Hermes Agent runtime is now supported in Lobsterland
You can now pick Hermes Agent — the open-source agent from Nous Research — as the runtime when you create an instance. It runs as a fully managed, isolated, always-on agent right alongside OpenClaw: same dashboard, same chat channels, no servers to run.
TL;DR
- New runtime choice. When you create an instance, choose OpenClaw (default) or Hermes.
- Fully managed. Hermes runs in an isolated, always-on container — we handle the hosting, you just chat with it.
- Memory-first. Hermes keeps persistent memory across sessions and turns experience into reusable skills over time.
- OpenClaw is unchanged. It stays the default; nothing about existing instances changes.
What is Hermes Agent?
Hermes Agent is an open-source autonomous AI agent (MIT-licensed) built by Nous Research. Its defining trait is that it grows with you: it remembers what it learns across sessions, searches its own past conversations, and runs a built-in learning loop that creates and refines skills from real work instead of starting cold every time. It's a different philosophy from a stateless assistant — closer to a teammate that gets more useful the longer it runs.
That's a great fit for Lobsterland's whole point — a named crew that runs your operation while you're away — but self-hosting it still means standing up a server, keeping it online, and owning updates and security. Running Hermes as a managed Lobsterland instance removes that operating burden entirely.
What shipped
- Runtime picker at creation: the new-instance wizard now lets you select Hermes instead of OpenClaw.
- Managed, isolated hosting: each Hermes instance gets its own always-on container and persistent storage — the same isolation model as OpenClaw.
- Chat from where you already work: message your Hermes agent from the built-in dashboard chat or your connected chat channels.
- Persistent memory that survives restarts: Hermes keeps its learned context and skills on durable storage, so a restart doesn't reset the agent.
- Side-by-side with OpenClaw: run OpenClaw instances and Hermes instances under one account and one bill.
The runtime is fixed for an instance's lifetime — there's no in-place swap between OpenClaw and Hermes. This keeps each instance predictable and its workspace clean. To try Hermes, spin up a new instance and pick it in the wizard; your existing OpenClaw agents keep running exactly as they are.
OpenClaw or Hermes — which should you pick?
Both run managed and always-on. The difference is shape. OpenClaw is the broader operating platform — channels, hosted browser, multi-agent routing, cron, workspace file editing. Hermes is leaner and memory-first, built around an agent that learns and compounds over time — and it manages its own self-written skills right from the dashboard.
| If you want… | Pick |
|---|---|
| A broad platform: messaging channels, hosted browser, multi-agent routing, cron automation | OpenClaw |
| A lighter, memory-first agent that learns skills from experience and deepens over time | Hermes |
| To compare the two on real operating criteria before deciding | Read the deep-dive |
Hermes support is rolling out as a beta runtime. OpenClaw-specific surfaces — the hosted browser, multi-agent routing, cron, and workspace file editing — remain OpenClaw-only for now while we expand Hermes coverage. Built-in chat, connected chat channels, persistent memory, and dashboard skills management (the agent's own self-written skills, plus Hermes Hub installs) work on day one.
FAQ
Can I switch an existing OpenClaw instance to Hermes?
No. The runtime is chosen once, at creation, and is fixed for that instance's lifetime. Create a new instance and pick Hermes to try it; your OpenClaw instances are untouched.
Is OpenClaw going away?
No. OpenClaw stays the default runtime and is completely unchanged. Hermes is simply an additional choice you can run side by side under the same account.
How do I reach a Hermes instance?
The same way you reach OpenClaw — message it from the built-in dashboard chat or your connected chat channels. It's always-on and isolated, so there's nothing to keep running on your own machine.