OpenClaw 临时助手 vs 多代理:sessions_spawn 与新增 agent 的深度解析

# OpenClaw 临时助手 vs 多代理：sessions_spawn 与新增 agent 的深度解析

> 本文带你深入了解 OpenClaw 中两种核心的多任务处理方式：动态子代理（sessions_spawn）与静态多代理配置（agents.list），助你灵活选择适合场景的方案。

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## 一、什么是 sessions_spawn（临时小助手）？

**sessions_spawn** 是 OpenClaw 提供的一个**运行时工具**，用于在对话中动态创建临时的、独立的子代理会话。

### 核心特性

- **动态创建**：无需预先配置，在对话中即时调用

- **隔离运行**：每个子代理拥有独立的 session 和可选的 sandbox workspace

- **自动回调**：子代理完成后可将结果 announce 回主会话

- **灵活模式**：

  - `runtime: "subagent"` — 标准子代理（默认）

  - `runtime: "acp"` — ACP harness（Codex/Claude Code 等编码代理）

### 参数示例

```json

{

  "task": "帮我搜索最新的OpenClaw文档并总结",

  "label": "文档调研",

  "model": "openai/gpt-5.4",

  "thread": false,

  "mode": "run",

  "runTimeoutSeconds": 300

}

```

---

## What is sessions_spawn (Temporary Helper)?

**sessions_spawn** is a **runtime tool** in OpenClaw for dynamically creating temporary, isolated sub-agent sessions during conversation.

### Core Features

- **On-demand creation**: No pre-configuration needed; spawn during conversation

- **Isolated execution**: Each sub-agent has its own session and optional sandbox workspace

- **Automatic callback**: Sub-agent can announce results back to the parent session

- **Flexible modes**:

  - `runtime: "subagent"` — Standard sub-agent (default)

  - `runtime: "acp"` — ACP harness (Codex/Claude Code for coding tasks)

---

## 二、什么是新增 agent（多代理配置）？

**新增 agent** 指在 OpenClaw 配置文件（`openclaw.json`）中使用 `agents.list` 预先定义多个**长期存在的代理实例**，每个 agent 拥有独立的配置、权限、workspace 和模型。

### 核心特性

- **预配置**：在启动前定义好，持久化存储

- **完全隔离**：不同的 workspace、auth profiles、模型设置

- **路由选择**：通过 `session.routing` 规则自动将消息分发给不同 agent

- **长期运行**：agent 本身是常驻的，不随对话创建/销毁

### 配置示例

```json5

{

  agents: {

    list: [

      {

        id: "work",

        workspace: "~/.openclaw/workspace-work",

        defaults: { model: { primary: "openai/gpt-5.4" } }

      },

      {

        id: "personal",

        workspace: "~/.openclaw/workspace-personal",

        defaults: { model: { primary: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6" } }

      }

    ],

    defaults: { /* 默认配置 */ }

  },

  session: {

    routing: [

      { match: { sender: "work-group" }, agent: "work" },

      { match: { sender: "family" }, agent: "personal" }

    ]

  }

}

```

---

## What is a New Agent (Multi-Agent Configuration)?

**New agent** refers to pre-defining multiple **long-running agent instances** in OpenClaw's configuration file (`openclaw.json`) using `agents.list`. Each agent has its own configuration, permissions, workspace, and model.

### Core Features

- **Pre-configured**: Defined before startup, persisted to disk

- **Full isolation**: Separate workspace, auth profiles, model settings

- **Router-based selection**: Messages routed automatically via `session.routing` rules

- **Persistent**: Agents are always-on; not created/destroyed per conversation

---

## 三、核心区别对比

| 维度 | sessions_spawn (临时子代理) | 新增 agent (多代理配置) |

|------|---------------------------|----------------------|

| **创建时机** | 运行时动态创建 | 启动前预配置 |

| **生命周期** | 单次任务或绑定线程会话 | 长期存在，随 Gateway 运行 |

| **隔离级别** | 独立 session，可共享 workspace | 完全独立的 workspace + auth |

| **配置方式** | 工具调用参数 | openclaw.json 静态配置 |

| **路由机制** | 手动调用指定任务 | 自动路由规则匹配 |

| **典型用途** | 并行任务、背景工作 | 多角色、多场景分离 |

| **资源开销** | 按需创建，用完可自动归档 | 常驻内存，持续占用资源 |

| **管理复杂度** | 无需提前规划 | 需要预先设计架构 |

---

## Key Differences

| Dimension | sessions_spawn (Sub-agent) | New Agent (Multi-Agent) |

|-----------|---------------------------|------------------------|

| **Creation** | Dynamic at runtime | Pre-configured at startup |

| **Lifecycle** | One-off task or thread-bound | Long-running, persistent |

| **Isolation** | Isolated session, optional sandbox | Fully separate workspace + auth |

| **Configuration** | Tool parameters | Static openclaw.json |

| **Routing** | Manual task assignment | Automatic rule-based |

| **Use Case** | Parallel tasks, background work | Multi-role, multi-context separation |

| **Resource** | On-demand, auto-archive | Always resident |

| **Complexity** | No upfront planning needed | Requires upfront design |

---

## 四、典型使用场景

### 场景 1：sessions_spawn 适合做什么？

✅ **并行处理多项任务**

```javascript

// 主代理协调多个子代理同时工作

- 同时搜索 3 个不同主题的最新资料

- 并行分析多个文件

- 一边写代码一边查文档

```

✅ **长耗时后台任务**

```javascript

// 用户无需等待，子代理完成后回调

- 大规模数据整理（>5分钟）

- 多步骤研究报告

- 自动化脚本执行

```

✅ **临时需要不同模型**

```javascript

// 某任务需要特定模型，临时 spawn

- 编码任务 → 使用 Codex/Claude Code (runtime: "acp")

- 创意写作 → 使用 GPT-5

- 代码 review → 使用专门的代码模型

```

✅ **安全沙箱测试**

```javascript

// 不信任的代码/操作在 sandbox 中运行

- 执行用户提供的脚本

- 访问外部网络敏感操作

- 测试新工具链

```

---

### 场景 2：新增 agent 适合做什么？

✅ **工作/生活分离**

```javascript

// 两个完全独立的 agent

work agent:

  - workspace: ~/.openclaw/workspace-work

  - 模型: GPT-5 (生产力)

  - 权限: 访问工作云盘、邮件

personal agent:

  - workspace: ~/.openclaw/workspace-personal  

  - 模型: Claude Opus (创意)

  - 权限: 个人日历、社交媒体

```

✅ **多角色服务**

```javascript

// 根据对话类型路由到不同 agent

support-agent:   客户服务（严格脚本）

creative-agent:  内容创作（自由度高等）

coding-agent:    技术编码（专业工具链）

research-agent:  学术研究（文献管理）

```

✅ **权限与数据隔离**

```javascript

// 不同安全级别的任务

admin-agent:     管理服务器、敏感数据 (高权限)

user-agent:      日常助手 (普通权限)

guest-agent:     访客模式 (只读权限)

```

✅ **模型与成本优化**

```javascript

// 为不同任务选择最经济的模型

cheap-agent:     快速问答 → GPT-4o-mini

smart-agent:     复杂推理 → Claude Opus

local-agent:     隐私任务 → 本地 Ollama

```

---

## Typical Use Cases

### Use Case 1: When to use sessions_spawn?

✅ **Parallel processing**

```javascript

// Main agent orchestrates multiple concurrent tasks

- Search 3 different topics simultaneously

- Analyze multiple files in parallel  

- Code writing + documentation lookup at same time

```

✅ **Long-running background tasks**

```javascript

// User doesn't wait; callback on completion

- Large-scale data processing (>5 minutes)

- Multi-step research reports

- Automated script execution

```

✅ **On-demand model switching**

```javascript

// Temporary need for specific model

- Coding tasks → Codex/Claude Code (runtime: "acp")

- Creative writing → GPT-5

- Code review → Specialized code model

```

✅ **Secure sandbox testing**

```javascript

// Untrusted code/operations in sandbox

- Execute user-provided scripts

- External network access (isolated)

- Test new toolchains

```

---

### Use Case 2: When to use New Agents?

✅ **Work/Life separation**

```javascript

// Two completely independent agents

work agent:

  - workspace: ~/.openclaw/workspace-work

  - model: GPT-5 (productivity)

  - access: work cloud drive, email

personal agent:

  - workspace: ~/.openclaw/workspace-personal  

  - model: Claude Opus (creative)

  - access: personal calendar, social media

```

✅ **Multi-role service**

```javascript

// Route by conversation type

support-agent:   Customer service (scripted)

creative-agent:  Content creation (freeform)

coding-agent:    Technical coding (pro tools)

research-agent:  Academic research (lit management)

```

✅ **Permission & data isolation**

```javascript

// Different security levels

admin-agent:     Manage servers, sensitive data (high privilege)

user-agent:      Daily assistant (normal privileges)

guest-agent:     Visitor mode (read-only)

```

✅ **Model & cost optimization**

```javascript

// Optimal model per task

cheap-agent:     Quick Q&A → GPT-4o-mini

smart-agent:     Complex reasoning → Claude Opus

local-agent:     Privacy tasks → Local Ollama

```

---

## 五、如何选择？

| 你的需求 | 推荐方案 |

|---------|---------|

| 想做并行任务、长耗时工作 | ✅ **sessions_spawn** |

| 需要临时切换模型/角色 | ✅ **sessions_spawn** |

| 想要工作/私人空间分离 | ✅ **新增 agent** |

| 需要不同权限等级 | ✅ **新增 agent** |

| 多角色服务（客服/编码/创作） | ✅ **新增 agent**（路由自动分派） |

| 想测试想法，不想改配置 | ✅ **sessions_spawn**（灵活快速） |

| 长期稳定的多身份服务 | ✅ **新增 agent**（架构清晰） |

---

## How to Choose?

| Your Need | Recommended Solution |

|-----------|---------------------|

| Parallel tasks, long-running work | ✅ **sessions_spawn** |

| Temporary model/role switching | ✅ **sessions_spawn** |

| Work/personal space separation | ✅ **New Agent** |

| Different permission levels | ✅ **New Agent** |

| Multi-role service (support/code/create) | ✅ **New Agent** (auto-routing) |

| Test ideas without config changes | ✅ **sessions_spawn** (flexible) |

| Long-term stable multi-identity | ✅ **New Agent** (clean architecture) |

---

## 六、进阶技巧：两者结合使用

你可以**同时使用**两种方案，获得最大灵活性：

```json5

// openclaw.json 配置两个常驻 agent

{

  agents: {

    list: [

      { id: "coder", model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6" },

      { id: "writer", model: "openai/gpt-5.4" }

    ]

  }

}

```

```javascript

// 在 coder agent 中，用 sessions_spawn 临时启动一个审查子代理

sessions_spawn({

  task: "审查这段代码的安全性",

  model: "openai-codex/gpt-5.4",

  runtime: "acp"

});

```

- **常驻 agent** 负责身份隔离和路由

- **临时子代理** 处理复杂子任务，用完即走

---

## Advanced: Combine Both

You can **use both** for maximum flexibility:

```json5

// openclaw.json: two permanent agents

{

  agents: {

    list: [

      { id: "coder", model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6" },

      { id: "writer", model: "openai/gpt-5.4" }

    ]

  }

}

```

```javascript

// Inside coder agent, spawn a temporary review sub-agent

sessions_spawn({

  task: "Review this code for security issues",

  model: "openai-codex/gpt-5.4",

  runtime: "acp"

});

```

- **Permanent agents** handle identity isolation & routing

- **Temporary sub-agents** tackle complex subtasks, ephemeral

---

## 七、注意事项

### sessions_spawn 的限制

- 子代理 **不能** 访问主会话的 session 工具（除非配置允许嵌套）

- 最大嵌套深度默认 1（可配置为 2 实现 orchestrator 模式）

- 每个会话最多 5 个子代理（可调）

- 默认不注入 `SOUL.md`、`IDENTITY.md` 等 personality 文件

### 新增 agent 的限制

- 需要重启 Gateway 才能生效配置变更

- 切换 agent 需要路由规则匹配或手动指定

- 每个 agent 独占磁盘空间（workspace、auth、sessions）

---

## Caveats

### sessions_spawn limitations

- Sub-agents **cannot** access parent session tools (unless nesting configured)

- Max nesting depth default 1 (configurable to 2 for orchestrator pattern)

- Max 5 sub-agents per session (adjustable)

- Does NOT inject personality files (`SOUL.md`, `IDENTITY.md`) by default

### New Agent limitations

- Config changes require Gateway restart

- Agent switching needs routing rules or manual selection

- Each agent consumes dedicated disk space (workspace, auth, sessions)

---

## 八、性能与成本

| 项目 | sessions_spawn | 新增 agent |

|------|----------------|-----------|

| 内存占用 | 按需创建，用完释放 | 常驻内存 |

| Token 成本 | 独立计费（可配置便宜模型） | 每个 agent 独立计费 |

| 启动速度 | 首次稍慢（冷启动） | 已运行，立即响应 |

| 并发能力 | 可配置最大同时子代理数 | 同时运行多个 agent 实例 |

**建议**：

- 频繁短任务 → 单 agent + sessions_spawn

- 多角色高频使用 → 多 agent 常驻

- 长耗时任务 → sessions_spawn + 便宜模型

---

## Performance & Cost

| Item | sessions_spawn | New Agent |

|------|----------------|-----------|

| Memory | On-demand, released after | Always resident |

| Token cost | Independent billing (cheap model possible) | Each agent billed separately |

| Startup speed | Slight delay on first spawn | Already running, instant |

| Concurrency | Configurable max concurrent sub-agents | Multiple agent instances running |

**Recommendations**:

- Frequent short tasks → Single agent + sessions_spawn

- Multi-role high-frequency → Multiple permanent agents

- Long-running tasks → sessions_spawn with cheap model

---

## 结语

**sessions_spawn** 和 **新增 agent** 是 OpenClaw 多任务架构的两种互补范式：

- **sessions_spawn** = 动态助手，灵活轻量，适合一次性并行任务

- **新增 agent** = 常驻团队，职责分离，适合长期多角色服务

根据你的工作流选择合适的方案，或**混合使用**，构建高效的 AI 协作系统。

---

## Conclusion

**sessions_spawn** and **New Agent** are two complementary paradigms in OpenClaw's multi-task architecture:

- **sessions_spawn** = Dynamic assistant, flexible & lightweight, ideal for one-off parallel tasks

- **New Agent** = Permanent team, role-separated, suited for long-term multi-role service

Pick the right tool for your workflow, or **combine both** to build an efficient AI collaboration system.

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