OpenClaw Proof and Validation

Use for changes that affect tray UX, Settings, onboarding, chat/canvas, Command Center, Windows node capabilities, local MCP, gateway connection/pairing, permissions, diagnostics, or agent-facing instructions.

If the validation host is macOS, read PARALLELS.md for the optional local Parallels Windows VM workflow.

Rules

• Required automated/focused tests are mandatory. Do not ask to skip them.
• Prefer isolated tray data so proof does not mutate %APPDATA%\OpenClawTray.
• Computer-use is usually a batched closeout proof pass, not a continuous dev-loop tool. Mid-development use is fine when explicitly requested or needed to unblock work; ask first whether to run it or provide manual screenshot/output steps.
• Local MCP is part of every Windows node command contract: command discovery and invocation must work through winnode or raw MCP JSON-RPC.
• Rubber-duck review is required before PR publication for non-trivial UI/MCP/node-command/setup/pairing/security/permissions/diagnostics work; it is also useful mid-development when extra design/testing validation is requested.
• Report blockers explicitly. Do not turn missing UI, MCP, gateway, camera, screen, or permission proof into success-shaped wording.

Required validation

Select the changed contract before running checks. Use the read-only validation plan to distinguish hosted lanes, mandatory local code-change closeout, and custom proof candidates. A candidate is neither scheduled nor executed proof. Ordinary prose-only changes need documentation/skill checks, not native runtime tests. Shipped winnode command-reference changes retain CLI/core checks.

$env:OPENCLAW_REPO_ROOT = (Get-Location).Path
.\build.ps1
dotnet test .\tests\OpenClaw.Shared.Tests\OpenClaw.Shared.Tests.csproj --no-restore
dotnet test .\tests\OpenClaw.Tray.Tests\OpenClaw.Tray.Tests.csproj --no-restore

Fresh worktrees may need a first run without --no-restore, or a project build first, so tests do not no-op before bin\ exists. Check actual report/execution counts, not only the exit code. Custom proof must not contain skipped selected cases. Ordinary CI skips remain a separate policy, not proof that the skipped behavior works.

For winnode, command descriptions, or new/renamed node commands, also run:

dotnet test .\tests\OpenClaw.WinNode.Cli.Tests\OpenClaw.WinNode.Cli.Tests.csproj --no-restore

Proof checklist

Surface	Proof to collect
UI / WinUI	On an authorized isolated desktop, launch .\run-app-local.ps1 -Isolated -AllowNonMain, exercise the changed path with computer-use or developer-provided screenshots/output, and include visible evidence or blocker. If the developer captures manually, provide exact steps and confirm screenshot/artifact links resolve after updating the PR body.
Local MCP	Enable Local MCP Server, run winnode --list-tools, then invoke the changed command with winnode --command <name> --params '<json-object>'.
Raw MCP HTTP	For protocol/server-shape changes, paste JSON-RPC tools/list and tools/call responses from http://127.0.0.1:8765/.
Gateway path	When relevant and available, prove openclaw nodes invoke --command <name> --params '<json-object>'; otherwise state the gateway blocker.
Rubber-duck	Ask a rubber-duck reviewer to inspect the final implementation/proof plan; verify any finding before changing code.

For isolated tray runs, copy the data directory printed by run-app-local.ps1 -Isolated and set it before MCP proof commands:

$env:OPENCLAW_TRAY_DATA_DIR = '<isolated-data-dir-from-run-app-local>'

Raw token lookup:

$tokenPath = if ($env:OPENCLAW_TRAY_DATA_DIR) {
    Join-Path $env:OPENCLAW_TRAY_DATA_DIR 'mcp-token.txt'
} else {
    Join-Path $env:APPDATA 'OpenClawTray\mcp-token.txt'
}
$token = Get-Content $tokenPath -Raw

New Windows node command checklist

1. Register the command in the same INodeCapability path used by the gateway node.
2. Add/update McpToolBridge.CommandDescriptions.
3. Update .agents/skills/winnode/SKILL.md with input shape, output shape, side effects, permissions, and examples.
4. Add/update capability, MCP bridge, winnode, and UI/gateway tests as applicable.
5. Prove discovery and invocation with winnode or raw MCP JSON-RPC.
6. Prove the gateway path when the behavior is gateway-mediated and a gateway is available.

PR proof package

Before publishing or updating a PR, collect:

1. ## Validation with exact commands and pass/fail counts.
2. ## Real behavior proof with current-head after-change evidence that directly shows the changed behavior: copied live output, screenshot/video, developer-provided screenshot, copied UI diagnostics, winnode, raw MCP JSON-RPC, gateway invoke output, redacted runtime log, or linked artifact. For UI changes, prefer screenshots/video of the active changed state, not only adjacent or empty UI.
3. PR body proof must stay in sync with current behavior: remove stale screenshots/claims after design changes and verify embedded image/artifact links resolve.
4. Rubber-duck notes for non-trivial UI/MCP-sensitive work, or why skipped.
5. Not verified / blocked notes for focused proof or unavailable dependencies.

For inventory-bound filtered tests, use local execution evidence validation. The summary checks source/report/artifact correspondence; it does not replace native freeze/binary verification, visible UI inspection, or live Gateway proof, and it never marks a whole pool complete.