Async Task

# OpenClaw Async Task

## Description

Execute long-running tasks without HTTP timeouts. Use when you need to: - Run commands that may take more than 5 seconds - Analyze large files or codebases - Perform multi-step operations - Call external APIs with unpredictable latency

**IMPORTANT**: When a task might timeout, you MUST use this skill to avoid `empty response from server` errors.

Triggers: "async task", "long running", "timeout", "background task", "push result"

## Installation

```bash # Clone and link globally git clone https://github.com/Enderfga/openclaw-async-task.git cd openclaw-async-task npm link

# Or just copy async-task.js to your PATH chmod +x async-task.js cp async-task.js /usr/local/bin/async-task ```

## Commands

```bash async-task start "<description>" # Start task, returns immediately async-task done "<result>" # Complete task, push result to user async-task fail "<error>" # Task failed, push error message async-task push "<message>" # Push message directly (no start needed) async-task status # Show current task status ```

## Usage Flow (MUST follow strictly)

1. **Start**: `async-task start "Scanning files..."` 2. **Execute**: Run your actual commands 3. **Push result**: `async-task done "Found 42 files"`

## Example

User asks: "Count all TypeScript files in this project"

```bash # Step 1: Acknowledge immediately async-task start "Counting TypeScript files..."

# Step 2: Do the actual work count=$(find . -name "*.ts" | wc -l)

# Step 3: Push the result async-task done "Found $count TypeScript files" ```

## How It Works

1. `start` saves task state and returns confirmation immediately 2. You execute whatever commands needed 3. `done`/`fail` uses OpenClaw/Clawdbot CLI to push result to the active session

**Zero configuration required** - automatically detects active session via `openclaw sessions` or `clawdbot sessions`.

## Advanced: Custom Push Endpoint

For custom webchat or notification systems:

```bash export ASYNC_TASK_PUSH_URL="https://your-server.com/api/push" export ASYNC_TASK_AUTH_TOKEN="your-token" ```

The endpoint receives: ```json { "sessionId": "session-id", "content": "message", "role": "assistant" } ```

## Environment Variables

| Variable | Required | Description | |----------|----------|-------------| | `OPENCLAW_SESSION` | No | Target session (auto-detected) | | `ASYNC_TASK_PUSH_URL` | No | Custom HTTP push endpoint | | `ASYNC_TASK_AUTH_TOKEN` | No | Auth token for custom endpoint |

## Requirements

- Node.js 16+ - OpenClaw or Clawdbot CLI installed

## Critical Rules

- **MUST** pair `start` with `done` or `fail` - **NEVER** start without completing - **NEVER** say "will push later" then forget

## Links

- [GitHub](https://github.com/Enderfga/openclaw-async-task) - [OpenClaw](https://openclaw.ai)