A standardization framework for OpenClaw cron wrappers and delivery contracts to ensure reliable, conflict-free automated agent execution.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install openclaw-cron-standard
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install openclaw-cron-standard using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Openclaw Cron Standard?
The openclaw-cron-standard skill is a technical framework designed to bring consistency and reliability to automated tasks within the OpenClaw ecosystem. By establishing strict prompt contracts and wrapper behaviors, it addresses the common issue of contract drift across wrappers, prompts, and claim string expectations. This skill is critical for developers who need to ensure their Openclaw Skills are not only executing correctly but also communicating their status accurately without generating stale data or redundant execution cycles.
At its core, the skill focuses on the lifecycle of a cron job, from clearing old artifacts to matching the delivery mode with the agent's actual output behavior. By following these standardized protocols, developers can prevent the fragile failure modes associated with duplicate-run guards and mismatched claim strings, leading to more robust and predictable Openclaw Skills implementations.
Openclaw Cron Standard Use Cases
- Auditing legacy cron jobs to fix stale result file errors and duplicate-run confusion.
- Designing new automated workflows that require synchronized claim handling via ClankerHive.
- Resolving issues where cron jobs run successfully but fail to notify the user due to delivery contract mismatches.
- Standardizing multi-agent environments where shared result artifacts act as the source of truth.
How Openclaw Cron Standard Works
- The wrapper script initiates by clearing any existing result artifacts to ensure no stale data persists.
- The system attempts to claim the execution through a shared helper module to prevent concurrent runs.
- If the claim returns a sentinel like ALREADY_CLAIMED, the script exits gracefully without writing new artifacts.
- For valid runs, the logic executes and writes a fresh JSON result artifact as the primary source of truth.
- The agent prompt is configured to check for the exit sentinel before attempting to process the result JSON.
- The final delivery mode is calibrated to either announce results to the user or remain silent for maintenance tasks.
Openclaw Cron Standard Setup
To implement the standard in your Openclaw Skills environment, ensure Python 3 is available and follow these steps:
# Verify your environment meets the requirements
python3 --version
# Update your wrapper script to clear old artifacts
rm -f path/to/stale_result.json
# Integrate the claim logic in your Python wrapper
# Ensure the exit sentinel matches your prompt expectations
After updating the wrapper, verify that your cron configuration uses either delivery.mode: announce for user-visible replies or delivery.mode: none for silent or tool-based messaging.
Openclaw Cron Standard Data Schema & Taxonomy
| Component | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Result Artifact | JSON | The primary file containing the output of a successful cron execution. |
| Claim Sentinel | String | A specific text marker (e.g., ALREADY_CLAIMED) used to signal a duplicate run guard. |
| Delivery Mode | Configuration | Enum (announce |
| Prompt Contract | Logic | A set of instructions within the agent prompt to validate the run status before reading data. |
Openclaw Cron Standard Advanced Features
- Centralized claim management using ClankerHive to prevent execution drift across distributed agents.
- Support for explicit message tool integration when using silent delivery modes for maintenance.
- Standardized migration paths for updating existing Openclaw Skills without disrupting business logic.
- Automated validation checks to ensure delivery contracts match the prompt's intended output.
SKILL.md
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