Dependency Management with OpenClaw

Table of contents

1. Create Dependency Scan Prompts
2. Schedule Regular Scans
3. Plan Safe Upgrades
4. Automate Safe Updates
5. Example Configurations
6. Next Steps
7. FAQ

Create Dependency Scan Prompts

Create ~/.openclaw/workspace/prompts/deps-scan.md:

# Dependency Security Scan
Scan all package files for:
- Outdated dependencies
- Known vulnerabilities (CVEs)
- License compatibility issues
- Deprecated packages

Report severity levels and suggest upgrade paths.

Schedule Regular Scans

Add to ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "automation": {
    "deps-scan": {
      "schedule": "0 2 * * 1",
      "prompt": "file:prompts/deps-scan.md",
      "target": "slack"
    }
  }
}

Runs every Monday at 2 AM.

Plan Safe Upgrades

Create ~/.openclaw/workspace/prompts/deps-upgrade.md:

# Dependency Upgrade Plan
For outdated packages:
1. Check breaking changes in release notes
2. Test in staging environment
3. Create rollback plan
4. Schedule maintenance window
5. Deploy with monitoring

Require approval for production upgrades.

Automate Safe Updates

Configure automatic updates for non-breaking changes:

{
  "automation": {
    "deps-update": {
      "schedule": "0 3 * * 0",
      "prompt": "file:prompts/deps-update.md",
      "autoApprove": false,
      "target": "slack"
    }
  }
}

Example Configurations

Node.js Project

Check package.json for outdated deps
Test upgrades in npm test
Auto-update patch versions only

Python Project

Scan requirements.txt for security issues
Check PyPI for latest versions
Update pip packages in virtualenv

Docker Environment

Scan base images for vulnerabilities
Update base images with security patches
Monitor container registry updates

Next Steps

• CI/CD Monitoring
• PR Automation
• Code Quality Checks
• Exec Tool Guide
• Security Overview

FAQ

Q: How does OpenClaw detect vulnerabilities?
A: It integrates with CVE databases and checks security advisories.

Q: Can it update packages automatically?
A: Yes, but requires approval. Configure safe update rules.

Q: What about private registries?
A: Configure registry credentials and authentication tokens.

Q: How are breaking changes handled?
A: Upgrade plans include testing and rollback procedures.

Recommended next

PR Automation