01What Is Hermes Agent Blank Slate?

Hermes Agent Blank Slate is a new setup mode that lets you build your AI agent from the ground up. Instead of booting with every tool switched on, it starts with only the bare minimum: the model, your files, and a terminal. You add only the capabilities you actually need.

This approach changes how you use Hermes. You get more control, faster performance, and a cleaner agent. The setup guides you to choose the right mode based on your system and goals.

Blank Slate is one of three options you now get during setup.

02Three Setup Options and What They Do

Hermes setup now offers three paths. Each one fits a different need.

  • Quick setup: Free OAuth login via a news portal. No API keys needed. You get a model plus gateway tools fast.
  • Full setup: Walk through every provider and tool yourself with your own API keys. More control and customization, but more steps.
  • Blank slate: Everything starts off except the bare minimum. You switch on the rest by hand.

Blank Slate is not weaker. It's cleaner. The same power is one command away whenever you need it.

03How to Set Up Blank Slate Mode

Setting up Blank Slate is simple. You just run one command in your terminal.

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Type Hermes setup and press Enter.
  3. Choose blank slate when the option appears.
  4. Create a new agent profile if you want a dedicated Blank Slate agent.
  5. Your choices get written down, so nothing else loads later.

You can also create a separate agent profile for Blank Slate. This lets you compare it side by side with a fully loaded profile.

04Using Blank Slate and Adding Tools Later

Once you have Blank Slate running, you can use it like any agent but with fewer tools. This makes it faster and more predictable. You can still talk to your agent, even by voice.

For example, saying "Hermes, open up Google" works instantly.

If you need a tool later, you are never stuck. Just run Hermes tools or Hermes skills in your terminal. For instance, Hermes skill opt in adds a skill when you want it.

You can turn any capability on with one command.

You can also manage settings, MCPs, and profiles inside the Hermes interface. This makes it easy to switch between profiles and compare performance.

05Blank Slate vs the Old Way

The old way booted every new agent with the full toolbox. It could browse, run code, touch memory, and more before you asked. System prompts were stuffed with tool definitions you might not use.

Every update could add new tools you didn't choose.

Blank Slate changes this. Your agent starts empty with just a model, files, and terminal. Twelve big capabilities start off until you switch them on.

Your choices are written down, so nothing else ever loads.

This makes your agent update proof. Even after Hermes updates, your agent stays the exact shape you made it. That's a big difference from tools like OpenClaw that got slower with each update.

06Benefits: Security, Tokens, and Predictability

Blank Slate gives you three clear benefits.

  • Smaller surface: Fewer tools mean fewer ways for the agent to do something you didn't want. This makes it more secure.
  • Less tokens: A lean agent carries a lean prompt. Less tool noise on every call saves tokens.
  • Predictable behavior: The agent only has the tools you gave it. No surprises each time you run it.

These benefits matter in production. If you run client setups, control beats convenience most of the time. Blank Slate gives you that control.

07Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

Here are practical tips from the episode to get the most out of Blank Slate.

  • Use a separate agent profile for Blank Slate so you can compare it with a fully loaded profile.
  • For personal use, the normal setup is fine. You can explore all tools.
  • For client work or production, choose Blank Slate for more control.
  • Don't worry if you already set up the loaded way. You can switch off capabilities with Hermes tools command without starting over.
  • Remember that nothing you didn't pick ever loads, not even after updates.

Avoid thinking Blank Slate is weaker. It's just cleaner. You can add any tool whenever you need it.

08Who Should Use Blank Slate and Why It Matters

Blank Slate is for anyone who wants a fast, efficient, and controlled AI agent. It works for any business, model, or setup because you customize it exactly how you want.

It's especially useful for non-technical users. Many people set up Hermes on their first day without technical skills. You don't need to be a programmer.

In the episode, Julian Goldie shows how he uses Hermes for SEO, video agents, loop engineering, and agent Kanban. Blank Slate lets you build your own version of Hermes from scratch. That's why it matters: you get the power without the bloat.