Which File Does What?
Which File Does What?
Start with meaning, then move to detail.
This lesson explains Which File Does What? as part of using Hermes and understanding its behavior. 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, open the source, choose one section, and write an expected result before changing configuration.
For advanced readers, inspect The Master Table, "Why did it forget what I just said?", Common Mix-Ups, then verify failure modes and version compatibility.
Start with installation if you have not run Hermes yet.
A clear outcome before you read.
- Understand Which File Does What? without assumed prior knowledge.
- Separate the source description from what still needs testing in your environment.
- Write one sentence describing what should change after applying this topic.
Short definitions before the details.
- Session & memory
- A session holds conversation context, while memory keeps selected facts that should persist.
SOUL.md vs USER.md vs MEMORY.md vs AGENTS.md — a one-page map of the agent's files, who writes each one, and when the agent actually sees them
What does the source say, and in what order?
- 01The Master Table
Start here to understand the core idea or structure.
- 02"Why did it forget what I just said?"
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 03Common Mix-Ups
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 04"I put facts about myself in SOUL.md, but USER.md stayed empty"
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 05"I told it my name mid-session and it acted like it never heard it"
Read this after the foundation, then connect it to the previous step.
- 06Related Docs
Finish here to verify the result and special cases.
Write one sentence describing what should change after applying this topic.
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.