Comprehensive toolkit for reducing token usage and API costs in OpenClaw deployments. Combines smart model routing, optimized heartbeat intervals, usage tracking, and multi-provider strategies.

Quick Start

Immediate actions (no config changes needed):

• Generate optimized AGENTS.md (BIGGEST WIN!):

   python3 scripts/context_optimizer.py generate-agents
   # Creates AGENTS.md.optimized — review and replace your current AGENTS.md
   

• Check what context you ACTUALLY need:

   python3 scripts/context_optimizer.py recommend "hi, how are you?"
   # Shows: Only 2 files needed (not 50+!)
   

• Install optimized heartbeat:

   cp assets/HEARTBEAT.template.md ~/.openclaw/workspace/HEARTBEAT.md
   

• Enforce cheaper models for casual chat:

   python3 scripts/model_router.py "thanks!"
   # Single-provider Anthropic setup: Use Sonnet, not Opus
   # Multi-provider setup (OpenRouter/Together): Use Haiku for max savings
   

• Check current token budget:

   python3 scripts/token_tracker.py check
   

Expected savings: 50-80% reduction in token costs for typical workloads (context optimization is the biggest factor!).

Core Capabilities

0. Lazy Skill Loading (NEW in v3.0 — BIGGEST WIN!)

The single highest-impact optimization available. Most agents burn 3,000–15,000 tokens per session loading skill files they never use. Stop that first.

The pattern:

• Create a lightweight SKILLS.md catalog in your workspace (~300 tokens — list of skills + when to load them)
• Only load individual SKILL.md files when a task actually needs them
• Apply the same logic to memory files — load MEMORY.md at startup, daily logs only on demand

Token savings:

## Skills
At session start: Read SKILLS.md (the index only — ~300 tokens).
Load individual skill files ONLY when a task requires them.
Never load all skills upfront.

Full implementation (with catalog template + optimizer script):

clawhub install openclaw-skill-lazy-loader

The companion skill openclaw-skill-lazy-loader includes a SKILLS.md.template, an AGENTS.md.template lazy-loading section, and a context_optimizer.py CLI that recommends exactly which skills to load for any given task.

Lazy loading handles context loading costs. The remaining capabilities below handle runtime costs. Together they cover the full token lifecycle.

1. Context Optimization (NEW!)

Biggest token saver — Only load files you actually need, not everything upfront.

Problem: Default OpenClaw loads ALL context files every session:

• SOUL.md, AGENTS.md, USER.md, TOOLS.md, MEMORY.md
• docs/*/.md (hundreds of files)
• memory/2026-.md (daily logs)
• Total: Often 50K+ tokens before user even speaks!

Solution: Lazy loading based on prompt complexity.

Usage:

python3 scripts/context_optimizer.py recommend ""

Examples:

# Simple greeting → minimal context (2 files only!)
context_optimizer.py recommend "hi"
→ Load: SOUL.md, IDENTITY.md
→ Skip: Everything else
→ Savings: ~80% of context
# Standard work → selective loading
context_optimizer.py recommend "write a function"
→ Load: SOUL.md, IDENTITY.md, memory/TODAY.md
→ Skip: docs, old memory, knowledge base
→ Savings: ~50% of context
# Complex task → full context
context_optimizer.py recommend "analyze our entire architecture"
→ Load: SOUL.md, IDENTITY.md, MEMORY.md, memory/TODAY+YESTERDAY.md
→ Conditionally load: Relevant docs only
→ Savings: ~30% of context

Output format:

{
  "complexity": "simple",
  "context_level": "minimal",
  "recommended_files": ["SOUL.md", "IDENTITY.md"],
  "file_count": 2,
  "savings_percent": 80,
  "skip_patterns": ["docs//.md", "memory/20.md"]
}

Integration pattern: Before loading context for a new session:

from context_optimizer import recommend_context_bundle
user_prompt = "thanks for your help"
recommendation = recommend_context_bundle(user_prompt)
if recommendation["context_level"] == "minimal":
    # Load only SOUL.md + IDENTITY.md
    # Skip everything else
    # Save ~80% tokens!

Generate optimized AGENTS.md:

context_optimizer.py generate-agents
# Creates AGENTS.md.optimized with lazy loading instructions
# Review and replace your current AGENTS.md

Expected savings: 50-80% reduction in context tokens.

2. Smart Model Routing (ENHANCED!)

Automatically classify tasks and route to appropriate model tiers.

NEW: Communication pattern enforcement — Never waste Opus tokens on "hi" or "thanks"!

Usage:

python3 scripts/model_router.py "" [current_model] [force_tier]

Examples:

# Communication (NEW!) → ALWAYS Haiku
python3 scripts/model_router.py "thanks!"
python3 scripts/model_router.py "hi"
python3 scripts/model_router.py "ok got it"
→ Enforced: Haiku (NEVER Sonnet/Opus for casual chat)
# Simple task → suggests Haiku
python3 scripts/model_router.py "read the log file"
# Medium task → suggests Sonnet
python3 scripts/model_router.py "write a function to parse JSON"
# Complex task → suggests Opus
python3 scripts/model_router.py "design a microservices architecture"

Patterns enforced to Haiku (NEVER Sonnet/Opus):

Communication:

• Greetings: hi, hey, hello, yo
• Thanks: thanks, thank you, thx
• Acknowledgments: ok, sure, got it, understood
• Short responses: yes, no, yep, nope
• Single words or very short phrases

Background tasks:

• Heartbeat checks: "check email", "monitor servers"
• Cronjobs: "scheduled task", "periodic check", "reminder"
• Document parsing: "parse CSV", "extract data from log", "read JSON"
• Log scanning: "scan error logs", "process logs"

Integration pattern:

from model_router import route_task
user_prompt = "show me the config"
routing = route_task(user_prompt)
if routing["should_switch"]:
    # Use routing["recommended_model"]
    # Save routing["cost_savings_percent"]

Customization: Edit ROUTING_RULES or COMMUNICATION_PATTERNS in scripts/model_router.py to adjust patterns and keywords.

3. Heartbeat Optimization

Reduce API calls from heartbeat polling with smart interval tracking:

Setup:

# Copy template to workspace
cp assets/HEARTBEAT.template.md ~/.openclaw/workspace/HEARTBEAT.md
# Plan which checks should run
python3 scripts/heartbeat_optimizer.py plan

Commands:

# Check if specific type should run now
heartbeat_optimizer.py check email
heartbeat_optimizer.py check calendar
# Record that a check was performed
heartbeat_optimizer.py record email
# Update check interval (seconds)
heartbeat_optimizer.py interval email 7200  # 2 hours
# Reset state
heartbeat_optimizer.py reset

How it works:

• Tracks last check time for each type (email, calendar, weather, etc.)
• Enforces minimum intervals before re-checking
• Respects quiet hours (23:00-08:00) — skips all checks
• Returns HEARTBEAT_OK when nothing needs attention (saves tokens)

Default intervals:

• Email: 60 minutes
• Calendar: 2 hours
• Weather: 4 hours
• Social: 2 hours
• Monitoring: 30 minutes

Integration in HEARTBEAT.md:

## Email Check
Run only if: heartbeat_optimizer.py check email → should_check: true
After checking: heartbeat_optimizer.py record email

Expected savings: 50% reduction in heartbeat API calls.

Model enforcement: Heartbeat should ALWAYS use Haiku — see updated HEARTBEAT.template.md for model override instructions.

4. Cronjob Optimization (NEW!)

Problem: Cronjobs often default to expensive models (Sonnet/Opus) even for routine tasks.

Solution: Always specify Haiku for 90% of scheduled tasks.

See: assets/cronjob-model-guide.md for comprehensive guide with examples.

Quick reference:

# Parse daily logs with Haiku
cron add --schedule "0 2   " \
  --payload '{
    "kind":"agentTurn",
    "message":"Parse yesterday error logs and summarize",
    "model":"anthropic/claude-haiku-4"
  }' \
  --sessionTarget isolated

Example (bad):

# ❌ Using Opus for simple check (60x more expensive!)
cron add --schedule "/15    " \
  --payload '{
    "kind":"agentTurn",
    "message":"Check email",
    "model":"anthropic/claude-opus-4"
  }' \
  --sessionTarget isolated

Savings: Using Haiku instead of Opus for 10 daily cronjobs = $17.70/month saved per agent.

Integration with model_router:

# Test if your cronjob should use Haiku
model_router.py "parse daily error logs"
# → Output: Haiku (background task pattern detected)

5. Token Budget Tracking

Monitor usage and alert when approaching limits:

Setup:

# Check current daily usage
python3 scripts/token_tracker.py check
# Get model suggestions
python3 scripts/token_tracker.py suggest general
# Reset daily tracking
python3 scripts/token_tracker.py reset

Output format:

{
  "date": "2026-02-06",
  "cost": 2.50,
  "tokens": 50000,
  "limit": 5.00,
  "percent_used": 50,
  "status": "ok",
  "alert": null
}

Status levels:

• ok: Below 80% of daily limit
• warning: 80-99% of daily limit
• exceeded: Over daily limit

Integration pattern: Before starting expensive operations, check budget:

import json
import subprocess
result = subprocess.run(
    ["python3", "scripts/token_tracker.py", "check"],
    capture_output=True, text=True
)
budget = json.loads(result.stdout)
if budget["status"] == "exceeded":
    # Switch to cheaper model or defer non-urgent work
    use_model = "anthropic/claude-haiku-4"
elif budget["status"] == "warning":
    # Use balanced model
    use_model = "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5"

Customization: Edit daily_limit_usd and warn_threshold parameters in function calls.

6. Multi-Provider Strategy

See references/PROVIDERS.md for comprehensive guide on:

• Alternative providers (OpenRouter, Together.ai, Google AI Studio)
• Cost comparison tables
• Routing strategies by task complexity
• Fallback chains for rate-limited scenarios
• API key management

Quick reference:

# Example: Enable multi-provider fallback
gateway config.patch --patch '{"providers": [...]}'

/context list    → token count per injected file (shows exactly what's eating your prompt)
/context detail  → full breakdown including tools, skills, and system prompt sections

/usage tokens    → append token count to every reply
/usage full      → append tokens + cost estimate to every reply
/usage cost      → show cumulative cost summary from session logs
/usage off       → disable usage footer

/status          → model, context %, last response tokens, estimated cost

The problem: Anthropic charges ~3.75x more for cache writes than cache reads*. If your agent goes idle and the 1h cache TTL expires, the next request re-writes the entire prompt cache — expensive.

The fix: Set heartbeat interval to 55min (just under the 1h TTL). The heartbeat keeps the cache warm, so every subsequent request pays cache-read rates instead.

# Get optimal interval for your cache TTL
python3 scripts/heartbeat_optimizer.py cache-ttl
# → recommended_interval: 55min (3300s)
# → explanation: keeps 1h Anthropic cache warm
# Custom TTL (e.g., if you've configured 2h cache)
python3 scripts/heartbeat_optimizer.py cache-ttl 7200
# → recommended_interval: 115min

Apply to your OpenClaw config:

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "heartbeat": {
        "every": "55m"
      }
    }
  }
}

Who benefits: Anthropic API key users only. OAuth profiles already default to 1h heartbeat (OpenClaw smart default). API key profiles default to 30min — bumping to 55min is both cheaper (fewer calls) and cache-warm.

Deployment Patterns

For Personal Use

• Install optimized HEARTBEAT.md
• Run budget checks before expensive operations
• Manually route complex tasks to Opus only when needed

Expected savings: 20-30%

For Managed Hosting (xCloud, etc.)

• Default all agents to Haiku
• Route user interactions to Sonnet
• Reserve Opus for explicitly complex requests
• Use Gemini Flash for background operations
• Implement daily budget caps per customer

Expected savings: 40-60%

For High-Volume Deployments

• Use multi-provider fallback (OpenRouter + Together.ai)
• Implement aggressive routing (80% Gemini, 15% Haiku, 5% Sonnet)
• Deploy local Ollama for offline/cheap operations
• Batch heartbeat checks (every 2-4 hours, not 30 min)

Expected savings: 70-90%

Integration Examples

Workflow: Smart Task Handling

# 1. User sends message
user_msg="debug this error in the logs"
# 2. Route to appropriate model
routing=$(python3 scripts/model_router.py "$user_msg")
model=$(echo $routing | jq -r .recommended_model)
# 3. Check budget before proceeding
budget=$(python3 scripts/token_tracker.py check)
status=$(echo $budget | jq -r .status)
if [ "$status" = "exceeded" ]; then
    # Use cheapest model regardless of routing
    model="anthropic/claude-haiku-4"
fi
# 4. Process with selected model
# (OpenClaw handles this via config or override)

Workflow: Optimized Heartbeat

## HEARTBEAT.md
# Plan what to check
result=$(python3 scripts/heartbeat_optimizer.py plan)
should_run=$(echo $result | jq -r .should_run)
if [ "$should_run" = "false" ]; then
    echo "HEARTBEAT_OK"
    exit 0
fi
# Run only planned checks
planned=$(echo $result | jq -r '.planned[].type')
for check in $planned; do
    case $check in
        email) check_email ;;
        calendar) check_calendar ;;
    esac
    python3 scripts/heartbeat_optimizer.py record $check
done

Troubleshooting

Issue: Scripts fail with "module not found"

• Fix: Ensure Python 3.7+ is installed. Scripts use only stdlib.

Issue: State files not persisting

• Fix: Check that ~/.openclaw/workspace/memory/ directory exists and is writable.

Issue: Budget tracking shows $0.00

• Fix: token_tracker.py needs integration with OpenClaw's session_status tool. Currently tracks manually recorded usage.

Issue: Routing suggests wrong model tier

• Fix: Customize ROUTING_RULES in model_router.py for your specific patterns.

Maintenance

Daily:

• Check budget status: token_tracker.py check

Weekly:

• Review routing accuracy (are suggestions correct?)
• Adjust heartbeat intervals based on activity

Monthly:

• Compare costs before/after optimization
• Review and update PROVIDERS.md with new options

Cost Estimation

Example: 100K tokens/day workload

Without skill:

• 50K context tokens + 50K conversation tokens = 100K total
• All Sonnet: 100K × $3/MTok = $0.30/day = $9/month

xCloud hosting scenario (100 customers, 50K tokens/customer/day):

• Baseline (all Sonnet, full context): $450/month
• With token-optimizer: $135/month
• Savings: $315/month per 100 customers (70%)

Resources

Scripts (4 total)

• context_optimizer.py — Context loading optimization and lazy loading (NEW!)
• model_router.py — Task classification, model suggestions, and communication enforcement (ENHANCED!)
• heartbeat_optimizer.py — Interval management and check scheduling
• token_tracker.py — Budget monitoring and alerts

References

• PROVIDERS.md — Alternative AI providers, pricing, and routing strategies

Assets (3 total)

• HEARTBEAT.template.md — Drop-in optimized heartbeat template with Haiku enforcement (ENHANCED!)
• cronjob-model-guide.md — Complete guide for choosing models in cronjobs (NEW!)
• config-patches.json — Advanced configuration examples

Future Enhancements

Ideas for extending this skill:

• Auto-routing integration — Hook into OpenClaw message pipeline
• Real-time usage tracking — Parse session_status automatically
• Cost forecasting — Predict monthly spend based on recent usage
• Provider health monitoring — Track API latency and failures
• A/B testing — Compare quality across different routing strategies