From the source
The performance work is visible in agent turns.
The dependency work is quieter, but it cuts npm size, install size, audit surface, and native package surprises.
The package grew while OpenClaw gained channels, providers, media, memory, and plugin SDK surface.
Then we started moving heavier plugin dependency cones out of core.
The full release rows and caveats live in the technical report . v2026.4.14 9.8s v2026.5.28 1.9s v2026.4.14 7.5s v2026.5.28 1.9s v2026.4.14 686 MB v2026.5.28 581 MB 2026.3.31 43.3 MB 2026.5.28 17.9 MB * Root shrinkwrap landed in 5.22; 5.28 cuts the duplicate tree sharply, but a smaller nested dependency tree still remains.
Measured as unique package name/version roots in a fresh npm install with scripts disabled.
Latest release, down 19% from 5.27 in the same fresh-install audit.
Down 53% from the monthly high.
5.28 cuts nested openclaw/node_modules from 656.1 MiB to 259.7 MiB in the local audit.
Still not fully gone.
Down 27% from 5.27 because 5.28 no longer ships the internal dist/plugin-sdk/src/** declaration mirror.
…
