The bottom line: The project underwent six name changes between November 2025 and the present, from Warelay to OpenClaw, with a corresponding shift in focus from a pure WhatsApp tool to an AI agent gateway.
The open-source project OpenClaw has borne six different names since its initial development in November 2025. The Git history shows an evolution from the original WhatsApp messaging tool Warelay through several renamings to its current designation OpenClaw.
After reviewing the project’s Git history, the complete name sequence could be traced: Warelay → CLAWDIS → CLAWDBOT → Clawdbot → Moltbot → OpenClaw. The timestamps in version control document this evolution from November 25, 2025 through subsequent commits.
The original Warelay project was a WhatsApp messaging tool that relied on Twilio or QR-controlled WhatsApp Web instances and enabled automatic replies as well as webhook setup. The subsequent renamings accompanied a reorientation toward an AI agent gateway and eventually toward a personal AI assistant.
For practitioners, this version history demonstrates that project goals and focus can shift significantly during development. Detailed tracking through Git histories helps understand the origins and development decisions of open-source tools—particularly when evaluating dependencies or contributing to projects.
Source: ainews-dev.lumi-systems.io · Published May 16, 2026
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