Issue/PR 2: default openclaw status should avoid slow plugin/session/update work

Title

Default openclaw status is slow because fast status still performs plugin-aware config work, update checks, and full historical session hydration

Affected version

• OpenClaw CLI: 2026.5.22
• Platform: Linux x64

Summary

Default openclaw status is intended to be a quick status command, but in a real configuration it can take more than 12 seconds. The slow path is not one single hang; it is cumulative cold-start and rendering overhead.

Observed major contributors:

1. Plugin-aware config / secret target discovery during default fast status.
2. Package update network check during default fast status.
3. Text status summary hydrates model/runtime metadata for every historical session even though only recent rows are rendered.

Observed behavior

Before local fast-path changes:

openclaw status: about 13.7–13.8s

After applying local fast-path changes:

openclaw status: about 10.4–10.8s
openclaw status --json: about 7.1–7.3s
openclaw gateway status: about 8.0–8.2s
openclaw --help: about 5.6s

Timings are from one Linux host and should be treated as directional, not as benchmark guarantees.

Proposed changes

1. Recent-session fast path

For default openclaw status, only render recent session rows. Avoid hydrating model/runtime metadata for every historical session when only top-N recent rows are displayed.

Implementation idea:

• Count sessions cheaply per store.
• For each agent/store, sort/select recent N first.
• Hydrate model/runtime metadata only for rows that will be displayed.
• Compute total count from cheap counts, not from fully built rows.

2. Default status config fast path

For default openclaw status only, avoid channel plugin secret-target discovery during config resolution.

Keep the full plugin-aware path for:

• openclaw status --deep
• openclaw status --all
• commands that intentionally inspect channel/plugin details

3. Skip package update check in default fast status

Default openclaw status should not perform package update network checks. Keep update checks for --deep, --all, or an explicit update/doctor command.

Expected result

• Default openclaw status becomes consistently fast enough for routine diagnostics.
• Deep/plugin-aware checks remain available through explicit flags.
• The status command no longer surprises users with slow network/plugin work on the default path.

Privacy note

This report intentionally excludes:

• user IDs, chat IDs, message IDs, sender IDs;
• LAN IP addresses and private hostnames;
• private file paths unrelated to generic OpenClaw installation examples;
• credentials, account names, tokens, or private config values.