Hermes Agent for VS Code
Run Hermes Agent inside VS Code with ACP: editor chat, file diffs, terminal commands, approvals, project memory, skills, and autonomous coding workflows without leaving your repository.
Quick answer
To use Hermes Agent in VS Code, install Hermes, install the ACP Client extension, choose Hermes Agent in the ACP panel, and open a repository. Hermes then runs as an ACP server so VS Code can show chat, tool activity, file diffs, terminal commands, approvals, memory, and skills in the editor workflow.
Uses the ACP Client extension: VS Code talks to Hermes through the standard Agent Client Protocol, not a separate closed editor fork.
Best for
Developers who want Hermes inside the editor without abandoning VS Code
Multi-file refactors where the agent should patch code and run tests
Debugging sessions that need terminal output, source context, and approval prompts
Teams comparing Copilot-style completions with tool-using coding agents
Users who may later move from local setup to managed FlyHermes cloud
Features
- ✓ACP editor chat inside VS Code
- ✓File reads, patches, and multi-file diffs
- ✓Terminal commands, builds, and test verification
- ✓Persistent memory and reusable skills for repo conventions
- ✓Permission prompts for risky commands and edits
- ✓GitHub handoffs for PR review, CI, and issue workflows
Setup path
- 1Install and configure Hermes Agent with your model provider using hermes setup or hermes model
- 2Install the VS Code ACP Client extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace
- 3Open the ACP Client panel and select Hermes Agent from the built-in agent list
- 4If needed, add Hermes manually in VS Code settings with command hermes and args ["acp"]
- 5Open your repository in VS Code, connect, and ask Hermes to inspect files, patch code, run tests, or explain a diff
- 6Deploy Hermes on a Hostinger VPS using the one-click Docker image; navigate to Docker Manager and click Open to reach the Hermes setup wizard directly inside the container.
- 7Create a Telegram bot via BotFather, find your personal Telegram user ID using a userinfo bot, and lock the bot to your ID only so no other user can talk to your agent.
- 8Authenticate GitHub CLI inside Hermes by asking it to 'set up your GitHub CLI skill'; Hermes will guide you through the OAuth flow and configure git name and email automatically.
What actually connects VS Code to Hermes
Hermes runs locally as an ACP server with hermes acp. The VS Code ACP Client extension launches or connects to that server over stdio, then renders Hermes messages, tool calls, file diffs, terminal output, and approval prompts inside your editor.
- •Use VS Code for the human-in-the-loop coding session.
- •Use Hermes for the agent runtime: tools, memory, skills, provider routing, and terminal execution.
- •Use GitHub integration for unattended PR, issue, CI, and webhook work when the editor is closed.
The setup snippet if Hermes is not listed automatically
Most users can select Hermes Agent from the ACP Client's built-in list. If your VS Code setup needs a manual agent definition, add Hermes under acp.agents with command hermes and args ["acp"]. Run hermes acp --check first if the panel cannot connect.
- •Command: hermes
- •Arguments: acp
- •Health check: hermes acp --check
- •Optional browser tools: hermes acp --setup-browser
When VS Code is the right surface
Use the VS Code integration when a developer is actively steering a local repo: reviewing a file, asking for a patch, approving a terminal command, or iterating on failing tests. It is not mainly an autocomplete product; it is an editor surface for an autonomous tool-using agent.
- •Multi-file refactors where you want to inspect diffs before applying them.
- •Debugging loops that need terminal output, logs, browser checks, and source edits in one place.
- •Repo-specific workflows where Hermes should remember conventions through skills and memory.
VS Code, Copilot, and FlyHermes serve different jobs
Copilot is still excellent for inline completions. Hermes in VS Code is better when the task needs tools, filesystem changes, tests, memory, or multi-step execution. FlyHermes is the cloud path when you want hosted Hermes without running the local server, gateway, model credentials, and maintenance yourself.
- •Use Copilot for fast inline suggestions and editor-native completions.
- •Use Hermes in VS Code for permissioned agent work inside the repo.
- •Use FlyHermes when the desired outcome is managed cloud Hermes rather than local setup.
Running Hermes as a Remote Software Developer
The core insight from ZazenCodes is treating Hermes not as a chatbot but as a lead developer who works while you are away. The VPS hosts Hermes inside a Docker container, and Telegram is the command interface. You dictate tasks from your phone — 'build a blog, deploy to staging' — and Hermes executes the full workflow: loading relevant skills, reading source files, writing code, generating images with Codex, pushing to GitHub, and monitoring the GitHub Action that deploys the site.
Why Transparency in Tool Calls Matters
One thing ZazenCodes explicitly valued about Hermes is being able to see every tool call inside the Telegram chat — which skill is loaded, what terminal command is running, what file is being read. This visibility lets you interrupt, redirect, or approve actions in real time. Knowing exactly what the model is doing, rather than just receiving a final answer, is what makes this workflow feel trustworthy for production code.
The Three-Layer Architecture: VPS, Docker, Hermes
ZazenCodes walks through all three layers of the deployment. The outer layer is the Hostinger VPS with a real IP address you SSH into. Inside sits a Docker container running the Hermes image. The /data folder inside the container — mounted as a Docker volume to the host — is the agent's brain: authentication context, skills, and memories. Understanding this structure matters when you need to back up your agent or update it.
Security: Scoped GitHub Access and Credential Handling
The video recommends using a separate GitHub account or fine-grained personal access token for the agent rather than handing over full account credentials. The GitHub CLI authentication flow that Hermes guides you through scopes access to specific repositories. Equally important: the Telegram bot should be locked to your user ID so that no other Telegram user can instruct your agent.
Optional demo video
How I use Hermes as a Lead Developer — ZazenCodes
ZazenCodes shows the full workflow for running Hermes Agent as a remote software developer using a Hostinger VPS, Docker, and a Telegram bot. The video covers deploying Hermes with a one-click Hostinger install, authenticating GitHub CLI, cloning a repository, and then building real features (including a blog with AI-generated images) entirely from a phone while commuting, using GitHub Actions to deploy code to a live website on every push.
- 0:00Introduction — lead developer use case overview
- 1:30Tech stack: VPS + Docker + Telegram bot architecture
- 3:00Live demo: talking to Hermes on Telegram from a phone
- 5:00Deploying Hermes on Hostinger with one-click Docker install
- 8:30Setting up Telegram bot via BotFather, locking user ID
- 11:00Connecting GitHub CLI and cloning a repository
- 14:00Building a blog feature + AI image generation from Telegram
- 18:00Inside the VPS: Docker layers, SSH keys, .env file
- 21:00Navigating Docker container and Hermes data folder
- 24:00Closing thoughts: Hermes speed, slash commands, token usage
Common setup issues
- If VS Code cannot connect, run hermes acp --check in a terminal and confirm the hermes command is on PATH for VS Code.
- If browser tools are missing in ACP mode, run hermes acp --setup-browser and reconnect the VS Code ACP Client.
- If Hermes edits the wrong files, open VS Code at the repository root and start the ACP session from that workspace.
- If terminal commands run in the wrong environment, check the active Hermes profile, shell PATH, virtualenv, and workspace path before changing prompts.
- If you expected inline autocomplete, keep Copilot for completions and use Hermes for multi-step tool execution, memory, tests, and repo automation.
- Telegram bot is set up but messages are not arriving — Tell Hermes in the web UI chat that Telegram is not working. It will load its self-knowledge skill, check the gateway process, and restart it. The ZazenCodes video demonstrates this exact scenario live.
- Hermes cannot find the cloned repository — Make sure the repository is cloned into the expected path inside the Docker container. Start a new session and ask Hermes to search for the project. It may take a few searches the first time but will learn the path for future sessions.
- Approval required for a git push command — Hermes flags high-risk commands before executing. When prompted in Telegram, simply approve the command. You can approve once or for the session depending on how much autonomy you want.
Keep building the workflow
Install Hermes Agent first
Base CLI setup, provider choice, PATH reload, and first smoke test before VS Code.
Use Hermes with OpenRouter
Hosted model setup, credits, rate limits, and provider fallback for tool-heavy editor sessions.
Connect Hermes to GitHub
Move from local VS Code steering to PR review, CI summaries, issue triage, and repository automation.
Create reusable Hermes skills
Save repo conventions and repeated debugging workflows so future VS Code sessions start smarter.
Compare Hermes with GitHub Copilot
Understand when to use inline completions versus an autonomous tool-using coding agent.
Compare Hermes with Claude Code
See how Hermes differs from terminal-first coding agents, especially memory, skills, and gateways.
FAQ
How do I use Hermes Agent in VS Code?
Install Hermes Agent, install the ACP Client extension in VS Code, open the ACP Client panel, select Hermes Agent, and connect. If Hermes is not listed, configure acp.agents with command hermes and args ["acp"].
Is Hermes Agent a VS Code extension or a separate agent?
Hermes Agent is the agent runtime. VS Code connects to it through ACP, so the editor can show chat, diffs, tool calls, approvals, and terminal output while Hermes handles the actual agent work.
Does Hermes Agent replace GitHub Copilot in VS Code?
Not exactly. Copilot is strongest for inline completions and quick editor suggestions. Hermes is for autonomous tool use: reading files, patching code, running commands, using persistent memory, and coordinating multi-step tasks.
What command should VS Code run for Hermes ACP?
Use command hermes with args ["acp"]. You can also verify the install with hermes acp --check before connecting from VS Code.
Should I use VS Code, GitHub integration, or FlyHermes?
Use VS Code for active local coding, GitHub integration for unattended repo automation, and FlyHermes when you want the hosted cloud version instead of maintaining the server, gateway, provider credentials, and dashboard yourself.
Can I use Hermes Agent to write code from my phone?
Yes. With Hermes running on a VPS and a Telegram bot configured, you can chat with Hermes from anywhere — the ZazenCodes workflow shows building and deploying a full blog while commuting on a subway.
Why is a VPS recommended over running Hermes on a local laptop?
The VPS is always on, so Hermes keeps working without your laptop open. You talk to it via Telegram from your phone and it pushes code to GitHub independently.
How do I deploy Hermes on a VPS quickly?
Hostinger offers a one-click Docker deploy for Hermes. After deployment, navigate to Docker Manager in the Hostinger panel, click Open, and complete the quick setup for your model provider and Telegram token.
How does Hermes deploy code to a live website?
In the ZazenCodes workflow, Hermes commits changes and pushes to a staging or main branch. A GitHub Action then triggers automatically and deploys the site. Hermes monitors the action status from inside Telegram.
Do I need a separate GitHub account for Hermes?
Not required, but the ZazenCodes presenter recommends a dedicated GitHub account for the agent so its access stays scoped to specific repositories and does not touch everything on your personal account.
Can Hermes fix its own Telegram connection if it breaks?
Yes. If Telegram messages are not coming through, just tell Hermes in the web UI chat that the connection is not working. It will load its self-knowledge skill, diagnose the issue, and restart the gateway — as shown live in the video.
What model should I use for Hermes coding work?
ZazenCodes recommends OpenAI Codex or GPT-5.5 for coding tasks. Anthropic models work but are more expensive. OpenRouter is also viable for accessing cheaper alternatives.