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clawdbot/docs/nodes/index.md
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---
summary: "Nodes: pairing, capabilities, permissions, and CLI helpers for canvas/camera/screen/system"
read_when:
- Pairing iOS/Android nodes to a gateway
- Using node canvas/camera for agent context
- Adding new node commands or CLI helpers
---
# Nodes
A **node** is a companion device (macOS/iOS/Android/headless) that connects to the Gateway **WebSocket** (same port as operators) with `role: "node"` and exposes a command surface (e.g. `canvas.*`, `camera.*`, `system.*`) via `node.invoke`. Protocol details: [Gateway protocol](/gateway/protocol).
Legacy transport: [Bridge protocol](/gateway/bridge-protocol) (TCP JSONL; deprecated/removed for current nodes).
macOS can also run in **node mode**: the menubar app connects to the Gateways WS server and exposes its local canvas/camera commands as a node (so `clawdbot nodes …` works against this Mac).
Notes:
- Nodes are **peripherals**, not gateways. They dont run the gateway service.
- Telegram/WhatsApp/etc. messages land on the **gateway**, not on nodes.
## Pairing + status
**WS nodes use device pairing.** Nodes present a device identity during `connect`; the Gateway
creates a device pairing request for `role: node`. Approve via the devices CLI (or UI).
Quick CLI:
```bash
clawdbot devices list
clawdbot devices approve <requestId>
clawdbot devices reject <requestId>
clawdbot nodes status
clawdbot nodes describe --node <idOrNameOrIp>
```
Notes:
- `nodes status` marks a node as **paired** when its device pairing role includes `node`.
- `node.pair.*` (CLI: `clawdbot nodes pending/approve/reject`) is a separate gateway-owned
node pairing store; it does **not** gate the WS `connect` handshake.
## Remote node host (system.run)
Use a **node host** when your Gateway runs on one machine and you want commands
to execute on another. The model still talks to the **gateway**; the gateway
forwards `exec` calls to the **node host** when `host=node` is selected.
### What runs where
- **Gateway host**: receives messages, runs the model, routes tool calls.
- **Node host**: executes `system.run`/`system.which` on the node machine.
- **Approvals**: enforced on the node host via `~/.clawdbot/exec-approvals.json`.
### Start a node host (foreground)
On the node machine:
```bash
clawdbot node run --host <gateway-host> --port 18789 --display-name "Build Node"
```
### Start a node host (service)
```bash
clawdbot node install --host <gateway-host> --port 18789 --display-name "Build Node"
clawdbot node restart
```
### Pair + name
On the gateway host:
```bash
clawdbot nodes pending
clawdbot nodes approve <requestId>
clawdbot nodes list
```
Naming options:
- `--display-name` on `clawdbot node run` / `clawdbot node install` (persists in `~/.clawdbot/node.json` on the node).
- `clawdbot nodes rename --node <id|name|ip> --name "Build Node"` (gateway override).
### Allowlist the commands
Exec approvals are **per node host**. Add allowlist entries from the gateway:
```bash
clawdbot approvals allowlist add --node <id|name|ip> "/usr/bin/uname"
clawdbot approvals allowlist add --node <id|name|ip> "/usr/bin/sw_vers"
```
Approvals live on the node host at `~/.clawdbot/exec-approvals.json`.
### Point exec at the node
Configure defaults (gateway config):
```bash
clawdbot config set tools.exec.host node
clawdbot config set tools.exec.security allowlist
clawdbot config set tools.exec.node "<id-or-name>"
```
Or per session:
```
/exec host=node security=allowlist node=<id-or-name>
```
Once set, any `exec` call with `host=node` runs on the node host (subject to the
node allowlist/approvals).
Related:
- [Node host CLI](/cli/node)
- [Exec tool](/tools/exec)
- [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals)
## Invoking commands
Low-level (raw RPC):
```bash
clawdbot nodes invoke --node <idOrNameOrIp> --command canvas.eval --params '{"javaScript":"location.href"}'
```
Higher-level helpers exist for the common “give the agent a MEDIA attachment” workflows.
## Screenshots (canvas snapshots)
If the node is showing the Canvas (WebView), `canvas.snapshot` returns `{ format, base64 }`.
CLI helper (writes to a temp file and prints `MEDIA:<path>`):
```bash
clawdbot nodes canvas snapshot --node <idOrNameOrIp> --format png
clawdbot nodes canvas snapshot --node <idOrNameOrIp> --format jpg --max-width 1200 --quality 0.9
```
### Canvas controls
```bash
clawdbot nodes canvas present --node <idOrNameOrIp> --target https://example.com
clawdbot nodes canvas hide --node <idOrNameOrIp>
clawdbot nodes canvas navigate https://example.com --node <idOrNameOrIp>
clawdbot nodes canvas eval --node <idOrNameOrIp> --js "document.title"
```
Notes:
- `canvas present` accepts URLs or local file paths (`--target`), plus optional `--x/--y/--width/--height` for positioning.
- `canvas eval` accepts inline JS (`--js`) or a positional arg.
### A2UI (Canvas)
```bash
clawdbot nodes canvas a2ui push --node <idOrNameOrIp> --text "Hello"
clawdbot nodes canvas a2ui push --node <idOrNameOrIp> --jsonl ./payload.jsonl
clawdbot nodes canvas a2ui reset --node <idOrNameOrIp>
```
Notes:
- Only A2UI v0.8 JSONL is supported (v0.9/createSurface is rejected).
## Photos + videos (node camera)
Photos (`jpg`):
```bash
clawdbot nodes camera list --node <idOrNameOrIp>
clawdbot nodes camera snap --node <idOrNameOrIp> # default: both facings (2 MEDIA lines)
clawdbot nodes camera snap --node <idOrNameOrIp> --facing front
```
Video clips (`mp4`):
```bash
clawdbot nodes camera clip --node <idOrNameOrIp> --duration 10s
clawdbot nodes camera clip --node <idOrNameOrIp> --duration 3000 --no-audio
```
Notes:
- The node must be **foregrounded** for `canvas.*` and `camera.*` (background calls return `NODE_BACKGROUND_UNAVAILABLE`).
- Clip duration is clamped (currently `<= 60s`) to avoid oversized base64 payloads.
- Android will prompt for `CAMERA`/`RECORD_AUDIO` permissions when possible; denied permissions fail with `*_PERMISSION_REQUIRED`.
## Screen recordings (nodes)
Nodes expose `screen.record` (mp4). Example:
```bash
clawdbot nodes screen record --node <idOrNameOrIp> --duration 10s --fps 10
clawdbot nodes screen record --node <idOrNameOrIp> --duration 10s --fps 10 --no-audio
```
Notes:
- `screen.record` requires the node app to be foregrounded.
- Android will show the system screen-capture prompt before recording.
- Screen recordings are clamped to `<= 60s`.
- `--no-audio` disables microphone capture (supported on iOS/Android; macOS uses system capture audio).
- Use `--screen <index>` to select a display when multiple screens are available.
## Location (nodes)
Nodes expose `location.get` when Location is enabled in settings.
CLI helper:
```bash
clawdbot nodes location get --node <idOrNameOrIp>
clawdbot nodes location get --node <idOrNameOrIp> --accuracy precise --max-age 15000 --location-timeout 10000
```
Notes:
- Location is **off by default**.
- “Always” requires system permission; background fetch is best-effort.
- The response includes lat/lon, accuracy (meters), and timestamp.
## SMS (Android nodes)
Android nodes can expose `sms.send` when the user grants **SMS** permission and the device supports telephony.
Low-level invoke:
```bash
clawdbot nodes invoke --node <idOrNameOrIp> --command sms.send --params '{"to":"+15555550123","message":"Hello from Clawdbot"}'
```
Notes:
- The permission prompt must be accepted on the Android device before the capability is advertised.
- Wi-Fi-only devices without telephony will not advertise `sms.send`.
## System commands (node host / mac node)
The macOS node exposes `system.run`, `system.notify`, and `system.execApprovals.get/set`.
The headless node host exposes `system.run`, `system.which`, and `system.execApprovals.get/set`.
Examples:
```bash
clawdbot nodes run --node <idOrNameOrIp> -- echo "Hello from mac node"
clawdbot nodes notify --node <idOrNameOrIp> --title "Ping" --body "Gateway ready"
```
Notes:
- `system.run` returns stdout/stderr/exit code in the payload.
- `system.notify` respects notification permission state on the macOS app.
- `system.run` supports `--cwd`, `--env KEY=VAL`, `--command-timeout`, and `--needs-screen-recording`.
- `system.notify` supports `--priority <passive|active|timeSensitive>` and `--delivery <system|overlay|auto>`.
- macOS nodes drop `PATH` overrides; headless node hosts only accept `PATH` when it prepends the node host PATH.
- On macOS node mode, `system.run` is gated by exec approvals in the macOS app (Settings → Exec approvals).
Ask/allowlist/full behave the same as the headless node host; denied prompts return `SYSTEM_RUN_DENIED`.
- On headless node host, `system.run` is gated by exec approvals (`~/.clawdbot/exec-approvals.json`).
## Exec node binding
When multiple nodes are available, you can bind exec to a specific node.
This sets the default node for `exec host=node` (and can be overridden per agent).
Global default:
```bash
clawdbot config set tools.exec.node "node-id-or-name"
```
Per-agent override:
```bash
clawdbot config get agents.list
clawdbot config set agents.list[0].tools.exec.node "node-id-or-name"
```
Unset to allow any node:
```bash
clawdbot config unset tools.exec.node
clawdbot config unset agents.list[0].tools.exec.node
```
## Permissions map
Nodes may include a `permissions` map in `node.list` / `node.describe`, keyed by permission name (e.g. `screenRecording`, `accessibility`) with boolean values (`true` = granted).
## Headless node host (cross-platform)
Clawdbot can run a **headless node host** (no UI) that connects to the Gateway
WebSocket and exposes `system.run` / `system.which`. This is useful on Linux/Windows
or for running a minimal node alongside a server.
Start it:
```bash
clawdbot node run --host <gateway-host> --port 18789
```
Notes:
- Pairing is still required (the Gateway will show a node approval prompt).
- The node host stores its node id, token, display name, and gateway connection info in `~/.clawdbot/node.json`.
- Exec approvals are enforced locally via `~/.clawdbot/exec-approvals.json`
(see [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals)).
- On macOS, the headless node host prefers the companion app exec host when reachable and falls
back to local execution if the app is unavailable. Set `CLAWDBOT_NODE_EXEC_HOST=app` to require
the app, or `CLAWDBOT_NODE_EXEC_FALLBACK=0` to disable fallback.
- Add `--tls` / `--tls-fingerprint` when the Gateway WS uses TLS.
## Mac node mode
- The macOS menubar app connects to the Gateway WS server as a node (so `clawdbot nodes …` works against this Mac).
- In remote mode, the app opens an SSH tunnel for the Gateway port and connects to `localhost`.