---
title: Hermes
description: Run Smithers from Nous Research's Hermes agent. Register the MCP server in config.yaml and point Hermes at it with AGENTS.md.
---

[Hermes](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent) (Nous Research) is a
self-improving, multi-channel agent with a terminal TUI, an OpenAI-compatible
HTTP API, and **first-class MCP support in both directions**. Because Hermes is a
native MCP client, the cleanest integration is to register Smithers as an MCP
server. Hermes can then list, run, watch, and approve workflows as tools.

## Register the MCP server

The fastest path is `mcp add`, which writes its server straight into Hermes's
`~/.hermes/config.yaml`:

```bash
bunx smithers-orchestrator mcp add --agent hermes
```

To do it by hand, Hermes reads MCP servers from `~/.hermes/config.yaml` under
`mcp_servers`. Add Smithers as a stdio server:

```yaml
mcp_servers:
  smithers:
    command: bunx
    args: ["smithers-orchestrator", "--mcp"]
```

Or use the Hermes CLI:

```bash
hermes mcp   # browse the catalog / install / configure
```

Smithers' tools surface as `mcp_smithers_<tool>`: `mcp_smithers_run_workflow`,
`mcp_smithers_watch_run`, `mcp_smithers_resolve_approval`, and the rest. Full
reference: [MCP Server](/integrations/mcp-server).

## Optional generated skill files

Hermes supports the `SKILL.md` (agentskills.io) format. `skills add` syncs the
generated Smithers CLI skill set into `~/.agents/skills/`, which Hermes can be
pointed at if you want command-level skill context:

```bash
bunx smithers-orchestrator skills add
```

Because Hermes is a native MCP client, the MCP server above is the primary
integration; generated skill files are a complement, not a requirement.

## Standing instructions

Hermes resolves an instruction file by priority (`.hermes.md`, then `AGENTS.md`,
then `CLAUDE.md`), and the first match wins. Add an orchestration section to whichever the
repo already uses:

```md
## Orchestration
Use Smithers for durable, multi-step, or human-in-the-loop agent work.
`bunx smithers-orchestrator starters` lists ready-made workflows.
```

## See also

- [MCP Server](/integrations/mcp-server): the full tool reference
- [Agent Support](/agents/overview): the cross-agent commands
