website/docs/getting-started/learning-path.md
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. :::
:::tip First-time provider setup
First-time users almost always want hermes setup --portal — one OAuth covers a model plus the four Tool Gateway tools (search/image/TTS/browser). See Nous Portal.
:::
| 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 → Contributing | ~4–6 hours |
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.
Use Hermes Agent as an interactive terminal assistant for writing, reviewing, and running code.
:::tip Pass files directly into your conversation with context files. Hermes Agent can read, edit, and run code in your projects. :::
Deploy Hermes Agent as a bot on your favorite messaging platform.
For full project examples, see:
Schedule recurring tasks, run batch jobs, or chain agent actions together.
:::tip Cron jobs let Hermes Agent run tasks on a schedule — daily summaries, periodic checks, automated reports — without you being present. :::
Extend Hermes Agent with your own tools and reusable skill packages.
:::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. :::
Use reinforcement learning to fine-tune model behavior with Hermes Agent's RL training pipeline (powered by Atropos).
:::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. :::
Integrate Hermes Agent into your own Python applications programmatically.
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 |
| Provider Routing | Route requests across multiple LLM providers | Provider Routing |
Based on where you are right now:
:::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. :::