HiClaw

Open Source Multi-Agent Collaboration System - Matrix Protocol Based

HiClaw is an open source multi-agent collaboration system developed by Alibaba, based on the Matrix protocol. Featuring a Manager-Workers architecture, HiClaw enables coordinated AI agent teams to work together on complex tasks, with clear role separation and efficient communication. GitHub: https://github.com/alibaba/hiclaw Developer: Alibaba (Official) License: Apache-2.0 Key Innovation: HiClaw brings enterprise-grade multi-agent collaboration to the open source community, using the proven Manager-Workers pattern and Matrix protocol for reliable inter-agent communication.

Core Philosophy: "Complex problems require coordinated teams, not lone agents"

Why HiClaw?

Manager-Workers Pattern: Proven architecture for task decomposition and coordination.

Matrix Protocol: Secure, federated communication between agents.

Alibaba Backing: Enterprise-grade development with real-world deployment.

Open Source: Full Apache-2.0 licensed codebase for customization.

Key Features

$#1.
Manager-Workers Architecture

• Manager Agent: Task planning, decomposition, coordination
• Worker Agents: Specialized task execution
• Result Aggregator: Output consolidation
• Quality Checker: Validation and review

$#2.
Matrix Protocol

• Secure communication
• Federated architecture
• End-to-end encryption
• Message persistence
• Room-based organization

$#3.
Agent Roles

• Planner: Break down complex tasks
• Researcher: Information gathering
• Writer: Content generation
• Coder: Code implementation
• Reviewer: Quality assurance
• Executor: Task completion

$#4.
Workflow Orchestration

• Visual workflow builder
• DAG-based execution
• Parallel processing
• Error handling
• Retry mechanisms

$#5.
Enterprise Features

• Access control
• Audit logging
• Performance monitoring
• Scalability support
• Integration APIs

Installation

Docker (Recommended)

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/alibaba/hiclaw.git
cd hiclaw

# Start with Docker Compose
docker-compose up -d

# Access dashboard
# http://localhost:8080

Manual Installation

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/alibaba/hiclaw.git
cd hiclaw

# Install Python dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Install Node.js dependencies
npm install

# Configure
cp config.example.yaml config.yaml

# Run
python main.py

Kubernetes

# Deploy to Kubernetes
kubectl apply -f k8s/

# Check status
kubectl get pods -l app=hiclaw

Configuration

config.yaml

matrix:
  homeserver: "https://matrix.org"
  bot_user: "@hiclaw_bot:matrix.org"
  bot_password: "${MATRIX_PASSWORD}"

manager:
  model: "gpt-4o"
  max_subtasks: 10
  timeout: 300

workers:
  count: 5
  models:
    researcher: "gpt-4o"
    writer: "claude-sonnet-4"
    coder: "gpt-4o"
    reviewer: "gpt-4o"

storage:
  type: "postgresql"
  connection: "postgresql://user:pass@localhost/hiclaw"

logging:
  level: "info"
  file: "/var/log/hiclaw.log"

Usage

Define a Task

task:
  name: "Market Research Report"
  description: "Research and write a market analysis report"
  
  steps:
    - role: researcher
      action: "Gather market data on AI agents"
    - role: analyst
      action: "Analyze trends and patterns"
    - role: writer
      action: "Write comprehensive report"
    - role: reviewer
      action: "Review and validate content"

API Usage

# Create task
curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/tasks \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "Research AI trends", "type": "research"}'

# Check status
curl http://localhost:8080/api/tasks/123/status

# Get results
curl http://localhost:8080/api/tasks/123/results

Matrix Commands

!hiclaw research "AI agent market trends"
!hiclaw code "Build a REST API"
!hiclaw write "Blog post about multi-agent systems"

Pricing

Free: HiClaw is completely free and open source under Apache-2.0 license. You only pay for:

• AI model API usage
• Matrix homeserver (or use free public servers)
• Infrastructure costs

System Requirements

Use Cases

Complex Task Automation

Break down and execute complex multi-step tasks automatically.

Team-Based AI Workflows

Coordinate multiple AI agents working on different aspects of a problem.

Enterprise Automation

Deploy AI agent teams for business process automation.

Multi-Step Processes

Handle processes that require sequential and parallel execution.

Collaborative Problem Solving

Enable AI agents to collaborate on solving complex problems.

Distributed AI Systems

Build distributed AI systems with clear communication patterns.

Community and Support

• GitHub: https://github.com/alibaba/hiclaw
• Documentation: https://github.com/alibaba/hiclaw#readme
• Issues: GitHub Issues tab
• Matrix Room: #hiclaw:matrix.org

Quick Start Guide

Get HiClaw up and running quickly.

Step 1: Install

cd hiclaw
npm install
npx hiclaw setup

Step 2: Configure

Set your AI model and API key in the configuration.

Step 3: Connect and Go

Link your messaging platform and start using your AI agent.

Full documentation: https://github.com/alibaba/hiclaw#readme

FAQ

Is HiClaw free to use?

Yes, HiClaw is free and open source (Apache-2.0 license). You only pay for AI model API costs if using external models.

What are the system requirements for HiClaw?

HiClaw requires 2GB RAM of RAM minimum. Runtime: Python/Node.js. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Can I self-host HiClaw?

Yes. HiClaw is open source (Apache-2.0) and can be self-hosted on your own hardware. Clone the repository from GitHub and follow the installation guide.

How does HiClaw compare to OpenClaw?

HiClaw offers a different approach compared to OpenClaw. While OpenClaw provides the largest ecosystem with 13,729+ skills and maximum flexibility, HiClaw focuses on multi-agent. Choose HiClaw if you prioritize its specific features; choose OpenClaw for the broadest compatibility and community support.

Is HiClaw suitable for beginners?

HiClaw requires some technical knowledge to set up (Python/Node.js). If you are a beginner, consider starting with QClaw (one-click install) or MaxClaw (cloud-based, no setup) first, then graduate to HiClaw as you gain experience.

License

Apache-2.0 License - Free for personal and commercial use.

Tags

multi-agent, matrix, collaboration, alibaba, manager-workers, coordination, enterprise, open-source