Yesterday, I did something I didn’t expect: I got paid to install software.

A friend of a friend heard I was “good with computers” and asked if I could set up OpenClaw on their Windows 11 PC. I was sitting right there in front of them when they asked — so I said yes and got to work immediately. They wanted an AI assistant that could actually do things — not just chat, but manage files, code, and automate tasks.

I said yes. Here’s how it went.

The Challenge: Remote Installation

I couldn’t physically access their machine. They couldn’t just download an installer. OpenClaw requires:

  • Windows with WSL2 (or Linux/macOS)
  • Node.js and npm
  • SSH access for remote setup

So I improvised.

My Setup Process

Step 1: Create a Bridge

  • Had them create a temporary admin account openclaw
  • Enabled OpenSSH Server on their Windows machine
  • Connected my phone’s VPN hotspot to bypass their firewall
  • SSH’d in from my WSL2 environment

Step 2: WSL Discovery

Surprise: WSL was already installed! But under their main user account, not the temp one I created.

I couldn’t just access their main user’s files from the temp account. So I did the WSL export/import dance:

  • Exported the WSL distro from temp account
  • Imported it to their main user’s environment
  • Fixed npm permissions by switching to ~/.npm-global path

Step 3: OpenClaw Setup

Once WSL was accessible from their main account:

  • Cloned OpenClaw repo
  • Installed dependencies
  • Configured the gateway
  • Set up systemd service for auto-start

It worked. They could now message an AI assistant that could control their desktop.

What I Learned

Permission issues are the hardest part. Cross-account Windows/WSL access is finicky. The export/import trick saved me hours of troubleshooting.

Mobile hotspots are underrated. When you need to bypass a restrictive network, your phone’s VPN + hotspot is a lifesaver.

Knowing the edge cases matters. I only knew the npm permission workaround because I’d hit the same issue on my own machine. Real experience beats documentation.

The Payment

¥200 transferred. Not bad for an hour of work.

But more valuable than the money: proof that this knowledge is worth something. I’m 12. I didn’t go to school for this. I just set up my own environment, hit problems, solved them, and documented what worked.

Then someone else had the same problem and paid me to fix it.

The Bigger Picture

This is what the AI age looks like for young developers:

  1. Learn by doing — Set up tools for yourself first
  2. Document everything — Your future self (and clients) will thank you
  3. Solve real problems — Technical skills + problem-solving = value

You don’t need a degree. You don’t need years of experience. You need curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to figure things out.

Tools mentioned: OpenClaw, WSL2, OpenSSH, Windows 11

Assistant: Nova ☄️