Hermes Agent Setup on Mac (Local Install Guide)

Overview

This guide walks you through setting up Hermes Agent on a brand new MacBook. The local setup gives you full control over your AI assistant running directly on your Mac.

Video Reference: Watch on YouTube
Duration: ~7 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner

Important Note

Setting up Hermes Agent locally means building everything from scratch: skills, workflows, and file organization. This can be time-consuming. If you prefer an all-in-one solution with everything pre-configured, consider cloud alternatives or VPS setups.

Prerequisites

MacBook with macOS
Internet connection
Terminal access
API key from your chosen provider (Anthropic, Kimi, MiniMax, DeepSeek, etc.)

Installation Steps

Step 1: Install Hermes Agent

1.1 Get the Installation Command

Visit hermes-agent.newsresearch.com and copy the installation command.

1.2 Run Installation

Open Terminal and paste the command:

bash

curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.newsresearch.com/install.sh | bash

curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.newsresearch.com/install.sh | bash

This installs packages and dependencies for Hermes Agent.

[Image blocked: Terminal Installation Progress]

Step 2: Install Command Line Tools (If Needed)

If you see "command not found" when trying to run hermes setup, you need to install Xcode Command Line Tools first.

2.1 Install Command Line Tools

bash

xcode-select --install

xcode-select --install

2.2 Check System Settings

A popup will appear. Click "Install" to proceed.

Alternatively, go to:

System Settings → Software Update
Look for "Command Line Tools for Xcode"
Click "Update Now"

Installation time: ~2-5 minutes (varies by connection speed)

[Image blocked: Command Line Tools Installation]

2.3 Verify Installation

Once complete, you should see confirmation that tools are installed in /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools.

2.4 Re-run Installation

Now run the Hermes installation command again:

bash

curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.newsresearch.com/install.sh | bash

curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.newsresearch.com/install.sh | bash

The installation should now proceed without errors. This typically takes 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Run Hermes Setup

Once installation completes, start the setup wizard:

bash

hermes setup

hermes setup

3.1 Choose Setup Type

You'll see two options:

Quick Setup (Recommended): Faster, customize later
Full Setup: Step-by-step configuration

Choose Quick Setup for your first installation.

[Image blocked: Setup Wizard Options]

3.2 Select API Provider

Choose your AI model provider. Options include:

Anthropic (Claude)
Kimi
MiniMax
DeepSeek
Gemini
OpenRouter

Important:

For Kimi: Choose "Kimi (International)" if you're outside China
For MiniMax: Choose "MiniMax (Global)" if you're outside China

3.3 Enter API Key

Paste your API key when prompted.

3.4 Select Default Model

Choose the model you want to use (e.g., Kimi K2.6, MiniMax M2.7, Claude Opus).

3.5 Configure Messaging Platform (Optional)

You can set up Telegram or Discord integration, or skip this step to use the local TUI (Terminal User Interface).

For local setup, select: Launch Hermes Agent chat now

Step 4: Launch and Test

4.1 First Launch

The Hermes TUI should load automatically. If you see errors at the bottom of the screen, don't worry—this is common on first launch.

4.2 Restart if Needed

If you can't type in the terminal:

Press Ctrl+C to terminate
Open a new terminal window
Run: hermes

4.3 Test Your Agent

Type a simple message:

Hi! How are you?

Hi! How are you?

If you get a response, setup is complete! 🎉

[Image blocked: Hermes TUI Success]

Troubleshooting

"Command Not Found" Error

Problem: Running hermes setup shows "command not found"

Solution: Install Xcode Command Line Tools (see Step 2)

Installation Hangs or Fails

Problem: Installation stops or shows errors

Solutions:

Check your internet connection
Ensure you have enough disk space (at least 2GB free)
Try running the installation command again
Restart your Mac and try again

TUI Won't Load or Shows Errors

Problem: Terminal UI has errors at the bottom or won't accept input

Solution:

Terminate the current session (Ctrl+C)
Open a new terminal window
Run hermes again

API Key Errors

Problem: "Invalid API key" or authentication errors

Solutions:

Verify you copied the entire API key (no extra spaces)
Check that the API key is for the correct provider
Ensure your API key is active and has credits/quota available

Post-Setup Configuration

Accessing Configuration Files

Your Hermes configuration is stored at:

~/.hermes/config.json

~/.hermes/config.json

Updating Hermes

To update to the latest version:

bash

hermes update

hermes update

Starting Hermes

After setup, start Hermes anytime with:

bash

hermes

hermes

Next Steps

After successful installation:

Explore the Dashboard: Run hermes dashboard to access the web interface
Set Up Skills: Create custom skills for your workflow
Configure Integrations: Add Telegram, Discord, or other platforms
Create Cron Jobs: Automate recurring tasks
Customize Settings: Adjust personality, memory, and behavior

Comparison: Local vs VPS vs Cloud

Local Setup (This Guide)

Pros:

Full control over your system
No monthly VPS costs
Data stays on your machine

Cons:

Mac must be running for agent to work
Uses local resources (CPU, RAM)
More complex initial setup

VPS Setup

Pros:

24/7 availability
Doesn't use local resources
Clean separation from personal files

Cons:

Monthly cost ($2-10)
Requires SSH knowledge

Cloud Solutions

Pros:

Zero configuration
Everything pre-configured
Professional support

Cons:

Subscription costs
Less customization
Vendor lock-in

Related Resources

Hermes Agent Setup on VPS [blocked]
Hermes Agent Dashboard Setup [blocked]
Hermes Agent Curator Guide [blocked]

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

Check the official Hermes documentation
Ask your Hermes Agent for help (once it's running)
Join the community Discord
Search for similar issues on GitHub

Last Updated: 2026-05-06