One assistant layer on a shared base
The same AI working environment (Freedom) is installed on every device, and one additional layer — the Hermes Agent assistant (Hermes) sits on top of it, on the Mac only. These are not two separate systems used side by side.
The Two-Layer Structure
The Mac differs in exactly one way — Hermes and the messenger gateway sit on top of it, so it can also be run as an “assistant.”
Device Map
Three Remote Paths
There are three ways in from outside, and they do different jobs. This distinction matters more than anything else in daily use.
Telegram · Slack
Connects to Hermes on the Mac (Hermes). Hand something off and it works and reports back.
For sending a receipt photo, a voice recording or a link and just getting the result. Works from the laptop too — no remote session needed, one line is enough.
Orca mobile app
Connects to Orca on the Lab Desktop (Freedom). You join the session and carry on.
For continuing work you started on the Desktop, or checking on its progress. The conversation is still there.
Chrome Remote Desktop
Takes over the whole screen of the Mac or the Lab Desktop.
For driving the Desktop or Mac from the laptop, and for anything that needs several files open at once.
What are you trying to do?
① Gateway persistence — Telegram must keep working after you close the terminal. Without registering it to auto-start, your assistant disappears the moment you leave the office.
② Exclude config files from backup — back up your whole home folder and your API keys go straight to the cloud.
③ Include the Wiki and ECC Atlas in backup — miss this and your entire research corpus sits in a backup blind spot.
Understanding the System
Model names, paths and configuration details are governed by this section. If another section says something different, this one is correct.
How the Two Relate
| Freedom — Common Base (Workbench) | Hermes — Assistant Layer | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed on | Mac · Lab Desktop · Laptop (all) | Mac only |
| Core software | Orca / Antigravity | Hermes Agent |
| Model & auth | Claude & Gemini subscriptions (login) | Timely → OpenRouter when exhausted (API) |
| Billing | Flat rate (no extra charges) | Credits · metered |
| 3 MCP servers | Installed on every device | Also wired into Hermes |
| How it works | You instruct it and check the result | Delegation — it works and reports back |
| Remote access | Orca mobile app → Desktop Orca | Telegram · Slack → Mac Hermes |
Hermes Agent is an autonomous agent that can create, modify and delete files on its own. That power comes with room for unintended file operations.
So autonomous execution is confined to a single machine, and the Lab Desktop and laptop stay safe zones where a human reviews each step.
This is not a limitation — it is a deliberate safeguard. The Desktop and laptop have all three MCP servers too, so there is no difference in practical capability; only the “does it for you” automation is confined to the Mac.
kordoc, korean-law and korean-stats
pair particularly well with Claude.
Since Freedom is subscription-Claude based, they are installed everywhere so the Korean document, statute and statistics tools are available on any machine. Whichever computer you sit down at, the same tools are in reach.
Authentication & Cost most important
“If I have a subscription it's free in the CLI too” does not hold for every model. This difference is the financial reason the A and B layers exist separately.
| Model | Authentication inside Hermes (terminal) | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Usable via subscription account login | included |
| Claude (Anthropic) | Subscription auth not possible → API key required | metered |
| Gemini (Google) | Subscription auth not possible → API key required | metered |
| Grok (xAI) | Subscription auth not possible → API key required | metered |
Model Sourcing & Routing
Hermes runs on two sources and fails over between them.
Chonnam National University Timely
University-provided infrastructure. Free within the credit allowance, so it is the default path day to day.
| Long-form analysis · deep review | claude-opus-4.7 |
| General work | gpt-5.5 |
| Coding · development | gpt-5.1-codex-mini |
| Fast QA · statistics & data analysis | gemini-3-flash |
OpenRouter
Credit-based flexible routing. Switch to low-cost lightweight models to keep spending under control.
| Default · everyday queries | deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash-0731 |
| Reasoning · research | google/gemini-3.7-flash |
| Live web search | grok-4.3 |
Hermes Interfaces (all three are used)
| Interface | Best suited for |
|---|---|
| Orca | Long conversational back-and-forth |
| Antigravity | Work tangled up with code and scripts |
| Terminal (macOS Terminal.app) | Fast command-driven work, batch jobs |
/Users/bylee ·
agent framework Hermes Agent (Nous Research)
Messenger Gateway the point of layer A
Telegram primary
Send a photo (receipt), a voice note (meeting recording) or a web link from your phone, and the assistant handles it and reports the result back.
Slack occasional
Used for calling the agent and sharing results through lab channels and DMs.
The 3 MCP Servers — on every device 43 tools
They pair well with Claude, so they are installed on the Mac, the Lab Desktop and the laptop alike, and on the Mac they are also wired into Hermes.
15kordoc — Korean document processing Format detection, parsing and format-preserving patching for HWP/HWPX, PDF, DOCX, XLSX ›
patch_document | Applies edits to HWPX/HWP without damaging the original formatting |
place_seal | Floats a seal/signature image over an “(인)” or “서명” anchor |
redact_document | Masks national ID, phone and account numbers while preserving layout |
fill_form / extract_profile / render_document | Automatic form filling and rendering |
10korean-law — statutes, case law and ordinances Unified lookup across Korean law, ordinances, administrative rules and precedents ›
Key tools:
search_law / get_law_text / legal_research / legal_analysis
18korean-stats — KOSIS national statistics Live statistics lookup and time-series analysis via the KOSIS Open API ›
Key tools:
quick_stats / quick_trend / chain_compare_regions / fetch_kosis_excel
Knowledge Base & SaaS
Research knowledge base — resident on the Mac Mac only
📚 Research Wiki (LLM Wiki)
A Korean/English knowledge base that accumulates papers read and builds a web of cross-links
🧭 ECC Atlas (Knowledge Atlas)
A map-shaped archive structuring knowledge in ECC and self-healing materials
Why on the Mac: every time a paper is read, Hermes accumulates, indexes and cross-links it automatically — and that automation only runs on the Mac. Claude- and Codex-optimized tooling is also most stable on macOS.
To view it elsewhere: connect via Chrome Remote Desktop, or just ask through Telegram.
Productivity SaaS & cloud every device
Like the MCP servers, the SaaS integrations are configured identically on the Mac, the Lab Desktop and the laptop.
| Service | Integration | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | rclone-based sync backup (gdrive: ↔ /Volumes/g_drive) | Research data backup and cross-device sharing |
| NotebookLM | notebooklm-mcp-cli | Large-corpus Q&A and audio overviews |
| Notion | Databases for research and teaching | Notion_연구논문관리 dashboard |
| Gmail / Google Calendar | Schedule and contacts | Academic schedule, seminars, meetings |
The Wiki and ECC Atlas live only on the Mac, but Google Drive is connected on every device, so anything you need to work on from the Desktop or laptop can travel through Drive.
For backup purposes, though, the Mac is still the centre. The Wiki, ECC Atlas, papers and grant materials all sit there, so backing up the Mac is backing up the whole corpus.
All access channels
| Channel | Layer | Device | Frequency | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orca | Hermes Freedom | all | daily | Conversational work (on the Mac it can also drive Hermes) |
| Antigravity | Hermes Freedom | all | daily | Code / IDE work |
| Terminal | Hermes | Mac | daily | Fast command-driven work |
| Telegram | Hermes | phone | primary | Send photo / voice / link → handled automatically |
| Slack | Hermes | phone · PC | occasional | Lab channel sharing and result delivery |
| Orca mobile app | Freedom | phone | daily | Joins Orca on the Lab Desktop to continue work |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Hermes·Freedom | all | as needed | Full screen control of the Mac or Lab Desktop |
Security & Data Protection
Handling secrets
If an API key or bot token leaks, someone else can spend your credits or drive your agent remotely.
chmod 600)Preventing data loss — two lines of defence
Confine autonomous execution
Hermes stays on one machine. The Desktop and laptop are places where a human reviews each step.
Concentrate backup effort
The research corpus (Wiki, ECC Atlas, papers, grant files) all lives on the Mac, so backing up the Mac is backing up everything.
Architecture summary
Which One, When
The MCP servers and SaaS integrations are on all three machines, so practical capability is identical. The question is not “which device” but “which way of working.”
Decision Helper
Two or three clicks and it tells you which one to open.
What Each Device Actually Does
What is installed and how it is actually used are two different things. All three machines run Freedom, but the way you reach for each one differs sharply.
| Device | Installed | What it actually does |
|---|---|---|
| 🖥️ Mac | Hermes Freedom | Home base for the assistant. Repetitive work is delegated to Hermes, instructions arrive over Telegram/Slack, and the Research Wiki and ECC Atlas accumulate here. Long sessions can also be opened in B. |
| 🖥️ Lab Desktop | Freedom | The main workhorse for research and projects. Manuscripts, grant documents and analysis mostly happen here. |
| 💻 Laptop | Freedom installed | Mostly used as a remote terminal. Chrome Remote Desktop drives the Desktop and Mac, and Telegram/Slack on the laptop reaches Hermes. |
| 📱 Phone | — | Orca mobile to resume Desktop work · Telegram/Slack to delegate to Hermes |
Picking up Desktop work on your phone
Switching Within the Mac
The Mac has both A and B. So even sitting at the same computer, you change windows depending on the task.
| Task on the Mac | Which to open | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Polishing a manuscript with Claude for three hours | Orca/Antigravity | subscription auth → flat rate |
| Same task through Hermes? | not advised | same model, but it costs money |
| Automating receipts, minutes and file filing | Hermes | short, and needs file operations |
| HWPX seals and redaction | either works | use A if you also want it filed automatically |
Detailed Criteria & the Standard Workflow
| Situation | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You need to review each line as it comes | Freedom | No automatic file operations — safe and controlled |
| You'll be reworking sentences for a long time | Freedom | Flat rate, so time and volume don't matter |
| Dozens of papers must be read whole | Freedom | Avoids metered billing |
| Timely credits are exhausted | move to B | The key cost-control habit |
| You're away from a computer (travelling, conference, home) | Hermes · Telegram | One photo is enough; it handles the rest |
| Many files must be processed, filed and saved at once | Hermes | It can create and move files itself |
| Something must be added to the Wiki or ECC Atlas | Hermes | The knowledge base lives on the Mac |
| A fixed procedure has to be repeated (receipts, meeting records, CV) | Hermes | It remembers the rules and applies them |
The standard hand-off between layers
By Work Area
①Academic research and writing Multi-AI cross-review · manuscript revision · turning reading into assets›
A. Planning and multi-AI cross-review
- Reviewing from a top-tier journal's angle: rather than relying on one model, review in parallel from three or more perspectives — Claude (logic and prose), GPT (structure and completeness), Gemini (data and factual accuracy).
- Cost-efficient division: long Claude/Gemini reviews run in Freedom at flat rate; GPT-side review plus collation, comparison tables and file saving are handled by Hermes.
- When shortlisting English titles, the academic rationale and the editor's-eye reasoning are analysed together before choosing.
B. Manuscript revision and redline under a strict style guide
- Automatic application of a strict academic style: passive voice for Methods (past passive), no personal subjects, no AI boilerplate, consistent number-and-unit notation.
- Division of labour: the intellectual work of shaping sentences goes to Freedom; applying the agreed edits without damaging the original formatting, and saving them, goes to Hermes.
- Possible anywhere:
kordocis on every device, so HWPX formatting can be edited from the Desktop or laptop too. Filing the result into the right folder automatically, however, is A's job.
C. Turning reading into permanent assets — Research Wiki & ECC Atlas
- Papers that have been read are accumulated automatically into the Research Wiki on the Mac, with cross-links generated.
- The ECC Atlas structures self-healing and ECC knowledge as a map, ready to cite when writing the background section of a proposal.
- Bulk translation and consistency-check drafts are produced in Freedom; the final accumulation and indexing is handled by Hermes.
②Lab management and faculty administration Expense settlement · CV updates · Korean public-sector forms›
A. Storing a short record of a research-expense meeting
- Only five fields are taken from the receipt: the receipt itself, date and time, location (Engineering Bldg. 2, Room 213), meeting duration (one hour, starting two hours before payment) and meeting content.
- They are kept in
회의비기록/under the project directory (Projects/), alongside the original receipt. - When settlement or reporting is actually needed, it is all pulled up at once and turned into a table or paperwork. The point is not to finish the minutes on the spot.
B. Live updates to research output and CV
- When a new paper is published, the DOI is verified through the Crossref API and added to the top of the official CV (
.docx) in standard format, with a backup kept. - Documents submitted to public agencies and the university are structured into metadata / text / Obsidian indexes for storage.
C. Korean public and academic forms (HWPX/PDF)
- Filling blanks in HWPX/PDF forms, placing seal and signature anchors automatically, masking personal data.
- When revising design codes (KDS) and standard specifications (KCS),
korean-lawcross-checks the cited provisions. - The Desktop and laptop can do all of this too — in a hurry, grab whichever computer is in front of you.
③Daily life, remote control and knowledge archiving Choosing a remote path · capturing knowledge · monitoring long jobs›
A. Choosing a remote path to fit the situation
| Situation | Path | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Handling a receipt as you leave the restaurant | Telegram → Mac Hermes | One photo and one line is all it takes |
| Continuing Desktop work from a conference | Orca mobile → Desktop | The conversation is still alive |
| Driving the Desktop or Mac from the laptop | Remote Desktop | Full screen control; the files are over there |
| Delegating from the laptop | Telegram/Slack on the laptop | No remote session needed — one line does it |
| Sharing a result with lab members | Slack (occasional) | Straight into the channel |
B. Knowledge intake
- Throw a link, article or paper you come across into Telegram and it is classified and indexed by topic
into the Mac's store (
Knowledge_Archive/).
C. Monitoring long-running jobs
- For bulk wiki translation or other long jobs, open the Mac's screen through Chrome Remote Desktop and watch without interrupting them.
≡Component map — configuration to work area 13 components — layer, device, role and where it is used›
| Component | Layer | Device | Role | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orca / Antigravity | Freedom | all | Subscription-based conversational / IDE environment | Manuscript review, reading corpora, coding |
| Claude subscription | Freedom | all | Long-context reasoning, logic, academic prose | Deep paper review, desk-reject defence |
| Gemini subscription | Freedom | all | Large-context throughput, factual QA | Bulk corpus parsing, wiki translation drafts |
| kordoc MCP | common | all | Lossless HWPX/PDF editing, seals, redaction | Official documents, admin forms, code revisions |
| korean-law MCP | common | all | Statutes, ordinances, administrative rules, precedents | Verifying cited provisions in design codes |
| korean-stats MCP | common | all | Live KOSIS lookup and time-series analysis | Evidence figures for introductions, policy reports |
| SaaS integrations Drive · NotebookLM · Notion · Gmail/Calendar | common | all | Access to cloud files, literature and schedule | Corpus queries, backup and sharing, scheduling |
| Orca mobile app | Freedom | phone | Joins the Orca session on the Lab Desktop | Continuing Desktop work from anywhere |
| Hermes Agent | Hermes | Mac | Direct filesystem control, command execution, automation | Automated minutes, formatting, asset accumulation |
| Telegram / Slack | Hermes | phone | Delegation channel | Throw a receipt, voice note or link and it is handled |
| Timely / OpenRouter | Hermes | Mac | Model switching based on credit status | Everyday queries, fast processing, live search |
| 📚 Research Wiki | Hermes | Mac | Accumulated literature knowledge and cross-links | Prior-work summaries, knowledge assets |
| 🧭 ECC Atlas | Hermes | Mac | Knowledge map for ECC and self-healing materials | Tracing research lineage, proposal background |
Setup Guide
There are two tracks, and you must do the Freedom track before the Hermes track. B is the foundation for every device; A adds one layer on the Mac alone. Finishing B first also means you can ask the Claude you built there for help while doing A.
Before You Start
Installation commands and config file formats change within months as versions move on. Pinning exact commands here would make this guide actively wrong within half a year and send you further astray. Machines also differ, so the same command works on one computer and fails on another.
So this guide tells you only what to do, why, and in what order. Ask an AI for the specific commands and settings as you go.
Where do you get an AI to help you build this?
| Stage | Where to ask |
|---|---|
| During the Freedom track nothing exists yet |
A browser chatbot — Claude (claude.ai) recommended, ChatGPT, Gemini |
| During the Hermes track | The Claude inside the Orca/Antigravity you just built ← far more accurate |
| After setup | Instruct the finished Hermes assistant directly |
Four things to include in every question
Asking “how do I install this?” gets you generalities. Always include these four.
Your machine
“MacBook M3, latest macOS” / “Windows 11 laptop”
Your level
“I've barely used a terminal before”
What you're doing
“I'm trying to install Hermes Agent”
The answer format you want
“One command per line, with an explanation of what each does”
When you get stuck — paste the whole error
If red text appears, don't panic — copy the entire screen and paste it to the AI verbatim. Do not summarise it. The cause is written in the error message, and the AI reads it and produces a fix.
Here's an error I hit while [doing X]. Explain what caused it and give me the fix commands in order. I'm a terminal beginner, so tell me what each command does as well. [paste the entire error message]
What Goes on Which Device
| Device | Freedom track | Hermes track |
|---|---|---|
| 🖥️ Mac | ✅ Orca/Antigravity + subscriptions + 3 MCP servers + SaaS | ✅ Hermes + Telegram/Slack + Research Wiki & ECC Atlas |
| 🖥️ Lab Desktop | ✅ Orca/Antigravity + subscriptions + 3 MCP servers + SaaS | ❌ not installed |
| 💻 Laptop | ✅ Orca/Antigravity + subscriptions + 3 MCP servers + SaaS | ❌ not installed |
| 📱 Phone | ✅ Orca mobile app (→ connects to Desktop) | ✅ Telegram · Slack (→ connects to Mac Hermes) |
Hermes Agent is an autonomous agent that can create, modify and delete files on its own. So autonomous execution is confined to one machine, and the Desktop and laptop stay safe zones where a human reviews each step.
This is not a limitation — it is a deliberate safeguard. Because the MCP servers and SaaS integrations are on every device, practical capability is unchanged. HWPX editing, statute lookup and statistics all work on the Desktop and laptop.
Freedom track — Common Base Mac · Desktop · Laptop
This builds an AI working environment that behaves identically on every device. When it's done, you have the same capability at whichever computer you sit down.
1. It's the easiest. No terminal, no config files, no API keys. Install the app and log in — that's all.
2. You can ask the Claude you build here for help with the Hermes track. Secure the helper first.
3. This alone covers most day-to-day work. With the MCP servers and SaaS integrations included, HWPX editing, statute lookup, statistics and corpus queries all work.
1Install Orca / Antigravity and log in with your subscriptions Build a workspace that uses Claude and Gemini at flat rate, with no extra charges›
1-1. What to install
| App | Character | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Orca | Conversational workspace · has a mobile app | Long conversational work, refining manuscripts |
| Antigravity | Agentic IDE | Work tangled up with code and scripts |
Installing both and choosing by task is recommended.
1-2. ⚠ The one thing you must understand — subscription login vs. API key
This is the point that determines the cost of the entire system.
| Authentication | Cost | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription account login ← what this track does | flat rate | Orca / Antigravity |
| API key registration | pay per use | Hermes (the Hermes track) |
1-3. Installation flow
I want to install [Orca / Antigravity] on my computer ([macOS / Windows 11]) and sign in with my [Claude / Gemini] subscription account. I'm a beginner. 1) How to install it 2) The steps to authenticate with a subscription account 3) Confirm that signing in with a subscription does not incur extra API charges 4) How to open a working folder Explain each step at a beginner's level.
2Connect the 3 MCP servers (every device) Korean official documents (HWPX), statutes and national statistics — the system's biggest differentiator›
2-1. What you're attaching
| MCP server | What it does | Tools |
|---|---|---|
kordoc | Format-preserving HWPX/PDF editing, seal placement, redaction | 15 |
korean-law | Statutes, ordinances, administrative rules and precedents | 10 |
korean-stats | Live KOSIS lookup and time-series analysis | 18 |
| Total | 43 |
2-2. Prerequisite — a KOSIS API key
Only korean-stats needs a separate, free key.
Get one from the KOSIS Open API page (kosis.kr/openapi).
It's free and issued immediately.
Put that single key on all three machines.
I want to connect 3 MCP servers to [Orca / Antigravity]. I'm a beginner. To connect: kordoc (Korean documents), korean-law (statutes), korean-stats (national statistics) Tell me: 1) How to register an MCP server in this app, and where the config file lives 2) A real config example for registering each of the three 3) Where the KOSIS API key goes for korean-stats 4) How to confirm the tools were recognised after registering Start from how to open the settings screen, at a beginner's level.
2-3. 🔐 Security — applies to all three machines
The KOSIS key is stored separately on each of the three machines, so all three must follow these rules.
- Make the config file holding the key readable only by you
- Keep that folder out of cloud backup
- Never paste the real key value into any document, message or chat prompt
My MCP config file contains an API key. Tell me how to restrict the file permissions so only I can read it, and how to make sure this file never ends up in a cloud backup or in Git. (For [macOS / Windows])
3Connect the Orca mobile app Join the Orca session on the Lab Desktop from your phone and carry on›
3-1. What this path is for
| Path | Connects to | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Orca mobile app ← this step | Orca on the Desktop | Resume session — join and continue the conversation |
| Telegram · Slack (the Hermes track) | Hermes on the Mac | Delegate — hand it off and it's handled |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Mac / Desktop screen | Full screen control |
3-2. Connection flow
I want to install the Orca mobile app and connect remotely to the Orca running on my lab desktop. I'm a beginner. 1) How to install the mobile app and pair it with the desktop 2) What state the desktop needs to be in for outside access (sleep settings, etc.) 3) What to check when the connection fails 4) Security considerations
4SaaS integrations (every device) Google Drive · NotebookLM · Notion · Gmail/Calendar, identical on all three machines›
4-1. What you're attaching
| Service | What it does | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Backup and the channel for moving files between devices | do first |
| NotebookLM | Large-corpus Q&A, audio overviews | high |
| Notion | Notion_연구논문관리 dashboard | medium |
| Gmail / Calendar | Academic schedule, seminars, contacts | medium |
I want to use Google services, NotebookLM and Notion from [Orca / Antigravity] on my computer ([macOS / Windows 11]). I'm a beginner. What I want to attach: 1) Google Drive — as the channel for moving research files between machines 2) NotebookLM — I want to query my notebooks via the notebooklm-mcp-cli tool 3) Notion — connect to my research paper database 4) Gmail / Google Calendar — checking my schedule Tell me: - How to connect each one and in what order (including Google account auth if needed) - How to verify each connection works - What to watch out for when repeating the same setup on several machines Walk me through Google Drive first, then the rest one at a time.
4-2. ⚠ Repeating this on three machines
- Auth tokens are issued per machine. Signing in on one does not cover the others. Authenticate on all three.
- Auth tokens are secrets too. Apply the same rules as step 2 (restrict permissions, exclude from backup) to token files.
- Different sync folder layouts on each machine will confuse you. Keep the folder name and location consistent.
Hermes track — Assistant Layer Mac only
This adds a delegation-style assistant on the Mac. If the environment built in the Freedom track is a workbench you sit at, what you build here is an assistant you hand things to, which works and reports back.
Finish the Freedom track first.
While working through this track, ask the Claude inside the Orca/Antigravity you built in the Freedom track. It is far more accurate than a browser chatbot, because it can see your actual files and settings.
1Prepare the Mac's base environment Package manager (Homebrew) and Python — the terminal is already there›
Goal: lay the floor Hermes will sit on. You need three things — a package manager, Python, and a terminal.
- Package manager: the “app store” that installs and removes programs by command
- Python: required, because Hermes Agent is written in it
- Terminal: the black window you type commands into
🍎 macOS the actual environment
macOS already includes a terminal (Terminal.app), so there is nothing to install there. You only need the package manager (Homebrew) and Python.
I'm a terminal beginner on a MacBook (Apple Silicon). I'm preparing the base environment to install an AI agent. 1) How to install Homebrew 2) How to install python, node and git with Homebrew In that order, one command per line, explaining what each command does. I'll use the terminal that comes with the Mac (Terminal.app). Finish by telling me how to check the installs worked (version commands).
🪟 Windows for reference — not recommended
If you must build it on Windows: most of this tooling is written for Linux/macOS, so turn on WSL2 (which runs Linux inside Windows) and work inside it.
- Terminal: Windows Terminal (built in)
- Recommended: install WSL2 → proceed in Ubuntu almost identically to macOS
- Package manager:
aptinside WSL;wingetor Scoop for Windows itself
I'm a beginner on a Windows 11 laptop. I want to install a Python-based AI agent. 1) Walk me through installing WSL2 and Ubuntu step by step (tell me if admin rights are needed) 2) How to install python, node and git inside that Ubuntu 3) How to open an Ubuntu window in Windows Terminal Explain what each step means at a beginner's level, and tell me when a reboot is required.
python3 --version, node --version and git --version
all print a version number in the terminal.2Install Hermes Agent Includes: “what is a virtual environment? does macOS itself get installed into one?”›
No. This is a common misunderstanding: a virtual environment does not virtualise your operating system.
A virtual environment (venv) is a separate box that holds Python parts (libraries). macOS itself is entirely unaffected.
Why keep a separate box at all —
· macOS uses Python for its own internal functions. Installing things there until versions clash can break operating-system tools. (Recent macOS versions block installing into the system Python outright.)
· If something does go wrong later, deleting that one folder and recreating it restores a clean state.
| macOS | Windows | |
|---|---|---|
| Is a venv needed? | Required (the OS uses Python) | Recommended (not for the OS, but for tidiness) |
| What gets isolated? | Only Python libraries (not the OS) | Only Python libraries |
| How to activate | the source command | WSL is the same as macOS; native Windows differs |
2-1. Installation flow
hermes command runsI want to install Nous Research's Hermes Agent on my MacBook. I'm a beginner. 1) First check and tell me the official GitHub repository URL (current as of now) 2) The command to download the source under my home directory 3) The commands to create and activate a Python virtual environment (venv) 4) The command to install dependencies 5) How to check that the hermes command runs once installation finishes Explain what each command means, one line each, and also tell me how to re-activate the virtual environment after closing and reopening the terminal.
2-2. Hermes runs from all three interfaces
| Interface | Best suited for |
|---|---|
| Orca | Long conversational back-and-forth |
| Antigravity | Work tangled up with code and scripts |
| Terminal | Fast command-driven work, batch jobs |
I've installed Hermes Agent on my Mac. Tell me how to run it from Orca, from Antigravity and from the terminal. If it has to run with the virtual environment activated, tell me how to do that too.
hermes in the terminal launches the program.
(It may not converse yet — the model isn't connected.)3Connect models and register API keys Timely → OpenRouter failover · the opposite of the Freedom track: this one is metered›
3-1. ⚠ Subscriptions and APIs are different
This is the reverse of the Freedom track. There, a subscription login was enough; in Hermes you need an API key and you pay for what you use.
| Model | Authentication in Hermes | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Usable via subscription account login | included |
| Claude | Subscription auth not possible → API key required | metered |
| Gemini | Subscription auth not possible → API key required | metered |
| Grok | Subscription auth not possible → API key required | metered |
3-2. Which keys to prepare
3-3. Where the API keys go — ask as you work
The location and field names of the config file vary by Hermes version. So rather than pinning a fixed format here, have the AI read the actual docs for your installed version and ask it.
I've installed Hermes Agent on my Mac and now want to connect an AI model. I'm a beginner. My situation: - Normally I use the Chonnam National University Timely API, and when credits run out I want to switch to OpenRouter - I want both API keys registered so I can switch when needed Tell me: 1) Where the Hermes Agent config file is and what it's called 2) What format to write API keys and model names in (with a real example) 3) The simplest way to switch between Timely and OpenRouter 4) How to check which one I'm currently using 5) How to test that the configuration is correct Start from creating the config file for the first time, including how to open it in a text editor.
3-4. 🔐 Security — do not skip this
If an API key leaks, someone else runs AI on your money.
- Make the config file holding keys readable only by you
- Never back up your whole home folder to the cloud — the key file goes with it
- Never paste real key values into any document, message or chat prompt (mask them even when asking an AI)
My Hermes config file contains API keys. Give me the command to restrict permissions so only I can read it, and tell me how to stop this file from accidentally ending up in a cloud backup or in Git. (On macOS.)
hermes and typing “hello” gets a reply.4Register the 3 MCP servers with Hermes The same servers from the Freedom track — Hermes is a separate program and needs its own registration›
4-1. Why again?
You installed them in the Freedom track, but Hermes is a separate program and must register them in its own configuration. The same MCP servers are simply called from two places. Reuse the KOSIS key you already issued in the Freedom track.
| Consumer | Registered in | |
|---|---|---|
| What the Freedom track did | Orca / Antigravity | That app's settings |
| What you do here | Hermes | The Hermes config file |
4-2. What to register
| MCP server | What it does | Tools |
|---|---|---|
kordoc | Format-preserving HWPX/PDF editing, seal placement, redaction | 15 |
korean-law | Statutes, ordinances, administrative rules and precedents | 10 |
korean-stats | Live KOSIS lookup and time-series analysis | 18 |
I want to connect 3 MCP servers to Hermes Agent on my Mac. I'm a beginner. To connect: kordoc (Korean documents), korean-law (statutes), korean-stats (national statistics) I already have my KOSIS API key. Tell me: 1) The config format and location for registering MCP servers in Hermes Agent 2) A real config example for registering each of the three 3) Where the KOSIS API key goes for korean-stats 4) How to confirm the tools were recognised after registering
5Telegram · Slack gateway ⭐ Where the assistant is born — one receipt photo is kept as a record›
5-1. Telegram (primary)
Two things to prepare.
- Bot token: message
/newbotto@BotFatheron Telegram and it issues one - Your Chat ID: message
@userinfobotanything and it replies with the number (used to restrict the bot to you alone)
I want to connect Hermes Agent on my Mac to Telegram so I can control it remotely from my phone. I'm a beginner. I already have the bot token and my Chat ID. Tell me: 1) The format for registering the Telegram bot token and Chat ID in the Hermes config file 2) The setting that restricts the bot to me only 3) The command to run the gateway 4) How to keep the gateway running after I close the terminal (on macOS — auto-start registration) 5) How to test that photos and voice files sent from my phone get processed
5-2. Slack (secondary · occasional)
Used only when a result has to be shared to a lab channel, so it can wait. Add it once Telegram is running reliably.
I'd like to connect Hermes Agent to Slack as well. The Telegram integration is already done. Walk me through creating the Slack app, issuing tokens, registering it in the Hermes config, and inviting it to a channel, in order. I'm a beginner.
5-3. All three remote paths are now complete
| Path | Connects to | Character | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram · Slack | Hermes on the Mac | delegate | Throw a photo, voice note or link and collect the result |
| Orca mobile (the Freedom track) | Orca on the Desktop | resume | Continuing Desktop work from outside |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Mac / Desktop screen | screen control | Handling several files visually |
6Backup and research assets — hand this to the finished assistant From here on you no longer need to touch config files yourself›
Hermes can now run terminal commands and create files directly. The remaining fiddly work can simply be handed to the assistant — which is why you built an agent in the first place. (You can also work through the Claude from the Freedom track.)
6-1. Automatic Google Drive backup most important
Because the whole research corpus sits on the Mac, backing up the Mac is backing up everything. Do not postpone this one.
Set up automatic backup of my Mac's research files to Google Drive. Requirements: - Use rclone to connect to Google Drive - Back up: the research folders under ~/Documents, the research wiki, and the ECC Atlas - Exclude absolutely: any folder containing config files or API keys - Register it to sync automatically once a day - Also build a way for me to find out when a backup fails (a Telegram notification, for example) - Tell me as you go about anything I have to do myself (browser sign-in, etc.) Install whatever is needed first. Tell me what you're doing at each step as you work.
6-2. Building the Research Wiki and ECC Atlas
These two assets belong on the Mac as a matter of principle. Every time a paper is read, Hermes accumulates, indexes and cross-links it — and that automation only runs on the Mac.
Build me a knowledge base on the Mac for accumulating my research literature. What to build: 1) A research wiki — accumulates papers I've read, with cross-links between documents 2) An ECC Atlas — an archive structuring ECC and self-healing materials knowledge as a map Requirements: - Propose the folder structure and file naming rules first (build it only after I've confirmed) - Write down the rules as a document so that any paper I hand you later gets filed in the right place automatically - Make papers sent over Telegram get organised by the same rules - Include it in the Google Drive backup
6-3. Attach the SaaS integrations to Hermes as well
You already attached these to Orca/Antigravity in the Freedom track. Here you only add the connection so Hermes can use the same services — the same reason you registered the MCP servers twice.
Connect Hermes Agent to Google Drive, NotebookLM and Notion as well. I've already connected them on the Orca/Antigravity side, so reuse that authentication if you can. 1) Connect notebooklm-mcp-cli to Hermes 2) Google Drive access (separate from the backup script — so you can find files during a conversation) 3) Connect the Notion research paper database Tell me as you go about any authentication steps I have to do myself.
6-4. Remote desktop (Chrome Remote Desktop)
This is the channel for opening the Mac's whole screen from the Desktop or laptop. It's all browser clicks, so doing it yourself is faster than asking an AI.
Verification Checklists 36 items · progress saved
If any item fails, copy that error verbatim and ask an AI. Your ticks are stored in this browser and survive a reload.
the Freedom track · Freedom checks 15 items
0 / 15the Hermes track · Hermes core 10 items
0 / 10the Hermes track · assistant functions (gateway) 5 items
0 / 5the Hermes track · assets and safety 6 items
0 / 6Miss 14 and your assistant vanishes while you're out.
Miss 20 and your API keys are exposed in the cloud.
Miss 21 and your entire research corpus sits in a backup blind spot. Check all three.
After setup — dividing the two layers day to day
| What you're doing | Which side | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Polishing a manuscript with Claude for a long stretch | Orca/Antigravity | subscription auth → flat rate |
| Automating receipts, minutes and file filing | Hermes | short, and needs file operations |
| Throwing photos, voice notes or links while out | Telegram | handled automatically, reported back |
| Continuing Desktop work from outside | Orca mobile | the conversation is still alive |
In Practice
Built around cases actually used, showing where to ask and how to phrase it. Every prompt below can be copied and used as is.
Folder Structure & Naming Paths
The single most important thing when handing work to an AI is stating exactly which folder and which file. Leave the folder out and it hunts in the wrong place or has to ask, and you lose time.
The Research Wiki and ECC Atlas exist only on the Mac. They are not visible from the Desktop or laptop. Connect remotely or ask through Telegram when you need them.
Route other working files through Google Drive. Drive is connected on every device, making it the simplest way to pick up on the Desktop what you started on the Mac.
Three ways to specify a folder
Paste the full path
The most reliable. In Finder, right-click a file and hold option — “Copy as Pathname” appears.
/Users/bylee/Documents/Research_Papers/My_Published_Papers/
Shorten with ~
~ stands for /Users/bylee.
~/Documents/Research_Papers/
Say where to save it too
“Analyse this” alone puts the result on screen and nothing more. Add “…and save it to folder X as Y.md.”
Real Use Cases 16
No cases match this filter.
1Paper review — you review first, AI only fills in what you missed You are the reviewer; the AI is a second pass that looks for gaps in your own draft›
Why B: the whole paper has to be read, so flat rate wins.
Situation: a submitted PDF arrives for review. The judgement stays entirely yours; the AI is used only as a second reader that looks for points you may have missed.
How it runs
Read Review_Manuscript_2026.pdf together with my own review draft (my_review_draft.md). Leave my draft as it is; just find the points I may have missed. 1) Novelty against prior work, particularly self-healing cementitious composites — are there issues my draft does not raise? 2) Flaws in the experimental design (hydration period control, crack width measurement error, etc.) that I did not flag 3) Overclaiming without statistical significance testing that I did not flag Mark each item as 'already in my draft' or 'newly found' and put it in a table with the supporting page numbers. Do not rewrite my review.
2Design code / specification revision — screening and generating the official form KDS·KCS revision committee work — reviewing comparison tables and producing the submission form›
Situation: during KDS/KCS revision committee work, reviewing a large old-vs-new provision comparison table, catching typos and citation errors, and finishing it in the official submission format.
Review ~/Documents/Standards_Revision/콘크리트_설계기준_개정안.hwpx. 1) Check terminology consistency in the revised provisions against the current code, and verify the numbering of cited external standards (use korean-law to confirm the parent statutes/codes) 2) Screen exhaustively for typos and grammatical errors and list the proposed corrections 3) Using kordoc, apply the corrections while preserving the original HWPX formatting (tables, fonts) 100%, and produce '개정_사유서_및_신구대비표.hwpx' in the required format.
What happens:
kordoc parses the HWPX structure safely → korean-law cross-checks cited statute and rule numbers →
typos, spacing and unit notation (MPa, mm) inconsistencies are caught in bulk →
kordoc.patch_document emits the finished file in the original format.
3Mapping your own research lineage Analysing 10–15 years of papers chronologically to derive a roadmap and open gaps›
Why the Mac: the paper files and the ECC Atlas are there.
Situation: analysing 10–15 years of papers chronologically to trace how the research themes developed (e.g. ECC mix design → self-healing performance evaluation → ML-based multiscale prediction) for a large grant proposal.
Analyse the abstracts and conclusions of all 20 of my papers in ~/Documents/Research_Papers/My_Published_Papers/. 1) Chart the evolution of my core research themes from the early 2010s to now as a timeline (research roadmap). 2) Identify the key problems I have solved and the research gaps that remain open. 3) Write the result as text I can drop straight into section '1. Need for the research and prior work' of a new grant proposal.
4Extracting your own academic writing style guide Turning paragraph structure, stock phrases and figure captions into explicit rules›
Why A: the result has to be saved as a file.
Read and analyse 5 representative papers of mine in ~/Documents/Research_Papers/My_Published_Papers/. 1) The paragraph structure across introduction, body and conclusion 2) The English academic expressions and verb patterns I use most often 3) My style for figure/table captions and for sentences comparing numbers Organise all of this and save it as a file called 'manuscript_writing_guide.md'.
5kordoc — placing a seal on an HWPX form and redacting personal data Stamping a digital seal on a Korean form and protecting researchers' personal information›
In ~/Documents/Admin/연구원_등록신청서.hwpx: 1) Place the seal image at ~/Documents/Professor_Profile/Admin_Documents/seal.png floating (in front of text) over the '(인)' and '서명 또는 인' anchors. 2) Mask the last digits of the national ID number and the bank account number using kordoc.redact_document, preserving the formatting, and save it as '연구원_등록신청서_완료본.hwpx'.
6korean-stats — live KOSIS national statistics Getting current national figures for a paper introduction or policy report›
Using korean-stats, pull live figures from KOSIS for the last 10 years on the proportion of ageing infrastructure in Korea (bridges and tunnels over 30 years old) and the trend in maintenance costs. Build a table of the year-on-year rates of change, and write a paragraph making the case for our research (maintenance-reducing ECC materials).
7korean-law — verifying cited statutes Cross-checking whether cited provisions conflict with, or have been amended since, your draft›
Use korean-law to find the original text of [statute name] [article], and check whether anything conflicts with, or has been amended relative to, the draft standard I'm currently writing.
8Filing a paper you've read into the wiki Adding it to the Research Wiki and generating cross-links to related entries›
File the paper I've just read (attached, or at this path) into the research wiki. Cross-link it with the related documents already filed there, and mark which subject area it belongs to in the ECC Atlas.
9Deriving research gaps from the LLM Wiki Finding thinly covered areas in your accumulated notes to use as proposal evidence›
Situation: using the literature notes you have accumulated in the research Wiki (LLM Wiki) as the basis for arguing a gap in your next grant proposal.
Based on the literature notes in Research_Knowledge/llm_wiki/, identify where the literature is still thin (the research gaps) in the area of self-healing performance evaluation. Put it in a table with links to the supporting references inside the Wiki, so I can use it in my next grant proposal.
10NotebookLM — deep queries over a large corpus Extracting comparison data from an uploaded corpus and planning an audio overview›
Using the notebooklm-mcp-cli tool, connect to the 'ECC Self-Healing Literature' notebook and extract comparison data on crack-healing efficiency between bacteria-based and mineral-based healing agents in recent studies. From that comparison, put together a script for a lab seminar presentation and a prompt for an audio overview.
11Google Drive backup & Notion dashboard sync Backing up today's folders and filing new paper metadata into Notion›
Why the Mac: the automatic backup schedule runs there.
Sync the Research_Knowledge/llm_wiki/ and 집단연구2025/ folders I worked on today to Google Drive via rclone right now, and file the metadata for the 3 newly added papers into the Notion_연구논문관리 dashboard format.
12Receipt photo → a short meeting record, retrieved when needed Five fields are stored now; the paperwork is assembled later, in one go›
Situation: after a meal or meeting with lab members, photograph the receipt and send it over Telegram.
The point: not to produce formal minutes on the spot, but to keep the minimum set of fields so they can be pulled up later, when settlement or reporting paperwork is actually needed.
[receipt photo attached] 집단과제2025. Meeting expenses, attended by [names]. Topic: how to configure multi-instance AI agents
Only five things are stored
| Receipt | The original image file, archived as is |
| Date & time | Payment date and time from the receipt |
| Location | Engineering Bldg. 2, Room 213 (default) |
| Meeting duration | One hour, starting two hours before payment (default rule) |
| Meeting content | Attendees and topic — the single line you sent, verbatim |
What the assistant does
~/Documents/Professor_Profile/Projects/집단연구2025/회의비기록/, keeping the original receipt in the same folderPulling it up later
From the 집단과제2025 meeting-expense records, collect the ones from the second half of 2025 and put them in a table of date, location, duration, attendees, topic and amount, with the receipts attached.
→ Only at this point does it become settlement paperwork or formal minutes.
13Meeting or lecture recording → minutes and summary Extracting decisions and action items from a lab meeting recording›
[voice file attached] This is today's lab meeting recording. Attendees were me and the graduate students. Organise the decisions per agenda item and next week's action items into a table, and save it as a Markdown file.
14Sending a link or article → automatic knowledge archiving Material you come across gets classified and indexed by topic›
[link forwarded] Read this, summarise just the key points, and save it into the Knowledge_Archive/ folder classified by topic.
15Continuing Desktop work from a conference Orca mobile — resume with the conversation still intact›
Situation: you were refining a manuscript on the Lab Desktop, then left for a conference, and want to finish a thought that occurred to you on the way.
How: join the Desktop's Orca session with the Orca mobile app and carry on with the conversation still intact.
Telegram is the channel for throwing a new instruction (to Hermes on the Mac)
Orca mobile is the channel for continuing an existing conversation (with Orca on the Desktop)
16Driving the Desktop or Mac from the laptop Chrome Remote Desktop — how the laptop is actually used›
Situation: you've moved to the laptop but need to run something heavy, or the files you need are on the Desktop or Mac.
How: connect to the Desktop or Mac through Chrome Remote Desktop and work with their resources and files directly.
- Connecting to the Mac gives you Hermes, the MCP servers, the Research Wiki and the ECC Atlas on screen
- Also useful for monitoring long jobs such as bulk wiki translation without interrupting them
Command Cheat Sheet 19 templates
| What you want to do | Channel | Prompt template | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper review — gaps in my own review | Freedom | [paper.pdf] Read this with my review draft and table only the points I missed, marked 'already in draft' / 'newly found' — do not rewrite my draft |
|
| Refining manuscript prose | Freedom | [manuscript] Refine the sentences per my academic style guide (passive voice, no personal subjects, unit notation) |
|
| Design code / spec revision review | Any machine | [standard.hwpx] Check terminology and cited provisions, screen for typos, then use kordoc to produce the revision file with formatting preserved |
|
| HWPX seal & redaction | Any machine | [document.hwpx] Float the seal image over the (인) anchor, redact personal data, and save the finished copy |
|
| KOSIS statistics lookup | Any machine Telegram | Use korean-stats to pull the last 10 years of [indicator], then give me a trend table and what it implies |
|
| Statute / ordinance check | Any machine Telegram | Use korean-law to find [statute] [article] and tell me whether anything conflicts with our draft standard |
|
| Mapping research lineage | Mac | [my papers folder] Analyse all my papers, cross-reference the ECC Atlas, and map the theme evolution and open problems |
|
| Extracting a writing style guide | Mac (Hermes) | [my papers folder] Read my existing papers, analyse them, and save a writing style guide as a .md file |
|
| Filing a paper into the wiki | Mac (Hermes) Telegram | File this paper into the research wiki and cross-link it with the related entries |
|
| Deriving research gaps | Mac (Hermes) | Based on the notes in llm_wiki/, table up where the literature is thin in [area], with supporting references |
|
| NotebookLM corpus query | Any machine | Use notebooklm-mcp-cli to extract the key comparison data on [topic] from the [notebook] notebook and write it up |
|
| Receipt → short meeting record | Telegram (Hermes) | [photo attached] Project: OOO, attendees: OOO, topic: OOO — just store the five fields |
|
| Minutes from a recording | Telegram (Hermes) | [voice attached] This is a lab meeting recording. Organise the decisions per agenda item and save it to a file |
|
| Archiving web knowledge | Telegram (Hermes) | [link forwarded] Summarise the key points and save it into the Knowledge_Archive/ folder |
|
| Continuing Desktop work | Orca mobile | Open the mobile app, join the Desktop session, and carry on | |
| Driving Desktop / Mac from the laptop | Remote Desktop | Connect via Chrome Remote Desktop and work with their resources | |
| Delegating from the laptop | Telegram · Slack (Hermes) | No remote session — one line hands it to Hermes on the Mac | |
| Sharing to a lab channel | Slack (occasional) | [result] Summarise this and share it to the lab channel |
|
| Working with the screen in view | Remote Desktop | Connect to the Mac or Desktop with Chrome Remote Desktop |
No entries match.
Cost & Safety Habits
💰 Three habits that keep costs down
Long sessions always go to Orca/Antigravity
Including on the Mac. Same model, but subscription auth is flat rate and API is metered. This one habit accounts for most of the cost.
Check the Timely credit balance regularly
While credits remain, Hermes is effectively free. When they run out, move heavy work to Freedom.
Keep Hermes on short, hands-on jobs
Receipts, file filing, wiki accumulation, applying formatting — these end in a short exchange, so metered billing barely registers, and they are impossible without automation anyway.
🔐 Three habits that keep things safe
Do not install Hermes on the Desktop or laptop
The MCP servers are already there, so nothing is lost in capability. This principle is the first line of defence for your data.
Backing up the Mac is backing up everything
The Research Wiki, ECC Atlas, papers and grant files all live there. Check regularly that Google Drive sync is actually running.
Manage API keys on all three machines
The MCP servers are on three machines, so the KOSIS key is in three places. Verify file permissions and backup exclusion on each.
An English edition of a guide consolidated from six source documents (01 system configuration · 02 workflows · 03 setup hub · 03-1 the Freedom track · 03-2 the Hermes track · 04 practical use). Configuration details are governed by the Understanding the System section; model IDs were verified as of 2026-08-30. 한국어 버전 보기 →