btw Command

Local skill by Claw0x — runs entirely in your OpenClaw agent.

Runs locally. No external API calls, no API key required. Complete privacy.

What It Does

The btw Command skill allows AI agents to ask clarifying questions without halting their main workflow. Questions are queued, users are notified via multiple channels, and if no answer is received within the timeout period, a default answer is used automatically.

Think of it as "by the way, I need to know..." — the agent continues working while waiting for your input.

Quick Reference

5-Minute Quickstart

Step 1: Install (30 seconds)

openclaw skill add btw

Step 2: Ask Your First Question (1 minute)

const result = await agent.run('btw', {
  question: 'Deploy to staging or production?',
  options: ['staging', 'production'],
  default: 'staging',
  timeout: 300,
  priority: 'urgent'
});

console.log(result.answer); // 'production' or 'staging' (default)

Step 3: Handle the Answer (instant)

if (result.timed_out) {
  console.log(`Used default: ${result.answer}`);
} else {
  console.log(`User chose: ${result.answer} in ${result.response_time_ms}ms`);
}

Real-World Use Cases

Scenario 1: Deployment Automation

Problem: Agent needs to deploy but unsure which environment Solution: Ask non-blocking question with timeout Example:

const { answer } = await btw({
  question: 'Tests passed! Deploy to which environment?',
  options: ['staging', 'production', 'skip'],
  default: 'staging',
  timeout: 600, // 10 minutes
  priority: 'urgent'
});

if (answer === 'production') {
  await deployToProduction();
} else if (answer === 'staging') {
  await deployToStaging();
}

Scenario 2: Code Review Decisions

Problem: Agent finds complex code, unsure if refactoring is needed Solution: Ask for human judgment without blocking Example:

const { answer } = await btw({
  question: 'Function `processData` has 150 lines. Refactor?',
  options: ['yes', 'no', 'later'],
  default: 'later',
  timeout: 300,
  priority: 'normal',
  context: {
    file: 'src/utils/data.ts',
    lines: 150,
    complexity: 'high'
  }
});

Scenario 3: Data Validation

Problem: Agent finds duplicate records, needs merge strategy Solution: Ask with context and smart default Example:

const { answer } = await btw({
  question: 'Found 5 duplicate users. How to handle?',
  options: ['merge', 'keep-all', 'keep-newest'],
  default: 'keep-newest',
  timeout: 180,
  priority: 'normal',
  context: {
    duplicates: 5,
    table: 'users',
    criteria: 'email'
  }
});

Scenario 4: Security Checks

Problem: API key expiring soon, needs rotation decision Solution: High-priority question with short timeout Example:

const { answer } = await btw({
  question: 'API key expires in 2 days. Rotate now?',
  options: ['yes', 'no', 'remind-tomorrow'],
  default: 'remind-tomorrow',
  timeout: 60,
  priority: 'urgent',
  context: {
    key_name: 'STRIPE_API_KEY',
    expires_at: '2026-03-29'
  }
});

Integration Recipes

OpenClaw Agent

agent.onTask(async (task) => {
  // Ask question without blocking
  const { answer } = await agent.run('btw', {
    question: 'Approve this change?',
    options: ['yes', 'no'],
    default: 'no',
    timeout: 300
  });
  
  if (answer === 'yes') {
    await task.execute();
  }
});

LangChain Agent

def ask_user(question, options, default, timeout=300):
    # Use btw skill locally
    result = agent.run('btw', {
        'question': question,
        'options': options,
        'default': default,
        'timeout': timeout
    })
    return result['answer']

# Use in agent
answer = ask_user(
    'Deploy to production?',
    ['yes', 'no'],
    'no',
    timeout=600
)

Custom Agent

// Local btw implementation
async function askBtw(question, options, defaultAnswer) {
  const result = await agent.run('btw', {
    question,
    options,
    default: defaultAnswer,
    timeout: 300
  });
  
  return result.answer;
}

Workflow Diagram

Agent Workflow
     │
     ├─ Main Task (continues)
     │
     └─ btw Question
          ├─ Queue Question
          ├─ Notify User (Web/Mobile/Slack)
          │
          ├─ User Answers → Return Answer
          │
          └─ Timeout → Return Default

Why Use Via Claw0x?

• Zero configuration: No API keys, no setup
• Complete privacy: Runs entirely locally
• Offline capable: Works without internet
• Unlimited usage: No rate limits or quotas
• Open source: Transparent implementation
• Agent-native: Built for autonomous workflows

Prerequisites

None. Just install and use.

Input Parameters

Output Schema

Error Codes

Pricing

Free. No API key required, no usage limits.

• Runs entirely locally in your agent
• No external API calls
• Complete privacy
• Unlimited questions

Rate Limits

None. Unlimited questions.

About Claw0x

Claw0x is the native skills layer for AI agents — providing unified API access, atomic billing, and quality control.

Explore more skills: claw0x.com/skills

GitHub: github.com/kennyzir/btw