Skill Authoring Flow

Step-by-step workflow for creating a custom skill — scaffold to publish

1 2 3 4 5 6 iterate Scaffold folder create directory mkdir -p ~/.hermes/skills/ <name>/ one directory per skill name matches skill identifier Write SKILL.md frontmatter + body --- (frontmatter) name: My Skill description: ... triggers: [...] tags: [...] --- # instructions Markdown body Add references/ + templates/ as needed references/ data files, docs templates/ file scaffolds scripts/ shell helpers (elevated trust) Test in chat invoke in conversation restart agent or trigger reload open Skills page → confirm skill appears type trigger phrase → skill activates Iterate refine until correct edit SKILL.md body adjust triggers add/remove files reload → test again until behaviour is correct Publish to Hub optional package skill dir submit to Skills Hub hub review process security scan others can install via Marketplace Skill not found? check dir name matches SKILL.md is present Verify install Skills page → Installed confirm name + triggers Legend Scaffold Author / Iterate Optional content Test Publish (optional) iterate loop

Steps 1–2: Scaffold & manifest

  • • Create ~/.hermes/skills/<name>/ directory
  • • Write SKILL.md with YAML frontmatter (name, description, triggers)
  • • Add Markdown body with agent instructions
  • • Directory name becomes the skill identifier

Steps 4–5: Test & iterate

  • • Restart the agent or trigger a skills reload
  • • Check the Skills page — skill should appear in Installed
  • • Type a trigger phrase in chat to invoke the skill
  • • Edit SKILL.md and reload until behaviour is correct

Common issues

  • • Skill not appearing — check directory name and SKILL.md presence
  • • Trigger not firing — confirm agent reloaded after edit
  • • Scripts not running — elevated trust must be enabled in agent config
  • • Wrong behaviour — refine the Markdown body instructions

Hermes Switch UI • skill authoring flow • scaffold → manifest → test → iterate → publish