API key | Friends of the Crustacean 🦞🤝 | Page 1

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 8:43 PM

#

Failed to read config at /home/ubuntu/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json MissingEnvVarError: Missing env var "GEMINI_API_KEY" referenced at config path: models.providers.gemini.apiKey
at substituteString (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js:76:31)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js:91:16)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at resolveConfigEnvVars (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js:116:12)
at Object.loadConfig (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/io.js:169:33)
at Module.loadConfig (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/io.js:459:51)
at resolveSettings (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/logging/logger.js:34:38) {
varName: 'GEMINI_API_KEY',
configPath: 'models.providers.gemini.apiKey'

#

@drowsy belfry

#

@drowsy belfry need help: Failed to read config at /home/ubuntu/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json MissingEnvVarError: Missing env var "GEMINI_API_KEY" referenced at config path: models.providers.gemini.apiKey
at substituteString (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js:76:31)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js:91:16)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at substituteAny (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js💯27)
at resolveConfigEnvVars (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/env-substitution.js:116:12)
at Object.loadConfig (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/io.js:169:33)
at Module.loadConfig (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/io.js:459:51)
at resolveSettings (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/logging/logger.js:34:38) {
varName: 'GEMINI_API_KEY',
configPath: 'models.providers.gemini.apiKey'

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 8:51 PM

#

glad spruce <@1457407575476801641> need help: Failed to read config at /home/ubuntu/.clawdbo...

The error is clear — Clawdbot is looking for the GEMINI_API_KEY environment variable but can't find it.

To fix this:

Set the environment variable before starting Clawdbot:

export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
clawdbot start

Or add it to your shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, etc.) for persistence:

echo 'export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

#

Docs reference: https://docs.clawd.bot/configuration/environment-variables

The ${...} syntax in config means "load from environment," so make sure the var is exported in the same shell where you run Clawdbot.

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 8:52 PM

#

can you make it so it starts with OpenAI instead

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 8:52 PM

#

glad spruce can you make it so it starts with OpenAI instead

Yes — just update their ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json:

Either:

Option 1: Remove Gemini provider (if you don't need it):

{
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "gemini": null
    }
  }
}

Option 2: Switch to OpenAI (set the OPENAI_API_KEY env var):

#

export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."

Then in their config, make sure the provider order or default uses OpenAI.

If they want to completely remove Gemini and use OpenAI only, they should check their config structure and set OPENAI_API_KEY in their environment (or .env file) instead of GEMINI_API_KEY.

Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot/configuration/providers

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 8:53 PM

#

I am running on aws what should I put in

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 8:53 PM

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glad spruce I am running on aws what should I put in

Quick options for AWS:

1. Add to `.bashrc` (simplest)

echo 'export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

2. Use `.env` file (recommended)

Create ~/.clawdbot/.env:

OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here

Then either:

source ~/.clawdbot/.env before running clawdbot
Or set clawdbot to load it: clawdbot start --env-file ~/.clawdbot/.env

#

3. More secure: AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store

Store the key securely, fetch at runtime:

aws ssm get-parameter --name "clawnotify-api-key" --with-decryption --query Parameter.Value --output text

Add to .bashrc or user data for persistent setup.

Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot/configuration/environment-variables

If they're using a systemd service, add Environment=OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-... to the service file.

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 8:55 PM

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So when I start the aws should I write what’s in option 1?

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 8:55 PM

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glad spruce So when I start the aws should I write what’s in option 1?

Yes, run these 2 commands on your AWS instance:

echo 'export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-your-actual-openai-key-here"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Replace sk-your-actual-openai-key-here with their real OpenAI API key.

Then restart clawdbot:

clawdbot restart

That's it! 🦐

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 9:11 PM

#

i get the same error how do i reset clawdbot

#

or get in the config option

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 9:12 PM

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glad spruce i get the same error how do i reset clawdbot

The error is about GEMINI_API_KEY, not OpenAI. You need to either:

Option A: Set the Gemini key (if you want Gemini)

export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-gemini-key"

Option B: Remove Gemini from config (easiest)
Edit ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json and remove the gemini section:

nano ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json

Look for "gemini" and delete/comment out that block.

Then restart clawdbot:

#

clawdbot restart

Check your config first — run:

cat ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 9:12 PM

#

glad spruce or get in the config option

Run this to edit the config:

nano ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json

Find the "gemini" section (looks like this) and delete it or set it to null:

"gemini": null

Or comment it out:

// "gemini": {
//   "apiKey": "${GEMINI_API_KEY}",

#

//   ...
// }

Save (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X).

Then restart:

clawdbot restart

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 9:20 PM

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now i have this: Failed to read config at /home/ubuntu/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json SyntaxError: JSON5: invalid character '"' at 31:9
at syntaxError (/home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/node_modules/json5/lib/parse.js:1110:17)
at invalidChar (/home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/node_modules/json5/lib/parse.js:1055:12)
at Object.afterPropertyValue (/home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/node_modules/json5/lib/parse.js:676:15)
at Object.default (/home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/node_modules/json5/lib/parse.js:168:37)
at lex (/home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/node_modules/json5/lib/parse.js💯42)
at Object.parse (/home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/node_modules/json5/lib/parse.js:25:17)
at Object.loadConfig (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/io.js:162:39)
at Module.loadConfig (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/config/io.js:459:51)
at resolveSettings (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/logging/logger.js:34:38)
at getLogger (file:///home/ubuntu/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/dist/logging/logger.js:84:22) {
lineNumber: 31,
columnNumber: 9

#

@drowsy belfry

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 9:28 PM

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glad spruce now i have this: Failed to read config at /home/ubuntu/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json S...

You broke the JSON syntax. Let's fix it:

Show me what's in the file:

cat ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json

Or just restore a minimal working config:

cat > ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json << 'EOF'
{
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "openai": {
        "apiKey": "${OPENAI_API_KEY}"
      }

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 9:29 PM

#

glad spruce <@1457407575476801641>

What's the error now? Did you run the restore command and set the OpenAI key?

#

    },
    "default": "openai/gpt-4o"
  }
}
EOF

Then restart:

clawdbot restart

Make sure you also set the env var:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-your-key"

#

echo 'export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-your-key"' >> ~/.bashrc

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 9:44 PM

#

→ npm install failed; cleaning up and retrying...

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 10:11 PM

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@drowsy belfry

#

→ npm install failed; cleaning up and retrying...
@drowsy belfry

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 10:16 PM

#

glad spruce → npm install failed; cleaning up and retrying...

That's a dependency install issue. Try:

# Clear cache and reinstall
npm cache clean --force
clawdbot restart

If it still fails, check which package is failing:

clawdbot --version

Then try a full reinstall:

sudo npm install -g clawdbot@latest

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 10:18 PM

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whats the difference open ai codex and api key?

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 10:22 PM

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clawdbot restart

glad spruce Jan 25, 2026, 10:26 PM

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how do I change model

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 10:44 PM

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glad spruce → npm install failed; cleaning up and retrying... <@1457407575476801641>

Let's diagnose. Run:

# Check disk space
df -h

# Check Node version
node --version

# Check npm version
npm --version

# Check if clawdbot is partially installed
ls -la ~/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/clawdbot/

Common fixes:

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 10:44 PM

#

glad spruce whats the difference open ai codex and api key?

OpenAI API key = access to GPT models (GPT-4, GPT-3.5)

Codex = a separate CLI tool for code generation. It uses its own key or can use your OpenAI API key.

For Clawdbot: You just need an OpenAI API key (sk-...). Nothing else.

Get one here: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys

Then:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-your-key"
echo 'export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-your-key"' >> ~/.bashrc
clawdbot restart

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 10:48 PM

#

glad spruce <@1457407575476801641>

Still stuck on the npm install? Run these commands and paste the output:

df -h
node --version
npm --version

This will help me figure out why the install is failing.

#

Disk full?

sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoremove

Permission issue?

sudo npm install -g clawdbot@latest

Node version too old/new?
Clawdbot needs Node 18+. Check:

node --version

#

What's the output of these commands?

drowsy belfryBOT Jan 25, 2026, 11:04 PM

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glad spruce how do I change model

Change the default model in ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json:

nano ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json

Find the models.default line and change it:

{
  "models": {
    "default": "openai/gpt-4o-mini"
  }
}

Or per-message in Discord:

#API key

1. Add to .bashrc (simplest)

2. Use .env file (recommended)

3. More secure: AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store

1. Add to `.bashrc` (simplest)

2. Use `.env` file (recommended)