stanvx · stanvx · Jul 19, 2026 · Jul 19, 2026 · Jul 19, 2026 · Jul 19, 2026
diff --git a/docs/sleep/README.md b/docs/sleep/README.md
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ skillopt-sleep schedule     # install a nightly cron entry for this project
 
 The per-agent integrations below still come from the repo; the CLI above is the
 standalone, pip-only way to run a cycle. Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, and Devin wrap
-the shared engine. OpenClaw is a separate reference adaptation and has its own setup.
+the shared engine; Hermes Agent is wired into the core engine directly (`--source hermes`
+/ `--backend hermes`). OpenClaw is a separate reference adaptation and has its own setup.
 
 One engine, thin per-agent shells (see [`plugins/`](https://github.com/microsoft/SkillOpt/tree/main/plugins)):
 
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ One engine, thin per-agent shells (see [`plugins/`](https://github.com/microsoft
 | **Codex** | [`plugins/codex`](https://github.com/microsoft/SkillOpt/tree/main/plugins/codex) | `bash plugins/codex/install.sh` → `skillopt-sleep` skill |
 | **Copilot** | [`plugins/copilot`](https://github.com/microsoft/SkillOpt/tree/main/plugins/copilot) | register `plugins/copilot/mcp_server.py` as an MCP server |
 | **Devin** | [`plugins/devin`](https://github.com/microsoft/SkillOpt/tree/main/plugins/devin) | register `plugins/devin/mcp_server.py` as an MCP server |
+| **Hermes Agent** | [`plugins/hermes`](https://github.com/microsoft/SkillOpt/tree/main/plugins/hermes) | `--source hermes` / `--backend hermes` (core), or register `plugins/hermes/mcp_server.py` |
 | **OpenClaw** | [`plugins/openclaw`](https://github.com/microsoft/SkillOpt/tree/main/plugins/openclaw) | adapt the reference wrapper and paths for your installation |
 
 To use DeepSeek, vLLM, Ollama, or another Chat Completions server, see

diff --git a/plugins/README.md b/plugins/README.md
@@ -10,15 +10,18 @@ runtime dependency on the paper's `skillopt/` experiment package.
 
 ## Available integrations
 
-Four integrations wrap the shared `skillopt_sleep` CLI. OpenClaw is a separate
-reference adaptation with its own backend and setup assumptions.
+Five integrations wrap the shared `skillopt_sleep` CLI. Hermes is additionally
+wired into the core engine (its harvester and backend ship in `skillopt_sleep/`,
+so `--source hermes` / `--backend hermes` work from the shared CLI). OpenClaw is
+a separate reference adaptation with its own backend and setup assumptions.
 
 | Platform | Folder | Mechanism | Status |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | **Claude Code** | [`claude-code/`](claude-code) | marketplace plugin, commands, skill, and hooks | installable shared-engine integration |
 | **Codex** | [`codex/`](codex) | user-level skill and shared runner | installable shared-engine integration |
 | **GitHub Copilot** | [`copilot/`](copilot) | MCP server exposing seven `sleep_*` tools | shared-engine MCP integration |
 | **Devin** | [`devin/`](devin) | MCP server plus Devin transcript conversion | shared-engine MCP integration |
+| **Hermes Agent** | [`hermes/`](hermes) | core `--source`/`--backend hermes` + MCP server | first-class core integration |
 | **OpenClaw** | [`openclaw/`](openclaw) | custom DeepSeek/Ollama wrapper | independent reference adaptation; review and adapt before use |
 
 ## Install
@@ -32,6 +35,7 @@ for your workflow.
 | **Codex** | `bash plugins/codex/install.sh` | ask Codex to use the `skillopt-sleep` skill |
 | **Copilot** | register `plugins/copilot/mcp_server.py` using its example MCP config | ask Copilot to run `sleep_status` |
 | **Devin** | register `plugins/devin/mcp_server.py` using its example MCP config | ask Devin to run `sleep_status` |
+| **Hermes Agent** | register `plugins/hermes/mcp_server.py`, or run `python -m skillopt_sleep run --backend hermes --source hermes` | ask Hermes to run `sleep_status` |
 | **OpenClaw** | follow and adapt [`openclaw/README.md`](openclaw/README.md) | validate paths, credentials, and tasks locally |
 
 Python 3.10 or newer is required. Real CLI backends also require the selected
@@ -101,9 +105,9 @@ Common implemented flags include:
 
 | Flag | Default | Purpose |
 |---|---|---|
-| `--backend mock\|claude\|codex\|copilot\|handoff\|azure_openai` | `mock` | select who performs model calls |
+| `--backend mock\|claude\|codex\|copilot\|handoff\|azure_openai\|hermes` | `mock` | select who performs model calls |
 | `--model NAME` | backend default | select a backend-specific model |
-| `--source claude\|codex\|auto` | `claude` | select the transcript source |
+| `--source claude\|codex\|hermes\|auto` | `claude` | select the transcript source |
 | `--project PATH` | current directory | select the project and invoked harvest scope |
 | `--scope invoked\|all` | `invoked` | limit transcript harvesting |
 | `--target-skill-path PATH` | managed skill | select a specific `SKILL.md` to stage/adopt |

diff --git a/plugins/hermes/README.md b/plugins/hermes/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+# SkillOpt-Sleep — Hermes Agent integration
+
+First-class integration of the [Hermes Agent](https://github.com/NousResearch/Hermes)
+CLI with the shared `skillopt_sleep` engine. Unlike the reference OpenClaw adapter,
+Hermes is wired directly into core: `--source hermes` and `--backend hermes` work from
+the shared CLI, alongside `claude` and `codex`.
+
+## What you get
+
+- **Harvester** (`skillopt_sleep/harvest_hermes.py`) — shells out to the stable
+  `hermes sessions export --format jsonl --redact` interface (schema-drift-proof,
+  WAL-safe, self-redacting), normalizes sessions into `SessionDigest` records,
+  layers its own sanitization, and skips the engine's own throwaway sessions.
+  Warns loudly (never silently) when nothing is harvestable.
+- **Backend** (`HermesBackend` in `skillopt_sleep/backend.py`) — drives
+  `hermes --profile <name> chat -Q -q "<prompt>"` for the replay/reflect phases.
+- **MCP server** (`mcp_server.py`) — exposes the cycle as MCP tools with Hermes
+  defaults, so any MCP client can run it.
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Python 3.10+
+- The `hermes` CLI installed and authenticated, with at least one profile.
+- Past Hermes **CLI** sessions with message content (`hermes sessions list` should
+  show non-empty sessions; ACP/editor-bridge sessions carry no harvestable turns).
+  Override the home with `HERMES_HOME`.
+
+## Quick start
+
+```bash
+# 1. Preview — no API spend, no writes:
+python -m skillopt_sleep dry-run --backend mock --source hermes --scope all
+
+# 2. Real cycle through the Hermes CLI, stages a proposal (nothing live changes):
+SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_PROFILE=default \
+  python -m skillopt_sleep run --backend hermes --source hermes
+
+# 3. Review, then adopt:
+python -m skillopt_sleep status
+python -m skillopt_sleep adopt
+```
+
+## MCP setup
+
+Copy `mcp-config.example.json` into your client's MCP config (adjust the path), or run
+the server directly: `python plugins/hermes/mcp_server.py`. Cycle actions default to
+`backend=hermes` / `source=hermes`; pass `backend=mock` for a dry, free run.
+
+## Environment
+
+| Variable | Purpose | Default |
+|---|---|---|
+| `HERMES_HOME` | Directory holding `state.db` | `~/.hermes` |
+| `HERMES_BIN` | Path to the hermes binary | `hermes` |
+| `SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_PROFILE` | Hermes profile for cycle calls | `default` |
+| `SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_MODEL` | Optional model hint | (unset) |
+
+## What gets evolved (and why)
+
+The Hermes integration evolves **the skill only**, written to where Hermes actually
+discovers global skills:
+
+```
+~/.hermes/skills/skillopt-sleep-learned/SKILL.md
+```
+
+The MCP server sets `--target-skill-path` there by default. Run it manually with:
+
+```bash
+python -m skillopt_sleep run --backend hermes --source hermes --no-evolve-memory \
+  --target-skill-path ~/.hermes/skills/skillopt-sleep-learned/SKILL.md
+```
+
+**Memory is left to Hermes.** The shared engine's memory evolution targets a project
+`CLAUDE.md`, which Hermes does not read — Hermes manages its own memory via `SOUL.md`
+/ `MEMORY.md` and its `curator`/`learning` subsystems. So the Hermes path defaults to
+`--no-evolve-memory` (skill-only) rather than staging a doc Hermes would ignore. Proper
+`AGENTS.md` memory support depends on a future engine `memory_filename` option and is
+intentionally out of scope here.
+
+## Safety
+
+Sessions are harvested read-only and secrets are redacted before anything is persisted.
+The cycle stages proposals; `adopt` is required to change any live file and always backs
+it up first. Harvested text is untrusted — keep tools/plugins disabled when replaying it.
diff --git a/plugins/hermes/SKILL.md b/plugins/hermes/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+---
+name: skillopt-sleep-hermes
+description: "Use when the user wants their Hermes Agent to self-improve from past usage, asks about a nightly/offline 'sleep' cycle for Hermes, wants Hermes to review past sessions, learn preferences, or consolidate memory/skills, or to run dry-run/run/adopt/status for SkillOpt-Sleep against Hermes. Drives the skillopt_sleep engine with --source hermes and --backend hermes: harvest past Hermes sessions via `hermes sessions export` -> mine recurring tasks -> replay through the Hermes CLI -> stage validated skill/memory edits behind a held-out gate."
+---
+
+# SkillOpt-Sleep: usage-driven self-evolution for a Hermes Agent
+
+SkillOpt-Sleep gives a Hermes Agent a sleep cycle. On demand or on a nightly
+schedule it reviews past Hermes sessions, re-runs recurring tasks through the
+Hermes CLI, and proposes bounded edits to a configured skill and memory doc.
+With the validation gate enabled it keeps only changes that improve a held-out
+score. Live files change only through an explicit `adopt`, which backs up first.
+
+Hermes is first-class here: the harvester and backend live in the shared engine
+(`skillopt_sleep/harvest_hermes.py`, `HermesBackend`), so the standard CLI works.
+The harvester uses `hermes sessions export` rather than reading the state DB, so
+it survives Hermes schema changes and reuses Hermes's own secret redaction.
+
+## Actions
+
+- `status` — nights run so far + the latest staged proposal.
+- `dry-run` — harvest + mine + replay, report only (no staging). Safe, no writes.
+- `run` — full cycle; stages a reviewed proposal.
+- `adopt` — apply the latest staged proposal (backup taken first).
+- `harvest` — debug: list recurring tasks mined from recent sessions.
+- `schedule` / `unschedule` — manage a nightly cron entry.
+
+## Usage
+
+```bash
+# free preview
+python -m skillopt_sleep dry-run --backend mock --source hermes --scope all
+
+# real cycle through the Hermes CLI (stages only)
+SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_PROFILE=default \
+  python -m skillopt_sleep run --backend hermes --source hermes
+
+python -m skillopt_sleep status
+python -m skillopt_sleep adopt
+```
+
+Or wire the MCP server (`mcp_server.py`) into your client; cycle tools default to
+`backend=hermes` / `source=hermes`.
+
+## What it evolves
+
+Skill-only, written where Hermes discovers global skills:
+`~/.hermes/skills/skillopt-sleep-learned/SKILL.md` (via `--target-skill-path`).
+The Hermes path defaults to `--no-evolve-memory`: the engine's memory doc is a
+project `CLAUDE.md`, which Hermes does not read (it manages memory itself via
+`SOUL.md`/`MEMORY.md` and its curator). Proper `AGENTS.md` support awaits a future
+engine `memory_filename` option.
+
+## Configuration
+
+`HERMES_HOME` (state DB dir, default `~/.hermes`), `HERMES_BIN` (default `hermes`),
+`SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_PROFILE` (profile for cycle calls, default `default`),
+`SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_MODEL` (optional model hint).
+
+## Safety
+
+Sessions are read-only; secrets are redacted before persistence; the engine's own
+throwaway sessions are skipped. Harvested text is untrusted — keep tools/plugins
+disabled while replaying it. Nothing live changes without `adopt`.
diff --git a/plugins/hermes/hermes-rules.snippet.md b/plugins/hermes/hermes-rules.snippet.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<!-- Paste into your Hermes AGENTS.md (or project rules) to expose SkillOpt-Sleep. -->
+
+## SkillOpt-Sleep (self-evolution)
+
+This project is wired for SkillOpt-Sleep via the `skillopt-sleep-hermes` MCP server.
+Overnight, Sleep reads recent Hermes sessions, mines recurring tasks, replays them,
+and proposes bounded edits to the target skill/memory doc. Edits are validated behind
+a held-out gate and **staged** — nothing live changes until explicitly adopted.
+
+- Ask for `sleep_status` to see nights run and any staged proposal.
+- Ask for `sleep_dry_run` to preview a cycle without staging (safe, no writes).
+- Ask for `sleep_run` to run a full cycle and stage a proposal.
+- Ask for `sleep_adopt` to apply the latest staged proposal (a backup is made first).
+
+Backend and transcript source default to `hermes`. Set `SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_PROFILE`
+to pick the Hermes profile used for optimizer/target calls, and `HERMES_HOME` if your
+state DB lives outside `~/.hermes`.
diff --git a/plugins/hermes/mcp-config.example.json b/plugins/hermes/mcp-config.example.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "skillopt-sleep-hermes": {
+      "command": "python3",
+      "args": ["plugins/hermes/mcp_server.py"],
+      "env": {
+        "SKILLOPT_SLEEP_REPO": "${workspaceFolder}",
+        "HERMES_HOME": "~/.hermes",
+        "SKILLOPT_SLEEP_HERMES_PROFILE": "default"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}