Hermes VS Code Extension: app and UI for Hermes Agent

VS Code sidebar for Hermes Agent with streaming chat, tool use, session history and model switching

What Hermes VS Code Extension does

Hermes VS Code Extension adds a sidebar panel to VS Code that talks to the Hermes agent runtime over the Agent Client Protocol. The extension spawns hermes acp as a local subprocess, with no cloud proxy and no hosted backend. It streams chat as sanitized markdown, shows extended thinking as a status line, and lists tool calls with kind labels such as Read, Edit, Bash, Search and Fetch together with file paths. Edited files open automatically in the editor.

Sessions persist across VS Code reloads, and a picker lets you switch, create, rename and delete them. A skills picker loads from ~/.hermes/skills/ and injects the selected skills as an advisory prefix. Grouped slash commands cover session, info, config and danger actions such as /compact, /usage, /yolo and /reset. The model picker offers Anthropic Claude and OpenAI Codex, and a progress bar shows context usage, turning gold at 70 percent and red at 90 percent. The active file, selection and open tabs are sent automatically.

Key features

Sidebar chat with streaming markdown and extended thinking display
Tool call display with kind labels, status icons and file paths
Skills picker that reads ~/.hermes/skills/
Slash command menu including /compact, /usage, /yolo and /reset
Persistent sessions with a picker to switch, rename and delete
Model switching and a live context usage meter

When to use it

Chatting with Hermes about the file and selection you have open without leaving VS Code
Watching tool calls and edits as an agent works on a codebase
Resuming earlier Hermes sessions after reloading the editor
Switching between Claude and Codex models from the header dropdown

Who it is for: VS Code users who already run Hermes Agent and want a sidebar chat instead of a terminal.

How it fits with Hermes Agent

Built for Hermes Agent, it launches hermes acp as a subprocess and reuses your authenticated Hermes install, skills directory and model catalog.

How to install Hermes VS Code Extension

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

pip install hermes-agent && hermes setup

Requirements: Hermes CLI installed and authenticated with hermes setup, and VS Code 1.85 or newer. Under Remote SSH the extension runs on the workspace side.

FAQ

What is Hermes VS Code Extension?

It is a VS Code sidebar for Hermes Agent that streams chat, runs and displays tool calls, manages sessions and tracks context usage. It communicates with Hermes over the Agent Client Protocol.

How do I install Hermes VS Code Extension?

Run pip install hermes-agent && hermes setup, then install the extension from the Marketplace or from a .vsix file. Open the Hermes panel from the activity bar and send a message.

Does Hermes VS Code Extension send my code to a cloud service?

The README says it uses no cloud proxy and no hosted backend. It runs hermes acp as a local subprocess, and files are sent to Hermes as path references that Hermes reads on demand.