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Extending the Dashboard

Extending the Dashboard

Developer32 minutes3 questions2026-08-09
The idea in one minute

Start with meaning, then move to detail.

This lesson explains Extending the Dashboard as part of Hermes internals and extension points. 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 Table of contents, Themes, Quick start — your first theme, then verify failure modes and version compatibility.

What do you need first?

Know Python, Git, and basic project structure before changing code.

What will you know?

A clear outcome before you read.

  • Understand Extending the Dashboard 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.
Official page description

Build themes and plugins for the Hermes web dashboard — palettes, typography, layouts, custom tabs, shell slots, page-scoped slots, and backend API routes

Topic map

What does the source say, and in what order?

  1. 01
    Table of contents

    Start here to understand the core idea or structure.

  2. 02
    Themes

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

  3. 03
    Quick start — your first theme

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

  4. 04
    Palette, typography, layout

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

  5. 05
    Palette (3-layer)

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

  6. 06
    Typography

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

  7. 07
    Changing the font from the UI (no YAML)

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

  8. 08
    Layout

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

  9. 09
    Layout variants

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

  10. 10
    Theme assets (images as CSS vars)

    Finish here to verify the result and special cases.

Examples from the official page

Copy only after you understand the effect.

mkdir -p ~/.hermes/dashboard-themes
# ~/.hermes/dashboard-themes/neon.yaml name: neon label: Neon description: Pure magenta on black palette: background: "#000000" midground: "#ff00ff"
palette: background: hex: "#05091a" alpha: 1.0 midground: "#d8f0ff" # bare hex, alpha = 1.0 foreground: hex: "#ffffff" alpha: 0 # invisible top layer warmGlow: "rgba(255, 199, 55, 0.24)" noiseOpacity: 0.7
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 “Extending the Dashboard” 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?