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04.OpenClaw TUI Interaction
OpenClaw TUI Interaction
OpenClaw TUI Interaction1. How to Access the TUI2. What is the TUI Interface?3. Slash Commands4. Sessions and Memory5. Quick Start Workflow6. Troubleshooting Common Issues6.1 Commands Are Unresponsive6.2 The Bot Starts "Rambling" or "Misunderstanding You," or Seems Distracted by History6.3 Responses Are Becoming Increasingly Slow
The TUI (Text User Interface) serves as OpenClaw's "command-line chat window." When it is inconvenient to access the web console on your Jetson device—or if you are connected remotely via SSH—the TUI allows you to perform most daily interactions directly within your terminal: engaging in dialogue, switching models, checking status, managing sessions, invoking skills, and more.
1. How to Access the TUI
Execute the following command in your terminal:
xxxxxxxxxxopenclaw tuiNote: The openclaw gateway does not require manual startup; it launches automatically upon system boot.
2. What is the TUI Interface?
You can think of the TUI as a "chat box with built-in commands":
- Upper Section: Dialogue History (messages you sent, model responses, and tool/skill outputs)
- Lower Section: Input Field (where you type questions or send slash commands)
- Sending Messages: Type your input and press Enter to send.
For your first visit, we recommend doing two things right away:
xxxxxxxxxx/status3. Slash Commands
Slash commands must generally be sent as standalone messages beginning with a /. They are used to control the current session and execute specific operations.
| Command | Function | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
/help | View help and command list | When you don't know what commands are available | /help |
/status | Check current status | If you suspect a connection issue or want to check context usage | /status |
/new | Start a new conversation thread (New Session) | To switch topics or avoid context interference | /new |
/reset | Reset the session (Equivalent to starting over; has the same effect as /new) | If the conversation has gone off track or you want to clear the context | /reset |
/model / /models list | View/Switch models | When you want to switch to a faster or more powerful model | /models list |
/think medium | Set the "thinking depth" | For daily use, low or off is recommended | /think medium |
/stop | Abort the current task | If the system gets stuck or you want to stop immediately | /stop |
/context detail | View the currently injected context | To troubleshoot "why it remembers/forgets certain details" | /context detail |
/compact | Compress older history into a summary | When the conversation is too long or the context buffer is nearly full | /compact |
/skill <name> | Run a specific skill | When you know the skill name and want to execute it directly | /skill web_search |
Two additional tips for a smoother "daily workflow":
- It is safest to include only one slash command per message.
- To quickly browse through all available commands, use
/helpor/commands.
4. Sessions and Memory
In OpenClaw, the roles of these two concepts are clearly defined:
- Session: Manages "where the current conversation stands." When you use
/newor/resetwithin the TUI, you are essentially switching to—or restarting—a session. - Memory: Manages "content that should be retained long-term, even across different sessions." This data is written to disk (in Markdown format) and can be retrieved back into the current session whenever needed. ### 4.1 Where Are Session Files Located?
Sessions are persisted to disk in JSONL format. Common locations include (subject to your actual installation path):
- Index:
~/.openclaw/agents/<agentId>/sessions/sessions.json - Transcripts:
~/.openclaw/agents/<agentId>/sessions/<SessionId>.jsonl
For troubleshooting purposes, a more convenient approach is to first execute:
xxxxxxxxxxopenclaw statusThis command typically displays the storage path as well as information regarding recent sessions. ### 4.2 How to "Put Memory to Use"
You can think of Memory as "having the bot take notes":
memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md: A daily process log, suitable for recording progress and ad-hoc decisions.MEMORY.md: Long-term, stable information (preferences, fixed rules, project constraints, etc.).
Practical Tips:
- To make a specific conclusion accessible across multiple sessions: Simply tell the bot, "Write this into
MEMORY.md." - When preparing to switch to a new topic using
/new: First use/compact—or write key decisions into Memory—before switching sessions.
5. Quick Start Workflow
- Enter the TUI:
openclaw tui - Check Status:
/status - Select a Model:
/models list→/model <Number or Name> - Daily Conversation: Simply type your question and press Enter.
- Switch Topics:
/new - Context Too Long:
/compact - Preserve Key Conclusions Long-Term: Ask the bot to write them into Memory.
6. Troubleshooting Common Issues
6.1 Commands Are Unresponsive
- Ensure the command is sent on a separate line (do not mix it with regular text).
- Use
/helpfirst to check which commands are supported in your current version.
6.2 The Bot Starts "Rambling" or "Misunderstanding You," or Seems Distracted by History
- Start a new session:
/newor/reset - Check what context is currently being injected:
/context detail
6.3 Responses Are Becoming Increasingly Slow
- Reduce "thinking depth":
/think lowor/think minimal - Compress conversation history:
/compact