Problem

openclaw update fetches the latest version, runs doctor, and restarts. Any local dist patches (hotfixes for upstream bugs applied to files in the OpenClaw install directory) are overwritten with no way to auto-reapply them.

Users who patch upstream bugs locally between releases lose their fixes on every update.

Workaround

I built oc-post-update-patches, an idempotent bash script that re-applies local dist hotfixes after updates. Each patch documents the upstream bug it fixes so we know when to retire it. Must be run manually after every update.

Proposed Solution

A hooks.postUpdate config entry or a ~/.openclaw/hooks/post-update.d/ directory where users can place scripts that run automatically after openclaw update completes but before the gateway restarts.

Impact

Low-medium. Useful for power users who need local patches between releases.

Environment

• OpenClaw 2026.4.10 (npm, macOS)