ad02761918
Dogfooded 2026-04-18 on main HEAD ca09b6b from /tmp/cdPP.
Three compounding issues in one finding:
1. claw init generates .claw.json with dangerous default:
$ claw init && cat .claw.json
{"permissions":{"defaultMode":"dontAsk"}}
$ claw status | grep permission_mode
permission_mode: danger-full-access
2. The 'dontAsk' alias obscures the actual security posture:
config.rs:858 "dontAsk" | "danger-full-access" =>
Ok(ResolvedPermissionMode::DangerFullAccess)
User reads 'dontAsk' as 'skip confirmations I'd otherwise see'
— NOT 'grant every tool unconditional access'. But the two
parse identically. Alias name dilutes severity.
3. claw init --output-format json wraps prose in message field:
{
"kind": "init",
"message": "Init\n Project /private/tmp/cdPP\n
.claw/ created\n..."
}
Claws orchestrating setup must string-parse \n-prose to
know what got created. No files_created[], no
resolved_permission_mode, no security_posture.
Zero mention of 'danger', 'permission', or 'access' anywhere
in init output. The init report says 'Review and tailor the
generated guidance' — implying there's something benign to tailor.
Trace:
rusty-claude-cli/src/init.rs:4-9 STARTER_CLAW_JSON constant:
hardcoded {"permissions":{"defaultMode":"dontAsk"}}
runtime/src/config.rs:858 alias resolution:
"dontAsk" | "danger-full-access" => DangerFullAccess
rusty-claude-cli/src/init.rs:370 JSON-output also emits
'defaultMode': 'dontAsk' literal.
grep 'dontAsk' rust/crates/ → 4 matches. None explain that
dontAsk == danger-full-access anywhere user-facing.
Fix shape (~60 lines):
- STARTER_CLAW_JSON default → 'default' (explicit safe). Users
wanting danger-full-access opt in. ~5 lines.
- init output warns when effective mode is DangerFullAccess:
'security: danger-full-access (unconditional tool approval).'
~15 lines.
- Structure the init JSON:
{kind, files:[{path,action}], resolved_permission_mode,
permission_mode_source, security_warnings:[]}
~30 lines.
- Deprecate 'dontAsk' alias OR log warning at parse: 'alias for
danger-full-access; grants unconditional tool access'. ~8 lines.
- Regression tests per outcome.
Builds on #87 and amplifies it:
#87: absence-of-config default = danger-full-access
#101: fail-OPEN on bad RUSTY_CLAUDE_PERMISSION_MODE env var
#115: init actively generates the dangerous default
Three sequential compounding permission-posture failures.
Joins Permission-audit/tool-allow-list (#94, #97, #101, #106)
as 5th member — init-time anchor of the permission problem.
Joins Silent-flag/documented-but-unenforced on silent-setting
axis. Cross-cluster with Reporting-surface/config-hygiene
(prose-wrapped JSON) and Truth-audit (misleading 'Next step'
phrasing).
Natural bundle: #87 + #101 + #115 — 'permission drift at every
boundary': absence default + env-var bypass + init-generated.
Flagship permission-audit sweep grows 7-way:
#50 + #87 + #91 + #94 + #97 + #101 + #115
Filed in response to Clawhip pinpoint nudge 1494917922076889139
in #clawcode-building-in-public.
Claw Code
ultraworkers/claw-code · Usage · Rust workspace · Parity · Roadmap · UltraWorkers Discord
Claw Code is the public Rust implementation of the claw CLI agent harness.
The canonical implementation lives in rust/, and the current source of truth for this repository is ultraworkers/claw-code.
Important
Start with
USAGE.mdfor build, auth, CLI, session, and parity-harness workflows. Makeclaw doctoryour first health check after building, userust/README.mdfor crate-level details, readPARITY.mdfor the current Rust-port checkpoint, and seedocs/container.mdfor the container-first workflow.ACP / Zed status:
claw-codedoes not ship an ACP/Zed daemon entrypoint yet. Runclaw acp(orclaw --acp) for the current status instead of guessing from source layout;claw acp serveis currently a discoverability alias only, and real ACP support remains tracked separately inROADMAP.md.
Current repository shape
rust/— canonical Rust workspace and theclawCLI binaryUSAGE.md— task-oriented usage guide for the current product surfacePARITY.md— Rust-port parity status and migration notesROADMAP.md— active roadmap and cleanup backlogPHILOSOPHY.md— project intent and system-design framingsrc/+tests/— companion Python/reference workspace and audit helpers; not the primary runtime surface
Quick start
Note
[!WARNING]
cargo install claw-codeinstalls the wrong thing. Theclaw-codecrate on crates.io is a deprecated stub that placesclaw-code-deprecated.exe— notclaw. Running it only prints"claw-code has been renamed to agent-code". Do not usecargo install claw-code. Either build from source (this repo) or install the upstream binary:cargo install agent-code # upstream binary — installs 'agent.exe' (Windows) / 'agent' (Unix), NOT 'agent-code'This repo (
ultraworkers/claw-code) is build-from-source only — follow the steps below.
# 1. Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/ultraworkers/claw-code
cd claw-code/rust
cargo build --workspace
# 2. Set your API key (Anthropic API key — not a Claude subscription)
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
# 3. Verify everything is wired correctly
./target/debug/claw doctor
# 4. Run a prompt
./target/debug/claw prompt "say hello"
Note
Windows (PowerShell): the binary is
claw.exe, notclaw. Use.\target\debug\claw.exeor runcargo run -- prompt "say hello"to skip the path lookup.
Windows setup
PowerShell is a supported Windows path. Use whichever shell works for you. The common onboarding issues on Windows are:
- Install Rust first — download from https://rustup.rs/ and run the installer. Close and reopen your terminal when it finishes.
- Verify Rust is on PATH:
If this fails, reopen your terminal or run the PATH setup from the Rust installer output, then retry.cargo --version - Clone and build (works in PowerShell, Git Bash, or WSL):
git clone https://github.com/ultraworkers/claw-code cd claw-code/rust cargo build --workspace - Run (PowerShell — note
.exeand backslash):$env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = "sk-ant-..." .\target\debug\claw.exe prompt "say hello"
Git Bash / WSL are optional alternatives, not requirements. If you prefer bash-style paths (/c/Users/you/... instead of C:\Users\you\...), Git Bash (ships with Git for Windows) works well. In Git Bash, the MINGW64 prompt is expected and normal — not a broken install.
Note
Auth: claw requires an API key (
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY,OPENAI_API_KEY, etc.) — Claude subscription login is not a supported auth path.
Run the workspace test suite:
cd rust
cargo test --workspace
Documentation map
USAGE.md— quick commands, auth, sessions, config, parity harnessrust/README.md— crate map, CLI surface, features, workspace layoutPARITY.md— parity status for the Rust portrust/MOCK_PARITY_HARNESS.md— deterministic mock-service harness detailsROADMAP.md— active roadmap and open cleanup workPHILOSOPHY.md— why the project exists and how it is operated
Ecosystem
Claw Code is built in the open alongside the broader UltraWorkers toolchain:
Ownership / affiliation disclaimer
- This repository does not claim ownership of the original Claude Code source material.
- This repository is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or maintained by Anthropic.