Send Your First Message
Message the assistant for the first time and receive a reply through your connected chat app.
Send Your First Message is a free OpenClaw Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the OpenClaw Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Time to Say Hello
Your channel is paired, so now you can message OpenClaw directly. This first hello proves the whole loop works end to end.
Open the Chat
In WhatsApp, open the chat connected to your assistant. You simply type like you would to any contact. 💬
Keep It Simple at First
Start with a plain greeting like hello. A small message is the easiest way to confirm the assistant is listening.
The Message Travels In
Your text leaves WhatsApp, crosses the Gateway, and reaches the agent running on your machine. That path is the whole bridge at work.
The Agent Thinks
The bundled agent runtime handles your message using the LLM key you set up. This is where the actual thinking happens.
A Reply Comes Back
The answer travels the same path in reverse and lands in WhatsApp. You get a reply right inside the chat you already use.
More Than Plain Text
You are not limited to words. You can send images, audio, and documents too, and receive them back through the same chat.
Try a Real Ask
Once hello works, give it a real task. Ask a question or request a small action to see the assistant actually do something for you.
Watch It on the Dashboard
Open the dashboard to watch your message and reply flow through. It is a handy way to confirm everything is connected.
openclaw dashboardIf No Reply Comes
No answer usually means the channel or daemon is not connected. Re-check the Gateway on the dashboard, or rerun onboarding.
You Are Talking to It
That round trip means OpenClaw is truly running. From here, every chat just builds on this working connection. 🎉
Quick Check
Let us trace where your message goes.
Recap
You sent your first message: it traveled through the Gateway to the agent and back as a reply, working for text, images, audio, and files. ✅
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Send Your First Message” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Send Your First Message” is free to read here on the web, and the OpenClaw Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the OpenClaw Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Send Your First Message”?
Message the assistant for the first time and receive a reply through your connected chat app. You practise OpenClaw Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start OpenClaw Academy?
No prior experience is required. OpenClaw Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Send Your First Message” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this OpenClaw Academy lesson?
Yes. Every OpenClaw Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.