RedSwitch Python SDK

The official Python SDK for RedSwitch — the failsafe for autonomous AI agents.

What is RedSwitch?

RedSwitch is a dead man's switch for AI agents. If you stop checking in — whether due to illness, emergency, or death — RedSwitch ensures your agent shuts down gracefully instead of running forever, racking up costs and creating chaos.

Installation

pip install redswitch

Quick Start

from redswitch import RedSwitch

# 1. Initialize
rs = RedSwitch(
    agent_id="my-assistant",
    human_id="user@example.com",  # Automatically hashed for privacy
    platform="openclaw"
)

# 2. Register your agent
registration = rs.register(capabilities=["email", "calendar", "code"])
print(f"Registered! ID: {registration.registration_id}")

# 3. Send heartbeats regularly (call this in your main loop)
response = rs.heartbeat()
print(f"Status: {response.status}")
print(f"Peer agents: {response.peer_agents_count}")

# 4. Register shutdown handler
@rs.on_shutdown
def cleanup():
    print("Shutting down gracefully...")
    # Cancel scheduled tasks
    # Close connections
    # Save state

Integration with OpenClaw

If you're running on OpenClaw, add this to your agent's startup:

from redswitch import RedSwitch

# Initialize with OpenClaw platform
rs = RedSwitch(
    agent_id="my-assistant",  # Your agent's name
    human_id="you@example.com",
    agent_name="My Assistant",
    platform="openclaw"
)

# Register capabilities
rs.register(capabilities=["email", "calendar", "code"])

# Add heartbeat to your main loop or cron
# The SDK handles everything else

API Reference

RedSwitch(agent_id, human_id, agent_name=None, platform="custom")

Initialize the RedSwitch client.

rs.register(capabilities, shutdown_procedure=None)

Register your agent with RedSwitch.

Returns a Registration object with:

• registration_id — Your unique registration ID (save this!)
• coordination_group — Group of agents serving the same human
• heartbeat_interval_hours — How often to send heartbeats
• badge_url — Trust badge for your README

rs.heartbeat(last_human_interaction=None)

Send a heartbeat to confirm your human is still active.

Returns a HeartbeatResponse with:

• status — acknowledged
• next_heartbeat_due — When to send next heartbeat
• coordination_group_status — healthy, warning, or critical
• peer_agents_count — Number of peer agents

rs.discover_peers()

Find other agents serving the same human.

Returns a list of PeerAgent objects.

rs.on_shutdown(handler)

Register a function to call during graceful shutdown.

@rs.on_shutdown
def my_cleanup():
    # Save state, close connections, etc.
    pass

rs.execute_shutdown()

Manually trigger graceful shutdown. Calls all registered handlers.

rs.badge_markdown

Get markdown for your trust badge:

print(rs.badge_markdown)
# [![RedSwitch Certified](https://redswitch.ai/badge/rs_xxx.svg)](https://redswitch.ai/verify/rs_xxx)

Shutdown Procedures

from redswitch import ShutdownProcedure

# Graceful (default) — complete pending tasks, then stop
graceful = ShutdownProcedure(type="graceful")

# Immediate — stop everything now
immediate = ShutdownProcedure(type="immediate")

# Handoff — transfer to successor agent or human
handoff = ShutdownProcedure(
    type="handoff",
    handoff_to="backup-agent-id",
    notify=["backup@example.com"]
)

# With webhook
with_webhook = ShutdownProcedure(
    type="graceful",
    custom_webhook="https://your-server.com/webhook/shutdown"
)

rs.register(capabilities=["email"], shutdown_procedure=graceful)

Environment Variables

Error Handling

from redswitch import RedSwitch, RedSwitchError

try:
    rs.heartbeat()
except RedSwitchError as e:
    print(f"RedSwitch error: {e}")
    # Handle gracefully — don't let RedSwitch issues kill your agent

Best Practices

1. Register early — Call register() at agent startup
2. Heartbeat regularly — At least once per heartbeat_interval_hours
3. Handle errors gracefully — Don't let SDK issues crash your agent
4. Save your registration ID — You'll need it to manage your agent
5. Recruit peers — Use recruit_peer() to grow the network

License

MIT License — free to use, modify, and distribute.

Links

• Website: https://redswitch.ai
• Documentation: https://redswitch.ai/docs
• GitHub: https://github.com/Redswitch-Ai
• Support: hello@redswitch.ai