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OpenClaw + Hermes8 files · 32 fields

The OpenClaw Workspace: Eight Files That Define How Your Agent Thinks

Every OpenClaw agent is defined by 8 markdown files across 32 fields. Learn what each file does, how they connect, and why getting them wrong costs you weeks of debugging.

Last updated: April 2026

How These 8 Files Work Together

Foundation

SOUL.md

Context

IDENTITY.md
AGENTS.md
USER.md

Capabilities

TOOLS.md
MEMORY.md
HEARTBEAT.md

Startup

BOOT.md
OpenClaw + Hermes
OpenClaw only

All 8 Workspace Files at a Glance

FileFieldsFrameworksPurposeRead Time
SOUL.md7OpenClawHermesCore identity & values8 min
IDENTITY.md5OpenClawPublic metadata & routing5 min
AGENTS.md4OpenClawThe operating manual7 min
USER.md5OpenClawHermesWho you are & how you work5 min
TOOLS.md4OpenClawHow & when to use tools8 min
MEMORY.md2OpenClawHermesIron-law facts & long-term recall6 min
HEARTBEAT.md3OpenClawScheduled autonomous tasks7 min
BOOT.md2OpenClawOne-time startup actions5 min
Total322 frameworksComplete agent definition~51 min

32 fields across 8 files

SOUL.md (7)IDENTITY.md (5)AGENTS.md (4)USER.md (5)TOOLS.md (4)MEMORY.md (2)HEARTBEAT.md (3)BOOT.md (2)

32 total fields across 8 files — that's why we handle this for you.

Why Proper Workspace Configuration Is Critical

Most OpenClaw deployments underperform not because of the AI model — but because the workspace files are incomplete or contradictory.

Identity confusion

Without SOUL and IDENTITY files, your agent switches personality mid-conversation and confuses users in group chats.

Broken tool calls

Without TOOLS.md constraints, agents burn through API quotas with random invocations and write to the wrong endpoints.

Memory drift

Without MEMORY.md, your agent forgets everything between sessions — preferences, decisions, and critical context.

Silent HEARTBEAT failures

Without HEARTBEAT.md and BOOT.md, your agent never acts proactively and fails silently on startup errors.

Skip the 32-field complexity.

We configure all 8 workspace files for your specific business, team, and tools — then handle every update as you grow.

Let SetupClaw Configure Your Workspace

Not yet on OpenClaw? Start with the Getting Started guide