Get started with OpenClaw: AI that executes real tasks

Welcome to edition #53 of the We ❤️ Open Source newsletter!

This week we're exploring OpenClaw, the open source framework that turns simple chat commands into real autonomous tasks. We're also diving into how AI is flipping government tech collaboration from code-sharing to knowledge-sharing, why vendor lock-in is threatening the open source ecosystem, automating that annoying ls-after-cd habit on Linux, and turning your phone into a field mapping powerhouse with QGIS and MerginMaps.

Made and curated by Todd and Jason.🙂 This week we'll look at...

Learn AI Skills

Meet the people making AI happen

We're co-hosting a two-day AI conference March 23 & 24 in downtown Durham, NC. Day one will consist of extended, hands-on workshops. Day two will be a traditional conference day featuring keynote, lightning and 30-minute talks across 7 tracks. Learn more and join us!

Articles

For decades, governments tried to reduce waste by sharing code. But AI is flipping the economics of software development. When code becomes cheap to generate, what becomes valuable? Mark Headd explores why the future of government tech collaboration is about sharing knowledge, not code.

WHY WE ❤️ IT: This topic is incredibly timely given how the world of software development is changing so rapidly. Governments sharing technology has been vital for decades.

Turn your phone into a field mapping powerhouse! Learn how to sync geospatial projects between your desktop and mobile device using QGIS and MerginMaps. Collect GPS data on trail walks, sync it back to your computer, and generate custom maps. Open source magic at its finest.

WHY WE ❤️ IT: This article includes step-by-step guidance and screenshots to make following along even easier!

Tired of typing ls after every cd command? Learn Linux TV shows you a simple Bash function that automates directory listings whenever you change directories. Plus, get a bonus function that extracts any archive type without remembering specific commands.

WHY WE ❤️ IT: Jay’s walkthrough makes implementation straightforward and enables automation and time savings, something we all value!

What's in your technology toolbox?

Want to experiment with autonomous AI agents? This getting started guide shows how to install and configure OpenClaw, an open source framework that executes real tasks from simple chat commands. Marty Puranik explores setup, use cases, and why developers are building persistent AI assistants.

From the We ❤️ Open Source Podcast

Before open source, choosing hardware meant vendor lock-in for everything. Linux changed that forever, but corporate shortsightedness is threatening the ecosystem. Dave Stokes explains why companies abandon open licenses for closed models, the Redis-to-Valkey saga, and what developers can do to fight back.

Wrap Up

If you've made it this far (thank you!), check out everything we do, our YouTube channel with 1000's of open source talks, the many meetups we host around the southeast and NYC, the All Things AI spring event we co-host, and of course All Things Open, the largest open source tech conference on the US east coast.

We hope you learn something new this weekend!

- Jason & Todd

How did you like the newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.