Claude Code vs. OpenClaw: 5 Design Dimensions

A technical breakdown compares Claude Code and OpenClaw across five architectural dimensions: system scope, runtime model, extension architecture, memory management, and multi-agent routing. The critical distinction is runtime design — Claude Code uses ephemeral short-lived processes while OpenClaw runs as a persistent daemon, impacting state management and latency. Engineers choosing agentic coding infrastructure should study these tradeoffs carefully.