Learning Path

Learning Path

Hermes Agent can do a lot — CLI assistant, Telegram/Discord bot, task automation, RL training, and more. This page helps you figure out where to start and what to read based on your experience level and what you’re trying to accomplish.

:::tip Start Here If you haven’t installed Hermes Agent yet, begin with the Installation guide and then run through the Quickstart. Everything below assumes you have a working installation. :::

How to Use This Page

• Know your level? Jump to the experience-level table and follow the reading order for your tier.
• Have a specific goal? Skip to By Use Case and find the scenario that matches.
• Just browsing? Check the Key Features table for a quick overview of everything Hermes Agent can do.

By Experience Level

Level	Goal	Recommended Reading	Time Estimate
Beginner	Get up and running, have basic conversations, use built-in tools	Installation → Quickstart → CLI Usage → Configuration	~1 hour
Intermediate	Set up messaging bots, use advanced features like memory, cron jobs, and skills	Sessions → Messaging → Tools → Skills → Memory → Cron	~2–3 hours
Advanced	Build custom tools, create skills, train models with RL, contribute to the project	Architecture → Adding Tools → Creating Skills → RL Training → Contributing	~4–6 hours

By Use Case

Pick the scenario that matches what you want to do. Each one links you to the relevant docs in the order you should read them.

”I want a CLI coding assistant”

Use Hermes Agent as an interactive terminal assistant for writing, reviewing, and running code.

1. Installation
2. Quickstart
3. CLI Usage
4. Code Execution
5. Context Files
6. Tips & Tricks

Tip

Pass files directly into your conversation with context files. Hermes Agent can read, edit, and run code in your projects.

”I want a Telegram/Discord bot”

Deploy Hermes Agent as a bot on your favorite messaging platform.

1. Installation
2. Configuration
3. Messaging Overview
4. Telegram Setup
5. Discord Setup
6. Voice Mode
7. Use Voice Mode with Hermes
8. Security

For full project examples, see:

• Daily Briefing Bot
• Team Telegram Assistant

”I want to automate tasks”

Schedule recurring tasks, run batch jobs, or chain agent actions together.

1. Quickstart
2. Cron Scheduling
3. Batch Processing
4. Delegation
5. Hooks

Tip

Cron jobs let Hermes Agent run tasks on a schedule — daily summaries, periodic checks, automated reports — without you being present.

”I want to build custom tools/skills”

Extend Hermes Agent with your own tools and reusable skill packages.

1. Plugins
2. Build a Hermes Plugin
3. Tools Overview
4. Skills Overview
5. MCP (Model Context Protocol)
6. Architecture
7. Adding Tools
8. Creating Skills

Tip

For most custom tool creation, start with plugins. The Adding Tools page is for built-in Hermes core development, not the usual user/custom-tool path.

”I want to train models”

Use reinforcement learning to fine-tune model behavior with Hermes Agent’s built-in RL training pipeline.

1. Quickstart
2. Configuration
3. RL Training
4. Provider Routing
5. Architecture

Tip

RL training works best when you already understand the basics of how Hermes Agent handles conversations and tool calls. Run through the Beginner path first if you’re new.

”I want to use it as a Python library”

Integrate Hermes Agent into your own Python applications programmatically.

1. Installation
2. Quickstart
3. Python Library Guide
4. Architecture
5. Tools
6. Sessions

Key Features at a Glance

Not sure what’s available? Here’s a quick directory of major features:

Feature	What It Does	Link
Tools	Built-in tools the agent can call (file I/O, search, shell, etc.)	Tools
Skills	Installable plugin packages that add new capabilities	Skills
Memory	Persistent memory across sessions	Memory
Context Files	Feed files and directories into conversations	Context Files
MCP	Connect to external tool servers via Model Context Protocol	MCP
Cron	Schedule recurring agent tasks	Cron
Delegation	Spawn sub-agents for parallel work	Delegation
Code Execution	Run Python scripts that call Hermes tools programmatically	Code Execution
Browser	Web browsing and scraping	Browser
Hooks	Event-driven callbacks and middleware	Hooks
Batch Processing	Process multiple inputs in bulk	Batch Processing
RL Training	Fine-tune models with reinforcement learning	RL Training
Provider Routing	Route requests across multiple LLM providers	Provider Routing

What to Read Next

Based on where you are right now:

• Just finished installing? → Head to the Quickstart to run your first conversation.
• Completed the Quickstart? → Read CLI Usage and Configuration to customize your setup.
• Comfortable with the basics? → Explore Tools, Skills, and Memory to unlock the full power of the agent.
• Setting up for a team? → Read Security and Sessions to understand access control and conversation management.
• Ready to build? → Jump into the Developer Guide to understand the internals and start contributing.
• Want practical examples? → Check out the Guides section for real-world projects and tips.

Tip

You don’t need to read everything. Pick the path that matches your goal, follow the links in order, and you’ll be productive quickly. You can always come back to this page to find your next step.