OpenClaw 2026.3.24: Bridge Config Removed, Heartbeat Token Savings, Loop Detection
Breaking Change: Bridge Configuration Removed
If you upgrade to OpenClaw 2026.3.24 and still have a bridge.* section in your openclaw.json file, the gateway will fail to start. The TCP bridge was previously removed from the runtime, and the configuration keys are now officially removed from the schema. To fix this, run openclaw doctor --fix to clean up the configuration automatically, or manually delete the bridge block from your JSON file.
Heartbeat Token Cost Reduction
The release introduces isolatedSession: true for heartbeat configuration. Previously, heartbeat runs accumulated session history across executions, which could increase per-run token costs to approximately 100,000 tokens. With an isolated session enabled, each heartbeat run starts fresh, reducing the token cost to around 2,000 to 5,000 tokens per run.
New Features and Configuration Options
imageGenerationModel: Pin an explicit image generation provider with fallback support. Supported providers include OpenAI's gpt-image-1, Google Gemini image models, and fal/* models.tools.loopDetection: Opt-in circuit breakers for runaway tool loops. Includes three detectors:genericRepeat,knownPollNoProgress, andpingPong.channels.modelByChannel: Pin specific channel or topic IDs to a particular model, separate from the session's default model.- Built-in model aliases:
gpt,gpt-mini,gemini,gemini-flash,gemini-flash-lite. pdfModel: Route PDF tool calls to a separate model from the session's primary model.
For complete release notes with configuration examples, refer to the official upgrade guide.
📖 Read the full source: r/clawdbot
👀 See Also
Local LLM Struggles with Unreal Engine Solitaire: Qwen 3.6-27B Burns 687k Tokens on One Card
A developer's attempt to build a Solitaire game in Unreal Engine using Qwen 3.6-27B consumed 687k tokens for a single card, requiring manual intervention for PNG downloads, mesh creation, and heavy prompting.
Uber's AI Development Faces Budget Constraints Despite $3.4B Investment
Uber's AI initiatives are encountering budget limitations according to their CTO, despite the company having allocated $3.4 billion toward these efforts. The article discusses challenges in scaling AI development within financial constraints.
AI Coding Agents Can Fragment Workflow and Drain Attention, Developer Warns
A 12-year web dev reports that using Claude Code daily leads to micro interruptions, loss of focus, and mental exhaustion — without measurable productivity gains.
OpenClaw 2026.3.11 release adds local-first Ollama setup, multimodal memory, and Discord thread controls
OpenClaw 2026.3.11 introduces first-class Ollama setup with local-only or hybrid modes, adds multimodal image and audio indexing to memory search using Gemini embeddings, and provides configurable Discord thread archiving times.