Bug type

Behavior bug (incorrect output/state without crash)

Summary

OPENCLAW_HOME overwritten by os.homedir()
also
OPENCLAW_HOME should determine OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR and OPEN_CLAW_CONFIG_PATH, OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR unless explicitly set.

shell-env-BOu7XeT_.js, line 237 overwrites home (v2026.3.23-2)
update-cli-Bh5F5dRy.js, line 315 sets default GitDir in user's home.
setup.finalize-B1Lq2LFO.js, line 217 does not check OPENCLAW_HOME
server-startup-matrix-migration-BnKhjFnf.js does not check for OPENCLAW_HOME (? maybe unintuitive)
skills-DAP6Yelo.js line 555 sets ~/.agents/skills
routes-sPyjSxSY.js, line 4144 sets trash dir to home dir
update-cli-Bh5F5dRy.js, line 707 (?) should also check OPENCLAW_HOME

Steps to reproduce

1. Start OpenClaw (v2026.3.23-2), set a different home directory.
2. Still another .openclaw directory is created in the user's home directory

Expected behavior

2026.3.23-2 should respect OPENCLAW_HOME.

Actual behavior

Writes information and searches for information into surprising directories

OpenClaw version

2026.3.23-2

Operating system

Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS

Install method

npm

Model

google-vertex/gemini-2.5-pro

Provider / routing chain

openclaw -> gateway

Additional provider/model setup details

No response

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Impact and severity

Affected: systems
Severity: Annoying
Frequency: always
Consequence: hard to install

Additional information

No response