# NullClaw — Autonomous AI Assistant Infrastructure Written in Zig

> The fastest and smallest fully autonomous AI assistant infrastructure, written in Zig for minimal resource usage and maximum portability across platforms.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# NullClaw — Autonomous AI Assistant Infrastructure Written in Zig

## Quick Use
```bash
# Download the prebuilt binary for your platform
curl -L https://github.com/nullclaw/nullclaw/releases/latest/download/nullclaw-linux-amd64 -o nullclaw
chmod +x nullclaw
./nullclaw --provider anthropic --key $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
```

## Introduction
NullClaw is an AI personal assistant infrastructure written in Zig, designed for developers who want the smallest possible runtime with the fastest startup. It compiles to a single static binary under 5 MB with zero dependencies, making it deployable anywhere from cloud servers to embedded systems without runtime installation.

## What NullClaw Does
- Provides a fully autonomous AI assistant in a single static binary
- Supports tool calling, file operations, and shell command execution
- Runs on any platform Zig targets including Linux, macOS, Windows, and FreeBSD
- Connects to multiple LLM providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, local endpoints)
- Manages conversation sessions with persistent memory across restarts

## Architecture Overview
NullClaw is built entirely in Zig with no C dependencies or garbage collector overhead. The core runtime implements an event loop that processes user input, dispatches tool calls, and manages LLM API communication using Zig's async I/O. Memory management uses arena allocators for predictable performance with no GC pauses. The binary includes a built-in HTTP client, JSON parser, and terminal UI.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Download a prebuilt static binary or compile from source with Zig 0.13+
- Configure LLM provider credentials via environment variables or a config file
- Customize available tools by enabling or disabling built-in capabilities
- Set memory persistence path for conversation history across sessions
- Run as a system service for always-available assistant access

## Key Features
- Sub-5 MB static binary with zero external dependencies
- Instant startup (under 50 ms) for responsive interactive sessions
- Memory-safe implementation in Zig without garbage collection overhead
- Cross-compilation to 40+ target platforms from a single source tree
- Built-in tools for file I/O, HTTP requests, shell execution, and search

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Claude Code** — Node.js-based with larger footprint; NullClaw is a minimal native binary
- **PicoClaw** — Go-based lightweight agent; NullClaw is even smaller using Zig
- **OpenCode** — TypeScript terminal agent; NullClaw trades ecosystem size for raw performance
- **llama.cpp** — C++ inference only; NullClaw includes full agent runtime with tool use

## FAQ
**Q: Why Zig instead of Rust or Go?**
A: Zig provides C-level performance with simpler tooling, no hidden allocations, and excellent cross-compilation support, making it ideal for minimal binaries.

**Q: Can it run local models?**
A: Yes. NullClaw can connect to any OpenAI-compatible local endpoint including Ollama and llama.cpp servers.

**Q: Does it support plugins?**
A: Tools are defined as configuration entries that map to shell commands. Custom tools can be added without recompiling.

**Q: What is the memory footprint at runtime?**
A: Typical sessions use under 20 MB of RAM, including conversation context and tool state.

## Sources
- https://github.com/nullclaw/nullclaw

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-28c822b7
Author: Script Depot