A Journey Through Names: How OpenClaw Found Its Identity

The development of software often involves more than just coding—it includes branding and finding the right identity. For OpenClaw, a personal AI assistant, this journey has been documented in its Git history, revealing a fascinating evolution through multiple names.

What started as Warelay underwent several transformations before settling on its current name:

• Warelay → CLAWDIS → CLAWDBOT → Clawdbot → Moltbot → 🦞 OpenClaw

The change from one name to the next reflects evolving features and focus. From a WhatsApp relay CLI (Warelay) it expanded to become a gateway for AI agents (CLAWDIS, CLAWDBOT) before ultimately settling on OpenClaw as its mature identity.

This naming history highlights how projects evolve over time, adapting their branding to match their capabilities and target audience. It’s a reminder that software development is not just about technical functionality but also about creating a cohesive user experience from discovery to ongoing use.