Context
I wanted a blog that I fully own: simple, fast, and easy to maintain.
The challenge wasn’t technical complexity. It was decision fatigue: naming, stack choices, structure, wording, and setup details.
What I tried
I used OpenClaw as my blogging copilot during setup, not as a one-click autopilot.
Workflow:
- Clarified brand direction (name, tagline, description)
- Picked a minimal stack (Hugo + Bear Blog theme)
- Built core pages (
Home,About, starter post template) - Connected repo + Cloudflare Pages deploy
- Added basic navigation and iteration flow
OpenClaw handled the writing-side acceleration: helping me refine the voice, structure drafts, and keep the process moving while I made the final calls.
What worked
- Faster decision-making: I spent less time stuck between options.
- Better writing quality upfront: clearer About page and structure.
- Lower setup friction: I got from idea to working site in one sitting.
What didn’t
- Auth and deployment still required manual checks.
- AI suggestions are only as good as the constraints I gave.
- It’s tempting to over-automate before the writing habit is stable.
Trade-offs
- Guidance speed vs hands-on understanding
- Fast launch vs polished design
- Automation convenience vs editorial control
Takeaway
AI helped me ship faster by reducing friction, not by replacing judgment.
For setup work, that’s the pattern I want to keep: I decide the direction, AI accelerates execution.