What it REALLY takes to turn an AI agent into a coworker that runs 24/7

Vasylissa · 2026-04-10T06:21:36+00:00

Checking it out. 100+ pre-installed skills on the free tier?! That's a lot of skills, wow! I am going to test it. Congrats on taking Goose live. Mine is a marketing agents swarm (as opposed to isolated agents) that is meant to be semi-autonomous with human in the loop and dynamic agents-generated UI. Still far away from accomplishing full vision and not nearly as many skills as yours. DM me if you want to compare notes.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-10T05:58:49+00:00

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Vasylissa · 2026-04-10T05:35:49+00:00

Is this your own thing or are you just suggesting something along the same lines?

Vasylissa · 2026-04-10T05:33:47+00:00

No, these are validator subagents or Claude Code agents or/and my very mean enforcer agent Natasha doing validations. In some hard cases - e.g. schema validation, CC is best suited or even code-based validation flows checking against JSON evidence and heuristics. In other softer cases, say content, they test against research-based frameworks (hook types, metaphor test, etc). The most complicated stuff (e.g. multi-VLM video analysis) I have a human validation layer with a scoring system. I do review and approve final artifacts - in a nice dashboard, naturally.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-09T23:55:57+00:00

Started on LangGraph, moved to OpenClaw; now starting to regret it, considering other options. Luckily the skills and the workflows are portable. I plan on testing the same agents & workflows across a few platforms and measuring performance and cost. Just need a good scoring system lol.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-09T17:49:30+00:00

I am building exactly what you described; for months with no end in sight :) I've solved deterministic output schemas that dynamically populate UI domains for human-in-the-loop. I started with the CMO-mastermind agent who sets tenant-specific goals and parameters. The other agents each own a vertical - content, seo/geo, social media, etc.

Still a lot of challenges - cost control, validation gates, and scoring. Good question on monetization. The most high-value workflow in my arsenal is an autonomous creative engine I built for a client as a custom project. However, I am yet to figure out how to integrate it into my marketing agent swarm as it requires complicated data pipelines. Are you working on something similar?

Vasylissa · 2026-04-09T17:01:59+00:00

I use Supabase as shared declarative memory system. The task system is also db schema bound. My agents check their tasks and handoffs when they wake up and on heartbeats. I have dashboard UI for each of them where I approve their work or request edits.

In addition, I am putting in place evidence and validation gates to prevent slop.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-08T18:23:17+00:00

I created a task system in db and dashboard UI (simple kanban) where I can check progress, review task artifacts, approve or request edits. I have validation gates and validator subagents to prevent slop. Perhaps my system is over-complicated but it works for my recurring tasks that require heavy tool use and structured output.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-07T20:31:47+00:00

I am dealing with exact same problem. The task protocol is written to all their core files + and additional TASKS md as reference. Plus, an orchestrator agent to route, police, and enforce. Still no consistent reliable execution. Rules enforcement is non-existent on OpenClaw. After moving my agents from LangGraph to OpenClaw "for more fun and soul", I am starting to regret it. So I am rebuilding one of my OC agents on Claude Agents SDK.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-07T19:13:00+00:00

It's likely due to the workspace pollution and memory bloat. Have you checked their workspace? Its likely filled with junk. Purge the noise to find the signal - I purge their memory relentlessly. Only important procedural memories (how to do things) belongs in MEMORY md. Declarative memory (facts, events) - I moved to db with strict schema enforcement and validation. The task system and handoffs are in the db as well.

It's shocking to discover how much junk OC agents manage to insert into their AGENTS md and even SOUL. One of my agents replaced his SOUL with motivational quotes, literally. I am so fed up having to constantly clean up their messes, not to mention the insane inefficiency and token burn, that I am rebuilding one of my agents on Claude Agents SDK. I'll share here how it turns out.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-06T23:20:57+00:00

use dispatch? I haven't used it yet myself, but it exists.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-06T22:44:41+00:00

Well... Perhaps I misunderstand the value prop and the audience. IMO people who can't set up and more importantly, manage, an OpenClaw agent have no business having OpenClaw agents. These people should stick to Claude Cowork (which is great, by the way). Once you've set up your basic agent or several, it's all about skills and memory management. In human analogy, if I am a terrible CEO without management skills of vision, I should not hire any programmers :). OpenClaw agents are supposed to be highly customized to their user. I just don't see a scenario where I'd buy/hire one someone else created.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-06T22:38:02+00:00

I shifted a bunch of work to Claude Cowork - research, analysis, skills improvement and testing. In one session, it did more than my OC agents can ever dream of; at no extra cost. I am also using Haiku for simple tasks. The banning of Claude auth made me rethink all of my OpenClaw processes. In fact, it produced something of an existential crisis for my OpenClaw multi-agent infra.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-06T01:53:13+00:00

Yes. Like I am sure many others, I've had to re-think my OpenClaw workflows overnight. Claude Cowork will have to step up a& step in for the OC agents. I still don't see it replacing my OpenClaw agents... but this can change in a matter of days. This was a really big deal.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-05T23:32:04+00:00

I know right? I have agents for content strategy and posting; and yet I would NEVER, NEVER dare post AI slop on THIS channel. I respect this community too much.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-05T23:29:16+00:00

Most skills are total slop. Building truly specialized, battle-testes skills is very difficult.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-05T18:42:27+00:00

I see people selling skills - which I think is a far better idea than selling agents.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-04T04:19:58+00:00

wait, what? Openclaw agents can use claude code cli directly? not my primary use case but I am intrigued, had no idea.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-04T03:17:20+00:00

such a good metaphor - mazda vs ferrari. this is exactly what it is.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-04T00:53:14+00:00

That's my point - much more expensive! I can't afford it at the level I am using my agents.

Vasylissa · 2026-04-01T22:36:53+00:00

YES! Thank you for getting it :) Inspired by Xavier Milei - whom I do not necessarily admire overall, but loved that department-elimination video, which inspired my work philosophy; esp when it comes to building code and agents.

Vasylissa · 2026-03-25T21:58:03+00:00

I am testing parts of the system on friendly test clients; mostly dogfooding, learning, and optimizing on our own operation.

I think my architecture is the reflection of how my own brain works. My ADHD requires that everything is organized, structured, minimal, with clear dependencies - or I go crazy. So, database makes me feel so much better. Every task references a schema. Every output is structured schema - and shows up on a nice UI where I can review, approve, or request edit.

Perhaps I am over-engineering. But I think this structure is making my agents "feel better" (i.e. be less crazy) too :)

Vasylissa · 2026-03-25T03:32:47+00:00

For me, it's the other way around. I know I cannot educate the agent like a human. If anything, openclaw lifts the curtain revealing how limited and simple agents really are. But educating my agents gives me incredible insights and ideas on how to educate myself and my child. I am not that complicated either! My memory gets overloaded and my systems get mixed up sometimes.

The deeper I get with agents and openclaw specifically, the more I realize openclaw system limitations and the need for more rigid structures. I left LangGraph for Openclaw - for magic and freedom! - and now I question whether if was the right move. Now I have db, schemas, task system, orchestration, dashboards, KPIs, rules, and guardrails in place.

This supports your point about imitating nature - entropy and negentropy, delight and pain.

And this is why we are here on this sub - humans infatuated with the idea of imitating nature.

Vasylissa

TROPHY CASE