Computer Use — Drive the desktop in the background without stealing focus
Computer Use — Drive the desktop in the background without stealing focus
Start with meaning, then move to detail.
This lesson explains Computer Use — Drive the desktop in the background without stealing focus 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, 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 Skill metadata, Reference: full SKILL.md, The canonical workflow, then verify failure modes and version compatibility.
Complete installation and one successful task before adding new capabilities.
A clear outcome before you read.
- Understand Computer Use — Drive the desktop in the background without stealing focus 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.
- Skill
- An instruction bundle that teaches Hermes a repeatable workflow without necessarily adding an external service.
- Browser / CDP
- A layer for programmatic browser control and page or event inspection.
- Automation
- Running work later or repeatedly with explicit success and failure conditions.
Drive the desktop in the background without stealing focus
What does the source say, and in what order?
- 01Skill metadata
Start here to understand the core idea or structure.
- 02Reference: full SKILL.md
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 03The canonical workflow
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 04Capture modes
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 05Actions
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 06The verify → escalate ladder (background-first)
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 07Typed browser page rung
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 08Key shortcuts vary per platform
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 09Background rules (the whole point)
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 10Drag & drop
Finish here to verify the result and special cases.
Copy only after you understand the effect.
computer_use(action="capture", mode="som", app="<the app you're driving>")#1 AXButton 'Back' @ (12, 80, 28, 28) [Chrome]
#2 AXTextField 'Address bar' @ (80, 80, 900, 32) [Chrome]
#7 Link 'Sign In' @ (900, 420, 80, 24) [Chrome]
...computer_use(action="click", element=7)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.