What is Claw Code
Claw Code is an open-source AI coding agent framework. It is a clean-room rewrite of the Claude Code agent harness architecture, built from scratch in Python and Rust. The project aims to reimplement core architectural patterns without copying proprietary source code.
How to use Claw Code
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/instructkr/claw-code.git - Navigate to the directory:
cd claw-code - Install dependencies:
pip install -r requirements.txt - Run the agent:
python src/main.py
Features of Claw Code
- Open-source Python and Rust implementation.
- Clean-room rewrite of Claude Code architecture.
- Multi-agent orchestration.
- Plugin-based tool system with 19 built-in tools.
- Terminal-native AI development.
- Provider-agnostic LLM API client.
- Session persistence and memory management.
- Rust core for performance-critical paths.
- Supports multiple LLM providers (Claude, OpenAI, local models).
Use Cases of Claw Code
- Autonomous coding agent that can read codebases, edit files, execute commands, and run tests.
- Development of AI coding agents with a focus on architecture and extensibility.
- Self-hosting and customizing AI agent frameworks.
FAQ
What is Claw Code?
Claw Code is an open-source AI coding agent framework built in Rust and Python. It is a clean-room rewrite of the Claude Code agent harness architecture, created by Sigrid Jin after the March 2026 source code leak. The project reimplements core architectural patterns — including the tool system, query engine, multi-agent orchestration, and memory management — without copying any proprietary source code.
Does Claw Code contain Anthropic's proprietary code or model weights?
No. Claw Code is a clean-room implementation written entirely from scratch. Independent code audits confirm that the project contains no Anthropic proprietary source code, no model weights, no API keys, and no user data. The implementation is architecturally informed but legally independent.
How is Claw Code different from Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's official proprietary CLI agent written in TypeScript, requiring a Claude subscription. Claw Code is an open-source alternative written in Python and Rust, supporting multiple LLM providers (Claude, OpenAI, local models). Claw Code offers a modular, extensible architecture that developers can customize and self-host. See the full comparison.
What languages and technologies does Claw Code use?
The codebase is composed of Rust (72.9%) and Python (27.1%). Python handles the agent orchestration layer, command parsing, and LLM integration. Rust implements performance-critical runtime paths, with an active migration branch targeting a fully native runtime for maximum performance and memory safety.
Who created Claw Code?
Claw Code was created by Sigrid Jin (@sigridjineth), a developer profiled by the Wall Street Journal as one of the world's most active Claude Code users, having processed over 25 billion tokens. The project is maintained under the instructkr organization on GitHub and welcomes community contributions.
Is Claw Code safe to use?
Claw Code itself is open source and auditable. However, users should exercise caution with the broader ecosystem: a supply-chain attack on March 31, 2026 affected npm-based Claude Code installations. Always install from official sources, verify dependency integrity, and review lockfiles for unauthorized packages.
