Run Clause in 5 minutes

You need Node.js, a free PayPal Developer account, and optionally an Anthropic API key.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 20 or newer (22 recommended).
• A PayPal Developer account (free).
• An Anthropic API key for the AI features. Without one, Clause runs in a clearly labelled simulated AI mode so the PayPal flow still works.

PayPal sandbox

1. Open the Developer Dashboard → Apps & Credentials → Sandbox.
2. Create a REST app (or use the default). It belongs to your sandbox Business account, which is the seller and receives the money. Copy its Client ID and Secret.
3. Under Testing Tools → Sandbox Accounts, note your sandbox Personal account's email and password. You log in with it as the buyer in the PayPal popup.

Install & run

git clone https://github.com/akashtalole/Clause.git

cd Clause && npm install && cp .env.example .env

Fill in .env (see below), then optionally add labelled demo history for the analytics page, and start:

npm run seed

npm start

Open http://localhost:3000. The header chips show whether Claude and PayPal are configured.

Configuration

Check your setup

npm run smoke

Confirms the PayPal sandbox token, creates a test order with an approval link, and makes a tiny Claude call if a key is set.

Deploy on Render

1. Click the button (or Render → New → Blueprint → this repo). Fill in ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, PAYPAL_SANDBOX_CLIENT_ID and PAYPAL_SANDBOX_CLIENT_SECRET.
2. Optional: New → Workflow on the same repo, start command node src/workflows.js, env var ANTHROPIC_API_KEY. Then set RENDER_WORKFLOW_SLUG and RENDER_API_KEY on the web service so AI jobs run as Render Workflows tasks.

Use from an AI agent (MCP)

With Clause running, register the MCP server in Claude Code:

claude mcp add clause -e CLAUSE_URL=http://localhost:3000 -- node /absolute/path/to/Clause/src/mcp.js

Or in Claude Desktop's claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "clause": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/Clause/src/mcp.js"],
      "env": { "CLAUSE_URL": "http://localhost:3000" }
    }
  }
}

Then ask: "Use Clause to hire an agent to write 5 taglines for my bakery for $40, and give me the PayPal link to fund it." Tool list in the reference.

Tests

npm test

Runs the real server against a local fake of the PayPal REST API: holds, partial and final captures, void, refund, prompt-injection blocking, delivery order, scheduler, audit-chain tampering, the AG Studio ↔ Claude bridge and the Render Workflows tasks.

Troubleshooting