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Nous Research Updates Hermes Agent With a Blank Slate Mode That Pins Toolsets via platform_toolsets.cli and disabled_toolsets

ByRicardo

Nous Research has added a Blank Slate setup mode to its open-source Hermes Agent. It inverts the standard onboarding. Instead of a absolutely loaded default, you begin with virtually nothing.

Hermes Agent is the self-improving agent framework from Nous Research. It runs by yourself machine. The team announced the new mode on X. Blank Slate now joins two present choices: Quick Setup and Full Setup.

TL;DR

  • Blank Slate boots an agent with every little thing off besides supplier & mannequin, File Operations, and Terminal.
  • Web, browser, code execution, imaginative and prescient, reminiscence, delegation, cron, abilities, plugins, and MCP keep disabled.
  • It writes an express platform_toolsets.cli checklist plus agent.disabled_toolsets to pin the floor.
  • Nothing you skipped hundreds later — not even after hermes replace.
  • Re-enable something with hermes instruments, hermes abilities opt-in --sync, or hermes setup agent.

What is Blank Slate

On a recent set up, hermes setup now affords three modes. The alternative units your beginning floor space.

  • Quick Setup makes use of the Nous Portal. It wants no API keys and makes use of a free OAuth login. It units up a mannequin plus the Tool Gateway instruments. The docs name it the advisable quick path.
  • Full Setup is the other. You stroll by means of each supplier, device, and choice your self. You carry your personal keys.
  • Blank Slate is the minimal third path. It is for constructing an agent from the bottom up. Everything begins off besides the naked minimal wanted to run an agent. That minimal is three items: supplier & mannequin, the File Operations toolset, and the Terminal toolset.

The disabled checklist is express. Off by default: net, browser, code execution, imaginative and prescient, reminiscence, delegation, cron, abilities, plugins, and MCP servers. Compression, checkpoints, sensible routing, and reminiscence seize are additionally disabled.

The Two Paths After the Baseline

Blank Slate doesn’t cease on the baseline. After the minimal baseline is utilized, you select one among two paths.

  • The first path retains every little thing disabled. You end now with the minimal agent. You get file and terminal entry, and nothing else.
  • The second path walks by means of all configurations. You choose in to instruments, abilities, plugins, MCP, and messaging. You allow solely what every workflow wants.

Pick Blank Slate while you need a minimal, fully-controlled agent. The level is to allow precisely what you want and no extra.

Why the Config Format Matters

Blank Slate doesn’t simply toggle options at runtime. It writes the choice to disk.

The mode writes an express platform_toolsets.cli checklist. It additionally writes agent.disabled_toolsets. Together, these two keys pin your agent’s floor.

The impact is sturdy. Nothing you didn’t select ever hundreds. That holds even after hermes replace. An replace can not silently re-enable a toolset you left off.

Hermes additionally separates secrets and techniques from settings. Tokens stay in ~/.hermes/.env. Non-secret settings stay in ~/.hermes/config.yaml. The CLI routes every worth to the right file.

Setup Modes Compared

Mode Enabled by default Keys / auth Best for
Quick Setup (Nous Portal) Model + Tool Gateway instruments Free OAuth, no API keys Fastest first run
Full Setup Every device and choice you choose Bring your personal keys Hand-tuned, full management
Blank Slate Provider & mannequin, File Operations, Terminal Provider auth solely Minimal, fully-controlled setups

Use Cases With Examples

Three conditions match Blank Slate nicely:

  • A security-sensitive deployment is the primary. You need an agent with no net and no browser. Blank Slate ships file and terminal entry solely. Nothing reaches the community until you add it.
  • A reproducible workforce setup is the second. You pin one recognized toolset throughout each machine. Updates won’t drift the configuration. New instruments by no means seem with out an express opt-in.
  • A educating or audit surroundings is the third. You begin minimal and add one toolset at a time. Each functionality turns into a deliberate alternative.

Here is a minimal stream. Install, run setup, select Blank Slate, then end now.

Copy Code
curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/set up.sh | bash
supply ~/.bashrc                 # or supply ~/.zshrc
hermes setup                     # select Blank Slate, then "end now"
hermes                           # file + terminal solely

Later, add one functionality when a process wants it.

Copy Code
hermes instruments                     # re-enable a toolset, e.g. net
hermes abilities opt-in --sync      # seed abilities on demand
hermes setup agent               # tune compression, routing, reminiscence

A Note for Local Setups

Hermes Agent requires a mannequin with a minimum of 64,000 tokens of context. Smaller home windows are rejected at startup. Most hosted fashions meet this simply.

Local fashions want an express context dimension of 64K. For instance, use --ctx-size 65536 for llama.cpp. A minimal Blank Slate agent on a native mannequin nonetheless has to clear this flooring.

Interactive Explainer


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The publish Nous Research Updates Hermes Agent With a Blank Slate Mode That Pins Toolsets via platform_toolsets.cli and disabled_toolsets appeared first on MarkTechPost.

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