OpenClaw 2026.3.22-beta.1: Key workflow changes for plugin authors and browser automation
Plugin installation now prefers ClawHub
The command openclaw plugins install <package> now checks ClawHub first for npm-safe names, falling back to npm only if the package isn't found on ClawHub. This flips the previous resolution order. If you maintain internal or community plugins, get them on ClawHub so installs work without users specifying a source. Audit any plugin install scripts to ensure they still resolve correctly.
Chrome extension relay removed
The legacy Chrome extension relay path, bundled extension assets, driver: "extension", and browser.relayBindHost have been removed. Browser automation relying on this will break on upgrade. Run openclaw doctor --fix to migrate host-local configs to the existing-session/user mode path automatically. Docker, headless, sandbox, and remote browser flows using raw CDP are unaffected. Build future browser agent configs around existing-session.
Image generation consolidated
The nano-banana-pro skill wrapper and related docs/examples are gone. Image generation is now standardized on the core image_generate tool. If you copied the nano-banana-pro sample-skill config, it's broken. The new path is to set agents.defaults.imageGenerationModel.primary: "google/gemini-3-pro-image-preview" in your config. Update any agent profiles that used the old skill wrapper.
Plugin SDK breaking changes
The new public plugin SDK surface is openclaw/plugin-sdk/*. The old openclaw/extension-api is removed with no compatibility shim. This is a breaking change for plugin authors—old imports break immediately. Bundled plugins must use injected runtime for host-side operations. If you publish or use community plugins, check if they've been migrated before upgrading. Read the migration guide at docs.openclaw.ai/plugins/sdk-migration.
Legacy environment variables and state directories removed
Legacy CLAWDBOT_* and MOLTBOT_* compatibility environment variables no longer work. The legacy .moltbot state directory and moltbot.json auto-detection/migration fallback are also removed. If your state is still under ~/.moltbot, move it to ~/.openclaw or set OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR explicitly. Audit your .env files and Docker configs with a grep for MOLTBOT or CLAWDBOT before upgrading.
New /btw command
Added /btw for side questions that get quick, tool-less answers about the current session without affecting future session context.
📖 Read the full source: r/openclaw
👀 See Also
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A benchmark tested 10 LLMs on developing trading strategies, with cheaper models like Minimax 2.5 and Gemini 3.1 outperforming Claude Opus 4.6 despite its 10x higher cost. The experiment was run three times with consistent results.
Zig Project's Rationale for Its Strict Anti-LLM Contribution Policy
Zig enforces a blanket ban on LLM-assisted contributions: no AI for issues, PRs, or comments. VP Loris Cro explains the "contributor poker" philosophy — reviewing PRs is an investment in growing trusted contributors, not just landing code.
Claude Code v2.1.79 OAuth Login Broken After Auto-Update: Workaround and Fix
Claude Code v2.1.79 has a confirmed OAuth login bug where the CLI times out after browser authorization. The issue stems from the native installer auto-updating to this version, and the fix involves downgrading to v2.1.75 by removing the native installation.