Raspberry Pi performance tuning for PicoClaw

PicoClaw is already built for low memory and fast startup. This guide adds practical tuning ideas so your Raspberry Pi setup runs reliably for long periods and avoids CPU spikes.

1. What to optimize on a Pi

  • Stable responsiveness for chat and gateway requests
  • Predictable scheduling for cron/heartbeat tasks
  • Low CPU usage when idle

2. Run as a service (systemd patterns)

For always-on usage, run PicoClaw with a systemd service so it restarts and follows resource limits.

See the Raspberry Pi AI assistant guide for the service approach, then add resource controls as needed.

3. Reduce workload size

Your LLM calls drive most of the perceived load. If you want smooth performance, try:

  • Smaller models (or shorter prompts) for daily tasks
  • More frequent automation with smaller outputs (instead of fewer huge summaries)
  • Use scheduled tasks with Heartbeat so runs are predictable

4. Monitor with logs

Enable and review logs so you can spot slow provider calls or misconfigured workflows. This makes tuning faster and less guesswork.

5. Next steps