Fix Skill Install in Docker: brew not installed
◇ Install failed: openai-whisper — brew not installed Error: This skill requires Homebrew. Install from https://brew.sh
Some OpenClaw skills use Homebrew to install system-level dependencies (ffmpeg, Python binaries, etc). Inside a Docker container or minimal Linux environment, Homebrew is not present and the skill install fails. This guide shows how to pre-install dependencies and work around the Homebrew requirement.
Next Step
Fix now, then reduce repeat incidents
If this issue keeps coming back, validate your setup in Doctor first, then harden your config.
Jump to Fix
Option 1: Pre-install Dependencies with apt-get
The cleanest solution is to install the system packages that the skill needs before running OpenClaw. For skills like openai-whisper, the requirements are typically Python, ffmpeg, and pip:
# Run inside your Docker container or CI environment: apt-get update && apt-get install -y \ python3 \ python3-pip \ ffmpeg \ curl \ git # For Whisper specifically: pip3 install openai-whisper
After pre-installing the required packages, retry openclaw plugins install openai-whisper. The skill installer will detect the packages are already present and skip the Homebrew step.
Option 2: Install Linuxbrew Inside Docker
If you need Homebrew for multiple skills, you can install Linuxbrew. This adds ~500MB to your image but provides the full brew ecosystem:
# Install dependencies first apt-get update && apt-get install -y \ build-essential curl file git procps # Install Homebrew (non-interactive) NONINTERACTIVE=1 /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)" # Add to PATH eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)" echo 'eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.bashrc # Verify brew --version
Linuxbrew requires a non-root user. If your Docker container runs as root, create a user first: useradd -m brew && su brew
Dockerfile Example: OpenClaw with Whisper Skill
FROM node:22-bookworm-slim
# Install system dependencies
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
python3 python3-pip ffmpeg git curl && \
pip3 install openai-whisper --break-system-packages && \
rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
# Install OpenClaw
RUN npm install -g openclaw
# Copy config
COPY openclaw.json /root/.openclaw/openclaw.json
# Install skills (skips brew check if deps are present)
RUN openclaw plugins install openai-whisper
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["openclaw", "gateway", "start"]Verify Skill Installed Successfully
openclaw plugins list # Check the skill is active: openclaw skills list | grep whisper
Other Docker & install issues
Fix It Faster With Our Tools
Did this guide solve your problem?