refactor: remove internal self-ping keep-alive in favor of dashboard-based UptimeRobot setup

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,9 +2,25 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
+## [1.2.0] - 2026-04-03
+
+### Added
+
+- **Dashboard-based UptimeRobot setup** — users can now paste their UptimeRobot Main API key directly in the dashboard and create an external uptime monitor
+- **Optional WhatsApp mode** — WhatsApp now stays fully disabled unless `WHATSAPP_ENABLED=true`
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Documentation simplified** — README now explains the simple dashboard flow for external keep-alive, which key to use, and where to paste it
+
+### Removed
+
+- **Internal self-ping keep-alive** — removed `keep-alive.sh` and all startup wiring because internal self-pings do not reliably prevent free-tier HF Space sleep
+
 ## [1.1.0] - 2026-03-31
 
 ### Added
+
 - **Pre-built Docker image** — uses `ghcr.io/openclaw/openclaw:latest` multi-stage build for much faster builds (minutes instead of 30+)
 - **Python huggingface_hub sync** — `workspace-sync.py` uses the `huggingface_hub` library for more reliable HF Dataset sync (handles auth, LFS, retries). Falls back to git-based sync automatically
 - **Password auth** — `OPENCLAW_PASSWORD` for simpler login (optional alternative to token)
@@ -14,6 +30,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 - **OpenCode Zen/Go** — support for OpenCode's tested model service
 
 ### Changed
+
 - Provider detection now uses `case` statement (cleaner, faster) with correct OpenClaw provider IDs
 - Model IDs now sourced from OpenClaw docs (not OpenRouter) for accuracy
 - Google API key env var corrected to `GEMINI_API_KEY`
@@ -23,6 +40,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 ### 🎉 Initial Release
 
 #### Features
+
 - **Any LLM provider** — Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (GPT-4), Google (Gemini)
 - **Telegram integration** — connect via @BotFather, supports multiple users
 - **Built-in keep-alive** — self-pings to prevent HF Spaces 48h sleep
@@ -36,8 +54,8 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 - **Zero-config defaults** — just 2 secrets to get started
 
 #### Architecture
+
 - `start.sh` — config generator + validation + orchestrator
-- `keep-alive.sh` — self-ping background service
 - `workspace-sync.sh` — periodic workspace backup
 - `health-server.js` — lightweight health endpoint
 - `dns-fix.js` — DNS override for HF network restrictions

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Thanks for your interest in contributing! 🦞
 - Test with at least one LLM provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google)
 - Test with and without Telegram enabled
 - Test with and without workspace backup enabled
-- Verify keep-alive and auto-sync work
+- Verify dashboard setup and auto-sync work
 
 ## Development Setup
 

Dockerfile

@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ COPY --chown=1000:1000 dns-fix.js /opt/dns-fix.js
 COPY --chown=1000:1000 health-server.js /home/node/app/health-server.js
 COPY --chown=1000:1000 iframe-fix.cjs /home/node/app/iframe-fix.cjs
 COPY --chown=1000:1000 start.sh /home/node/app/start.sh
-COPY --chown=1000:1000 keep-alive.sh /home/node/app/keep-alive.sh
 COPY --chown=1000:1000 wa-guardian.js /home/node/app/wa-guardian.js
 COPY --chown=1000:1000 workspace-sync.py /home/node/app/workspace-sync.py
-RUN chmod +x /home/node/app/start.sh /home/node/app/keep-alive.sh
+RUN chmod +x /home/node/app/start.sh
 
 USER node
 

README.md

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ license: mit
 - ⚡ **Zero Config:** Duplicate this Space and set **just three** secrets (LLM_API_KEY, LLM_MODEL, GATEWAY_TOKEN) – no other setup needed.
 - 🐳 **Fast Builds:** Uses a pre-built OpenClaw Docker image to deploy in minutes.
 - 💾 **Workspace Backup:** Chats, settings, and WhatsApp session state sync to a private HF Dataset via the `huggingface_hub` (Git fallback), preserving data automatically.
-- 💓 **Always-On:** Built-in keep-alive pings prevent the HF Space from sleeping, so the assistant is always online.
+- ⏰ **External Keep-Alive:** Set up a one-time UptimeRobot monitor from the dashboard to help keep free HF Spaces awake.
 - 👥 **Multi-User Messaging:** Support for Telegram (multi-user) and WhatsApp (pairing).
 - 📊 **Visual Dashboard:** Beautiful Web UI to monitor uptime, sync status, and active models.
 - 🔔 **Webhooks:** Get notified on restarts or backup failures via standard webhooks.
@@ -127,9 +127,9 @@ For persistent chat history and configuration, HuggingClaw can sync your workspa
 > [!TIP]
 > This backup also stores a hidden copy of your WhatsApp session credentials, allowing paired logins to survive Space restarts automatically.
 
-## ⏰ External Keep-Alive *(Recommended on Free HF Spaces)*
+## 💓 Staying Alive *(Recommended on Free HF Spaces)*
 
-Free Hugging Face Spaces can still sleep. To keep your Space awake, set up an external UptimeRobot monitor from the dashboard.
+Free Hugging Face Spaces can still sleep. HuggingClaw does not rely on internal self-pings anymore. To help keep your Space awake, set up an external UptimeRobot monitor from the dashboard.
 
 Use the **Main API key** from UptimeRobot.
 Do **not** use the `Read-only API key` or a `Monitor-specific API key`.
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ openclaw channels login --gateway https://YOUR_SPACE_NAME.hf.space
 HuggingClaw/
 ├── Dockerfile          # Multi-stage build using pre-built OpenClaw image
 ├── start.sh            # Config generator, validator, and orchestrator
-├── keep-alive.sh       # Self-ping to prevent HF Space sleep
 ├── workspace-sync.py   # Syncs workspace to HF Datasets (with Git fallback)
 ├── health-server.js    # /health endpoint for uptime checks
 ├── dns-fix.js          # DNS-over-HTTPS fallback (for blocked domains)
@@ -268,29 +267,17 @@ HuggingClaw/
 4. Restore workspace from HF Dataset.
 5. Generate `openclaw.json` from environment variables.
 6. Print startup summary.
-7. Launch background tasks (keep-alive, auto-sync).
+7. Launch background tasks (auto-sync and optional channel helpers).
 8. Launch the OpenClaw gateway (start listening).
 9. On `SIGTERM`, save workspace and exit cleanly.
 ```
 
-## 💓 Staying Alive
-
-HuggingClaw keeps the Space awake without external cron tools:
-
-- **Self-ping:** It periodically sends HTTP requests to its own URL (default every 5 minutes).  
-- **Health endpoint:** `/health` returns `200 OK` and uptime info.  
-- **No external deps:** Fully managed within HF Spaces (no outside pingers or servers).
-
-| Variable | Default | Description |
-| :--- | :--- | :--- |
-| `KEEP_ALIVE_INTERVAL` | `300` | Self-ping interval in seconds (0 to disable) |
-
 ## 🐛 Troubleshooting
 
 - **Missing secrets:** Ensure `LLM_API_KEY`, `LLM_MODEL`, and `GATEWAY_TOKEN` are set in your Space **Settings → Secrets**.
 - **Telegram bot issues:** Verify your `TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN`. Check Space logs for lines like `📱 Enabling Telegram`.
 - **Backup restore failing:** Make sure `HF_USERNAME` and `HF_TOKEN` are correct (token needs write access to your Dataset).
-- **Space keeps sleeping:** Check logs for `Keep-alive` messages. Ensure `KEEP_ALIVE_INTERVAL` isn’t set to `0`.
+- **Space keeps sleeping:** Open `/dashboard` and use `Keep Space Awake` to create the external monitor.
 - **Auth errors / proxy:** If you see reverse-proxy auth errors, add the logged IPs under `TRUSTED_PROXIES` (from logs `remote=x.x.x.x`).
 - **Control UI says too many failed authentication attempts:** Wait for the retry window to expire, then open the Space in an incognito window or clear site storage for your Space before logging in again with `GATEWAY_TOKEN`.
 - **WhatsApp lost its session after restart:** Make sure `HF_USERNAME` and `HF_TOKEN` are configured so the hidden session backup can be restored on boot.

keep-alive.sh

@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-# Self-ping keep-alive for HF Spaces
-# HF Spaces sleeps after 48h of inactivity (no HTTP requests)
-# This script pings the Space's own URL to prevent that
-#
-# HF provides SPACE_HOST env var automatically (e.g., "username-spacename.hf.space")
-# Runs as a background process alongside the gateway
-
-INTERVAL="${KEEP_ALIVE_INTERVAL:-300}"  # Default: every 5 minutes
-
-if [ "$INTERVAL" = "0" ]; then
-  echo "⏸️  Keep-alive: disabled (KEEP_ALIVE_INTERVAL=0)"
-  exit 0
-fi
-
-if [ -z "$SPACE_HOST" ]; then
-  echo "⏸️  Keep-alive: SPACE_HOST not set (not on HF Spaces?), skipping."
-  exit 0
-fi
-
-# Ping the health endpoint so we keep the Space warm without touching the gateway
-PING_URL="https://${SPACE_HOST}/health"
-
-echo "💓 Keep-alive started: pinging ${PING_URL} every ${INTERVAL}s"
-
-while true; do
-  sleep "$INTERVAL"
-  HTTP_CODE=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" --max-time 10 "$PING_URL" 2>/dev/null)
-  if [ "$HTTP_CODE" = "000" ]; then
-    echo "💓 Keep-alive: ping failed (network error), retrying next cycle..."
-  else
-    echo "💓 Keep-alive: OK"
-  fi
-done

start.sh

@@ -331,11 +331,8 @@ else
 printf "  │  %-40s │\n" "Auth: 🔐 token"
 fi
 if [ -n "$SPACE_HOST" ]; then
-printf "  │  %-40s │\n" "Keep-alive: ✅ every ${KEEP_ALIVE_INTERVAL:-300}s"
 printf "  │  %-40s │\n" "Control UI: https://${SPACE_HOST}"
 printf "  │  %-40s │\n" "Dashboard: https://${SPACE_HOST}/dashboard"
-else
-printf "  │  %-40s │\n" "Keep-alive: ⏸️  local mode"
 fi
 SYNC_STATUS="❌ disabled"
 if [ -n "$HF_USERNAME" ] && [ -n "$HF_TOKEN" ]; then
@@ -388,10 +385,6 @@ export LLM_MODEL="$LLM_MODEL"
 node /home/node/app/health-server.js &
 HEALTH_PID=$!
 
-# 11. Start HF keep-alive
-/home/node/app/keep-alive.sh &
-KEEP_ALIVE_PID=$!
-
 # ── Launch gateway ──
 echo "🚀 Launching OpenClaw gateway on port 7860..."
 echo ""
@@ -415,14 +408,14 @@ if ! kill -0 $GATEWAY_PID 2>/dev/null; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-# 12. Start WhatsApp Guardian after the gateway is accepting connections
+# 11. Start WhatsApp Guardian after the gateway is accepting connections
 if [ "$WHATSAPP_ENABLED_NORMALIZED" = "true" ]; then
   node /home/node/app/wa-guardian.js &
   GUARDIAN_PID=$!
   echo "🛡️ WhatsApp Guardian started (PID: $GUARDIAN_PID)"
 fi
 
-# 13. Start Workspace Sync after startup settles
+# 12. Start Workspace Sync after startup settles
 python3 -u /home/node/app/workspace-sync.py &
 
 # Wait for gateway (allows trap to fire)