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Code Wiki

Generate wiki docs + Mermaid diagrams for any codebase

DocumentationMermaidArchitectureDiagramsWikiCode-AnalysisOptionalHermes skill
Last registry verification2026-08-18v0.1.0Teknium (teknium1), Hermes Agent
Plain meaning

What does it add to Hermes?

Generate wiki docs + Mermaid diagrams for any codebase

Code Wiki is a skill related to memory and knowledge. It helps Hermes retrieve past information or stored knowledge instead of starting from zero in every session.

This plain-language explanation is based on the publisher description. The original text remains visible for verification.

Use it when

Use it when your goal in memory and knowledge is clear and you can limit it to the data and actions it actually needs.

Skip it when

Do not add it merely to experiment when Hermes already has a simpler path, or when you cannot review its source and permissions.

Who is it for?

Best for users who want a repeatable way of working inside Hermes.

Safe first test

Add a non-sensitive note, start a new session, and verify retrieval preserves the meaning without inventing details.

Original publisher description

Generate wiki docs + Mermaid diagrams for any codebase

✓
Data source

This entry was indexed from Hermes Optional Skills. Our explanation interprets the type and domain without inventing a capability not present upstream.

!
Security review

The source is official or editorially reviewed, but you still need to review permissions and version compatibility.

Safe setup path

Inspect, install, then test.

  1. 01
    Open the source

    Match the publisher, license, and description to your need. Check the real update history.

  2. 02
    Review permissions and secrets

    Never paste a secret value into this site. Use environment-variable names and grant the smallest scope.

  3. 03
    Copy setup only after review

    The controls below copy text. They do not execute commands on your device.

  4. 04
    Test with a non-sensitive task

    Inspect the visible tools, then exclude write or delete tools you do not need.

Install command

Review the command, then copy it.

hermes skills install code-wiki

Hermes Belarabi does not execute this command. Installation happens on your device and remains subject to Hermes scanning and your review.

The full skill definition

Exactly what Hermes loads when this skill runs.

Reproduced from the official documentation. Read it before enabling the skill: this text becomes the agent's instructions.

Generate wiki docs + Mermaid diagrams for any codebase.

Skill metadata

A lookup table. Do not read it all; find the row that applies to you.

SourceOptional — install with hermes skills install official/software-development/code-wiki
Pathoptional-skills/software-development/code-wiki
Version0.1.0
AuthorTeknium (teknium1), Hermes Agent
LicenseMIT
Platformslinux, macos, windows
TagsDocumentation, Mermaid, Architecture, Diagrams, Wiki, Code-Analysis
Related skillscodebase-inspection, github-repo-management

Reference: full SKILL.md

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Generate a full wiki for any codebase — overview, architecture, per-module deep-dives, Mermaid class and sequence diagrams. Inspired by Google CodeWiki, but works on local repos, private repos, and any language. Uses only existing Hermes tools (terminal, read_file, search_files, write_file); no Docker, no external services, no extra dependencies.

This skill produces reference documentation (what/how). It does not produce strategic narrative (why — that's a different skill).

When to Use

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

  • User says "document this codebase", "generate a wiki", "make architecture diagrams"
  • Onboarding to an unfamiliar repo and wants a structured reference
  • User points at a GitHub URL and asks for documentation
  • Need a stable artifact (markdown + Mermaid) that renders on GitHub

Do NOT use this for:

  • Single-file or single-function documentation — just answer directly
  • API reference for one specific endpoint — use read_file and answer inline
  • Strategic "why does this exist" narrative — different skill, different purpose
  • Codebases the user is actively developing in this session — just answer questions as they come

Prerequisites

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

  • No env vars required.
  • git on PATH for repo SHA tracking and remote clones.
  • Optional: pygount for language-breakdown stats (see the codebase-inspection skill).

How to Run

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Invoke through the terminal tool from the target repo's root, then use read_file / search_files / write_file to produce the wiki. Default output location is ~/.hermes/wikis/<repo-name>/. Only write into the repo (docs/wiki/) when the user explicitly requests it.

Quick Reference

A lookup table. Do not read it all; find the row that applies to you.

StepAction
1Resolve target — local cwd, given path, or git clone --depth 50 <url> to a temp dir
2Scan structure — ls, find -maxdepth 3, manifest files, README
3Pick 8–10 modules to document
4Write README.md (overview + module map)
5Write architecture.md with Mermaid flowchart
6Write per-module docs in modules/
7Write diagrams/class-diagram.md (Mermaid classDiagram)
8Write diagrams/sequences.md (Mermaid sequenceDiagram, 2–4 workflows)
9Write getting-started.md
10Write api.md if applicable, else skip
11Write .codewiki-state.json
12Report paths to user

Procedure

Settings you configure once. Change one at a time so you can see what each does. Set WIKI_TMP, REPO_SHA in your environment, not in the chat.

1. Resolve the target

For a GitHub URL:

Shell5 lines
WIKI_TMP=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --depth 50 <url> "$WIKI_TMP/repo"
cd "$WIKI_TMP/repo"
REPO_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
REPO_NAME=$(basename <url> .git)

For a local path (or cwd if none given):

Shell3 lines
cd <path>
REPO_SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo "uncommitted")
REPO_NAME=$(basename "$PWD")

Then set the output dir:

Shell2 lines
OUTPUT_DIR="$HOME/.hermes/wikis/$REPO_NAME"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR/modules" "$OUTPUT_DIR/diagrams"

2. Scan repo structure

Use the terminal tool for the shell work, read_file for manifests:

Shell18 lines
# Shallow tree first
ls -la

# Deeper tree, noise filtered
find . -type d \
  -not -path '*/\.*' \
  -not -path '*/node_modules*' \
  -not -path '*/venv*' \
  -not -path '*/__pycache__*' \
  -not -path '*/dist*' \
  -not -path '*/build*' \
  -not -path '*/target*' \
  -maxdepth 3 | sort

# Language breakdown (skip if pygount unavailable)
pygount --format=summary \
  --folders-to-skip=".git,node_modules,venv,.venv,__pycache__,.cache,dist,build,target" \
  . 2>/dev/null || true

Then read_file the relevant manifests (package.json, pyproject.toml, setup.py, Cargo.toml, go.mod, pom.xml, build.gradle) and the project README. Use search_files target='files' to find them rather than guessing names.

3. Pick modules to document

Cap initial pass at 8–10 modules. Heuristics by language:

  • Python: top-level packages (dirs with __init__.py), plus subsystem dirs
  • JS/TS: src/<subdir>, top-level workspace dirs
  • Rust: each crate in a workspace, or top-level src/<module> dirs
  • Go: each top-level package directory
  • Mixed/unfamiliar: top-level directories that contain source code (not config, not tests)

For very large repos, prioritize by:

  1. Imported-from count (a module imported by many is core)
  2. LOC (bigger modules usually warrant their own doc)
  3. Mentions in README / top-level docs

State the module list to the user before generating per-module docs on big repos — gives them a chance to redirect.

4. Write README.md

read_file the actual project README plus the top 2–3 entry-point files. Then write_file:

MARKDOWN30 lines
# <Project Name>

<One paragraph: what it is and what it's for. Self-contained — don't assume the
reader has the source README.>

## Key Concepts

- **<Concept 1>** — <one line>
- **<Concept 2>** — <one line>

## Entry Points

- [`path/to/main.py`](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/optional-skills/software-development/code-wiki/<link>) — <what runs when you start it>
- [`path/to/cli.py`](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/optional-skills/software-development/code-wiki/<link>) — <CLI surface>

## High-Level Architecture

<2-3 sentences. Detail goes in architecture.md.>

See [architecture.md](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/optional-skills/software-development/code-wiki/architecture.md).

## Module Map

| Module | Purpose |
|---|---|
| [`<module>`](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/optional-skills/software-development/code-wiki/modules/<module>.md) | <one-line purpose> |

## Getting Started

See [getting-started.md](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/optional-skills/software-development/code-wiki/getting-started.md).

For link targets in local mode use relative paths. For cloned repos use https://github.com/<owner>/<repo>/blob/<sha>/<path> so links survive future commits.

5. Write architecture.md

MARKDOWN17 lines
# Architecture

<2-3 paragraphs: shape of the system. What talks to what. Where data enters,
where it exits, where state lives.>

## Components

- **<Component>** — <1-2 sentences>. See [`modules/<module>.md`](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/optional-skills/software-development/code-wiki/modules/<module>.md).

## System Diagram

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    User([User]) --> Entry[Entry Point]
    Entry --> Core[Core Engine]
    Core --> StorageA[(Database)]
    Core --> ExternalAPI{{External API}}

Data Flow

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

  1. <Step> — <file> ↗
  2. <Step> — <file> ↗

Key Design Decisions

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

  • <Anything load-bearing the reader should know>
Text45 lines

**Mermaid shape semantics:**
- `[]` = component
- `[()]` = database / storage
- `{{}}` = external service
- `(())` = entry point or terminal
- `-->` = sync call, `-.->` = async/event

Cap at ~20 nodes per diagram. Split into sub-diagrams if larger.

### 6. Write per-module docs in `modules/`

For each selected module, inspect its layout with `ls`, identify 3–5 most important files (by size, by being named `core.py` / `main.py` / `__init__.py`, by being imported a lot), then `read_file` those files (use `offset` / `limit` to read only what you need; prefer `search_files` for specific symbols).

````markdown
# Module: `<module>`

<1-2 sentence purpose.>

## Responsibilities

- <bullet>
- <bullet>

## Key Files

- [`<module>/<file>`](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/optional-skills/software-development/code-wiki/<link>) — <what it does>

## Public API

<Functions/classes/constants other code uses. Group related items. Show
signatures, not full implementations.>

## Internal Structure

<How the module is organized internally. State management.>

## Dependencies

- **Used by:** <other modules>
- **Uses:** <other modules + external libs>

## Notable Patterns / Gotchas

- <Anything non-obvious>

7. Write diagrams/class-diagram.md

Pick the 5–10 most important classes/types. read_file them, then write:

MARKDOWN19 lines
# Class Diagram

## Core Types

```mermaid
classDiagram
    class Agent {
        +string name
        +list~Tool~ tools
        +chat(message) string
    }
    class Tool {
        <<interface>>
        +name string
        +execute(args) any
    }
    Agent --> Tool : uses
    Tool <|-- TerminalTool
    Tool <|-- WebTool

Notes

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

<Anything the diagram can't express — lifecycle, threading, etc.>

Text26 lines

For languages without classes (Go, C, Rust): use the diagram for struct relationships, or skip class-diagram.md and explain it in prose in architecture.md. Don't force-fit.

### 8. Write `diagrams/sequences.md`

Pick 2–4 of the most important workflows. Trace each call path through the code (read entry point, follow function calls), then:

````markdown
# Sequence Diagrams

## Workflow: <Name>

<1 sentence describing what this does and when it runs.>

```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant CLI
    participant Agent
    participant LLM
    User->>CLI: types message
    CLI->>Agent: chat(message)
    Agent->>LLM: API call
    LLM-->>Agent: response + tool_calls
    Agent->>Agent: execute tools
    Agent-->>CLI: final response

Walkthrough

  1. User input — cli.py:HermesCLI.run_session ↗
  2. Message dispatch — run_agent.py:AIAgent.chat ↗
Text16 lines

Don't invent participants. Every box must correspond to a real component the reader can find in the code.

### 9. Write `getting-started.md`

````markdown
# Getting Started

## Prerequisites

<From manifest files + README. Be specific — versions if pinned.>

## Installation

```bash
<exact commands>

First Run

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Shell1 line
<minimum command to see the system do something useful>

Common Workflows

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

<Workflow 1>

<commands>

Configuration

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

  • <config-file> — <what it controls>
  • Env var <VAR> — <what it controls>

Where to Go Next

Settings you configure once. Change one at a time so you can see what each does. Commands here: hermes code-wiki skill v0. Set OUTPUT_DIR, REPO_NAME in your environment, not in the chat.

Text22 lines

### 10. Write `api.md` (skip if not applicable)

Only write this if the project is a library or API server. If it is:

- Find the public API surface (`__init__.py` exports, OpenAPI specs, route handlers, exported types)
- Document each public entry with signature, parameters, return type, one-line description
- Group by category

### 11. Write the state file

```bash
cat > "$OUTPUT_DIR/.codewiki-state.json" <<EOF
{
  "repo_name": "$REPO_NAME",
  "source_path": "$PWD",
  "source_sha": "$REPO_SHA",
  "generated_at": "$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)",
  "generator": "hermes-agent code-wiki skill v0.1.0",
  "modules_documented": []
}
EOF

12. Report to user

State exactly what was generated and where:

Text8 lines
Generated wiki at ~/.hermes/wikis/<repo-name>/:
  README.md                   project overview, module map
  architecture.md             system architecture + flowchart
  getting-started.md          setup, first run, workflows
  modules/<N files>           per-module deep-dives
  diagrams/architecture.md    Mermaid flowchart
  diagrams/class-diagram.md   Mermaid class diagram
  diagrams/sequences.md       Mermaid sequence diagrams

If you cloned to a temp dir, remind the user it can be removed (rm -rf "$WIKI_TMP") after they've reviewed the wiki.

Scope Control

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

Generating a full wiki for a 500K-LOC monorepo is wildly token-expensive. Default to bounded scope:

  • Initial scan: max depth 3 directories
  • Per-module docs: cap at 10 modules unless user expands scope
  • Per-file reads: prefer search_files for symbols + read_file with offset/limit over full reads
  • Skip vendored code (vendor/, third_party/, generated code, _pb2.py, .min.js)

If the user says "do the whole thing exhaustively", believe them — but ballpark the cost first: "this repo has ~340 source files, comprehensive coverage will be expensive — confirm?"

Re-Run / Update

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

If .codewiki-state.json already exists at the target path:

  • Read it for previous SHA and module list
  • If source SHA matches: ask user if they want to regenerate or skip
  • If SHA differs: offer to regenerate only modules with changed files (git diff --name-only <old-sha> HEAD)

Full incremental-regeneration is a future enhancement — for now, regenerating the whole thing is acceptable.

Pitfalls

Explains the idea itself. Read it slowly; the later sections build on it.

  • Fabricating components. Every diagram node and claimed function call must be in the source. read_file before writing. The single biggest failure mode for auto-generated docs is plausible-sounding fabrication.
  • Generic AI prose. "This module is responsible for..." is content-free. Say what the module actually does in domain-specific terms.
  • Restating code as prose. A module doc that says "the process function processes things by calling process_item on each item" is worse than just linking to the function.
  • Mermaid > 50 nodes. They don't render legibly. Split them.
  • Documenting tests, generated code, or vendored deps as if they were product code. Skip them.
  • In-repo output without asking. Default is ~/.hermes/wikis/. Only write into the repo when the user explicitly requests it.
  • Mermaid special chars need quotes: A["Tool / Agent"] not A[Tool / Agent]. <br> for line breaks inside a node.
  • Nested code fences in SKILL.md. When writing a markdown example that contains a Mermaid block, use 4-backtick outer fences so the 3-backtick inner `mermaid doesn't close the outer. (This SKILL.md does it.)
  • classDiagram generics render as ~T~ (e.g. List~Tool~), not <T>.
  • GitHub Mermaid theme is fixed — don't include %%{init: ...}%% blocks; they're stripped on render.

Verification

Settings you configure once. Change one at a time so you can see what each does. Set OUTPUT_DIR in your environment, not in the chat.

After writing, verify:

  1. Mermaid blocks balance — opens equal closes per file:
Shell5 lines
   for f in "$OUTPUT_DIR"/diagrams/*.md "$OUTPUT_DIR"/architecture.md; do
     opens=$(grep -c '^```mermaid' "$f")
     total=$(grep -c '^```' "$f")
     echo "$f: $opens mermaid blocks, $total total fences (expect total = opens*2)"
   done
  1. All expected files exist —
Shell2 lines
   ls "$OUTPUT_DIR"/{README.md,architecture.md,getting-started.md,.codewiki-state.json} \
      "$OUTPUT_DIR"/modules/ "$OUTPUT_DIR"/diagrams/
  1. Module count matches what you intended — ls "$OUTPUT_DIR/modules" | wc -l should equal the number of modules you committed to in Step 3.
  2. No fabricated paths — sanity-check 2–3 source links resolve to real files.