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A managed agent on OpenComputer is a core plus the channels and packages you bolt onto it. Pick a runtime, connect the messaging platforms you want, install the capabilities you need.
There are two ways to run agents on OpenComputer. This page covers hosted agents — platform-managed agent definitions you reach through persistent instances or ephemeral sessions, and connect to messaging channels or a public API. If you’d rather create a sandbox yourself and drive a Claude session inside it directly with the SDK, see the Agent SDK.
ManagedAgent = Core + Channels + Packages + Secrets

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Cores

The AI runtime that powers your agent. OpenComputer ships two blessed cores:
CoreWhat you get
hermesSelf-improving agent with skill creation, memory, multi-channel gateway, browser, code execution
openclawMulti-channel AI gateway with plugin SDK, native MCP support, hot-reload config
Picking a core is the one decision that matters most — it determines the agent’s capabilities, config model, and extension surface.

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Packages

Stateful extensions beyond the core — installed via oc agent install. Packages can provision infrastructure (managed databases, vector stores) and wire it into the agent transparently.
PackageWhat it adds
gbrainPersistent memory — 34 MCP tools for pages, vector search, graph, timeline, files. Backed by a managed Postgres database.

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Channels

Messaging platforms connected to your agent.
ChannelHow it works
telegramWebhook-based. Messages flow through the OpenComputer gateway to your agent and back.

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Three commands to a running agent

oc agent create my-agent --core hermes       # boot an agent
oc agent connect my-agent telegram           # connect Telegram
oc agent install my-agent gbrain             # add persistent memory

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Two ways to interact

Everything you can do with the CLI you can do with the REST API, and vice versa.

CLI

oc agent commands — create, connect, install, inspect

REST API

HTTP endpoints for agents, instances, sessions

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Agents, instances, sessions

An agent is configuration. Its actual compute runs in one of two modes:
ConceptWhat it isUse case
AgentConfiguration — core, snapshot, entrypoint, secretsDefine once, reuse
InstancePersistent sandbox, hibernates/wakes, multiplexes conversationsAI coworkers on Slack, Teams, Telegram
SessionEphemeral sandbox, runs to completionBatch jobs, webhook handlers
Managed agents (those with a core) get an instance automatically on creation. Raw agents — which have no core and use your own snapshot and entrypoint — create instances or sessions explicitly via the REST API. Managed and raw agents coexist on the same platform.

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Authentication

All requests require an OpenComputer API key via X-API-Key header or --api-key CLI flag. 
X-API-Key: osb_your_api_key
Base URL for REST: https://api.opencomputer.dev