A secure execution environment for running non-destructive repository commands like testing, building, and linting within local workspaces.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install shell-safe-exec
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 shell-safe-exec 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 Shell Safe Exec?
Shell Safe Exec is a specialized component within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem designed for developers who need to run repository-specific commands without compromising system integrity. It establishes a strict security perimeter, allowing for common development tasks—such as dependency installation, formatting, and status checks—while explicitly blocking dangerous operations like recursive deletions or system configuration changes. By focusing on project-local tasks, it provides a safe sandbox for AI agents to interact with the shell environment efficiently and reliably.
This skill ensures that all interactions are confined to the current workspace, preventing accidental modification of system-level files or sensitive configurations. It acts as a bridge between high-level intent and low-level execution, maintaining the technical truth of the project environment while prioritizing safety and developer peace of mind.
Shell Safe Exec Use Cases
- Running unit tests and integration suites to verify code changes after a feature implementation.
- Building project artifacts and checking for compilation errors in a continuous integration workflow.
- Installing or updating project dependencies using standard package managers like npm, yarn, or pip.
- Performing linting and code formatting to maintain code quality and style standards.
- Running type-checkers or health-check scripts to ensure project stability before deployment.
How Shell Safe Exec Works
- Identification: The AI agent identifies the necessary project-specific command required to satisfy the user request.
- Validation: The skill checks the command against a strict whitelist of allowed non-destructive operations and verifies it doesn't match the prohibited list.
- Sanitization: All inputs, including paths and arguments, are treated as untrusted and passed literally to the shell to prevent command injection attacks.
- Localized Execution: The command is executed strictly within the project workspace, ensuring no interaction with system-level directories.
- Error Handling: The process monitors execution in real-time and stops immediately upon failure, returning raw error logs for diagnostic purposes.
Shell Safe Exec Setup
To integrate this capability into your project environment, ensure your workspace is initialized within the Openclaw Skills framework. Use the following command to enable safe execution:
# Enable the shell-safe-exec skill within your agent configuration
openclaw-agent skills enable shell-safe-exec
No additional system-level permissions are required as the skill operates with the user's existing non-privileged repository access.
Shell Safe Exec Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill organizes its execution metadata and results according to the following schema to ensure transparency for Openclaw Skills users:
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| command | The literal shell command executed within the project workspace. |
| result | A binary indicator (Success/Failure) of the command's exit code. |
| logs | Captured standard output (stdout) and standard error (stderr) from the process. |
| workspace_root | The validated directory path where the execution took place. |
| safety_check | Confirmation that the command passed the non-destructive heuristic filters. |
Shell Safe Exec Advanced Features
- Smart Dependency Detection: Automatically selects the correct package manager (e.g., npm vs yarn) based on existing lockfiles.
- Failure-Stop Protocol: Prevents cascading system errors by immediately halting automated workflows when a command returns a non-zero exit code.
- Project-Only Scope: Hard-coded constraints that prevent any command from navigating outside the repository root using relative pathing.
- Multi-Agent Compatibility: Allows different agents within the Openclaw Skills network to hand off execution tasks while maintaining a consistent security context.
SKILL.md
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