Optimize Gateway startup and restart latency

## What changed OpenClaw released an update on 19 May 2026 that cuts Gateway restart ready latency. The change overlaps startup logging and plugin-service initialization with channel sidecars.

Strict readiness gating stays in place so the agent only accepts traffic once every component reports healthy.

## Why it matters Faster restarts reduce downtime for users who run OpenClaw on a VPS and rely on it for daily briefings across WhatsApp and Telegram. The improvement targets the most common friction point reported by self-hosted operators who restart after config changes or memory spikes.

It signals that the team is prioritizing operational reliability over new features. This bet assumes Vibe Builders will keep the agent running continuously if cold starts stop interrupting workflows.

## How to use it Pull the latest release from the OpenClaw GitHub repository and rebuild the container image. Restart the Gateway service with the same YAML configuration you already use.

No new plan or paid tier is required. The update ships in the free MIT-licensed build and becomes active on the next container start.

## Watch for Confirm the bet if average restart time drops below thirty seconds in production logs. Watch for regressions if sidecar overlap introduces race conditions during heavy plugin loads. The next logical move is exposing restart metrics through the existing CLI so operators can set alerts without extra tooling.