canvas-os

What This Skill Does

Canvas OS transforms your OpenClaw interface into a dedicated application platform, allowing you to run rich, interactive, and visually immersive applications directly within the Canvas window. Unlike standard terminal-based interaction, Canvas OS treats the interface as an OS window where you can host HTML/CSS/JS applications. It empowers agents to build, store, and execute custom UI-based applications locally, enabling real-time data visualization, dashboarding, and complex user interfaces that far exceed text-based outputs.

Installation

To integrate Canvas OS into your environment, use the OpenClaw package manager. Ensure you have the necessary permissions for server management and background process execution. Run the following command in your terminal:

clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/knightluozichu/canvas-os-1-0-1

Once installed, verify the installation by checking your available nodes with openclaw nodes status. The skill uses local ports for app hosting, so ensure your system policy allows Python-based local web servers.

Use Cases

Canvas OS is ideal for users who need a graphical interface for their agent’s work. Use it to build live-updating project management dashboards that track file changes or task progress, create interactive data analysis tools that visualize JSON datasets with charts, or develop quick-access utility tools like customized calculators, markdown renderers, or API request testers. It is particularly powerful for developers who need to demonstrate UI mockups or interact with live data in a persistent, visual environment rather than a fleeting terminal session.

Example Prompts

1. "Build me a task dashboard app and open it on the Canvas."
2. "Update the project tracker app with the latest data from the database JSON."
3. "Open my custom analytics portal on the Canvas and visualize the current CPU load."

Tips & Limitations

• Security: Canvas blocks file:/// paths to prevent malicious access. Always use the Localhost Server method (port-based) for your applications.
• Performance: Keep your apps lightweight. Use canvas-inject.py for small snippets to avoid overhead.
• Navigation: If an app is already running, always ensure you verify the port status using lsof before attempting to relaunch, as server conflicts are the most common source of navigation failures.
• Data Handling: Use the openclaw nodes canvas eval command to dynamically inject data into your running app without needing to reload the entire window, providing a seamless user experience.