↓ Skip to main content
0x10ai

Lab: Write a skill

Lab: Write a skill
#

Goal
#

Create a minimal user skill in user space and invoke it without patching Hermes core.

Prereqs
#

  • Working Hermes chat
  • Ability to edit files under your Hermes home (~/.hermes/ or profile home)

Steps
#

  1. Create a skill directory (adjust home if using a profile):
mkdir -p ~/.hermes/skills/hello-agent-eng
  1. Write ~/.hermes/skills/hello-agent-eng/SKILL.md:
---
name: hello-agent-eng
description: Prints a short Agent eng checklist via terminal.
version: 0.1.0
author: Your Name
license: MIT
metadata:
  hermes:
    tags: [tutorial, lab]
    category: productivity
---

# Hello Agent Eng Skill

Use this skill when practicing Hermes extension labs.

## When to Use

- You want a tiny skill to verify skill loading

## How to Run

1. Summarize the Footprint Ladder in five bullets.
2. If you need a shell one-liner, use the `terminal` tool — do not invent other CLIs as the primary interface.

## Quick Reference

| Step | Action |
| ---- | ------ |
| 1 | Restate the user goal |
| 2 | Pick a Footprint Ladder rung |
| 3 | List cache risks |
  1. Load / refresh skills per your install (/skills, hermes skills, or restart session). Prefer deferred activation if prompted; only use --now if you intentionally want immediate system-prompt invalidation.
  2. Invoke the skill (slash command derived from the skill, or ask: “Follow the hello-agent-eng skill”).

Expected outcome
#

  • Skill directory exists with valid frontmatter
  • Agent follows the checklist (or clearly loads the skill content)
  • You understand deferred vs --now for cache-affecting skill changes

Verify
#

  1. Frontmatter description is one short sentence (keep it ≤ 60 characters when aiming for upstream quality)
  2. Prose references native tools in backticks (for example terminal) instead of raw grep/cat as the headline interface
  3. No files under the hermes-agent git tree were modified

Common pitfalls
#

  • Putting the skill inside the git checkout skills/ folder (that is for bundled contributions, not this lab)
  • Writing a novel-length description that pollutes listings
  • Using --now by habit and wondering why the conversation got more expensive

Stretch
#

  • Add scripts/hello.py and call it via terminal with a skill-relative path
  • Read authoring hardlines in skills/AGENTS.md / website/docs/developer-guide/creating-skills.md

Next lab
#

Write a plugin tool