Nanobot

Ultra-lightweight Python AI assistant — ~4k lines

Nanobot is an ultra-lightweight personal AI assistant developed by HKUDS (Hong Kong University) that delivers core OpenClaw-style functionality in roughly 4,000 lines of Python—about 99% smaller than OpenClaw's codebase. It prioritizes simplicity, readability, and auditability over feature completeness. If you want an agent loop with planning, tools, memory, and multi-channel support in a codebase you can understand and modify, Nanobot is a strong choice.

This site does not endorse or maintain Nanobot. See the Nanobot repo for details.

What Nanobot Does

  • Agent loop — Planning, tool usage, memory management
  • Web search — Real-time search integration
  • Persistent memory — Across sessions
  • Cron scheduling — Task automation
  • Voice transcription — Telegram via Groq Whisper
  • MCP support — Model Context Protocol for extensibility
  • Multi-channel — Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, Slack, Feishu, DingTalk, Email, QQ

Models

Nanobot supports OpenRouter, Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Groq, Gemini, local vLLM, and other OpenAI-compatible endpoints. Flexible provider choice.

Installation

Install Nanobot
pip install nanobot-ai
nanobot onboard
nanobot agent

One-command setup. See the Nanobot repo for full docs.

When to Choose Nanobot

  • Python preference — You want a Python codebase, not Node.js
  • Auditability — Smaller, modular codebase you can read and modify
  • Core agent features — Memory, tools, planning, cron—without OpenClaw's full ecosystem
  • Multi-channel — More integrations than other lightweight alternatives
  • MCP — You use or want Model Context Protocol

Choose OpenClaw if you need ClawHub skills, browser automation, Canvas, voice wake, or the richest ecosystem. Choose ZeroClaw if you need minimal RAM and Rust performance.

Nanobot vs Other Alternatives

  • Nanobot — Python, ~4k lines, agent loop, MCP, many channels
  • TinyClaw — ~400 lines, Claude Code wrapper, Discord/WhatsApp only
  • NanoClaw — Node.js, ~700 lines, security-focused, container isolation
  • ZeroClaw — Rust, <5MB RAM, migration tools from OpenClaw
  • PicoClaw — Go, edge/embedded, Telegram/Discord/QQ/LINE

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