Hermes Agent: From Beginner to Expert - A Practical Handbook (PDF file)

Hermes Agent"From Beginner to Expert" was written by Uncle Hua.open sourceAI AgentPractical guide to Nous Research's Hermes AgentFramework. Its core feature is "built-in control": through a self-improving learning cycle, three-layer memory (conversation/persistence/skill), and...automaticThe evolved Skill system allowsAgentThe more you use it, the better it understands you. Hermes AgentSupports $5 VPS deployment 24/7, with 40+ tools and MCP integration for 6000+ applications. Unlike OpenClaw's "nurturing" approach, Hermes is a "self-evolving" system.automaticLearn skills through experience, not through manual training. The tutorial covers installation and configuration, multi-platform integration, and development.automaticReal-world scenarios such as chemical warfare.

freeGet theHermes Agent From beginner to expertThe original PDF report is available by scanning the QR code and replying with the following code: Hermes Agent

What is Harness Engineering?

• Command layer → Skill system (Markdown files,automatic(Create + Self-Improvement)
• constraint layer → Tool permissions + Sandbox
• Feedback layer → Self-improving learning cycle (automatic(Review and Optimization)
• Memory layer → Three-layer memory (session/persistence/skill) + Honcho user modeling
• Arrangement layer → sub Agent Delegation + Cron scheduling

With OpenClaw,Claude Relationship with Code

Core Mechanism

Self-improving learning loop

• Planning MemoryAfter a conversation, the individual actively decides which information is worth remembering (similar to humans keeping a diary, but not storing all information).
• Create SkillAfter completing a complex taskautomaticExtracted into ~/.hermes/skills/ Markdown files
• Skill Self-ImprovementBased on user feedbackautomaticModify Skill rules (e.g., if a user says "check if the table exists before importing CSV"), Hermes will update the Skill file and update it next time.automaticimplement)
• FTS5 RecallWhen a new conversation begins, relevant history is retrieved on demand based on the SQLite FTS5 full-text index (without fully loading the context).
• Honcho User ModelingInferring deeper user characteristics (such as technical skill level, work pace, and inconsistencies between words and actions) and injecting them into subsequent conversations.

Three-layer memory architecture

Skill System

• FormatPure Markdown, readable and editable, using the agentskills.io standard (and... Claude Code and Cursor are compatible.
• source40+ Built-in Bundled SkillsAgent Self-created, Skills Hub community installation
• characteristicUnlike OpenClaw's manual maintenance, Hermes Skill will...From experienceautomaticevolution

40+ tools integrated with MCP

• Five categories of tools: Execution (terminal/code_execution), Information (web/browser), Media (vision/image_gen), Memory (memory/skills), Coordination (delegation/moa/cronjob)
• MCP (Model Context Protocol)Supports integration with 6000+ external applications (GitHub, Slack, Jira, databases, etc.), via stdio or HTTP Plug and play method
• son Agent DelegationMaximum of 3 concurrent sub-processes AgentEach component has its own independent context and a limited toolset, used for parallel research/coding/testing.

 Three installation paths

• localOne-clickscriptCompletes in 5 minutes, supports macOS/Linux/WSL2
• DockerData volume mapping to ~/.hermesContainer reconstruction does not lose state
• $5 VPSSoftware such as Hetzner/DigitalOcean, with less than 500MB of memory, can achieve 24/7 online operation.

Minimalist configuration

• Only one ~/.hermes/config.yaml document
• Enter the model API (recommend OpenRouter/Nous Portal and a messaging platform Token are all that's needed to start.

Establishing understanding through the first conversation

• No need like Claude You can write the CLAUDE.md file manually, unlike OpenClaw which requires writing the SOUL.md file.
• Direct dialogue: Self-introductionautomaticWritePersistent memoryAfter completing the first taskautomaticexist ~/.hermes/skills/ Generate Skill files in Markdown format
• Instant feedback triggers skill self-improvement, next time.automaticReuse and optimize versions

Seamless expansion across multiple platforms

• Based on a unified gateway architecture, it supports access from 12+ platforms including Telegram, Discord, and Slack.
• All platforms share the same SQLite database, enabling cross-platform continuity: tasks initiated on Telegram can be seamlessly continued by simply typing "continue" in the CLI.

MCP capabilities enhanced

• By using the standardized interface of the Model Context Protocol, you can integrate with 6000+ external applications such as GitHub and PostgreSQL without writing any adaptation code.
• Supports per-server tool filtering (such as granting only read-only permissions to GitHub), adhering to the principle of least privilege while expanding capabilities.

• Personal Knowledge Assistant: For in-depth research that lasts for several weeks (such as "research") AI Agent Deployment plan). Traditional AI Each new dialogue requires a fresh explanation of the background; Hermes relies on his three layers of memory.automaticConnecting the context—your mention last week of "excluding the Docker solution" and yesterday's confirmation of "preference for low cost" can be directly addressed by asking "continue looking at Serverless" this week, without needing to repeat the background information.
• DevelopmentautomaticchangeAchieve a 24/7 unattended DevOps pipeline. Through Cron scheduled triggers and GitHub MCP, Hermes can run while you sleep.automaticReview new PRs (checking naming and test coverage according to Skill-defined specifications), run regression tests, monitor coverage changes, and generate daily reports with causal relationships (e.g., "The architecture was changed on Wednesday because of a port conflict on Monday"), rather than...SimpleThe list of commits.
• Content creationSuitable for long-term output of a series of topics. The style preference established in the first article (such as "avoiding the above summary" and "paragraphs not exceeding 3 lines") will be reflected in the fifth article.automaticInheritance; for competitive analysis tasks, up to 3 sub-tasks can be delegated. Agent Simultaneously researching different products, data collection that would normally take 40 minutes was completed in 20 minutes, andautomaticDevelop your editing habits to create your own editing manual.
• many Agent ArrangementParallel acceleration for handling complex tasks. Tasks can be split into up to 3 subtasks using `delegate_task`. Agent Simultaneous execution (e.g., A researches the architecture, B writes code, C runs tests), each with its own independent context and limited toolset (research). Agent No terminal access required (to ensure security), main Agent Focus on results integration, avoid single-mindedness. Agent Context explosion.

• Regarding tool positioningThe manual proposes the "three horses" theory:Claude Code is the "craftsman" of real-time coding, Hermes is the "housekeeper" that monitors the background, and OpenClaw is the "standard" that defines behavior. The three are not interchangeable; they achieve skill interoperability through the agentskills.io standard. Users should combine them according to the characteristics of the task (requiring real-time collaboration, background operation, or audit compliance).
• Boundaries of self-improvementThe author points out that the key to its ceiling lies in the quality of feedback:Agent While continuous optimization is possible in "how to do it" (execution efficiency), the directional judgment of "what to do" and "what not to do" still requires human control. Skill files are plaintext auditable and data is stored locally, but there are limitations.automaticThe fundamental contradiction lies in the fact that "the value of modernization lies in not needing to be monitored, while security requirements necessitate constant monitoring." Best practice is to maintain... On the Loop——Agent They are responsible for independent execution and experience accumulation, with regular audits to guide the process, rather than completely relinquishing control or intervening in every aspect.

Hermes Agent "From Beginner to Expert" is an installation and configuration manual, regarding self-service... AI Agent A systematic work on design philosophy. It fully presents how to productize the Harness Engineering methodology and how to achieve self-improvement through a "self-improvement learning cycle." Agent The more you use it, the better you understand your users, and how to deploy a 24/7 personal [service] at extremely low hardware costs ($5 VPS). AI Infrastructure. For those hoping to "use" AI Tools "advance" to have autonomy AI For the developers of "Assistant", it is currently the most comprehensive practical guide in the Chinese community.

freeGet theHermes Agent From beginner to expertThe original PDF report is available by scanning the QR code and replying with the following code: Hermes Agent