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Code execution

docs/tools/code-execution.md

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code_execution runs sandboxed remote Python analysis on xAI's Responses API. This is different from local exec:

  • exec runs shell commands on your machine or 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 for that.

Setup

You need an xAI API key. Any of these work:

  • XAI_API_KEY
  • plugins.entries.xai.config.webSearch.apiKey

Example:

json5
{
  plugins: {
    entries: {
      xai: {
        config: {
          webSearch: {
            apiKey: "xai-...",
          },
          codeExecution: {
            enabled: true,
            model: "grok-4-1-fast",
            maxTurns: 2,
            timeoutSeconds: 30,
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}

How to use it

Ask naturally and make the analysis intent explicit:

text
Use code_execution to calculate the 7-day moving average for these numbers: ...
text
Use x_search to find posts mentioning OpenClaw this week, then use code_execution to count them by day.
text
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.

Limits

  • This is remote xAI execution, not local process execution.
  • It should be treated as ephemeral analysis, not a persistent notebook.
  • Do not assume access to local files or your workspace.
  • For fresh X data, use x_search first.