NullClaw (nullclaw/nullclaw) is the “fastest, smallest, and fully autonomous AI assistant infrastructure” written in Zig — a systems programming language with no garbage collector and zero runtime.
NullClaw achieves a ~678 KB binary and ~1 MB RAM usage, booting in under 8ms. It has approximately 6,830 stars and 812 forks as of the latest release (March 21, 2026). Supports Linux x86_64, macOS arm64, and macOS x86_64.
Features a `nullclaw migrate openclaw` command for config import, and includes Novita AI provider support.
Recommended Hardware
Running this on a Raspberry Pi? Here’s what you’ll need:
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2W — The minimum viable hardware. Quad-core 1GHz, 512MB RAM, ~$15. Runs PicoClaw comfortably under 10 MB RAM usage.
- Raspberry Pi 5 — For heavier workloads or multiple services. 4-core Cortex-A76, up to 8GB RAM.
- MicroSD Card (32GB+) — A fast, reliable card is essential for stable long-term operation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is NullClaw written in?
NullClaw is written in Zig — a systems programming language with no garbage collector and zero runtime overhead. This is the key reason NullClaw achieves its extreme size: 678 KB binary and ~1 MB RAM usage. Zig compiles to native machine code and has no hidden allocations or runtime startup cost.
How fast does NullClaw boot?
NullClaw boots in under 8ms. For comparison, OpenClaw (Node.js) takes several seconds to start, and ZeroClaw (Rust) boots in under 10ms. NullClaw is the fastest-booting OpenClaw implementation available, making it ideal for serverless deployments or situations where cold start time matters.
Is NullClaw smaller than ZeroClaw?
Yes. NullClaw’s binary is 678 KB and uses ~1 MB RAM at runtime. ZeroClaw is 3.4 MB with under 5 MB RAM. NullClaw is the smallest and lightest OpenClaw alternative, though ZeroClaw has a larger community (29K vs 6.8K stars). Both support a migrate openclaw command to import existing configs.
What platforms does NullClaw support?
NullClaw supports Linux x86_64, macOS arm64, and macOS x86_64. Windows support is not yet available. The project releases pre-built binaries for all supported platforms, so no compilation is needed to get started.