So, OpenClaw made a splash and hyped up things to frenzy level about AI agent assistants. n8n is still an amazing platform - free open source too, and you can do pretty much everything with n8n as I am explaining in this podcast. n8n is a graphical workflow/AI tool but you still need some JavaScript/JSON knowledge IMHO!

Enter a more simple approach that just uses Claude Code CLI as the brain along with some other free resources to add memory, text embeddings (meaning of words etc.) and I have a completely locked down mini virtual private server (512mb RAM, 1 vCore) running on AWS Lightsail for around $5 (free for 3 months). You can run this on your own local linux box too or even in Docker of course or anywhere a service offers linux servers (everywhere then!).

I have hooked in:

* Telegram: as my main chatbot interface which can accepts voice as well as text

* Twilio: for a real telephone number to talk/SMS with (optional, but why not!)

* Official Google MCP for calendars/email

* Official Microsoft MCP for my MS calendar/email

* I “could” easily hook into things like SalesForce, HubSpot, Slack and millions of other services.

I am currently building an Alexa skill (even though Alexa+ is coming) to give Alexa a real brain and hooks into the above.

All of this running on a very basic locked down linux VM :)

Hey, this is a free podcast. However, if you feel you want to support me, then check out Patreon. I will have some more detailed deep dives for Patreon members as well as one-to-one sessions.

Or just buy a unicorn a coffee here!

Oh, and yes, I have ended up on YouTube (doesn’t everyone eventually?):

https://www.youtube.com/@justfifteenmins but don’t worry, no ugly face to worry about (yet!).

Well, if you haven’t heard of “ClaudeBot”, “MoltBot” or now “OpenClaw”, then shame on you! You have once again missed the hype train ;)(probably not a bad thing, I think people out there have a real life?)

Since recording this episode, I have seen some great examples where peeps have taken the idea of OpenClaw and created more secure (??) options using n8n or even Claude Code with Agent mode… this is something I am really interested in and will no doubt have a show out soon about that!

For now, sit back, relax, and watch those 12-13 minutes evaporate before your very eyes :)

Hey, this is a free podcast. However, if you feel you want to support me, then check out Patreon. I will have some more detailed deep dives for Patreon members as well as one-to-one sessions.

Or just buy a unicorn a coffee here!

Oh, and yes, I have ended up on YouTube (doesn’t everyone eventually?):

https://www.youtube.com/@justfifteenmins but don’t worry, no ugly face to worry about (yet!).

You need skills… from making coffee (decent coffee at least!) to whatever you do in your day job. Skills for AI has been introduced by the claude folks Anthropic.

Skills are really useful and powerful, and in essence, just a set of folders in your code project (but not limited to code! could be a folder for marketing and what not). You can define certain aspects, detailed specifications including code/text/document snippets.

What really makes skills efficient is they a progressively loaded as needed. None of this massive context window chomping through your AI subscription tokens!

Anyway, further info below in the links:

Skills, Instructions and Moar

Anthropic Skills Info

Hey, this is a free podcast. However, if you feel you want to support me, then check out Patreon. I will have some more detailed deep dives for Patreon members as well as one-to-one sessions.

Or just buy a unicorn a coffee here!

Oh, and yes, I have ended up on YouTube (doesn’t everyone eventually?):

https://www.youtube.com/@justfifteenmins but don’t worry, no ugly face to worry about (yet!).