From 6792249a0b6912e38be635dd111acaed46afcc6f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: orion <orion@op.hangman-lab.top>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:08:15 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] docs: add no-docker-first run modes and quick start

---
 README.md         | 17 ++++++++++++++++-
 docs/RUN_MODES.md | 35 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 51 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 docs/RUN_MODES.md

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bd8e78f..923ec36 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,11 +19,26 @@ The no-reply provider returns `NO_REPLY` for any input.
 
 - `plugin/` — OpenClaw plugin (before_model_resolve hook)
 - `no-reply-api/` — OpenAI-compatible minimal API that always returns `NO_REPLY`
-- `docs/` — rollout and configuration notes
+- `docs/` — rollout, integration, run-mode notes
 - `scripts/` — smoke/dev/helper checks
 - `Makefile` — common dev commands (`make check`, `make check-rules`, `make test-api`, `make up`)
 - `CHANGELOG.md` — milestone summary
 
+## Quick start (no Docker)
+
+```bash
+cd no-reply-api
+node server.mjs
+```
+
+Then render config snippet:
+
+```bash
+node scripts/render-openclaw-config.mjs
+```
+
+See `docs/RUN_MODES.md` for Docker mode.
+
 ---
 
 ## Development plan (incremental commits)
diff --git a/docs/RUN_MODES.md b/docs/RUN_MODES.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57957e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/RUN_MODES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Run Modes
+
+WhisperGate has two runtime components:
+
+1. `plugin/` (OpenClaw plugin)
+2. `no-reply-api/` (deterministic NO_REPLY service)
+
+Docker is optional.
+
+## Mode A (recommended): No Docker
+
+```bash
+cd no-reply-api
+node server.mjs
+```
+
+Then configure OpenClaw provider `baseURL` to `http://127.0.0.1:8787/v1`.
+
+## Mode B: Docker
+
+```bash
+./scripts/dev-up.sh
+# or: docker compose up -d --build whispergate-no-reply-api
+```
+
+Stop:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/dev-down.sh
+```
+
+## Security notes
+
+- Bind API to loopback/private network.
+- If exposed beyond localhost, set `AUTH_TOKEN`.