Toolset Selection for Safe Beginners

Hermes becomes powerful when tools are enabled, but beginners should not turn on everything at once. Start with the tools needed for the workflow and add capability deliberately.

Common toolsets

• web: search and extract public web content
• file: read, search, patch, and write files
• terminal: run shell commands and processes
• browser: inspect and interact with web pages
• vision: analyze screenshots and images
• image_gen: create or edit images when configured
• cron: schedule recurring jobs
• gateway: connect messaging platforms

Beginner path

• Start with chat, web, and file tools.
• Add terminal when you need tests, builds, package managers, or system checks.
• Add browser for rendered web QA and form inspection.
• Add gateway only after approval and privacy rules are clear.
• Add cron only for narrow, verified workflows.

Safety rule

Tool access should match trust. A read-only research assistant does not need desktop automation. A deployment assistant may need terminal access but should still require approval for destructive commands.

Verification

After enabling tools, start a new session if required and run a harmless test: read a public page, inspect a safe file, or run a non-destructive command.