Create Instance

POST

instances

curl -X POST https://api.chowder.dev/v1/instances \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer chd_org_abc123..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "my-assistant",
    "model_provider": "anthropic"
  }'

{
  "id": "f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479",
  "organization_id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
  "name": "my-assistant",
  "status": "provisioning",
  "model_provider": "anthropic",
  "sandbox_provider": "sandbox",
  "sandbox_id": null,
  "gateway_url": null,
  "openclaw_version": "v1",
  "openclaw_config": null,
  "region": null,
  "error_message": null,
  "created_at": "2026-02-14T16:00:00.000000+00:00",
  "updated_at": "2026-02-14T16:00:00.000000+00:00"
}

Create a new instance. This kicks off a provisioning process that spins up a cloud sandbox, installs OpenClaw, configures your model provider, and starts the gateway. The endpoint returns immediately with status: "provisioning" — the sandbox takes roughly ~90 seconds to become fully ready. Poll Get Instance Status to know when provisioning completes.

Requires an organization key (chd_org_*). Your org must have an API key configured for the chosen model_provider — set one via Update Organization first.

Request Body

string

required

A name for the instance. 1–128 characters.

string

default:"anthropic"

Which LLM provider to use. Your org must have an API key set for this provider.Options: "anthropic", "openai", "gemini"

string

default:"sandbox"

The cloud sandbox provider. Currently only "sandbox" is supported.

string

default:"v1"

Which OpenClaw version to deploy. Defaults to "v1".

object

Optional config overrides passed to the OpenClaw instance. These are dot-path key/value pairs that get applied via openclaw config set. Useful for tweaking behavior, setting system prompts, etc.

string

Preferred region for the sandbox. If not specified, the default region is used.

Response

Returns 201 Created with the instance object.

string

Unique instance ID (UUID).

string

The owning organization’s ID.

string

Instance name.

string

Current status. Will be "provisioning" immediately after creation. See the overview for all possible states.

string

The configured model provider.

string

The sandbox provider (e.g. "sandbox").

string | null

The underlying sandbox ID. null until provisioning completes.

string | null

Public URL for the OpenClaw gateway. null until provisioning completes.

string

The deployed OpenClaw version.

object | null

Any config overrides applied to this instance.

string | null

The sandbox region, if specified.

string | null

If status is "error", this explains what went wrong.

string

ISO 8601 timestamp.

string

ISO 8601 timestamp.

curl -X POST https://api.chowder.dev/v1/instances \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer chd_org_abc123..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "my-assistant",
    "model_provider": "anthropic"
  }'

{
  "id": "f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479",
  "organization_id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
  "name": "my-assistant",
  "status": "provisioning",
  "model_provider": "anthropic",
  "sandbox_provider": "sandbox",
  "sandbox_id": null,
  "gateway_url": null,
  "openclaw_version": "v1",
  "openclaw_config": null,
  "region": null,
  "error_message": null,
  "created_at": "2026-02-14T16:00:00.000000+00:00",
  "updated_at": "2026-02-14T16:00:00.000000+00:00"
}

curl -X POST https://api.chowder.dev/v1/instances \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer chd_org_abc123..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "my-assistant",
    "model_provider": "anthropic"
  }'

{
  "id": "f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479",
  "organization_id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
  "name": "my-assistant",
  "status": "provisioning",
  "model_provider": "anthropic",
  "sandbox_provider": "sandbox",
  "sandbox_id": null,
  "gateway_url": null,
  "openclaw_version": "v1",
  "openclaw_config": null,
  "region": null,
  "error_message": null,
  "created_at": "2026-02-14T16:00:00.000000+00:00",
  "updated_at": "2026-02-14T16:00:00.000000+00:00"
}

Overview

Organization

Instances

Channels

Skills

Files

API Keys

Subscription

Create Instance

Request Body

Response

​Request Body

​Response

Request Body

Response