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To create a custom Hermes Agent skill, make a dedicated directory, add a SKILL.md file with valid frontmatter and focused instructions, then start a new Hermes session and invoke the resulting slash command. The smallest useful skill is one directory plus that Markdown file; optional references/, templates/, and scripts/ directories can hold supporting material.
This guide covers the Skill-versus-Tool decision, file format, directory locations, testing, distribution, trust controls, and maintenance so the skill is reliable rather than merely discoverable.
What a Hermes Agent skill is
A Skill is an instruction package that teaches Hermes Agent how to carry out a repeatable workflow with instructions, shell commands, and tools the agent already has. Hermes treats Skills as its preferred extension mechanism when a capability can be expressed this way. A skill is not a compiled plug-in: it is a directory whose required entry point is a file named SKILL.md.
When Hermes indexes the directory, the skill becomes available to the agent and is exposed as a slash command. The name, description, procedure, and supporting files determine when the agent selects it and how consistently it performs the work.
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Choose a Skill or a Tool first
Do not put integration code into a Skill simply because a Skill is easy to create. Use the following boundary before writing files.
| Requirement | Choose a Skill when… | Choose a Tool when… |
|---|---|---|
| Core behavior | The workflow is mainly instructions, decisions, and calls to existing command-line or web tools. | The feature needs custom integration code that Hermes does not already provide. |
| Authentication | Existing Hermes configuration and tools can handle access without new credential logic. | The agent must implement an API-key flow, token exchange, OAuth handling, or another authentication procedure. |
| Processing guarantees | Flexible, agent-led steps are acceptable. | Processing must be deterministic, exact, or enforced by application code. |
| Data and transport | Text-oriented commands and ordinary tool calls are sufficient. | The capability depends on binary data, streaming, real-time events, or low-level protocols. |
| Sharing | You want a portable procedure that another user can inspect and adapt. | You need a packaged runtime component with a strict software interface. |
| Maintenance | Updating Markdown instructions is enough. | Dependencies, tests, compatibility code, or service-side changes must be maintained. |
Starting with a Skill is usually the lower-maintenance option. If the workflow later proves to need deterministic processing or a deeper integration, keep the user-facing instructions and move the implementation into a Tool.
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For skills created by the agent or by you as a user, the default location is ~/.hermes/skills/. A new skill can be nested below that directory in a category folder. The setting skills.create_dir can redirect where newly created skills are placed, which is useful for a shared or version-controlled collection.
Trusted projects may also provide skills in <project-root>/.hermes/skills/ or <project-root>/.agents/skills/. Project-local directories require an explicit trust action before Hermes will load them. If two locations contain the same skill name, Hermes applies its directory-precedence rules; use hermes skills list to see which copy is actually indexed instead of assuming that the file you edited won.
A practical location layout
~/.hermes/skills/my-category/my-skill/SKILL.md
~/.hermes/skills/my-category/my-skill/references/
~/.hermes/skills/my-category/my-skill/templates/
~/.hermes/skills/my-category/my-skill/scripts/Keep personal, reusable skills in the home-directory tree. Put a project-specific workflow beside the project only when it depends on that repository and the project is trusted.
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Create the skill directory and entry file
- Choose a narrow name. Use a short, stable, lowercase name such as
release-checklistorlog-triage. A narrow name gives Hermes clearer trigger signals than a vague name such ashelper. - Create the directory. For a personal skill, run
mkdir -p ~/.hermes/skills/my-category/my-skill. - Create
SKILL.md. The filename is case-sensitive in practice: use exactlySKILL.mdat the skill root. - Add frontmatter followed by instructions. Put YAML frontmatter between the opening and closing
---lines, then write the Markdown body below it.
Minimal frontmatter example
---
name: my-skill
description: Brief description of what this skill does
version: 1.0.0
metadata:
hermes:
tags: [my-tag, automation]
category: my-category
---name, description, and version identify the package and help selection. The documented format also supports optional author, license, and platforms fields. Under metadata.hermes, you can declare tags, related skills, required tools, configuration, and blueprints. Add only metadata that is accurate for the current workflow; overstated requirements make selection and installation less predictable.
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How to write a useful description
State the job, the input it expects, and the outcome it produces. “Checks a pull request against the repository release checklist and reports missing evidence” is more useful than “A release skill.” Include distinctive trigger words that a user might type, but do not turn the description into a long tutorial.
Write the body of SKILL.md
The body is the operating procedure. A reliable file answers four questions in the order the agent needs them: when to activate, what to do, what can go wrong, and how to prove completion.
1. When to Use
List concrete trigger conditions and boundaries. Say what requests belong to the skill and what requests should use another skill or ordinary tools. For example, a log-triage skill might activate when the user provides an application error log and asks for a diagnosis, but not when the user asks for production changes.
2. Prerequisites and inputs
Identify required files, environment variables, command-line programs, permissions, and expected input shape. Tell the agent how to check each prerequisite before changing anything. If a command is optional, label it optional rather than allowing a failed command to look like a workflow failure.
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3. Procedure
Use an ordered list for actions that must occur in sequence. Each step should include the command or tool call, the important setting, the expected result, and the next decision. Explicitly distinguish read-only inspection from commands that modify files or external systems.
4. Pitfalls and recovery
Document common failure modes: a missing executable, insufficient permission, an empty input, an unexpected format, a network timeout, or a partially completed change. Give a safe recovery path and state when the agent must stop and ask the user rather than retrying.
5. Verification
End with observable checks. A verification section might require a test command, a generated file, a matching record count, or a clean status output. Define what success looks like and what evidence the agent should report. Verification prevents a plausible narrative from being mistaken for a completed operation.
Use supporting directories without bloating the entry file
Supporting content is optional and is loaded or used as needed.
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| Directory | Put there | How to refer to it |
|---|---|---|
references/ |
Long API notes, policy details, format specifications, and extended examples. | Tell the agent which reference file to open for the relevant case; keep the main procedure concise. |
templates/ |
Reusable reports, configuration skeletons, or response formats. | Instruct the agent to copy the appropriate template and fill its fields. |
scripts/ |
Small reusable scripts that the workflow calls. | Document arguments, expected output, exit codes, and whether the script changes data. |
Hermes uses progressive disclosure: a compact skills index is available first, the complete SKILL.md is loaded when the skill is selected, and a specific reference file can be loaded only when needed. Put stable operating rules in SKILL.md; move detail there only when it would otherwise obscure the decision path.
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A complete starter template
The following skeleton is intentionally generic, but it shows the sections a production skill should contain.
---
name: release-checklist
description: Checks release evidence and reports missing checklist items
version: 1.0.0
author: Team name
license: MIT
platforms: [linux, macos]
metadata:
hermes:
tags: [release, quality]
category: engineering
required_tools: [git]
---
# Release checklist
## When to Use
Use this skill when the user asks to validate release readiness for the current repository.
Do not publish or deploy; report blockers and ask for confirmation before any write operation.
## Prerequisites
- Run from the repository root.
- Confirm that Git is available and the working tree can be read.
## Procedure
1. Inspect the current branch and working-tree status.
2. Read the release checklist in `references/checklist.md`.
3. Check each item and record evidence or a specific missing value.
4. Present blockers before suggestions.
## Pitfalls
- If the checklist file is absent, stop and report its path.
- Do not infer a passing check from an unavailable command.
## Verification
Return every checklist item with a status and evidence. Mark the overall result ready only when no required item is missing.Replace the example policy with your real workflow. In particular, do not list a required tool that the procedure never uses, and do not claim a platform is supported until its commands and paths have been checked.
Test a custom skill before relying on it
- Start a new Hermes session. A fresh session ensures the skills index is rebuilt instead of relying on an earlier loaded view.
- Invoke the slash command. Try
/my-skill help me with the thingin chat, or runhermes chat -q "/my-skill help me with the thing". - Test through the skills toolset. The developer test form is
hermes chat --toolsets skills -q "Use the my-skill skill to do Y"; replace the request with a concrete task that the skill is designed to handle. - Check discovery. Run
hermes skills listand confirm the expected name, description, and location appear. A chat search can provide a second confirmation. - Test failure paths. Remove or withhold one prerequisite in a safe copy of the project. Confirm that the skill reports the problem and follows its recovery instruction rather than inventing a result.
If the slash command is not recognized, check the exact directory, filename, YAML delimiters, and name value. If the command appears but the agent selects it for unrelated requests, narrow the description and add explicit “do not use” conditions.
Install, publish, and share a skill
Hermes supports several distribution routes: official optional skills, Skills Hub sources, GitHub paths, custom taps, direct SKILL.md URLs, and other integrated registries. The exact source identifier depends on the registry, but the workflow is the same:
- Inspect before installing. Use
hermes skills inspectwith the registry’s source identifier and read the frontmatter, instructions, scripts, and referenced files. - Install into a known location. Use
hermes skills installwith the inspected source. Prefer a versioned or pinned source when the registry supports one. - Review the installed files. Confirm the name, permissions, commands, network behavior, and expected configuration before enabling the skill in a sensitive project.
- Verify and audit. Run
hermes skills list, thenhermes skills auditwhen available. Test the skill in a disposable workspace before using it with production credentials. - Publish only after testing. A maintained skill should have a clear description, version, license decision, supported platforms, and verification procedure. Use
hermes skills publishfor the registry you selected.
For a team, point skills.create_dir at a shared or Git-tracked directory and review changes like code. A direct URL or community source is convenient, but convenience is not evidence of safety or quality.
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Security and trust controls
Treat a third-party Skill as an executable procedure document. Markdown can instruct Hermes to run shell commands, read files, contact services, or modify a workspace. Inspect every command and supporting script before installation, especially when the skill comes from an unfamiliar repository or hub.
Inline shell snippets are opt-in and, when enabled, execute on the host. Community hub installs are scanned and do not automatically execute those snippets unless the trust gate permits it. Keep trust decisions explicit: approve only sources and projects you understand, and test with least-privilege credentials.
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Questions to ask during an audit
- Does the skill read or write outside the intended project?
- Does any script upload data, install packages, or execute downloaded content?
- Are network destinations and authentication requirements stated?
- Can a failed step leave a partial change, and is rollback documented?
- Are platform claims and required tools accurate?
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
hermes skills list does not show the skill. |
The directory is outside a searched location, the project is untrusted, or the entry file is not named exactly SKILL.md. |
Move it under ~/.hermes/skills/ or a trusted project skill directory, confirm the filename, start a new session, and list skills again. |
| The skill is listed but the slash command fails. | Frontmatter YAML is malformed or the command name does not match name. |
Validate indentation and the two --- delimiters; use the exact indexed name. |
| The wrong duplicate skill runs. | Another directory has the same name and wins directory precedence. | Inspect hermes skills list for the selected path, remove or rename the duplicate, or edit the higher-precedence copy. |
| The agent chooses the skill too often. | The description is broad or lacks exclusions. | Describe the required input and outcome, add “do not use” boundaries, and retest unrelated prompts. |
| A procedure stops at a command error. | The skill omitted prerequisites, expected output, or a recovery branch. | Add a preflight check, explain the failure, and state whether to retry, skip, or ask the user. |
| A project skill never loads. | The project has not received the required trust action. | Trust the project explicitly, or place the skill in the personal directory when it is not project-specific. |
Maintain the skill as a small software product
Version the skill when its behavior or required inputs change. Update the description when users’ trigger language changes, and revise platforms, required tools, and configuration metadata whenever support changes. Keep long reference documents synchronized with the procedure that calls them.
After changing a command, path, template, or script, start a new session and repeat both a successful scenario and at least one failure scenario. Run hermes skills list to catch naming or location mistakes. Installed skills should be updated when the underlying workflow or command interfaces change; stale instructions are a correctness problem even when discovery still works.
Quick Recap
Checklist for a release
- The directory contains exactly one root
SKILL.md. - Frontmatter has a stable name, accurate description, and version.
- When-to-use conditions and exclusions are explicit.
- Prerequisites, commands, expected outputs, and recovery branches are documented.
- Verification produces observable evidence.
- Supporting references, templates, and scripts are named in the procedure.
- No secret is stored in the package.
- The skill has been tested in a fresh session and audited at its intended trust level.
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