# First-Time Setup Guide

**Source:** Community knowledge from r/hermesagent (May 2026)

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## Quick Decision Tree for New Users

### What's Your Goal?

| Goal | Recommended Path |
|------|-----------------|
| Just want to chat and get things done | Local install + OpenRouter \\$10 plan or MiniMax M2.7 free tier |
| Privacy-sensitive (calendars, emails) | Dedicated Gmail account + shared calendar + local/cloud model of your choice |
| Coding assistant | Separate coding profile + Qwen 3.6-27B locally or DeepSeek V4 Pro via API |
| Budget-conscious student | Free-tier proxy (llm-keypool) + MiniMax M2.7 + Hugging Face Spaces hosting |
| Power user with GPU | vLLM + Qwen 3.6-27B/35B local + OpenRouter for complex tasks |

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## Installation Paths

### Option 1: Local Install (Recommended for most users)

\`\`\`bash
# Install Hermes Agent
pip install hermes-agent

# Initialize
hermes setup

# Configure your model provider
hermes config set model "openrouter/deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3.1"
\`\`\`

**Pros:** Full control, no latency, works offline with local models
**Cons:** Requires keeping machine on for 24/7 operation

### Option 2: Docker Container

\`\`\`bash
docker run -d \\
  --name hermes \\
  -p 3000:3000 \\
  -v ~/.hermes:/root/.hermes \\
  nousresearch/hermes-agent:latest
\`\`\`

**Pros:** Clean isolation, easy updates, portable
**Cons:** Slight overhead, requires Docker knowledge

### Option 3: Hugging Face Spaces (Free 24/7)

Community guide by u/somratpro:
- Deploy Hermes on HF Spaces with zero cost
- Runs forever without sleeping (anti-sleep fix included)
- Set API keys as Secrets in Space settings
- GitHub repo: https://github.com/somratpro/HuggingMes

**Pros:** Free, 24/7 uptime, no local hardware needed
**Cons:** Privacy concerns (shared infrastructure), limited resources

### Option 4: VPS Hosting

Popular providers mentioned by community:
- **Hetzner** - \\$5/mo, good performance (community guide available)
- **Railway** - Easy deployment, pay-as-you-go
- **Synology NAS + Docker** - For home lab enthusiasts

---

## What to Configure First

Based on the top-voted "What I wish I knew earlier" post (298 upvotes):

### 1. Pick Your Model Wisely

The model is THE most important decision. Wrong model = frustrating experience.

**Community consensus for beginners:**
- **Budget pick:** MiniMax M2.7 (\\$10/mo token plan or free tier) - "Not top notch but forces you to think more"
- **Sweet spot:** Qwen 3.6-27B (local via vLLM or cloud via OpenRouter) - "Custom-made for Hermes"
- **Premium pick:** DeepSeek V4 Pro - "Cheaper than OpenRouter, even more capable"

### 2. Set Up Memory Early

Don't use the default memory setup. Community recommends:
- **Hindsight** (local option, requires LLM for processing) - Most popular choice
- **Local holographic memory** - Simplest local option
- **Obsidian vault** - For larger wiki/KB memory bank

### 3. Start with a Simple Task

Don't chase the "perfect setup." Build something you'll actually use:
- Scheduled news digest (most recommended first project)
- Telegram/Discord chat bot
- Daily briefing cron job

### 4. Configure Messaging Gateway

Set up your preferred communication channel early:
- **Telegram** - Most popular, supports topics for session management
- **Discord** - Good for team/family setups
- **CLI** - Simplest for local use

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## Common First-Time Mistakes

1. **Using Gemini Pro to optimize Hermes config** - Just ask Hermes about itself. External "experts" waste time with wrong configs. (u/CaliZ06)

2. **Installing a second Hermes instance when creating profiles** - Profiles are built-in session management, not separate installations. Use \`hermes profile create\` command. (u/Beckland, u/Starrwulfe)

3. **Not treating profiles as separate agents with separate state** - Each profile has its own config, SOUL.md, memory, sessions, skills, cron jobs. Treat them as independent agents. (u/itsdodobitch)

4. **Chasing setup perfection before building anything** - The ecosystem is too early for "perfect." Start using it and iterate. (Multiple users)

5. **Using the wrong model for your task type** - Qwen 3.6 variants excel at agentic work. Gemma 4 models were reported as poor for tool calling. (u/EmuHefty, u/Almarma)

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## Your First Week Checklist

- [ ] Install Hermes and complete setup wizard
- [ ] Choose and configure your primary model
- [ ] Set up messaging gateway (Telegram/Discord/CLI)
- [ ] Configure memory system (Hindsight recommended)
- [ ] Create your first cron job (news digest or daily briefing)
- [ ] Write a basic SOUL.md personality file
- [ ] Test with a simple task before moving to complex workflows

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## Next Steps After Setup

Once you're running, explore:
1. **Profiles** - Create separate agents for different purposes (coding, personal assistant, research)
2. **Skills** - Build custom skills for recurring tasks
3. **Kanban boards** - Multi-agent collaboration feature
4. **Obsidian integration** - Connect Hermes to your knowledge base

See the Model Guides section for detailed model comparisons and the Best Practices section for workflow patterns.