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#

When This HappensDo ThisWhat You GetNeed deployment confirmationAsk "Deploy to staging or production?"Non-blocking answer with defaultCode review decisionAsk "Refactor this complex function?"User choice without workflow haltData validationAsk "Found duplicates, merge or keep?"Timeout-safe decisionSecurity checkAsk "API key expiring, rotate now?"Priority-based notification

5-Minute Quickstart#

Step 1: Install (30 seconds)#

bash

openclaw skill add btw

Step 2: Ask Your First Question (1 minute)#

typescript

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)#

typescript

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:

typescript

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:

typescript

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:

typescript

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:

typescript

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#

typescript

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#

python

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#

javascript

// 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#

text

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#

ParameterTypeRequiredDefaultDescriptionquestionstringYes-The question to askoptionsstring[]No-Available answer optionsdefaultstringNoFirst optionDefault if timeouttimeoutnumberNo300Timeout in secondsprioritystringNo"normal"Priority: urgent/normal/lowcontextobjectNo{}Additional context

Output Schema#

FieldTypeDescriptionanswerstringUser's answer or defaultanswered_atstringISO timestamptimed_outbooleanWhether timeout occurredresponse_time_msnumberTime to answer

Error Codes#

CodeMeaningSolution400Invalid inputCheck question is non-empty500Internal errorRetry or check logs

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