nix-hermes-agent: deployment tool for Hermes Agent

Nix package and NixOS module that runs Hermes Agent as a declaratively configured system service

What nix-hermes-agent does

nix-hermes-agent is a Nix package and NixOS module for Hermes Agent. Everything is configured in Nix: the services.hermes-agent options render config to cli-config.yaml, install workspace documents such as SOUL.md, AGENTS.md and USER.md, declare skills (bundled, optional and custom), define MCP servers and add extra packages to PATH. One nixos-rebuild switch brings the service up.

Secrets stay out of the Nix store. You point environmentFiles at a file holding keys such as OPENROUTER_API_KEY or TELEGRAM_TOKEN, and an optional authFile at OAuth tokens, with a sops-nix example in the README. The agent runs as a systemd service, so status and logs come from systemctl and journalctl. Upstream Hermes pins are promoted through quarantined candidate pull requests, so a broken Hermes release cannot replace the last-known-good package, as described in the repository's update policy.

Key features

NixOS module under services.hermes-agent
Declarative config rendered to cli-config.yaml
Workspace documents such as SOUL.md, AGENTS.md and USER.md defined inline or from files
Declarative skills and MCP servers
Secrets through environmentFiles and authFile, with a sops-nix example
Quarantined upstream update policy that keeps a last-known-good package

When to use it

Running Hermes Agent on a NixOS server with its whole setup in version control
Managing API keys and Telegram tokens with sops-nix instead of plain files
Reproducing the same Hermes setup across several hosts

Who it is for: NixOS users who want Hermes Agent managed as a declarative, reproducible system service.

How it fits with Hermes Agent

A packaging of Hermes Agent for Nix, wrapping it in a NixOS module that renders its configuration, documents, skills and MCP servers.

How to install nix-hermes-agent

These commands are copied from the project's README. Check the repository for the latest steps before you run them.

nixos-rebuild switch
systemctl status hermes-agent
journalctl -u hermes-agent -f

Requirements: A NixOS system using flakes, plus an environment file holding your provider API keys and any messaging tokens.

FAQ

What is nix-hermes-agent?

nix-hermes-agent is a Nix package and NixOS module for Hermes Agent. You describe the agent in Nix and NixOS runs it as a systemd service.

How do I deploy nix-hermes-agent?

Add the flake input github:0xrsydn/nix-hermes-agent, include nix-hermes.nixosModules.hermes-agent in your host modules, and set services.hermes-agent options. Then run nixos-rebuild switch and check systemctl status hermes-agent.

Is nix-hermes-agent free and open source?

The repository is public, but it has no license file, so default copyright applies. Check with the author before reusing the code.