DisClaw

DisClaw is a Discord-bot-powered multi-agent workspace manager built on Claude Code. It turns a Discord server into a multi-agent development environment where each channel maps to a local workspace folder with its own Claude Code agent identity.

How It Works

A Node.js Discord bot receives messages and slash commands
Messages in agent channels are routed to the Claude Code CLI
Each agent workspace has its own CLAUDE.md that defines the agent's identity
Claude Code reads the workspace's CLAUDE.md automatically -- no API key needed
Responses are sent back to the Discord channel

Architecture

Discord Server
    |
    v
Discord Bot (Node.js, discord.js v14)
    |
    v
Message Router (channel_id -> workspace mapping via SQLite)
    |
    +---> Management Channel (#disclaw) ---> /new-agent command handler
    |
    +---> Agent Channel ---> Claude Code CLI (spawned as child process)
                                |
                                v
                          Workspace Directory
                            - CLAUDE.md (agent identity)
                            - agent.yaml (DisClaw metadata)
                            - .claude/ (Claude Code config)
                            - ... (agent work files)

Project Structure

disclaw/
  src/
    index.ts              Entry point -- load config, init DB, start bot
    bot.ts                Discord bot setup and event handlers
    router.ts             Message router -- channel_id to agent dispatch
    commands/
      new-agent.ts        /new-agent slash command handler
    agent/
      runner.ts           Spawns claude CLI as child process
      identity.ts         Creates/loads agent.yaml, CLAUDE.md, .claude/ config
    db/
      database.ts         SQLite connection and queries (better-sqlite3)
    config/
      loader.ts           Loads .env and disclaw.yaml configuration
  workspaces/             One subdirectory per agent (created dynamically)
    agent-name/
      CLAUDE.md           Agent identity (read by Claude Code automatically)
      agent.yaml          DisClaw routing metadata (name, role, channel_id)
      .claude/
        commands/          Agent-specific custom slash commands
        settings.json      Agent-specific Claude Code settings
  .claude/
    commands/
      setup.md            /setup -- guided first-time setup
      new-agent.md        /new-agent -- create agent from CLI
  disclaw.yaml            Global configuration
  .env                    DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN, DISCORD_GUILD_ID, CLAUDE_PATH
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
  ARCHITECTURE.md         Detailed architecture documentation

Key Design Decisions

Claude Code CLI as engine: No API key needed. Works with Claude Pro/Max subscription. The claude -p "prompt" --output-format json command is spawned per message.
CLAUDE.md as identity: Each workspace's CLAUDE.md defines the agent's personality, role, and instructions. Claude Code reads it automatically.
SQLite for state: Channel-to-workspace mappings and conversation history are stored in SQLite via better-sqlite3. Synchronous API matches the message handler model.
Single process: One Node.js bot process manages all agents. Claude CLI processes are spawned on demand and terminate after each response.

Custom Commands

/setup -- Guided setup walkthrough (prerequisites, Discord bot creation, config)
/new-agent -- Create a new agent workspace from the CLI (without Discord)

Development

npm install          # Install dependencies
npm run build        # Compile TypeScript
npm run start        # Start the bot
npm run dev          # Build and start in one step

Configuration

disclaw.yaml -- Global settings (workspace root, management channel, claude command)
.env -- Secrets (Discord bot token, optional guild ID, optional claude path)
Per-workspace agent.yaml -- Agent routing metadata
Per-workspace CLAUDE.md -- Agent identity and instructions

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