IronClaw FAQ — Common Setup & Configuration Questions
The most common IronClaw questions from the community — covering PostgreSQL requirements, skill allowlisting, WASM sandboxing, and how IronClaw's security-first design compares to a standard OpenClaw setup. Updated weekly.
Top Questions
Does IronClaw require PostgreSQL to work?
Yes. IronClaw uses PostgreSQL as its primary database backend for agent memory, audit logs, and skill state. You need to install PostgreSQL 15 or higher and enable the pgvector extension before running the IronClaw onboarding wizard — the wizard fails at the database step if PostgreSQL isn't reachable. After installing PostgreSQL, connect to your target database and run CREATE EXTENSION vector; to enable the extension. Source: IronClaw GitHub
How do I install and authorize a skill in IronClaw?
IronClaw uses an explicit allowlist model: first install the skill with ironclaw skill install <name>, then authorize it with ironclaw allowlist add <name>. Skills that aren't on the allowlist are blocked from executing even if installed — this is by design, not a bug. The daily-brief skill is the recommended first test because it requires no network access and validates the full install-authorize-run cycle cleanly. See the full skill allowlisting guide for details. Source: IronClaw setup guide
How much longer does IronClaw setup take compared to OpenClaw?
Expect 15–20 minutes for a fresh IronClaw install versus under 10 for OpenClaw. The extra time goes to the onboarding wizard's security steps: sandbox scope configuration, audit log destination, and entering your first allowlist entry. This is intentional — IronClaw requires explicit opt-in for every capability rather than using permissive defaults. Once the initial configuration is done, day-to-day agent use is comparable in speed to OpenClaw. Source: IronClaw beginner guide
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