Quick Start
After installation, Hermes loads the Maestria skills, commands, and hooks at startup. The default mode is fein, which describes the full pipeline.
Start a Session
Section titled “Start a Session”Launch Hermes in the project you want to work on. The plugin does not probe for external tools at startup.
Choose a Route
Section titled “Choose a Route”| Command | Route | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| /fein | Full pipeline | Unfamiliar, multi-stage, or high-risk work |
| /sonar | Research only, then stop | Understanding a codebase or comparing approaches |
| /blitz | Direct read, research, and LLM work | Small work where direct execution is appropriate |
| /review | Activate fein | Full pipeline; dedicated review behavior is not yet implemented |
| /plan | Activate fein | Full pipeline; dedicated planning behavior is not yet implemented |
| /mode or /mode-clear | Show or clear the mode | Inspecting state or returning to neutral routing |
The mode directive is added to each message. A mode command changes the mode for all sessions that share the same HERMES_HOME; use /mode-clear when that persistence is not wanted.
Try a Task
Section titled “Try a Task”For a full route, describe the outcome after activating fein:
/feinResearch the authentication patterns in this codebase, fix the empty-email failure, and review the fix.The orchestrator selects the needed specialists and passes evidence between stages. For a small explanation task, use blitz:
/blitzExplain what the add function in src/math.ts does.Understand the Boundary
Section titled “Understand the Boundary”Maestria specialist names are routing roles, not permission identities on Hermes.
- A trusted top-level session performs direct code changes.
- Delegated children receive a fixed read, research, and LLM-only policy.
- The policy does not allow children to write files, execute code, run a shell, delegate, or invoke OpenCode.
- Review and landing remain advisory because Hermes has no native review-state gate.
The Hermes installation guide lists the hooks, commands, and trust surfaces added by the plugin. The commands reference documents each command’s behavior.
Long-Running Work
Section titled “Long-Running Work”Use Hermes’s /goal feature when the objective must survive session boundaries. Mnemosyne and Uteke are optional Hermes features; Maestria does not require a memory provider.