model-router: model tool for Hermes Agent

Hermes Agent plugin that routes each turn to the cheapest of five model tiers and escalates when needed

What model-router does

model-router is a Hermes Agent plugin that routes each conversation turn to the cheapest model tier that should handle it, and escalates only when the task needs more reasoning. It is built around exactly five tiers, each with a configurable model, label, emoji and reasoning mode. The commands /t1 to /t5 pin a turn to a tier, and /auto hands control back to the router.

The bootstrap defaults map T1 to qwen/qwen3.5-flash-02-23 for triage, T2 to deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash as a daily driver, T3 to minimax/minimax-m2.7 for creating, basic coding and review, T4 to deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro for planning, and T5 to anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6 with medium reasoning. Once model_router.yaml exists, the active profile's file is the only source of truth. The installer applies and validates patches to Hermes core files with timestamped backups, regenerates skill_routing.md and the routing block in SOUL.md, and can also patch a local hermes-webui checkout.

Key features

Automatic per-turn routing across five model tiers
Manual pinning with /t1 to /t5 and a return to automatic routing with /auto
Per-profile configuration in model_router.yaml
Installer that validates and repairs required Hermes core integrations
Routing guidance synced into skill_routing.md and SOUL.md
Startup validation that offers to repair files when a check fails

When to use it

Keep routine Hermes turns on a cheap model and reserve a stronger one for hard reasoning
Use different tier setups for separate Hermes profiles such as coder or trading
Pin a single turn to a specific tier when you know the task needs it

Who it is for: Hermes Agent users who want to cut model costs by matching each turn to an appropriately sized model.

How it fits with Hermes Agent

Built for Hermes Agent as a plugin, working per profile and syncing its routing guidance into SOUL.md and Hermes configuration.

How to install model-router

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

cd ~/.hermes/plugins
git clone https://github.com/open-world-project/model-router model-router
cd model-router
bash install.sh

Note: Its installer patches Hermes core files, and the plugin will not work if that validation fails.

FAQ

What is model-router?

model-router is a Hermes Agent plugin for cost-aware model routing. It classifies each turn, picks the cheapest of five tiers that should work, and escalates only when the task needs more reasoning.

Does model-router work with Hermes Agent?

Yes, it is built for Hermes Agent. Its installer applies and validates patches to Hermes core files, so Hermes should be restarted after installation.

How do I install model-router?

Clone the repository into ~/.hermes/plugins and run bash install.sh, optionally naming profiles such as default, seo or coder. The script is safe to run repeatedly, and Hermes needs a restart afterward.