๐ŸงฉCustom Development

How to Publish a Skill to ClawHub

Intermediate1-2 hoursUpdated 2025-01-14

ClawHub is the official marketplace for OpenClaw skills. Publishing your skill makes it discoverable to thousands of users and establishes you as a contributor to the OpenClaw ecosystem. This guide walks through the entire publishing process: preparation, submission, review, and post-publish management.

Why This Is Hard to Do Yourself

These are the common pitfalls that trip people up.

๐Ÿ“‹

ClawHub review requirements

ClawHub has strict quality, security, and documentation standards. Many first-time submissions are rejected for missing details

๐Ÿ”’

Permission justification

Reviewers scrutinize every permission your skill requests. You need clear justification for each one

๐Ÿ“ธ

Screenshots and demo quality

Your skill listing needs professional screenshots and a working demo video. Low-quality visuals lead to rejection

๐Ÿ›

Post-publish bug reports

Once published, users will find edge cases you missed. You need a plan for handling bug reports and updates

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1

Prepare your skill for publishing

# Pre-publish checklist:

# 1. Test thoroughly across different scenarios
# 2. Add comprehensive error handling
# 3. Write clear skill.md documentation
# 4. Add inline code comments
# 5. Create a detailed README.md
# 6. Remove debug logging and test code
# 7. Verify all permissions are necessary and justified

# Create README.md:
cat > ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/README.md << 'EOF'
# My Skill Name

One-sentence description.

## What It Does
Clear explanation of functionality.

## How to Use
Step-by-step usage instructions.

## Examples
Real-world examples with screenshots.

## Requirements
- Dependencies
- API keys needed
- System requirements

## Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions.
EOF

Warning: ClawHub reviewers will reject skills that request unnecessary permissions. Only request what you actually need and explain why in your README.

Step 2

Create a ClawHub account

# 1. Go to https://clawhub.ai
# 2. Click "Sign Up" or "Publish a Skill"
# 3. Choose "Developer Account"
# 4. Complete profile:
#    - Display name
#    - Bio
#    - Website (optional)
#    - GitHub (recommended for credibility)
# 5. Verify your email address
Step 3

Write skill metadata and description

# Create clawhub.json in your skill directory:
cat > ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/clawhub.json << 'EOF'
{
  "name": "My Skill Name",
  "tagline": "One-sentence value proposition (max 80 chars)",
  "description": "Detailed description of what your skill does, who it's for, and why they should use it. 2-3 paragraphs.",
  "category": "productivity",
  "tags": ["automation", "email", "scheduling"],
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "license": "MIT",
  "pricing": "free",
  "support_url": "https://github.com/yourname/your-skill/issues",
  "homepage": "https://github.com/yourname/your-skill"
}
EOF

# Categories: productivity, communication, development, data, creative, utility

Warning: Your tagline is the first thing users see. Make it compelling and specific. "Automates email" is weak. "Turns meeting notes into calendar events and follow-up emails" is strong.

Step 4

Add screenshots and demo video

# Create screenshots directory:
mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/screenshots

# Add 3-5 high-quality screenshots showing:
# 1. Main use case (hero screenshot)
# 2. Configuration/setup screen
# 3. Example output
# 4. Error handling (optional but good)

# Screenshot requirements:
# - 1920x1080 or 1280x720 resolution
# - PNG format
# - Real data (not Lorem Ipsum)
# - Clean UI, no clutter

# Demo video (optional but highly recommended):
# - 30-90 seconds
# - Show real usage, not a static demo
# - Upload to YouTube or Vimeo
# - Add URL to clawhub.json
Step 5

Submit for review

# 1. Package your skill:
cd ~/.openclaw/skills
tar -czf my-skill.tar.gz my-skill/

# 2. Go to ClawHub dashboard โ†’ "Publish New Skill"
# 3. Upload my-skill.tar.gz
# 4. Fill in the publishing form:
#    - Metadata (auto-filled from clawhub.json)
#    - Upload screenshots
#    - Add demo video URL
#    - Select category and tags
#    - Write permission justification
# 5. Click "Submit for Review"

# Review typically takes 2-5 business days

Warning: The permission justification section is critical. For each permission, explain exactly what you use it for and why it's necessary. Vague justifications lead to rejection.

Step 6

Handle review feedback

# If your submission is rejected, you'll receive feedback:

# Common rejection reasons:
# 1. Insufficient documentation
# 2. Unjustified permissions
# 3. Missing error handling
# 4. Poor code quality
# 5. Security vulnerabilities
# 6. Misleading description

# To resubmit:
# 1. Address ALL feedback points
# 2. Update version number
# 3. Add CHANGELOG.md documenting fixes
# 4. Repackage and resubmit

# Check submission status:
# ClawHub Dashboard โ†’ My Skills โ†’ View Status
Step 7

Manage updates and user feedback

# After approval, your skill is live!

# Managing updates:
# 1. Fix bugs and add features locally
# 2. Update version in skill.md and clawhub.json
# 3. Add entry to CHANGELOG.md
# 4. Resubmit (updates have faster review)

# Handling user feedback:
# - Monitor ClawHub reviews and ratings
# - Respond to support requests (via support_url)
# - Track feature requests
# - Release updates regularly

# Best practices:
# - Semantic versioning (1.0.0 โ†’ 1.0.1 for fixes, 1.1.0 for features)
# - Maintain backward compatibility
# - Deprecate features gradually, don't break users

Want Your Skill in ClawHub Faster?

First-time ClawHub submissions have a high rejection rate. Our experts know exactly what reviewers look for and can help you publish your skill with confidence.

Get matched with a specialist who can help.

Sign Up for Expert Help โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions