Hermes Agent Review: The Open Source AI Agent That Runs Code and Orchestrates Your Workflows From the Terminal
Hermes Agent is an open source AI agent developed by Nous Research, designed to run directly from your terminal. Unlike typical cloud assistants, it executes code, browses the web, edits files, and orchestrates complex workflows — all without a graphical interface. In this review, we walk through its capabilities, how to get started, its strengths, and its limitations, to help you decide whether it deserves a place in your toolbox.
The Essentials
What is Hermes Agent? A free and open source CLI (command line) agent, developed by Nous Research, that turns your terminal into an AI assistant capable of executing complex tasks: writing code, creating files, searching the web, running scripts, and much more.
- Price: Free and open source (MIT license)
- Installation: pip install hermes-agent or from the GitHub sources
- Supported models: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Ollama (local), Nous Research API
- Current version: 0.12.0
- Language: Python (85%), JavaScript/TypeScript (web interface)
- Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows (via WSL)
- Docker: Official image available
Hermes Agent Key Figures
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| ⭐ GitHub Stars | 6,200+ |
| 🍴 Forks | 400+ |
| 📦 Version | 0.12.0 |
| 📜 License | MIT |
| 🐍 Main language | Python |
| 🐳 Docker Hub pulls | 50,000+ (estimated) |
| 🏛️ Organization | Nous Research |
| 📅 Created | Late 2024 |
| 🌍 Official site | hermes-agent.nousresearch.com |
The 3 Main Strengths of Hermes Agent
After testing Hermes Agent in real-world conditions, here is what truly sets it apart.
1. Native Code Execution in the Terminal
Hermes Agent is not just a chatbot that gives you advice. It actually executes code. You ask it to create a Python script that downloads the latest news, and it does it — immediately. This capability transforms how you work on the command line: the agent becomes a copilot that can act, not just talk.
Specifically, Hermes Agent can:
- Create, read, modify, and delete files
- Execute shell commands
- Run Python, JavaScript, and other scripts
- Browse the web (HTTP, scraping)
- Use REST APIs
- Manage background processes
2. A Plugin-Based Extensible Architecture
Hermes Agent features a plugin system that lets you add custom tools without touching the source code. You create a folder in ~/.hermes/plugins/, a plugin.yaml file, and an __init__.py, and your tools are automatically discovered. Plugins already exist for memory (Mem0, SuperMemory), kanban boards, image generation, messaging (Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp), and much more.
3. A Skills System That Learns From Usage
One of the most innovative features of Hermes Agent is its skills system: reusable procedures that the agent creates itself from its own experience. After solving a complex task (e.g., deploying a server, fixing a recurring bug), it can save the method as a skill. Next time, it will know exactly how to proceed — without starting from scratch. It is a form of continuous improvement built into the tool.
Features in Detail
Interactive CLI with Autocompletion
The command line interface uses Rich for display and prompt_toolkit for input with autocompletion. Commands start with / (slash commands) and cover session management, configuration, tools, and information. The skin engine lets you customize the appearance (colors, banners, spinners).
Multi-Platform Gateway
Hermes Agent is not limited to the terminal. Its gateway allows it to be used from Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, Matrix, Mattermost, email, SMS, DingTalk, WeChat, Feishu, QQ, and even Home Assistant. A REST API is also available.
Multi-Agent Orchestration
Hermes Agent can delegate tasks to sub-agents that work in parallel within isolated contexts. Each sub-agent has its own session, its own tools, and its own terminal. Results are consolidated without polluting the parent agent’s context. Up to 3 concurrent sub-agents by default, with configurable delegation depth.
TUI (Terminal User Interface)
For those who prefer a more visual interface, Hermes Agent offers a TUI mode (enabled with hermes --tui) that combines terminal and rich interface: conversation history, a prompt editor, multiple sessions, and a web dashboard accessible via hermes dashboard.
Comparison: Hermes Agent vs Alternatives
| Criterion | Hermes Agent | Open Interpreter | Aider | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (MIT) | Free (AGPL) | Free (Apache 2.0) | Paid (Anthropic API) |
| Code execution | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-platform | Yes (gateway) | Terminal only | CLI + editor | CLI only |
| Sub-agents | Yes (native) | No | No | Yes |
| Auto-learned skills | Yes | No | No | No |
| LLM providers | Multi (10+) | Multi | Multi | Anthropic only |
| Plugins | Yes | No | No | No |
| Sandbox | Optional Docker | Optional Docker | No | No |
| Web dashboard | Yes | No | No | No |
Getting Started: How to Install Hermes Agent
Installation is quick and easy:
- Prerequisites: Python 3.11 or higher
- Installation:
pip install hermes-agent - Configuration: Create a
~/.hermes/config.yamlfile with your preferred LLM provider - Launch: Run
hermesin your terminal
You can also use Docker: docker pull nousresearch/hermes-agent
The configuration file supports: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, OpenRouter, Ollama (local models), and many more. Each provider is configured with its API key in ~/.hermes/config.yaml or via environment variables.
What Should You Watch Out For?
Like any powerful tool, Hermes Agent has its limitations:
- Learning curve: The command line interface is not intuitive for beginners. You need to be comfortable with the terminal.
- Version 0.12.0: The project is still young. Some features may be unstable, and the documentation is a work in progress.
- Token consumption: Complex tasks with sub-agents can consume a lot of API tokens, which has a cost if you use remote models.
- No native GUI: Everything goes through the terminal. The TUI mode mitigates this, but it is not a “drag-and-drop” tool.
- Security: Running code from an AI requires vigilance. The sandbox mode (Docker) is optional.
Who Is Hermes Agent For?
- Developers: Task automation, code generation, assisted debugging
- DevOps: Deployments, infrastructure scripts, monitoring
- Data scientists: Data analysis, cleaning, experimentation
- Tech solopreneurs: Automated content creation, scraping, data pipelines
- The curious: Anyone comfortable with the terminal who wants to experiment with AI agents
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Hermes Agent
Is Hermes Agent Really Free?
Yes. Hermes Agent is open source under the MIT license. The code is free to use, modify, and redistribute. There is no paid version. If you use remote models (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini), you pay for those providers’ APIs, not for Hermes.
Can I Use Hermes Agent With Local Models?
Yes. Hermes Agent supports Ollama and llama.cpp, which allows you to run models entirely locally. This is ideal for data privacy or for working offline.
What Is the Difference From Claude Code?
Claude Code is a proprietary product from Anthropic, paid, and exclusively tied to Claude models. Hermes Agent is open source, free, and supports more than 10 different LLM providers. Hermes Agent also offers an auto-learned skills system, plugins, and a multi-platform gateway that Claude Code does not have.
Can Hermes Agent Replace GitHub Copilot?
Not exactly. Copilot is contextual assistance within the code editor. Hermes Agent is an autonomous agent in the terminal. The two are complementary: Copilot helps you write code as you type; Hermes Agent executes complete tasks end to end.
Can the Agent Make Destructive Mistakes?
Yes, like any tool capable of running code. It is recommended to: (1) always check what the agent proposes to do, (2) use the Docker sandbox for sensitive tasks, (3) not give the agent root access without supervision.
Our Verdict
Hermes Agent is a remarkable tool for developers and digital professionals who live in the terminal. Its strengths: real code execution, the auto-learned skills system, the plugin-based extensible architecture, and the multi-platform gateway — all free and open source.
Its weaknesses: a youth that shows (version 0.12.0, documentation in progress), a learning curve for those unfamiliar with the terminal, and token consumption to watch on complex tasks.
Our recommendation: If you are a developer, DevOps, or data scientist looking for an AI assistant that can act — not just talk — Hermes Agent is one of the best open source choices right now. It significantly outperforms alternatives on flexibility (multi-model, multi-platform) and self-improvement (skills). Worth keeping a close eye on as the versions roll out.
Rating: 8.5/10 — a promising tool, already very solid, that will only gain in maturity.