NanoClaw’s answer to OpenClaw is minimal code, maximum isolation

The New Stack

by Frederic Lardinois

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Gavriel Cohen developed NanoClaw, a lightweight alternative to OpenClaw, after identifying critical security flaws in the popular agentic framework. Unlike OpenClaw, which features a bloated codebase and lacks proper isolation between agents, NanoClaw is designed with minimalism and maximum isolation in mind. Built using Claude Code, it operates on a core principle of radical simplicity: just a few hundred lines of actual code, a handful of dependencies, and each agent running inside its own container. This approach ensures that every line of code serves a specific purpose, eliminating unnecessary complexity and potential vulnerabilities. Cohen, co-founder of AI marketing agency Qwibit, created NanoClaw to address the need for a more secure and user-friendly interface for non-technical team members. Inspired by his experience with OpenClaw, which he found concerning due to its lack of architectural isolation and reliance on unvetted dependencies, Cohen sought to build a solution that prioritized security and simplicity. Unlike OpenClaw’s 350,000-line codebase, NanoClaw’s entire project source code fits into about 35,000 tokens, allowing the coding agent to fully understand and execute its features without unnecessary overhead. NanoClaw’s setup process is streamlined through Claude Code skills, which provide guided instructions for tasks like container configuration or integrating new services. For example, adding a Telegram integration simply requires running `/add-telegram`, with Claude handling the rest. This minimalist design not only enhances security but also makes it easier for users to set up and manage agents without deep technical expertise. The significance of NanoClaw lies in its focus on isolation and simplicity, which are critical considerations for developers and DevOps professionals. By encapsulating each agent within its own container and minimizing dependencies, NanoClaw reduces the risk of cross-contamination between services and improves overall system stability. This approach aligns with growing trends toward lightweight, modular solutions that prioritize security and ease of use, making it an attractive alternative to more complex frameworks like OpenClaw.

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Originally published on The New Stack on 2/20/2026