Tools & Toolsets
الأدوات & Toolsets
Start with meaning, then move to detail.
This lesson explains Tools & Toolsets as part of operating Hermes with explicit security boundaries. You will learn what it does, when it matters, and the smallest safe test that proves it works.
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 practice, inspect the first example, identify its effects, run it on test data, and compare the result with the source claim.
For advanced readers, inspect Available Tools, Using Toolsets, Terminal Backends, then verify failure modes and version compatibility.
You only need to know which files and accounts the agent may access.
A clear outcome before you read.
- Understand Tools & Toolsets 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.
Short definitions before the details.
- Tool
- A structured action the agent can call to read or change something.
- Approval & sandbox
- Approval pauses a sensitive action before execution; sandboxing limits impact if something goes wrong.
Overview of Hermes Agent's tools — what's available, how toolsets work, and terminal backends
What does the source say, and in what order?
- 01Available Tools
Start here to understand the core idea or structure.
- 02Using Toolsets
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 03Terminal Backends
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 04Configuration
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 05Shell startup files and non-interactive commands
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 06Docker Backend
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 07SSH Backend
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 08Singularity/Apptainer
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 09Modal (Serverless Cloud)
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 10Vercel Sandbox
Finish here to verify the result and special cases.
Copy only after you understand the effect.
# Use specific toolsets
hermes chat --toolsets "web,terminal"
# See all available tools
hermes tools
# Configure tools per platform (interactive)
hermes tools# In ~/.hermes/config.yaml
terminal:
backend: local # or: docker, ssh, singularity, modal, daytona, vercel_sandbox
cwd: "." # Working directory
timeout: 180 # Command timeout in seconds# ~/.bashrc — keep this guard near the top
case $- in
*i*) ;; # interactive: continue
*) return;; # non-interactive: stop here
esac
# heavy/interactive init goes BELOW the guard
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"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.