# Glossary — community wiki

Zdroj: https://hermes-ai.cz/en/wiki/getting-started/glossary/
Ověřeno proti oficiální dokumentaci: 15. 10. 2026
Oficiální stránka: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs
Language: English. AI version — paste the whole text into your agent.

# Glossary (plain language)

## The basics
- Agent: a program you brief in plain language that carries work out itself (not just answering).
- Model (language model): the "brain" that understands text and decides; usually in a paid service.
- Model provider: the company you rent a model from.
- Key (API key): the secret identifying the agent at the provider; belongs in settings, not in texts.
- Token: a chunk of text usage is counted in (about 3/4 of a word).
- Context: how much text the model holds at once; a longer conversation must be trimmed or restarted.

## Talking to it
- Prompt: what you want, an ordinary sentence; specific prompts work better.
- Slash command: /new, /compress, /learn - direct control of the agent.
- Conversation (session): one continuous exchange with the agent.
- Evidence: what a claim rests on (command output, file contents); no evidence, no claim.

## What it can do
- Tool: a core ability (terminal, files, web, messages).
- Skill: a written procedure, read when needed.
- Plugin: a code extension of the agent (Python); skills are usually enough.
- Connection (MCP): linking to a service's ready-made interface; third-party code, trusted sources only.
- Gateway: the link to Telegram/Discord and the runner of scheduled jobs.
- Scheduled job (cron): a task the agent performs by itself on a schedule.

## Where it lives
- Server (VPS): an always-on computer; the agent's home.
- Terminal: the window for commands you paste and confirm with Enter.
- ~/.hermes/: the agent's home folder - conversations, memory, skills, settings, keys; this is what you back up.
- Repository (git): a folder with a history of changes.

## Safety and operation
- Approval: confirmation before a dangerous command.
- Allowlist: accounts allowed to control the agent.
- Pairing: the first safe contact with a new person over a direct message.
- Sandbox: a separated environment for work.
- Telemetry: usage data collection - Hermes Agent sends none.
- Backup: a copy of data for restoring (~/.hermes/ for the agent, the whole site for a website).