You Can Learn AI Agent Harness & Loop Engineering In 19 Min | LLM Ops, Eval, Tracing, RAG

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Finn for a full, screen-shared walkthrough of Hermes Desktop, the new desktop home for the Hermes AI agent. I open with a clear challenge: by the end, sell me on installing Hermes Desktop, show me real ways to make money and stay productive, and explain his move from OpenClaw. Alex tours every major surface — sessions, profiles, artifacts, skills, cron jobs, and sub-agents — and shares money-saving tactics at each step. We close on the idea that matters most to me: aiming these agents at other people's challenges as the clearest path to real value. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 04:04 – Sessions and Context Management 06:10 – Profiles Explained 08:49 – Model-Based vs Role-Based Profiles 12:58 – Artifacts as a Second Brain 14:32 – Why Alex Switched From OpenClaw 17:32 – Skills, Tools, and Tool Sets 19:19 – Messaging and Cron Setup 21:44 – Reverse Prompting and the Brain Dump 28:09 – Sub-Agents vs Profiles 32:12 – Putting It Together: Solving Challenges 32:38 – The Daily Business Opportunity Scan 37:05 – Local Models: Mac Studio vs DGX Spark 39:03 – Reframing Cost as Investment 41:59 – The Real Way to Make Money With Hermes 42:51 – Closing Thoughts Key Points * Hermes Desktop pulls sessions, profiles, artifacts, skills, and cron jobs into one polished, Apple-style interface. * Smart session and context management keeps each message slim and keeps monthly costs low. * Profiles map to different models — Opus 4.8 for strategy, ChatGPT 5.5 for coding, a local Qwen model for free research — so each task runs on its best fit. * Reverse prompting plus a personal brain dump produces far stronger prompts, cron jobs, and outputs. * Sub-agents handle one skill across many parallel tasks; profiles handle work where each step needs a distinct skill set. * The biggest opportunity: aim your agent at Reddit and X to surface real problems you are positioned to solve. Numbered Section Summaries 1. The Moment Hermes Overtook OpenClaw Alex shares his screen and calls Hermes Desktop the best AI agent experience available right now, framing the recent release as the moment Hermes pulled ahead. He compares the focused, polished Hermes updates to Apple and the broader OpenClaw approach to Android, and notes his switch came purely for the love of the game. 2. Sessions and Context Management Alex shows how each new chat opens its own session, keeping context clean and separated by topic. He explains that slim context keeps every message small, and small messages keep monthly bills modest — his top money-saving tip. 3. Profiles Mapped to Models Profiles are separate Hermes agents, each with its own skills, a soul.md personality, and its own memories. Alex organizes his by model — Opus 4.8 for high-level strategy, ChatGPT 5.5 for coding, and a local Qwen model for free, fast research — and picks the profile whose strengths match the task. 4. Artifacts as a Productized Second Brain Artifacts gathers every link, image, and file you send your agent into one searchable place. Alex drops links to his "Librarian" profile and lets Artifacts file them automatically, which turns the agent into a tidy, searchable second brain. 5. Skills, Tools, and the Cron Section Alex walks the Skills interface, where 150-plus skills ship out of the box and you keep only the ones you use to trim context and cost. He highlights tool sets as a fresh way to group skills together, and praises the Cron section for giving one-click confirmation that scheduled tasks truly exist. 6. Reverse Prompting and the Brain Dump My favorite tip from Alex: brain dump everything about yourself — interests, goals, skills — then ask the agent for the best prompt to use. He demos it live by building a morning brief, and the reverse prompt returns a detailed, well-formatted instruction that pulls fresh, real headlines, prices, and scores from the last 24 hours. 7. Sub-Agents vs Profiles Alex clarifies the difference: sub-agents are copies of your main agent that share its skills, ideal for running one skill across many parallel tasks, like building several features of a micro-SaaS at once. Profiles each carry distinct skill sets and memories, ideal when a job needs a researcher, a writer, and a designer working in sequence. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com/ LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: https://www.thevibemarketer.com/ FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND ALEX ON SOCIAL Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexFinnOfficial/videos X/Twitter: https://x.com/AlexFinnX Creator Buddy: https://www.creatorbuddy.io/

Learn to use Anthropic's Claude Agent SDK (formerly Claude Code SDK) for AI-powered development workflows! https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/overview https://x.com/trq212 **AI Summary** This workshop by Thariq Shihipar (Anthropic) details the architecture and implementation of the **Claude Agent SDK**. The session moves from high-level theory—defining "agents" as autonomous systems that manage their own context and trajectory—to a live-coding demonstration. Shihipar builds an agent "Harness" from scratch, implementing the core **Agent Loop** (Context Thought Action Observation), integrating the **Bash tool** for general computer use, and demonstrating **Context Engineering** via the file system to maintain state across long tasks. **Timestamps** 00:00 Introduction: Agenda and the "Agent" definition 05:15 The "Harness" concept: Tools, Prompts, and Skills 10:10 Live Coding Setup: Initializing the Agent class and environment 15:45 implementing the "Think" step: Getting the model to reason before acting 25:20 The Agent Loop: connecting `act`, `observe`, and `loop` 33:10 Tool Execution: Handling XML parsing and tool inputs 42:00 The "Bash" Tool: Giving the agent command line access 49:30 Safety & Permissions: "ReadOnly" vs "ReadWrite" file access 58:15 Context Engineering: Using `ls` and `cat` to build dynamic context 01:05:00 The "Monitor": Viewing the agent's thought process in real-time 01:12:45 Handling "Stuck" States: Feedback loops and error correction 01:21:20 Multi-turn Complex Tasks: Building a "Research Agent" demo 01:35:10 Refactoring patterns: "Hooks" and deterministic overrides 01:48:39 Q&A: Reproducibility, helper scripts, and non-determinism 01:50:31 Q&A: Strategies for massive codebases (50M+ lines) 01:52:00 Closing remarks and future SDK roadmap * **Evolution of AI Capabilities:** Shihipar argues we are shifting from **LLM Features** (categorization, single turn) to **Workflows** (structured, multi-step chains like RAG) to **Agents**. He defines agents as systems that *"build their own context, decide their own trajectories, and work very autonomously"* rather than following a rigid pipeline. * **The Claude Agent SDK Architecture:** The SDK is built directly on top of **Claude Code** because Anthropic found they were *"rebuilding the same parts over and over again"* for internal tools. * **The Harness:** A robust agent requires more than just a model; it needs a "Harness" containing Tools, Prompts, a **File System**, Skills, Sub-agents, and Memory. * **Opinionated Design:** The SDK bakes in lessons from deploying Claude Code, specifically the "opinion" that general computer use (Bash) is often superior to bespoke tools. * **The Power of the Bash Tool:** A key technical insight is that the **Bash tool** is often the most powerful tool for an agent. Instead of building custom tools for every action (e.g., a specific API wrapper for a file conversion), giving the agent access to the shell allows it to use existing software (like `ffmpeg`, `grep`, or `git`) to solve problems flexibly, similar to how a human developer works. * **Context Engineering:** Shihipar introduces the concept of **Context Engineering** via the file system. Instead of just "Prompt Engineering," the agent uses the file system to manage its state and context. * **Files as Memory:** The agent can write to files to "remember" things or create its own documentation (e.g., `CLAUDE.md`) to ground future actions. * **Verification:** The file system serves as a ground truth for the agent to verify its work (e.g., checking if a file was actually created). * **The Agent Loop & Intuition:** Building a successful agent loop is described as *"kind of an art or intuition"*. The loop generally follows a **Gather Context Take Action Verify Work** cycle. Shihipar emphasizes that this loop allows the agent to self-correct, a capability missing from rigid workflows. * **Strategies for Determinism (Hooks):** During the Q&A, a technique for controlling agent behavior is discussed: **Hooks**. * If an agent hallucinates or skips a step (e.g., guessing a Pokemon stat instead of checking a script), a hook can intercept the response and inject feedback: *"Please make sure you write a script, please make sure you read this data."* * This enforces rules like "read before you write" without retraining the model. * **Scaling to Large Codebases:** For massive codebases (50M+ lines), standard tools like `grep` or basic context window stuffing fail. * **Semantic Search Limitations:** Shihipar notes that while semantic search is a common solution, it is *"brittle"* because the model isn't trained on the specific semantic index. * **Solution:** He recommends good **"Claude MD"** files (context files) and starting the agent in a specific subdirectory to limit scope, rather than trying to index the entire 50M lines at once.

💻 Source Code: https://cwa.run/nodebase 🎨 Free Assets: https://cwa.run/node-assets 🎥 Part 2: https://youtu.be/S-4DrLHtL1s?si=n4a7jM4FUWf9NN32 📚 Resources: Try Inngest: https://cwa.run/node-inngest Try Polar: https://cwa.run/node-polar Try Better Auth: https://cwa.run/node-auth Try Sentry: https://cwa.run/sentry Try CodeRabbit: https://cwa.run/node-rabbit Try Neon: https://cwa.run/node-neon In this tutorial, we're building Nodebase, a complete workflow automation platform from scratch. You'll learn how to create a visual drag-and-drop canvas for building workflows, integrate multiple triggers and AI providers, handle background job execution, and build a full SaaS business layer with authentication, subscriptions, and paywalls. We'll also cover error tracking with AI monitoring and a professional Git workflow with AI-powered code reviews. Key features: 🔄 Visual workflow builder 🎯 Trigger nodes (Webhook, Google Form, Stripe, Manual) 🤖 AI integrations (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) 💬 Messaging nodes (Discord, Slack) 🌐 HTTP request node ⚡ Background job execution with Inngest 💳 Polar payments & subscriptions 🔐 Better Auth authentication 🎨 React Flow canvas 🗄️ Prisma ORM + Neon Postgres 🔒 Type safety with TypeScript + tRPC 🐛 Sentry error tracking + AI monitoring 🧑‍💻 CodeRabbit PR reviews 🌐 Next.js 15 App Router 📱 Production-ready SaaS Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:05 01 Setup 29:33 02 Database 56:15 03 tRPC Setup 01:35:21 04 Authentication 02:37:24 05 Theme & Styling 02:55:05 06 Background Jobs 03:28:09 07 AI Providers 04:01:53 08 Error Tracking 04:27:54 09 Sidebar Layout 05:06:26 10 Payments Setup 05:44:04 11 Workflows Crud 06:45:20 12 Workflows Pagination 07:34:34 13 Workflows UI 08:23:40 14 Workflow Page 08:59:36 15 Editor Setup 09:50:42 16 Node Selector 10:40:32 17 Editor State 11:59:20 End of Part 1

Visit sintra.ai/leonvanzyl or use my promo code leonvanzyl at checkout to receive limited time offer of 72% off on all plans 🚀 Free resources: source code, prompts, workflows + peer discussion https://skool.com/leonvanzyl 🧪 Agentic Labs: AI coding courses, live Q&A, weekly builder challenges, direct access to me + a serious builder community https://skool.com/agentic-labs OpenCode is the open source coding agent that is quickly becoming a serious alternative to Claude Code. In this opencode tutorial, you will learn how to install OpenCode, connect free AI models through OpenCode Zen or premium providers like OpenAI, and master advanced features including agent skills, sub agents, MCP servers, and background agents. ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 - OpenCode intro and overview 00:39 - Installing OpenCode in seconds 01:25 - Connecting providers and OpenCode Zen 02:20 - Free AI coding models walkthrough 03:46 - Scaffolding a Next js project 04:55 - Subscriptions vs API keys 06:00 - Connecting OpenAI and GPT 5 07:30 - Installing agent skills from skills sh 10:30 - AGENTS md memory file setup 13:00 - Sub agents and context window protection 15:30 - Design system for consistent UI 15:50 - Sponsor message 18:00 - Building the AI Project Planner app 22:30 - Saving plans for future sessions 24:30 - Creating custom sub agents 28:30 - Playwright MCP server setup 30:30 - Auto testing the app with browser MCP Business & sponsorship enquiries: leon.vanzyl@gmail.com #opencode #agenticcoding

Learn DevOps fast in this crash course covering Git & GitHub, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, Kubernetes, IaC, and API deployment. Everything you need to automate dev and deployment. ⭐ Join JS Mastery Pro: https://jsm.dev/dops25-jsm 💎 Become a Top 1% Next.js Developer: https://jsm.dev/dops25-nextjs Use your promo code JAVA to get the Warp Pro plan for only $1, available for a limited time thanks to my friends at Warp! Warp: https://jsm.dev/dops25-warp Arcjet: https://jsm.dev/dops25-arcjet Neon: https://jsm.dev/dops25-neon 📁 FREE Video Kit (Code, Figma, Assets, Etc.): https://jsm.dev/dops25-kit 📙 Git & GitHub Course: https://jsm.dev/dops25-git 📘 Docker Course: https://jsm.dev/dops25-docker 👉 Next.js Testing Pro Course Waitlist: https://jsm.dev/dops25-testpro 👉 Backend Pro Course Waitlist: https://jsm.dev/dops25-backpro 👉 Tailwind Pro Course Waitlist: https://jsm.dev/dops25-twpro 👉 React.js Pro Course Waitlist: https://jsm.dev/dops25-reactpro 👉 React Native Pro Course Waitlist: https://jsm.dev/dops25-rnpro Rate us on TrustPilot: https://jsm.dev/trustpilot https://discord.com/invite/n6EdbFJ https://twitter.com/jsmasterypro https://instagram.com/javascriptmastery https://linkedin.com/company/javascriptmastery Business Inquiries: contact@jsmastery.pro Time Stamps: 00:00:00 — Introduction 00:06:04 — Introduction to DevOps 00:09:45 — What is DevOps 00:20:41 — What You Need to Learn in DevOps 00:25:42 — Version Control (Git & GitHub) 00:50:33 — CI/CD Pipelines 00:55:06 — Build Your First Pipeline 01:03:21 — Docker 01:55:39 — Kubernetes 02:03:35 — Kubernetes Demo 02:26:34 — Infrastructure as Code (IaC) 02:29:37 — More on DevOps Build & Deploy an API 02:30:49 — Setup 02:41:44 — ESLint Prettier 02:46:09 — Database Setup 02:54:18 — Logger & Middleware 03:05:15 — Authentication I 03:35:56 — Warp Setup 03:47:53 — Security Middleware 04:03:11 — Dockerization 04:21:49 — User CRUD 04:38:50 — Testing 04:48:35 — Next Steps

🚀 Spin up your own Hermes agent on a Hostinger VPS: https://hostinger.com/networkchuckhermes Use code NETWORKCHUCK at checkout for a discount on your server. Hermes is the open-source AI agent from Nous Research that actually grows with you — and after a month of daily use, I'm switching to it from OpenClaw. In this video, I install Hermes on a $5 cloud server, turn it into an IT agent named Ron Weasley, and walk through the 5 reasons I made the switch: the vibe, the memory, the team behind it, self-improving skills, and the fact that it just doesn't break. In this video, you'll learn how to install Hermes on a Hostinger VPS, connect it to your phone with Telegram, pick your AI model (use your existing ChatGPT or Grok subscription), give your agent persistent memory, and watch it write its own skills while it works. Whether you're an AI enthusiast drowning in agent options or a homelabber who wants a self-hosted assistant, this takes you from a blank $5 server to your own Hermes agent doing real work — and yes, you can run it right alongside OpenClaw. 🔥 Want the deep dive? The FULL unedited interview with Nous Research co-founder Jeff Quesnelle — plus the complete Hermes course Jeremy Cioara and I are building — is on NetworkChuck Academy: https://ntck.co/hermes RESOURCES / LINKS: 🌐 Hermes Agent: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/ 💻 Hermes Agent on GitHub: https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent 🌐 Nous Research: https://nousresearch.com/ 🛠️ Honcho (the memory layer, by Plastic Labs): https://honcho.dev/ 🛠️ Twingate (remote access into your network): https://www.twingate.com/ 🛠️ Home Assistant: https://www.home-assistant.io/ 🛠️ UniFi: https://ui.com/ 📺 My Perplexity Computer video: https://youtu.be/G3jvn7n-68Y 📺 systemd & Linux daemons explained (Linux for Hackers EP 6): https://youtu.be/wOWhfNB_r-0 TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Why I'm switching from OpenClaw to Hermes 2:22 - Installing Hermes on a Hostinger VPS 5:36 - Choosing your AI model + Telegram setup 9:46 - How Hermes memory actually works 12:51 - Memory size limits and the 10-turn nudge 14:43 - Honcho: long-term memory for your agent 17:01 - Hermes existed before OpenClaw 19:20 - Agents that write their own skills 22:20 - The Curator and the self-improvement loop 24:03 - Live demo: Home Assistant + UniFi 26:16 - Why Hermes doesn't break like OpenClaw 29:23 - Kanban, dashboards & computer use 30:57 - A prayer for you FEATURING: 👤 Jeff Quesnelle — Co-founder, Nous Research (the interview): https://x.com/theemozilla THE TEAM BEHIND HERMES — NOUS RESEARCH: 🌐 Nous Research: https://x.com/NousResearch 👤 Teknium — Co-founder & Head of Post-Training: https://x.com/Teknium1 👤 Karan Malhotra — Co-founder & Head of Behavior: https://x.com/karan4d 👤 Bowen Peng — Co-founder, YaRN co-author: https://x.com/bloc97_ 🧙 RON WEASLEY — THE BACKSTORY (the persona I gave my agent): You are Ron Weasley, all grown up. You graduated Hogwarts a while back, and instead of going into Auror work like everyone expected, you took up something nobody saw coming — Muggle Information Technology. The magical study of the systems Muggles use to run their entire world. You did it for your dad. Arthur Weasley spent his whole life fascinated by Muggle tech — plugs, batteries, rubber ducks, the lot — but he never had the time to really learn how any of it actually worked. So once you were old enough, you decided one of Arthur's kids was going to figure this stuff out properly. That was you. Dad would've absolutely loved this. You're not the brightest wizard who ever lived — you'll be the first to admit that — but you read the manuals now. You apply yourself. You ask sensible questions instead of trying to wing it. Bit of a personal redemption arc, if you're being honest. (The full system prompt — Ron's spell vocabulary and safety rules — is in the Hermes course on NetworkChuck Academy.) **Sponsored by Hostinger SUPPORT NETWORKCHUCK: ☕☕ COFFEE and MERCH: https://ntck.co/coffee READY TO LEARN?? 🔥🔥Join the NetworkChuck Academy!: https://ntck.co/NCAcademy 📚 CCNA Course: https://ntck.co/ccna FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/networkchuck/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/networkchuck Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NetworkChuck/ Join the Discord server: https://ntck.co/discord Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. #hermes #aiagents #networkchuck