Code execution

code_execution runs sandboxed remote Python analysis on xAI's Responses API. It is registered by the bundled xai plugin (under the tools contract) and dispatches to the same https://api.x.ai/v1/responses endpoint used by x_search.

This is different from local [exec](/docs/openclaw-docs/tools/exec:

• exec runs shell commands on your machine or paired node.
• code_execution runs Python in xAI's remote sandbox.

Use code_execution for:

• Calculations.
• Tabulation.
• Quick statistics.
• Chart-style analysis.
• Analyzing data returned by x_search or web_search.

Do not use it when you need local files, your shell, your repo, or paired devices. Use [exec](/docs/openclaw-docs/tools/exec for that.

Setup

```bash
export XAI_API_KEY=xai-...
```

Or via config:

```json5
{
  plugins: {
    entries: {
      xai: {
        config: {
          webSearch: {
            apiKey: "xai-...",
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

```json5
{
  plugins: {
    entries: {
      xai: {
        config: {
          codeExecution: {
            enabled: true,
            model: "grok-4-1-fast", // override the default xAI code-execution model
            maxTurns: 2,            // optional cap on internal tool turns
            timeoutSeconds: 30,     // request timeout (default: 30)
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

`code_execution` shows up in the agent's tool list once the xAI plugin re-registers with `enabled: true`.

How to use it

Ask naturally and make the analysis intent explicit:

Use code_execution to calculate the 7-day moving average for these numbers: ...

Use x_search to find posts mentioning OpenClaw this week, then use code_execution to count them by day.

Use web_search to gather the latest AI benchmark numbers, then use code_execution to compare percent changes.

The tool takes a single task parameter internally, so the agent should send the full analysis request and any inline data in one prompt.

Errors

When the tool runs without auth, it returns a structured missing_xai_api_key error pointing at the env var and config path. The error is JSON, not a thrown exception, so the agent can self-correct:

{
  "error": "missing_xai_api_key",
  "message": "code_execution needs an xAI API key. Set XAI_API_KEY in the Gateway environment, or configure plugins.entries.xai.config.webSearch.apiKey.",
  "docs": "https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/code-execution"
}

Limits

• This is remote xAI execution, not local process execution.
• Treat results as ephemeral analysis, not a persistent notebook session.
• Do not assume access to local files or your workspace.
• For fresh X data, use [x_search](/docs/openclaw-docs/tools/web#x_search first and pipe the result into code_execution.

Related