01What Is Herda AI Coding Agents and How It Works

Herda AI coding agents is a free, open-source program that runs multiple AI coding agents in one place. It keeps your agents working in the background, so they don't stop when you close your laptop or lose your connection.

Herda is like a manager for your coding assistants. You can run several agents, like Claude, Codex, or Hermes, in separate tabs or windows. They can even talk to each other on the same project.

The tool labels each agent, so you can quickly see which one is stuck or waiting for you. It also saves your session, so after a restart, everything comes back just as you left it.

02Main Features of Herda You Should Know

  • Background running: Your agents keep working even when you close the laptop.
  • Multiple tabs and windows: Run different agents side by side, each in its own tab.
  • Agent interaction: One agent, like Hermes, can orchestrate and talk to other agents like Claude or Codex.
  • Session restore: After a laptop restart, Herda brings back your whole session.
  • Remote server support: Connect remote machines and see all agents in one combined list.
  • Plugin ecosystem: Add plugins like a Kanban board or a Claude Code multi-account manager.

Herda is super lightweight and works with everything you already use. It doesn't require heavy setup.

03How to Set Up Herda: Two Ways to Start

You can install Herda in two main ways. Pick the one that feels easiest for you.

  1. Go to Herda's GitHub page and follow the instructions there to set it up manually.
  2. Or, open your favorite coding agent (like G6 Astra) and ask it to set up Herda for you.
  3. If you use the agent way, also ask it to build Herda into your agent operating system (agent OS).
  4. Ask for example use cases based on your work, so the agent can give you personalized ideas.

Julian prefers the agent OS setup because it looks nicer and you can save presets. But you can also use Herda directly in the terminal.

04How to Use Herda in the Terminal and Agent OS

In the terminal, you'll see a list of agent integrations like Open Code, Keyla Code, Hermes, Coda CLI, Quend, Claude, and Codex. You can switch between them with a click.

To start, pick an agent from the dropdown, type a task like 'Can you come up with some SEO keywords for me?' and hit start agent. The agent runs inside Herda.

You can open multiple tabs for different agents. For example, type 'Claude' in tab two to open Claude, or 'Codex' in tab three. The terminal windows can interact with each other on the same project.

In the agent OS, you get presets like SEO, landing pages, or agent comparisons. You just tell it what you want to build, and it starts the right agent.

The terminal inside the agent OS is fully interactive, and you can customize how it looks and works.

05Results and Comparisons Shown in This Episode

Julian showed Herda running side by side with Codex and Hermes. He compared the terminal view with the agent OS view.

The terminal looks clean but can be intimidating for beginners. The agent OS looks nicer and lets you have presets for your common tasks.

He also mentioned that Herda reminds him of Orca, another tool that works in a similar way. He didn't show exact speed or performance numbers, but he stressed that Herda is super lightweight.

The plugins, like the Kanban board and the Claude Code multi-account manager, show how you can extend Herda to fit your workflow.

06Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid with Herda

  • Use the agent OS setup if you dislike the terminal. It's easier and more flexible.
  • Ask your AI agent to set up Herda for you so you don't have to memorize terminal commands.
  • Label your agents clearly so you know which one is which when you have many running.
  • Always ask for example use cases from your agent. It knows your work better than you think.
  • Don't worry about the terminal if you find it scary. The agent OS gives you a nicer interface.
  • Remember that Herda restores sessions after a restart, so you don't lose progress.

One limit is that the terminal version is not as pretty. Also, most people don't know how to use the terminal, so the agent OS is a better choice for them.

07Who Should Use Herda and Why It Matters

Herda is for anyone who runs several AI coding agents at once, especially on remote servers or VPS. If you manage multiple projects, it helps you keep everything in one place.

With Herda, you can close your laptop and the work continues. You can also see which agent is stuck without hunting through tabs.

It matters because it saves time and reduces confusion. Instead of opening separate terminals or windows, you get one list of everything running.

Even beginners can use it by letting an AI agent set it up for them. The free and open-source nature makes it accessible to everyone.