Academy → Using HermesOfficial documentation · clear explanation

Batch Processing

Batch Processing

Intermediate11 minutes3 questions2026-08-09
The idea in one minute

Start with meaning, then move to detail.

This lesson explains Batch Processing as part of extending Hermes and connecting external tools. You will learn what it does, when it matters, and the smallest safe test that proves it works.

If you are new

If you are new, do not memorize names. Focus on three questions: what problem does this solve, what access does it need, and how can you verify the result?

For hands-on use

For practice, inspect the first example, identify its effects, run it on test data, and compare the result with the source claim.

For specialists

For advanced readers, inspect Overview, Quick Start, Dataset Format, then verify failure modes and version compatibility.

What do you need first?

Complete installation and one successful task before adding new capabilities.

What will you know?

A clear outcome before you read.

  • Understand Batch Processing without assumed prior knowledge.
  • Separate the source description from what still needs testing in your environment.
  • Read the first command and identify its inputs and outputs before copying it.
Lesson terms

Short definitions before the details.

Provider
The service that runs or provides access and authentication to a model.
Tool
A structured action the agent can call to read or change something.
Official page description

Generate agent trajectories at scale — parallel processing, checkpointing, and toolset distributions

Topic map

What does the source say, and in what order?

  1. 01
    Overview

    Start here to understand the core idea or structure.

  2. 02
    Quick Start

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  3. 03
    Dataset Format

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  4. 04
    Configuration Options

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  5. 05
    Provider Routing (OpenRouter)

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  6. 06
    Reasoning Control

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  7. 07
    Advanced Options

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  8. 08
    Toolset Distributions

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  9. 09
    Output Format

    Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.

  10. 10
    Trajectory Format

    Finish here to verify the result and special cases.

Examples from the official page

Copy only after you understand the effect.

# Basic batch run python batch_runner.py \ --dataset_file=data/prompts.jsonl \ --batch_size=10 \ --run_name=my_first_run \ --model=anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 \ --num_workers=4 # Resume an interrupted run python batch_runner.py \ --dataset_file=data/prompts.jsonl \ --batch_size=10 \ --run_name=my_first_run \ --resume # List available toolset distributions python batch_runner.py --list_distributions
Entries can optionally include: - `image` or `docker_image`: A container image to use for this prompt's sandbox (works with Docker, Modal, and Singularity backends) - `cwd`: Working directory override for the task's terminal session ## Configuration Options | Parameter | Default | Description | |-----------|---------|-------------| | `--dataset_file` | (required) | Path to JSONL dataset | | `--batch_size` | (required) | Prompts per batch | | `--run_name` | (required) | Name for this run (used for output dir and checkpointing) | | `--distribution` | `"default"` | Toolset distribution to sampl
### Trajectory Format Each line in `trajectories.jsonl` is a JSON object:
Try it now

Read the first command and identify its inputs and outputs before copying it.

Match every command to your installed Hermes version, review the files and accounts it can reach, and use non-sensitive data for the first test. If this explanation differs from the source, the official source wins.

Knowledge check

Three decisions before completion.

1. What is the source of truth when “Batch Processing” changes?
2. What is the best way to apply this lesson?
3. What should happen before a step can modify files or an external account?