Hindsight Memory Provider

Long-term memory with knowledge graph, entity resolution, and multi-strategy retrieval. Supports cloud, local embedded, and local external modes.

Requirements

Cloud: API key from ui.hindsight.vectorize.io
Local Embedded: API key for a supported LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Groq, OpenRouter, MiniMax, Ollama, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint). Embeddings and reranking run locally — no additional API keys needed.
Local External: A running Hindsight instance (Docker or self-hosted) reachable over HTTP.

Setup

bash

hermes memory setup    # select "hindsight"

The setup wizard will install dependencies automatically via uv and walk you through configuration.

Or manually (cloud mode with defaults):

bash

hermes config set memory.provider hindsight
echo "HINDSIGHT_API_KEY=your-key" >> ~/.hermes/.env

Cloud

Connects to the Hindsight Cloud API. Requires an API key from ui.hindsight.vectorize.io.

Local Embedded

Hermes spins up a local Hindsight daemon with built-in PostgreSQL. Requires an LLM API key for memory extraction and synthesis. The daemon starts automatically in the background on first use and stops after 5 minutes of inactivity.

Supports any OpenAI-compatible LLM endpoint (llama.cpp, vLLM, LM Studio, etc.) — pick openai_compatible as the provider and enter the base URL.

Daemon startup logs: ~/.hermes/logs/hindsight-embed.log Daemon runtime logs: ~/.hindsight/profiles/<profile>.log

To open the Hindsight web UI (local embedded mode only):

bash

hindsight-embed -p hermes ui start

Local External

Points the plugin at an existing Hindsight instance you're already running (Docker, self-hosted, etc.). No daemon management — just a URL and an optional API key.

Config

Config file: ~/.hermes/hindsight/config.json

Connection

Key	Default	Description
`mode`	`cloud`	`cloud`, `local_embedded`, or `local_external`
`api_url`	`https://api.hindsight.vectorize.io`	API URL (cloud and local_external modes)

Memory Bank

Key	Default	Description
`bank_id`	`hermes`	Memory bank name (static fallback used when `bank_id_template` is unset or resolves empty)
`bank_id_template`	—	Optional template to derive the bank name dynamically. Placeholders: `{profile}`, `{workspace}`, `{platform}`, `{user}`, `{session}`. Example: `hermes-{profile}` isolates memory per active Hermes profile. Empty placeholders collapse cleanly (e.g. `hermes-{user}` with no user becomes `hermes`).
`bank_mission`	—	Reflect mission (identity/framing for reflect reasoning). Applied via Banks API.
`bank_retain_mission`	—	Retain mission (steers what gets extracted). Applied via Banks API.

Recall

Key	Default	Description
`recall_budget`	`mid`	Recall thoroughness: `low` / `mid` / `high`
`recall_prefetch_method`	`recall`	Auto-recall method: `recall` (raw facts) or `reflect` (LLM synthesis)
`recall_max_tokens`	`4096`	Maximum tokens for recall results
`recall_max_input_chars`	`800`	Maximum input query length for auto-recall
`recall_prompt_preamble`	—	Custom preamble for recalled memories in context
`recall_tags`	—	Tags to filter when searching memories
`recall_tags_match`	`any`	Tag matching mode: `any` / `all` / `any_strict` / `all_strict`
`recall_types`	`observation`	Fact types surfaced by recall (both auto-recall and the `hindsight_recall` tool). Comma-separated string or JSON list. Default narrowed to `observation` only (see "Behavior change" below). Set to `observation,world,experience` to also include raw facts.
`auto_recall`	`true`	Automatically recall memories before each turn

Behavior change — recall_types defaults to observation only.

Previously recall returned all three fact types. It now returns only observations.

Per Hindsight's docs, observations are the consolidated knowledge layer Hindsight builds on top of raw facts: deduplicated beliefs grounded in evidence, refined as new facts arrive, with proof counts and freshness signals. Raw world / experience facts are the individual supporting evidence that feeds them. For per-turn context injection, observations are denser per token and avoid feeding the model multiple raw facts that one observation already summarizes.

Restore the broad recall with "recall_types": "observation,world,experience" (string or JSON list) in ~/.hermes/hindsight/config.json. This applies to both auto-recall and the hindsight_recall tool — both read the same recall_types setting (the tool schema has no per-call types argument), so narrowing the default narrows both paths.

Retain

Key	Default	Description
`auto_retain`	`true`	Automatically retain conversation turns
`retain_async`	`true`	Process retain asynchronously on the Hindsight server
`retain_every_n_turns`	`1`	Retain every N turns (1 = every turn)
`retain_context`	`conversation between Hermes Agent and the User`	Context label for retained memories
`retain_tags`	—	Default tags applied to retained memories; merged with per-call tool tags
`retain_source`	—	Optional `metadata.source` attached to retained memories
`retain_user_prefix`	`User`	Label used before user turns in auto-retained transcripts
`retain_assistant_prefix`	`Assistant`	Label used before assistant turns in auto-retained transcripts

Integration

Key	Default	Description
`memory_mode`	`hybrid`	How memories are integrated into the agent

memory_mode:

hybrid — automatic context injection + tools available to the LLM
context — automatic injection only, no tools exposed
tools — tools only, no automatic injection

Local Embedded LLM

Key	Default	Description
`llm_provider`	`openai`	`openai`, `anthropic`, `gemini`, `groq`, `openrouter`, `minimax`, `ollama`, `lmstudio`, `openai_compatible`
`llm_model`	per-provider	Model name (e.g. `gpt-4o-mini`, `qwen/qwen3.5-9b`)
`llm_base_url`	—	Endpoint URL for `openai_compatible` (e.g. `http://192.168.1.10:8080/v1`)

The LLM API key is stored in ~/.hermes/.env as HINDSIGHT_LLM_API_KEY.

Tools

Available in hybrid and tools memory modes:

Tool	Description
`hindsight_retain`	Store information with auto entity extraction; supports optional per-call `tags`
`hindsight_recall`	Multi-strategy search (semantic + entity graph)
`hindsight_reflect`	Cross-memory synthesis (LLM-powered)

Environment Variables

Variable	Description
`HINDSIGHT_API_KEY`	API key for Hindsight Cloud
`HINDSIGHT_LLM_API_KEY`	LLM API key for local mode
`HINDSIGHT_API_LLM_BASE_URL`	LLM Base URL for local mode (e.g. OpenRouter)
`HINDSIGHT_API_URL`	Override API endpoint
`HINDSIGHT_BANK_ID`	Override bank name
`HINDSIGHT_BUDGET`	Override recall budget
`HINDSIGHT_MODE`	Override mode (`cloud`, `local_embedded`, `local_external`)

Client Version

Requires hindsight-client >= 0.4.22. The plugin auto-upgrades on session start if an older version is detected.