# I built 25 executable skills for AI coding agents �“ all open source > Source: > Published: 2026-06-29 10:19:23+00:00 **Your AI coding agent keeps doing dumb things? Here's the fix.** **#1** Agent does`/clear` and forgets everything — you re-explain from scratch**#2** Agent sees "fix this bug" and starts changing code — one fix, three new bugs**#3** Token burns fast — $5 gone before lunch, and you don't know why**#4** Context fills up and agent starts forgetting what you said 5 minutes ago**#5** Agent pushes code changes without asking — you only find out when it breaks **This pack of 25 executable skills fixes all of that.** Not vague advice. Step-by-step workflows your agent loads and follows. *Watch the full 30-second quick install — click to play!* *SVG animation — works everywhere, no loading time, scales perfectly.* ``` cp -r skills/* ~/.claude/skills/ # Claude Code cp -r skills/* ~/.cursor/skills/ # Cursor cp -r skills/* ~/.codex/skills/ # OpenAI Codex # Hermes Agent: auto-dispatched from ~/.hermes/skills/ ``` **Then tell your agent:** *"Use the systematic-debugging skill to help me with this error."* AI coding agents are powerful, but they have a fatal flaw: **they don't know how to work safely yet**. Without guidance, an agent will: - Burn through your token budget in minutes - Fix one bug and introduce three more - Push code changes without asking - Forget context after every `/clear` - Loop forever on the same error These 25 skills are executable workflows that teach your agent **how to behave** — systematic debugging, token-aware planning, self-regulation, and safety nets. They're not vague advice; they're step-by-step instructions your agent follows automatically. | Feature | Hermes Core Skills | LangChain Agents | Manual Prompting | |---|---|---|---| | Drop-in ready | ✅ Copy and use | ❌ Requires code integration | ❌ Write prompts yourself | | Executable workflows | ✅ Agent follows step by step | ❌ Just a framework | ❌ No structure | | Cross-platform | ✅ Claude / Codex / Cursor / Hermes | ❌ Python only | ✅ Any agent | | Token-aware | ✅ Built-in efficiency rules | ❌ No token optimization | ❌ No token optimization | | Self-regulation | ✅ Brake system, stall detection | ❌ Not available | ❌ Not available | | Open source | ✅ MIT | ✅ MIT | ✅ Free | Hermes Core Skills is not a framework you integrate — it's a **workflow layer** your agent loads. It works alongside any agent and any framework. ``` You: "Use the systematic-debugging skill on this error: TypeError: Cannot read ..." Agent: [Loads the 4-stage workflow] 1. Report — captures the full error context 2. Context — reads affected files 3. Hypothesis — identifies root cause 4. Fix — only applies change after root cause is confirmed Result: One fix, zero new bugs. You: "Follow the token-efficiency skill for this task." Agent: [Loads token-saving rules] - Compresses long context before proceeding - Delegates heavy research to sub-agents - Avoids wasteful pattern loops Result: Uses 40-60% fewer tokens. You: "Run subagent-driven-development to implement the auth system." Agent: [Splits into parallel sub-agents] - Sub-agent 1: Login page - Sub-agent 2: JWT middleware - Sub-agent 3: Database schema - Review pass: merges all, fixes conflicts Result: Features built in parallel, completed faster. ``` | Skill | One-liner | Problem it solves | |---|---|---| systematic-debugging | No root cause, no fix | Agent randomly patches bugs, making things worse | self-regulation-brake-system | Force stop after 3 failures | Agent looping forever, burning your budget | writing-plans | Write a plan before touching code | Agent builds the wrong thing, needs redo | subagent-driven-development | Split into subagents, review after | Complex tasks overwhelm a single agent's context | token-efficiency | Every token counts | End-of-month surprise bills | checkpoints-and-rewind | Auto-backup before any change | Agent destroys a file, can't recover | | Skill | Role | Pain Point | Highlight | |---|---|---|---| self-regulation-brake-system | Agent seatbelt | Agent crashes and keeps burning tokens when you're away | 3-fail stop, 5-min stall report, no bypass allowed | systematic-debugging | Your Sherlock Holmes | Agent randomly patches bugs, one fix creates three more | 4-stage: Report → Context → Hypothesis → Fix. Iron rule: no root cause, no fix | writing-plans | Your project manager | Agent builds in wrong direction, discovers at the end | Bite-size tasks, exact file paths, code + test per task | spec-driven-development | Your requirements doctor | Unclear requirements, builds the wrong thing | Write spec first, no coding without understanding | test-driven-development | Your quality gate | Agent says "done" but never actually tested | RED-GREEN-REFACTOR, no tests = not done | subagent-driven-development | Your team lead | Complex task doesn't fit in one agent context | Split tasks → fresh subagent each → review → merge | requesting-code-review | Your code reviewer | Agent commits bad code, you don't know | Security scan + quality gate + independent reviewer | security-hardening-checklist | Your security advisor | Agent doesn't know secure coding, leaves vulnerabilities | Input, auth, storage, third-party, item by item | think-tool | Your rational voice | Agent makes impulsive decisions without thinking first | Pros cons + trade-offs + risk analysis framework | token-efficiency | Your CFO | Token burn rate is scary, don't know how to save | Context compression, delegate strategy, waste pattern avoidance | checkpoints-and-rewind | Your undo button | Agent corrupts a file, can't roll back | Auto-backup, snapshot, rollback before any change | context-aware-task-decomposition | Your context doctor | Context full, agent starts forgetting | Auto-decompose tasks, never hit context limit | context-compaction-verification-and-recovery | Your memory detective | After compaction, agent doesn't remember what it did | Verify tool commands actually executed | | Skill | Role | Pain Point | Highlight | |---|---|---|---| agent-capability-comparison-methodology | Your agent buyer | Don't know which agent is good, marketing lies | Source code + benchmark + hands-on, three-layer verification | open-source-adaptation-pattern | Your technical due diligence | Install an OSS project, find out it doesn't fit | License + maintenance + community + actual need, four-dimension eval | multi-agent-browser-text-extraction | Your research team | JS-heavy sites, browser itself can't extract | Multiple subagents extract in parallel, merge results | skill-slimming-strategy | Your diet plan | SKILL.md too long, agent loads it and half context is gone | Keep core workflow, move details to references/ | batch-skill-description-standardization | Your admin assistant | Dozens of skills with inconsistent descriptions | Fix 100+ at once | hermes-improvement-multiphase-plan | Your CTO | Want to improve agent but don't know where to start | IDE docs → nightly release → plugin marketplace → desktop app | | Skill | Role | Pain Point | Highlight | |---|---|---|---| cross-session-execution-framework | Your project continuity | Next session agent doesn't remember what it did | File-based state persistence, recover without memory loss | plan | Your brake pedal | User says "plan it first" but agent starts coding immediately | Pure planning mode, output checklist for approval | multi-role-synthesis-framework | Your board of directors | Single-role decisions have blind spots | Multiple roles each give advice → integrated verdict | | Skill | Role | Pain Point | Highlight | |---|---|---|---| openclaw-hermes-arch | Your architecture diagram | Don't understand how agent and gateway divide work | Clear responsibility docs + failover mechanism | hermes-agent | Your Hermes setup guide | New to Hermes, don't know how to set up | Complete zero-to-running guide | autonomous-work-signaling | Your team coordinator | Multiple autonomous agents don't know what each other is doing | Cross-session work status synchronization | | Who | Problem | Skill Pack Solution | |---|---|---| Solo developer | Agent burns tokens, context gets lost | `token-efficiency` + `context-aware-task-decomposition` | Startup CTO | Junior devs using AI produce inconsistent code | `requesting-code-review` + `spec-driven-development` | Open source maintainer | Need help but can't trust AI with security | `security-hardening-checklist` + `systematic-debugging` | Agency owner | Multiple agents running, no coordination | `autonomous-work-signaling` + `cross-session-execution-framework` | AI researcher | Evaluating which agent to use for a project | `agent-capability-comparison-methodology` + `open-source-adaptation-pattern` | | Category | Platform | |---|---| AI Code Assistants | Claude Code, OpenAI Codex CLI, Cursor, Hermes Agent, GitHub Copilot | Agent Frameworks | LangChain, CrewAI, AutoGen, Any MCP-compatible agent | MCP Clients | Claude Desktop, VS Code via Continue/Cline, JetBrains, any MCP host | **New to AI coding agents? Here's everything you need to know.** - **What is an AI coding agent?** A tool like Claude Code or Cursor that can write, edit, and debug code for you in your terminal or editor. - **What's a "skill"?** A skill is a Markdown file that teaches your agent*how*to do something properly — like a recipe for your AI chef. - **How do I use these skills?**- Install with one command ( `cp -r skills/* ~/.claude/skills/` ) - Tell your agent: *"Use the [skill name] skill"* - Your agent follows the instructions automatically - Install with one command ( - **Which skill should I start with?****First**:`systematic-debugging` — the most useful for daily coding**Second**:`token-efficiency` — saves you money immediately**Third**:`checkpoints-and-rewind` — safety net, never lose work Still confused? [Open a discussion](https://github.com/chrislamlayer1-gif/hermes-core-skills/discussions) — we'll help you get started. Help translate this README! Click a badge to contribute: Currently English only. Translations welcome — submit a discussion or PR! - v1.0.0 — 25 core skills released (Jun 2026) - v1.1.0 — Skill index ( `index.json` ) for agent discovery - v1.2.0 — Interactive playground on GitHub Pages - v2.0.0 — Community-contributed skills + skill templates - Add mappings to common frameworks (pain point categories) "Finally — skills that actually tell the agent what to do instead of just giving it vague instructions."—Early adopter feedback "The self-regulation-brake-system alone saved me from a $50 runaway agent bill."—Solo developer, Jun 2026 "Drop-in ready and zero config. This is what agent tooling should be."—Open source contributor *Have feedback? Open a discussion and share your experience.* ... *Want to feature this project? Let us know.* We'd love your help! Here's how to get started: **Good first issues (no coding needed):** - 📝 **Review a skill**— Try one and open an issue with your feedback - 🌐 **Translate README**— Pick your language and submit a translation - 🐛 **Report a bug**— If a skill doesn't work with your agent, let us know - ✨ **Suggest new skills**— Open a discussion with your pain point **Code contributions:** - Browse [open issues](https://github.com/chrislamlayer1-gif/hermes-core-skills/issues)— look for`good first issue` labels - Fork the repo and create a feature branch - Make your changes and submit a PR - Your PR will be reviewed within 48 hours All contributors are expected to follow our [Code of Conduct](/chrislamlayer1-gif/hermes-core-skills/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md). See the [Contributing Guide](/chrislamlayer1-gif/hermes-core-skills/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) for details. If you use this project in your work: ``` @software{hermes_core_skills, author = {Lam, Chris}, title = {Hermes Core Skills}, year = {2026}, url = {https://github.com/chrislamlayer1-gif/hermes-core-skills}, note = {25 executable AI agent skills for debugging, planning, token efficiency, and security. MIT licensed.} } ``` Found a security vulnerability? Please review our [Security Policy](/chrislamlayer1-gif/hermes-core-skills/blob/main/SECURITY.md) for responsible disclosure. MIT — Use freely, contribute back when you can.