LLM task

llm-task is an optional plugin tool that runs a JSON-only LLM task and returns structured output (optionally validated against JSON Schema).

This is ideal for workflow engines like Lobster: you can add a single LLM step without writing custom OpenClaw code for each workflow.

Enable the plugin

Enable the plugin:

{
  "plugins": {
    "entries": {
      "llm-task": { "enabled": true }
    }
  }
}

Allow the optional tool:

{
  "tools": {
    "alsoAllow": ["llm-task"]
  }
}

Use tools.allow only when you want restrictive allowlist mode.

Config (optional)

{
  "plugins": {
    "entries": {
      "llm-task": {
        "enabled": true,
        "config": {
          "defaultProvider": "openai-codex",
          "defaultModel": "gpt-5.5",
          "defaultAuthProfileId": "main",
          "allowedModels": ["openai/gpt-5.4"],
          "maxTokens": 800,
          "timeoutMs": 30000
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

allowedModels is an allowlist of provider/model strings. If set, any request outside the list is rejected.

Tool parameters

prompt (string, required)
input (any, optional)
schema (object, optional JSON Schema)
provider (string, optional)
model (string, optional)
thinking (string, optional)
authProfileId (string, optional)
temperature (number, optional)
maxTokens (number, optional)
timeoutMs (number, optional)

thinking accepts the standard OpenClaw reasoning presets, such as low or medium.

Output

Returns details.json containing the parsed JSON (and validates against schema when provided).

Example: Lobster workflow step

Important limitation

The example below assumes the standalone Lobster CLI is running in an environment where openclaw.invoke already has the correct gateway URL/auth context.

For the bundled embedded Lobster runner inside OpenClaw, this nested CLI pattern is not currently reliable:

openclaw.invoke --tool llm-task --action json --args-json '{ ... }'

Until embedded Lobster has a supported bridge for this flow, prefer either:

direct llm-task tool calls outside Lobster, or
Lobster steps that do not rely on nested openclaw.invoke calls.

Standalone Lobster CLI example:

openclaw.invoke --tool llm-task --action json --args-json '{
  "prompt": "Given the input email, return intent and draft.",
  "thinking": "low",
  "input": {
    "subject": "Hello",
    "body": "Can you help?"
  },
  "schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "intent": { "type": "string" },
      "draft": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "required": ["intent", "draft"],
    "additionalProperties": false
  }
}'

Safety notes

The tool is JSON-only and instructs the model to output only JSON (no code fences, no commentary).
No tools are exposed to the model for this run.
Treat output as untrusted unless you validate with schema.
Put approvals before any side-effecting step (send, post, exec).