Before you touch anything, make sure you have 3 things ready:
1. Node.js 22 or later. OpenClaw relies on the built-in node:test runner and native fetch, both of which shipped in Node 22. Run node -v to check. If you're new to JavaScript, go through our JavaScript roadmap first.
2. Git. You'll clone starter repos and version-control your config files.
3. A terminal you're comfortable with. Any shell works: bash, zsh, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal with WSL2.
If node -v prints something below 22, grab the latest LTS from nodejs.org before continuing. Don't skip this. Everything else depends on it.