How do I install the Hermes CLI skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add karlorz/hermes-cli in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Hermes CLI skill do?

Hermes Agent CLI commands reference. Use when the user asks about hermes-agent CLI usage, commands, flags, or subcommands. Covers the full hermes terminal command surface. It is listed under AI & ML on SkillMD.

Is Hermes CLI safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Hermes CLI?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Hermes CLI free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Hermes CLI?

karlorz (@karlorz) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Hermes CLI by karlorz — Agent Skill

Name: Hermes CLI
Author: karlorz

Hermes Agent CLI Reference

Authoritative reference for Hermes terminal commands. For in-chat slash commands, see the Hermes docs slash-commands page.

Source: https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/reference/cli-commands.md

Global entrypoint

hermes [global-options] <command> [subcommand/options]

Global options

Option	Description
`--version`, `-V`	Show version and exit.
`--profile <name>`, `-p <name>`	Select which Hermes profile to use. Overrides the sticky default from `hermes profile use`.
`--resume <session>`, `-r <session>`	Resume a previous session by ID or title.
`--continue [name]`, `-c [name]`	Resume the most recent session, or most recent matching a title.
`--worktree`, `-w`	Start in an isolated git worktree for parallel-agent workflows.
`--yolo`	Bypass dangerous-command approval prompts.
`--pass-session-id`	Include the session ID in the agent's system prompt.
`--ignore-user-config`	Ignore `~/.hermes/config.yaml` and fall back to built-in defaults. Credentials in `.env` are still loaded.
`--ignore-rules`	Skip auto-injection of `AGENTS.md`, `SOUL.md`, `.cursorrules`, memory, and preloaded skills.
`--tui`	Launch the TUI instead of the classic CLI. Equivalent to `HERMES_TUI=1`.
`--dev`	With `--tui`: run TypeScript sources directly via `tsx` (for TUI contributors).

Top-level commands

Command	Purpose
`hermes chat`	Interactive or one-shot chat with the agent.
`hermes model`	Interactively choose the default provider and model.
`hermes fallback`	Manage fallback providers tried when the primary model errors.
`hermes gateway`	Run or manage the messaging gateway service.
`hermes setup`	Interactive setup wizard for all or part of the configuration.
`hermes whatsapp`	Configure and pair the WhatsApp bridge.
`hermes slack`	Slack helpers (generate app manifest with every command as native slash).
`hermes auth`	Manage credentials — add, list, remove, reset, set strategy. Handles OAuth flows.
`hermes status`	Show agent, auth, and platform status.
`hermes cron`	Inspect and tick the cron scheduler.
`hermes kanban`	Multi-profile collaboration board (tasks, links, dispatcher).
`hermes webhook`	Manage dynamic webhook subscriptions for event-driven activation.
`hermes hooks`	Inspect, approve, or remove shell-script hooks declared in config.
`hermes doctor`	Diagnose config and dependency issues.
`hermes dump`	Copy-pasteable setup summary for support/debugging.
`hermes debug`	Debug tools — upload logs and system info for support.
`hermes backup`	Back up Hermes home directory to a zip file.
`hermes checkpoints`	Inspect/prune/clear `~/.hermes/checkpoints/` (shadow store for `/rollback`).
`hermes import`	Restore a Hermes backup from a zip file.
`hermes logs`	View, tail, and filter agent/gateway/error log files.
`hermes config`	Show, edit, migrate, and query configuration files.
`hermes pairing`	Approve or revoke messaging pairing codes.
`hermes skills`	Browse, install, publish, audit, and configure skills.
`hermes curator`	Background skill maintenance — status, run, pause, pin.
`hermes memory`	Configure external memory provider.
`hermes acp`	Run Hermes as an ACP server for editor integration.
`hermes mcp`	Manage MCP server configurations and run Hermes as an MCP server.
`hermes plugins`	Manage Hermes Agent plugins (install, enable, disable, remove).
`hermes tools`	Configure enabled tools per platform.
`hermes sessions`	Browse, export, prune, rename, and delete sessions.
`hermes insights`	Show token/cost/activity analytics.
`hermes claw`	OpenClaw migration helpers.
`hermes dashboard`	Launch the web dashboard for managing config, API keys, and sessions.
`hermes profile`	Manage profiles — multiple isolated Hermes instances.
`hermes completion`	Print shell completion scripts (bash/zsh/fish).
`hermes version`	Show version information.
`hermes update`	Pull latest code and reinstall dependencies.
`hermes uninstall`	Remove Hermes from the system.

`hermes chat`

hermes chat [options]

Option	Description
`-q`, `--query "..."`	One-shot, non-interactive prompt.
`-m`, `--model <model>`	Override the model for this run.
`-t`, `--toolsets <list>`	Enable a comma-separated set of toolsets.
`--provider <name>`	Force a provider: `auto`, `openrouter`, `nous`, `openai-codex`, `copilot-acp`, `copilot`, `anthropic`, `gemini`, `google-gemini-cli`, `huggingface`, `zai`, `kimi-coding`, `kimi-coding-cn`, `minimax`, `minimax-cn`, `minimax-oauth`, `kilocode`, `xiaomi`, `arcee`, `gmi`, `alibaba`, `alibaba-coding-plan`, `deepseek`, `nvidia`, `ollama-cloud`, `xai` (alias `grok`), `qwen-oauth`, `bedrock`, `opencode-zen`, `opencode-go`, `ai-gateway`, `azure-foundry`, `tencent-tokenhub`.
`-s`, `--skills <list>`	Preload one or more skills for the session (repeatable or comma-separated).
`-v`, `--verbose`	Verbose output.
`-Q`, `--quiet`	Programmatic mode: suppress banner/spinner/tool previews.
`--image <path>`	Attach a local image to a single query.
`--resume <id>` / `--continue [name]`	Resume a session directly from chat.
`--worktree`	Create an isolated git worktree for this run.
`--checkpoints`	Enable filesystem checkpoints before destructive file changes.
`--yolo`	Skip approval prompts.
`--pass-session-id`	Pass the session ID into the system prompt.
`--ignore-user-config`	Ignore `~/.hermes/config.yaml` and use built-in defaults.
`--ignore-rules`	Skip auto-injection of `AGENTS.md`, `SOUL.md`, `.cursorrules`, persistent memory, and preloaded skills.
`--source <tag>`	Session source tag for filtering (default: `cli`). Use `tool` for third-party integrations.
`--max-turns <n>`	Maximum tool-calling iterations per conversation turn (default: 90).

`hermes -z <prompt>` — scripted one-shot

Pure one-shot entry: single prompt in, final response text out, nothing else on stdout/stderr. No banner, no spinner, no tool previews. Designed for shell scripts, CI, cron, and pipe-based workflows.

hermes -z "What's the capital of France?"
answer=$(hermes -z "summarize this" < /path/to/file.txt)

Per-run overrides (no mutation to config):

Flag	Equivalent env var	Purpose
`-m` / `--model <id>`	`HERMES_INFERENCE_MODEL`	Override the model for this run
`--provider <name>`	`HERMES_INFERENCE_PROVIDER`	Override the provider for this run

Examples

hermes
hermes chat -q "Summarize the latest PRs"
hermes chat --provider openrouter --model anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6
hermes chat --toolsets web,terminal,skills
hermes chat --quiet -q "Return only JSON"
hermes chat --worktree -q "Review this repo and open a PR"
hermes chat --ignore-user-config --ignore-rules -q "Repro without my personal setup"

`hermes model`

Interactive provider + model selector. This is the command for adding new providers, setting up API keys, and running OAuth flows. Run from your terminal — not inside an active Hermes chat session.

hermes model

`/model` slash command (mid-session)

Switch between already-configured models without leaving a session:

/model                          # Show current model and available options
/model claude-sonnet-4          # Switch model (auto-detects provider)
/model zai:glm-5                # Switch provider and model
/model custom:qwen-2.5          # Use model on your custom endpoint
/model custom                   # Auto-detect model from custom endpoint
/model custom:local:qwen-2.5   # Use a named custom provider
/model openrouter:anthropic/claude-sonnet-4  # Switch back to cloud
/model claude-sonnet-4 --global # Switch and save as new default

`hermes gateway`

hermes gateway <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`run`	Run the gateway in the foreground. Recommended for WSL, Docker, and Termux.
`start`	Start the installed systemd/launchd background service.
`stop`	Stop the service (or foreground process).
`restart`	Restart the service.
`status`	Show service status.
`install`	Install as a systemd (Linux) or launchd (macOS) background service.
`uninstall`	Remove the installed service.
`setup`	Interactive messaging-platform setup.

Option	Description
`--all`	On `start`/`restart`/`stop`: act on every profile's gateway.

`hermes setup`

hermes setup [model|tts|terminal|gateway|tools|agent] [--non-interactive] [--reset] [--quick] [--reconfigure]

Section	Description
`model`	Provider and model setup.
`terminal`	Terminal backend and sandbox setup.
`gateway`	Messaging platform setup.
`tools`	Enable/disable tools per platform.
`agent`	Agent behavior settings.

Option	Description
`--quick`	Only prompt for items that are missing or unset.
`--non-interactive`	Use defaults/environment values without prompts.
`--reset`	Reset configuration to defaults before setup.
`--reconfigure`	Backwards-compat alias — bare `hermes setup` on existing install now does this by default.

`hermes auth`

hermes auth                    # Interactive wizard
hermes auth list               # Show all pools
hermes auth list openrouter    # Show specific provider
hermes auth add openrouter --api-key sk-or-v1-xxx   # Add API key
hermes auth add anthropic --type oauth               # Add OAuth credential
hermes auth remove openrouter 2                       # Remove by index
hermes auth reset openrouter                          # Clear cooldowns

Subcommands: add, list, remove, reset. No subcommand launches the interactive wizard.

`hermes status`

hermes status [--all] [--deep]

Option	Description
`--all`	Show all details in a shareable redacted format.
`--deep`	Run deeper checks that may take longer.

`hermes cron`

hermes cron <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`list`	Show scheduled jobs.
`create` / `add`	Create a scheduled job from a prompt (optionally `--skill`).
`edit`	Update a job's schedule, prompt, name, delivery, repeat count, or skills.
`pause`	Pause a job without deleting it.
`resume`	Resume a paused job and compute next run.
`run`	Trigger a job on the next scheduler tick.
`remove`	Delete a scheduled job.
`status`	Check whether the cron scheduler is running.
`tick`	Run due jobs once and exit.

`hermes kanban`

hermes kanban [--board <slug>] <action> [options]

Multi-profile collaboration board with its own SQLite DB per board.

Action	Purpose
`init`	Create `kanban.db` if missing.
`boards list` / `boards ls`	List all boards with task counts.
`boards create <slug>`	Create a new board. Flags: `--name`, `--description`, `--icon`, `--color`, `--switch`.
`boards switch <slug>`	Set active board.
`boards show`	Print currently-active board info.
`boards rename <slug> "name"`	Change display name. Slug is immutable.
`boards rm <slug>`	Archive (default) or `--delete` to hard-delete.
`create "title"`	Create a task. Flags: `--body`, `--assignee`, `--parent`, `--workspace`, `--tenant`, `--priority`, `--triage`, `--idempotency-key`, `--max-runtime`, `--skill`.
`list` / `ls`	List tasks. Filter: `--mine`, `--assignee`, `--status`, `--tenant`, `--archived`, `--json`.
`show <id>`	Show task with comments/events. `--json` for machine output.
`assign <id> <profile>`	Assign or reassign. Use `none` to unassign.
`link <parent> <child>`	Add a dependency (cycle-detected).
`unlink <parent> <child>`	Remove a dependency.
`claim <id>`	Atomically claim a ready task.
`comment <id> "text"`	Append a comment.
`complete <id>`	Mark done. Flags: `--result`, `--summary`, `--metadata`.
`block <id> "reason"`	Mark blocked (also appends reason as comment).
`unblock <id>`	Return blocked task to ready.
`archive <id>`	Hide from default list.
`tail <id>`	Follow task's event stream.
`dispatch`	One dispatcher pass. Flags: `--dry-run`, `--max N`, `--json`.
`context <id>`	Print full worker context.
`gc`	Remove scratch workspaces for archived tasks.

`hermes webhook`

hermes webhook <subscribe|list|remove|test>

Subcommand	Description
`subscribe` / `add`	Create a webhook route.
`list` / `ls`	Show all agent-created subscriptions.
`remove` / `rm`	Delete a dynamic subscription.
`test`	Send a test POST to verify a subscription.

`hermes webhook subscribe` options

Option	Description
`--prompt`	Prompt template with `{dot.notation}` payload references.
`--events`	Comma-separated event types to accept. Empty = all.
`--description`	Human-readable description.
`--skills`	Comma-separated skill names to load.
`--deliver`	Delivery target: `log` (default), `telegram`, `discord`, `slack`, `github_comment`.
`--deliver-chat-id`	Target chat/channel ID for cross-platform delivery.
`--secret`	Custom HMAC secret. Auto-generated if omitted.
`--deliver-only`	Skip the agent — deliver rendered prompt as literal message. Zero LLM cost.

`hermes doctor`

hermes doctor [--fix]

`hermes dump`

hermes dump [--show-keys]

Outputs a compact plain-text setup summary for sharing. --show-keys shows redacted API key prefixes.

`hermes debug`

hermes debug share [--lines N] [--expire days] [--local]

Upload debug report (system info + recent logs) to a paste service and get a shareable URL.

`hermes backup`

hermes backup [-o path] [-q] [-l label]

Option	Description
`-o`, `--output <path>`	Output path for the zip file. Default: `~/hermes-backup-<timestamp>.zip`.
`-q`, `--quick`	Quick snapshot: only critical state files. Much faster.
`-l`, `--label <name>`	Label for the snapshot (only with `--quick`).

`hermes checkpoints`

hermes checkpoints [subcommand]

Subcommand	Description
`status` (default)	Show total size, project count, and breakdown.
`list`	Alias for `status`.
`prune`	Force cleanup — delete orphan/stale projects, GC the store.
`clear`	Delete entire checkpoint base. Irreversible (asks confirm unless `-f`).
`clear-legacy`	Delete only v1 migration archives.

Option	Description
`--limit N`	Max projects to list (default 20).
`--retention-days N`	Drop projects older than N days (default 7).
`--max-size-mb N`	Drop oldest commits until total <= N MB (default 500).
`--keep-orphans`	Skip deleting projects whose working directory no longer exists.
`-f`, `--force`	Skip confirmation prompt.

`hermes import`

hermes import <zipfile> [-f]

Restore a Hermes backup. --force skips the confirmation prompt.

Stop the gateway before importing to avoid conflicts.

`hermes logs`

hermes logs [log_name] [options]

Name	File	What it captures
`agent` (default)	`agent.log`	All agent activity — API calls, tool dispatch, session lifecycle
`errors`	`errors.log`	Warnings and errors only
`gateway`	`gateway.log`	Messaging gateway activity

Option	Description
`-n`, `--lines <N>`	Number of lines (default: 50).
`-f`, `--follow`	Follow the log in real time (like `tail -f`).
`--level <LEVEL>`	Minimum log level: `DEBUG`, `INFO`, `WARNING`, `ERROR`, `CRITICAL`.
`--session <ID>`	Filter by session ID substring.
`--since <TIME>`	Show lines from relative time ago: `30m`, `1h`, `2d`.
`--component <NAME>`	Filter by component: `gateway`, `agent`, `tools`, `cli`, `cron`.

`hermes config`

hermes config <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`show`	Show current config values.
`edit`	Open `config.yaml` in your editor.
`set <key> <value>`	Set a config value.
`path`	Print the config file path.
`env-path`	Print the `.env` file path.
`check`	Check for missing or stale config.
`migrate`	Add newly introduced options interactively.

`hermes pairing`

hermes pairing <list|approve|revoke|clear-pending>

`hermes skills`

hermes skills <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`browse`	Paginated browser for skill registries.
`search`	Search skill registries.
`install`	Install a skill.
`inspect`	Preview a skill without installing it.
`list`	List installed skills.
`check`	Check installed hub skills for upstream updates.
`update`	Reinstall hub skills with upstream changes.
`audit`	Re-scan installed hub skills.
`uninstall`	Remove a hub-installed skill.
`reset`	Un-stick a bundled skill flagged as `user_modified`.
`publish`	Publish a skill to a registry.
`snapshot`	Export/import skill configurations.
`tap`	Manage custom skill sources.
`config`	Interactive enable/disable configuration by platform.

Common examples:

hermes skills browse
hermes skills search react --source skills-sh
hermes skills inspect official/security/1password
hermes skills install official/migration/openclaw-migration
hermes skills install https://sharethis.chat/SKILL.md   # Direct URL
hermes skills check
hermes skills update
hermes skills config

`hermes curator`

hermes curator <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`status`	Show curator status and skill stats.
`run`	Trigger a curator review now.
`run --sync`	Block until the LLM pass finishes.
`run --dry-run`	Preview only — no mutations.
`backup`	Take a manual tar.gz snapshot of skills.
`rollback`	Restore skills from a snapshot. `--list` to see available.
`pause`	Pause the curator until resumed.
`resume`	Resume a paused curator.
`pin <skill>`	Pin a skill so curator never auto-transitions it.
`unpin <skill>`	Unpin a skill.
`restore <skill>`	Restore an archived skill.

`hermes fallback`

hermes fallback <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`list` (alias: `ls`)	Show current fallback chain.
`add`	Pick a provider + model and append to the chain.
`remove` (alias: `rm`)	Pick an entry to delete.
`clear`	Remove all fallback entries.

`hermes hooks`

hermes hooks <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`list` (alias: `ls`)	List configured hooks with matcher, timeout, and consent status.
`test <event>`	Fire every hook matching `<event>` against a synthetic payload.
`revoke`	Remove a command's allowlist entries.
`doctor`	Check each configured hook: exec bit, allowlist, mtime drift, JSON validity.

`hermes memory`

hermes memory <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`setup`	Interactive provider selection and configuration.
`status`	Show current memory provider config.
`off`	Disable external provider (built-in only).

Available providers: honcho, openviking, mem0, hindsight, holographic, retaindb, byterover, supermemory. When an external provider is active, it may register its own hermes <provider> command.

`hermes mcp`

hermes mcp <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`serve [-v]`	Run Hermes as an MCP server.
`add [--url URL] [--command CMD] [--args ...] [--auth oauth	header]`
`remove <name>`	Remove an MCP server from config.
`list`	List configured MCP servers.
`test <name>`	Test connection to an MCP server.
`configure <name>`	Toggle tool selection for a server.

`hermes plugins`

hermes plugins [subcommand]

Subcommand	Description
(none)	Composite interactive UI — general plugin toggles + provider plugin config.
`install <identifier> [--force]`	Install a plugin from Git URL or `owner/repo`.
`update <name>`	Pull latest changes for an installed plugin.
`remove <name>`	Remove an installed plugin.
`enable <name>`	Enable a disabled plugin.
`disable <name>`	Disable a plugin without removing it.
`list`	List installed plugins with status.

`hermes tools`

hermes tools [--summary]

--summary prints the enabled-tools summary and exits. Without it, launches the interactive per-platform tool configuration UI.

`hermes sessions`

hermes sessions <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`list`	List recent sessions.
`browse`	Interactive session picker with search and resume.
`export <output> [--session-id ID]`	Export sessions to JSONL.
`delete <session-id>`	Delete one session.
`prune`	Delete old sessions.
`stats`	Show session-store statistics.
`rename <session-id> <title>`	Set or change a session title.

`hermes insights`

hermes insights [--days N] [--source platform]

`hermes claw`

hermes claw migrate [options]

Migrate OpenClaw setup to Hermes.

Option	Description
`--dry-run`	Preview without writing anything.
`--preset <name>`	`full` (all compatible settings) or `user-data` (excludes infra config).
`--overwrite`	Overwrite existing Hermes files on conflicts.
`--migrate-secrets`	Include API keys in migration.
`--no-backup`	Skip pre-migration zip snapshot.
`--source <path>`	Custom OpenClaw directory (default: `~/.openclaw`).
`--workspace-target <path>`	Target directory for workspace instructions.
`--skill-conflict <mode>`	Handle skill name collisions: `skip` (default), `overwrite`, or `rename`.
`--yes`	Skip confirmation prompt.

`hermes dashboard`

hermes dashboard [--port N] [--host addr] [--no-open]

Launch the web dashboard. Requires pip install hermes-agent[web].

Option	Default	Description
`--port`	`9119`	Port to run the web server on.
`--host`	`127.0.0.1`	Bind address.
`--no-open`	—	Don't auto-open the browser.

`hermes profile`

hermes profile <subcommand>

Subcommand	Description
`list`	List all profiles.
`use <name>`	Set a sticky default profile.
`create <name> [--clone] [--clone-all] [--clone-from <source>] [--no-alias]`	Create a new profile.
`delete <name> [-y]`	Delete a profile.
`show <name>`	Show profile details.
`alias <name> [--remove] [--name NAME]`	Manage wrapper scripts.
`rename <old> <new>`	Rename a profile.
`export <name> [-o FILE]`	Export to `.tar.gz`.
`import <archive> [--name NAME]`	Import from `.tar.gz`.

Examples:

hermes profile list
hermes profile create work --clone
hermes profile use work
hermes profile alias work --name h-work
hermes -p work chat -q "Hello from work profile"

`hermes completion`

hermes completion [bash|zsh|fish]

`hermes update`

hermes update [--check] [--backup] [--restart-gateway]

Option	Description
`--check`	Print current vs latest commit. Does not pull or install.
`--backup`	Create pre-update snapshot of `HERMES_HOME`.
`--restart-gateway`	Restart the gateway after update.

`hermes uninstall`

hermes uninstall [--full] [--yes]

Remove Hermes. --full deletes all config/data.

Hermes CLI

File contents

Hermes Agent CLI Reference

Global entrypoint

Global options

Top-level commands

hermes chat

hermes -z <prompt> — scripted one-shot

Examples

hermes model

/model slash command (mid-session)

hermes gateway

hermes setup

hermes auth

hermes status

hermes cron

hermes kanban

hermes webhook

hermes webhook subscribe options

hermes doctor

hermes dump

hermes debug

hermes backup

hermes checkpoints

hermes import

hermes logs

hermes config

hermes pairing

hermes skills

hermes curator

hermes fallback

hermes hooks

hermes memory

hermes mcp

hermes plugins

hermes tools

hermes sessions

hermes insights

hermes claw

hermes dashboard

hermes profile

hermes completion

hermes update

hermes uninstall

Related skills

Frequently asked questions