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CLI-Anything for Hermes

Free

Build and refine CLI harnesses using Hermes Agent.

by hkuds46.9k stars on hkuds/cli-anything
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Updated Aug 3, 2026
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Free · Opens the source repo

What CLI-Anything for Hermes does

The CLI-Anything for Hermes skill enables users to leverage the Hermes Agent to create, refine, test, and validate command-line interface (CLI) harnesses for GUI applications or source repositories. This skill adapts the CLI-Anything methodology specifically for the Hermes environment, ensuring that users can generate Python harnesses without altering the expected output format. This makes it a valuable tool for developers looking to integrate CLI functionality into their applications seamlessly.

When using this skill, users can start by providing either a local source path or a GitHub repository URL. The skill will derive the software name from the local directory or the repository, facilitating the creation of a structured harness. The generated harness includes essential components such as a README, setup.py, and a directory for CLI commands, tests, and utilities. This structure simplifies the process of building a robust CLI that can be easily installed and used.

In addition to building new harnesses, this skill also supports refining existing ones. Users can analyze current commands and tests, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. The focus is on enhancing the harness with high-impact features while preserving existing functionality unless a breaking change is explicitly requested. Testing is an integral part of the workflow, with provisions for both unit and end-to-end tests to ensure reliability and performance.

Overall, this skill is designed for developers and engineers who need to create or improve CLI tools within the Hermes ecosystem. It streamlines the harness development process, allowing for a more efficient and organized approach to CLI integration in Python applications.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need to build a new CLI harness or enhance an existing one using the Hermes Agent.

When not to use it

Avoid this skill if you're not working within the Hermes environment or if you require features outside the CLI-Anything methodology.

What you can build with it

Building a New CLI Harness

Use this skill to create a new CLI harness for a GUI application, ensuring a structured and organized output.

Refining an Existing CLI Tool

Leverage this skill to analyze and enhance an existing CLI harness by adding new features and improving command coverage.

Testing CLI Functionality

Employ this skill to write and execute tests for your CLI harness, ensuring that it performs as expected in various scenarios.

How to install CLI-Anything for Hermes

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add hkuds/cli-anything/hermes-skill --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by hkuds

CLI-Anything for Hermes Agent

Use this skill when the user wants Hermes Agent to act like the CLI-Anything builder.

Before implementation, use the full methodology source of truth when available:

  1. If this skill is being used from inside the CLI-Anything repository, read ../cli-anything-plugin/HARNESS.md first.
  2. If that local file is unavailable, clone or download cli-anything-plugin from https://github.com/HKUDS/CLI-Anything/tree/main/cli-anything-plugin, then use HARNESS.md and the resources around it from that folder.
  3. Only if both local and network retrieval fail, follow the condensed rules below.

Inputs

Accept either:

  • A local source path such as ./gimp or /path/to/software
  • A GitHub repository URL

Derive the software name from the local directory name after cloning if needed.

Hermes Tool Bindings

Hermes agents build harnesses by combining these built-in tools:

ToolRole in Harness Workflow
terminalRun shell commands, install packages, execute CLI tools, run tests
execute_codeGenerate and write Python files (Click CLI, backend modules, tests)
delegate_taskParallelize analysis or generation subtasks
read_file / write_fileRead and write harness source files
patchMake targeted edits to generated code

Consult the Hermes Agent documentation for the exact tool invocation syntax.

Modes

Build

Use when the user wants a new harness.

Produce this structure:

<software>/
└── agent-harness/
    ├── <SOFTWARE>.md
    ├── setup.py
    └── cli_anything/
        └── <software>/
            ├── README.md
            ├── __init__.py
            ├── __main__.py
            ├── <software>_cli.py
            ├── core/
            ├── utils/
            └── tests/

Implement a stateful Click CLI with:

  • one-shot subcommands
  • REPL mode as the default when no subcommand is given
  • --json machine-readable output
  • session state with undo/redo where the target software supports it

Refine

Use when the harness already exists.

First inventory current commands and tests, then do gap analysis against the target software. Prefer:

  • high-impact missing features
  • easy wrappers around existing backend APIs or CLIs
  • additions that compose well with existing commands

Do not remove existing commands unless the user explicitly asks for a breaking change.

Test

Plan tests before writing them. Keep both:

  • test_core.py for unit coverage
  • test_full_e2e.py for workflow and backend validation

When possible, test the installed command via subprocess using cli-anything-<software> rather than only module imports.

Validate

Check that the harness:

  • uses the cli_anything.<software> namespace package layout
  • has an installable setup.py entry point
  • supports JSON output
  • has a REPL default path
  • documents usage and tests

Backend Rules

Prefer the real software backend over reimplementation. Wrap the actual executable or scripting interface in utils/<software>_backend.py when possible. Use synthetic reimplementation only when the project explicitly requires it or no viable native backend exists.

Packaging Rules

  • Use find_namespace_packages(include=["cli_anything.*"])
  • Keep cli_anything/ as a namespace package without a top-level __init__.py
  • Expose cli-anything-<software> through console_scripts

Workflow

  1. Acquire the source tree locally (clone or use existing path).
  2. Analyze architecture, data model, existing CLIs, and GUI-to-API mappings.
  3. Design command groups and state model.
  4. Implement the harness.
  5. Write TEST.md, then tests, then run them.
  6. Update README usage docs.
  7. Verify local installation with pip install -e .

Existing Harnesses (Reference)

For an up-to-date list of supported harnesses and their backend patterns, see registry.json at the repository root.

Output Expectations

When reporting progress or final results, include:

  • target software and source path
  • files added or changed
  • validation commands run
  • open risks or backend limitations

Frequently asked questions about CLI-Anything for Hermes

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