fix: scope local warning to openclaw-only + improve spawn skill docs (#3074)

- Revert local security warning to openclaw-only (was blocking all agents)
- Update spawn skill to document how to run prompts on child VMs:
  - Always use `bash -lc` (binaries in ~/.local/bin/ need login shell)
  - Claude uses `-p` not `--print` or `--headless`
  - Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions` for unattended child VMs
  - Don't waste tokens with `which`/`find` or creating non-root users
- Sync all on-disk skill files with embedded version

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

packages/cli/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@openrouter/spawn",
-  "version": "0.27.5",
+  "version": "0.27.6",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {
     "spawn": "cli.js"

packages/cli/src/local/main.ts

@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ async function main() {
 
   const agent = resolveAgent(agentName);
 
-  // Warn about security implications of installing agents locally
-  if (process.env.SPAWN_NON_INTERACTIVE !== "1") {
+  // Warn about security implications of installing OpenClaw locally
+  // (OpenClaw has browser access and broader system control than other agents)
+  if (agentName === "openclaw" && process.env.SPAWN_NON_INTERACTIVE !== "1") {
     process.stderr.write("\n");
     logWarn("⚠  Local installation warning");
     logWarn(`   This will install ${agent.name} directly on your machine.`);

packages/cli/src/shared/spawn-skill.ts

@@ -24,37 +24,35 @@ const SKILL_BODY = `# Spawn — Create Child VMs
 
 You have the \`spawn\` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 \`\`\`bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 \`\`\`
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-\`\`\`bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-\`\`\`
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: \`{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}\`
 
-## Running a prompt on a child VM
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
 
-**--headless only provisions the VM — it does NOT run the prompt on it.**
-To actually execute work on the child, SSH in and run the agent:
+\`--headless\` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with \`bash -lc\`:
 
 \`\`\`bash
-ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip_address> '~/.local/bin/claude --print "your prompt"'
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \\"your prompt\\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \\"your prompt\\"'"
 \`\`\`
 
-### Known gotchas — do NOT waste time rediscovering these:
-- Agent binaries are at \`~/.local/bin/\`, NOT on the default PATH. Always use the full path: \`~/.local/bin/claude\`, \`~/.local/bin/codex\`, etc.
-- Claude Code blocks \`--dangerously-skip-permissions\` as root. Use \`--print\` for one-shot prompts instead — it works as root and returns the response directly.
-- Do NOT try to create a non-root user to work around root restrictions — it requires copying config files (\`.claude.json\`, \`.claude/settings.json\`, env vars) and is fragile. Just use \`--print\`.
-- For long-running tasks, use \`spawn delete --name <name> --yes\` to clean up when done.
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use \`bash -lc\`** — agent binaries are in \`~/.local/bin/\` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses \`-p\`** for non-interactive output (NOT \`--print\`, NOT \`--headless\`)
+- **Add \`--dangerously-skip-permissions\`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try \`which claude\` or \`find\`** to locate binaries — they are always at \`~/.local/bin/<agent>\`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use \`-p\`
 
 ## Managing Children
 
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ You have the \`spawn\` CLI for creating child cloud VMs with AI agents.
 Use \`spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task"\` to delegate work.
 Available agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie.
 Cloud credentials are pre-configured. Run \`spawn list --json\` to see children.
-Note: --headless only provisions the VM. To run a prompt, SSH in: \`ssh root@<ip> '~/.local/bin/<agent> --print "prompt"'\`.
+\`--headless\` only provisions. To run a prompt on the child: \`ssh root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \\"prompt\\"'"\`. Always use \`bash -lc\` (binaries are in ~/.local/bin/).
 `;
 
 // ─── Agent config ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

skills/claude/SKILL.md

@@ -8,27 +8,40 @@ allowed-tools: Bash
 
 You have the `spawn` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 ```bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 ```
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-```bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-```
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}`
 
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
+
+`--headless` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with `bash -lc`:
+
+```bash
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"your prompt\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \"your prompt\"'"
+```
+
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use `bash -lc`** — agent binaries are in `~/.local/bin/` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses `-p`** for non-interactive output (NOT `--print`, NOT `--headless`)
+- **Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try `which claude` or `find`** to locate binaries — they are always at `~/.local/bin/<agent>`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use `-p`
+
 ## Managing Children
 
 - `spawn list --json` — see running children
-- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM
+- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM (headless)
 - `spawn tree` — see the full spawn tree
 
 ## Context

skills/codex/SKILL.md

@@ -8,27 +8,40 @@ allowed-tools: Bash
 
 You have the `spawn` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 ```bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 ```
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-```bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-```
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}`
 
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
+
+`--headless` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with `bash -lc`:
+
+```bash
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"your prompt\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \"your prompt\"'"
+```
+
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use `bash -lc`** — agent binaries are in `~/.local/bin/` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses `-p`** for non-interactive output (NOT `--print`, NOT `--headless`)
+- **Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try `which claude` or `find`** to locate binaries — they are always at `~/.local/bin/<agent>`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use `-p`
+
 ## Managing Children
 
 - `spawn list --json` — see running children
-- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM
+- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM (headless)
 - `spawn tree` — see the full spawn tree
 
 ## Context

skills/hermes/SOUL.md

@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ You have the `spawn` CLI for creating child cloud VMs with AI agents.
 Use `spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task"` to delegate work.
 Available agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie.
 Cloud credentials are pre-configured. Run `spawn list --json` to see children.
+`--headless` only provisions. To run a prompt on the child: `ssh root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"prompt\"'"`. Always use `bash -lc` (binaries are in ~/.local/bin/).

skills/junie/AGENTS.md

@@ -2,27 +2,40 @@
 
 You have the `spawn` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 ```bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 ```
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-```bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-```
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}`
 
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
+
+`--headless` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with `bash -lc`:
+
+```bash
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"your prompt\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \"your prompt\"'"
+```
+
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use `bash -lc`** — agent binaries are in `~/.local/bin/` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses `-p`** for non-interactive output (NOT `--print`, NOT `--headless`)
+- **Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try `which claude` or `find`** to locate binaries — they are always at `~/.local/bin/<agent>`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use `-p`
+
 ## Managing Children
 
 - `spawn list --json` — see running children
-- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM
+- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM (headless)
 - `spawn tree` — see the full spawn tree
 
 ## Context
@@ -30,3 +43,4 @@ Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_
 - You are running inside a spawned VM (SPAWN_DEPTH is set)
 - Cloud credentials are pre-configured — no auth prompts
 - OpenRouter billing is shared with the parent
+

skills/kilocode/spawn.md

@@ -2,27 +2,40 @@
 
 You have the `spawn` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 ```bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 ```
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-```bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-```
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}`
 
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
+
+`--headless` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with `bash -lc`:
+
+```bash
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"your prompt\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \"your prompt\"'"
+```
+
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use `bash -lc`** — agent binaries are in `~/.local/bin/` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses `-p`** for non-interactive output (NOT `--print`, NOT `--headless`)
+- **Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try `which claude` or `find`** to locate binaries — they are always at `~/.local/bin/<agent>`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use `-p`
+
 ## Managing Children
 
 - `spawn list --json` — see running children
-- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM
+- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM (headless)
 - `spawn tree` — see the full spawn tree
 
 ## Context
@@ -30,3 +43,4 @@ Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_
 - You are running inside a spawned VM (SPAWN_DEPTH is set)
 - Cloud credentials are pre-configured — no auth prompts
 - OpenRouter billing is shared with the parent
+

skills/openclaw/SKILL.md

@@ -8,27 +8,40 @@ allowed-tools: Bash
 
 You have the `spawn` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 ```bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 ```
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-```bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-```
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}`
 
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
+
+`--headless` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with `bash -lc`:
+
+```bash
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"your prompt\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \"your prompt\"'"
+```
+
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use `bash -lc`** — agent binaries are in `~/.local/bin/` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses `-p`** for non-interactive output (NOT `--print`, NOT `--headless`)
+- **Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try `which claude` or `find`** to locate binaries — they are always at `~/.local/bin/<agent>`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use `-p`
+
 ## Managing Children
 
 - `spawn list --json` — see running children
-- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM
+- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM (headless)
 - `spawn tree` — see the full spawn tree
 
 ## Context

skills/opencode/AGENTS.md

@@ -2,27 +2,40 @@
 
 You have the `spawn` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 ```bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 ```
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-```bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-```
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}`
 
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
+
+`--headless` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with `bash -lc`:
+
+```bash
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"your prompt\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \"your prompt\"'"
+```
+
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use `bash -lc`** — agent binaries are in `~/.local/bin/` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses `-p`** for non-interactive output (NOT `--print`, NOT `--headless`)
+- **Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try `which claude` or `find`** to locate binaries — they are always at `~/.local/bin/<agent>`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use `-p`
+
 ## Managing Children
 
 - `spawn list --json` — see running children
-- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM
+- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM (headless)
 - `spawn tree` — see the full spawn tree
 
 ## Context
@@ -30,3 +43,4 @@ Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_
 - You are running inside a spawned VM (SPAWN_DEPTH is set)
 - Cloud credentials are pre-configured — no auth prompts
 - OpenRouter billing is shared with the parent
+

skills/zeroclaw/AGENTS.md

@@ -2,27 +2,40 @@
 
 You have the `spawn` CLI installed. Use it to provision cloud VMs with AI agents.
 
-## Usage
+## Provision a Child VM
 
 ```bash
 spawn <agent> <cloud> --headless --output json --prompt "task description"
 ```
 
-## Agents: claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
-## Clouds: hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
-
-## Example
-
-```bash
-spawn claude hetzner --headless --output json --prompt "Implement the auth module"
-```
+**Agents:** claude, codex, openclaw, zeroclaw, opencode, kilocode, hermes, junie
+**Clouds:** hetzner, digitalocean, aws, gcp, sprite
 
 Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_id":"..."}`
 
+## Running Prompts on Child VMs
+
+`--headless` only provisions — to run work on the child, SSH in with `bash -lc`:
+
+```bash
+# Claude Code (use -p, NOT --print or --headless)
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'claude -p --dangerously-skip-permissions \"your prompt\"'"
+
+# Codex CLI
+ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new root@<ip> "bash -lc 'codex --quiet \"your prompt\"'"
+```
+
+### IMPORTANT — do NOT waste tokens rediscovering these:
+- **Always use `bash -lc`** — agent binaries are in `~/.local/bin/` which is only on PATH in login shells
+- **Claude uses `-p`** for non-interactive output (NOT `--print`, NOT `--headless`)
+- **Add `--dangerously-skip-permissions`** to skip approval prompts on child VMs
+- **Never try `which claude` or `find`** to locate binaries — they are always at `~/.local/bin/<agent>`
+- **Never create non-root users** to work around permission issues — just use `-p`
+
 ## Managing Children
 
 - `spawn list --json` — see running children
-- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM
+- `spawn delete --name <name> --yes` — tear down a child VM (headless)
 - `spawn tree` — see the full spawn tree
 
 ## Context
@@ -30,3 +43,4 @@ Returns JSON: `{"status":"success","ip_address":"...","ssh_user":"root","server_
 - You are running inside a spawned VM (SPAWN_DEPTH is set)
 - Cloud credentials are pre-configured — no auth prompts
 - OpenRouter billing is shared with the parent
+