Then it runs through 11 steps installing everything.

Step 4: Start the gateway (1 min)

openclaw start

Step 5: Send your first message (1 min)

Open Telegram, message your bot. JARVIS replies within 5-15 seconds.

Step 6: Start the dashboard (1 min)

cd ~/.nemoclaw && npm start

Open https://localhost:18791/. Click the BRAIN tab to watch JARVIS think.

Step 7: Watch the brain come alive (3-5 min)

  • Immediately: 3D brain mesh renders
  • ~1 min: first ambient pulse fires (colored dots flash)
  • ~5 min: memory backfill completes, ~800 neurons populate the regions
  • Continuously: every Telegram message, tool call, memory write fires a particle

Step 8: Customize JARVIS to be yours

# Main system prompt
$EDITOR ~/.openclaw/workspace/SOUL.md

# Specific agents
$EDITOR ~/.openclaw/agents/cipher/agent/SOUL.md

# Permanent facts
$EDITOR ~/.openclaw/workspace/MEMORY.md

No restart needed, JARVIS re-reads on every turn.

Daily ops

openclaw doctor --fix         # restart after config change
openclaw status               # health check
tail -100 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log
openclaw backup create

Where things live

~/.openclaw/
├── openclaw.json              # master config
├── workspace/
│   ├── SOUL.md                # main JARVIS prompt
│   ├── MEMORY.md              # permanent facts
│   ├── skills/                # 27 skills
│   ├── scripts/               # synapse-engine.py + 3 brain crons
│   └── data/synapse-graph.sqlite
├── agents/<id>/agent/SOUL.md  # per-agent prompts
├── logs/gateway.log           # main log
└── certs/dashboard.{key,crt}  # self-signed HTTPS

~/.nemoclaw/
├── jarvis.html                # dashboard UI
├── webhook-server.js          # local API + brain endpoints
├── assets/brain.gltf          # 3D anatomical brain
└── .env                       # dashboard env vars (mode 0600)