# How to teach Hermes Agent your knowledge Teach Hermes Agent your preferences and instructions through its [curated memory](https://www.knowman.io/guides/hermes-memory), mainly `USER.md` for personal details and `MEMORY.md` for environment facts, conventions, and lessons. Hermes can also search past conversations with `session_search`. KnowMan can hold saved reference material, but adding it to Hermes requires a documented [Hermes setup](https://www.knowman.io/integrations/hermes). ## Choose what Hermes should remember Hermes has bounded, curated [memory that persists across sessions](https://www.knowman.io/guides/persistent-memory-for-ai-agents). It can retain preferences, projects, environment facts, and lessons, according to the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). ## Teach Hermes your preferences Use `USER.md` for identity, preferences, communication style, and workflow habits. Hermes stores this profile in `~/.hermes/memories/` and loads it into the [system prompt](https://www.knowman.io/guides/give-your-ai-context) at the start of a session, as explained in the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). ## Teach Hermes your rules and project context Use `MEMORY.md` for environment facts, project conventions, tool workarounds, and lessons learned. The documented examples also include corrections and completed work. Both files load as a frozen snapshot at session start, so changes made during a session appear in the prompt only after the next session starts, according to the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). ## Manage and review what Hermes learns Hermes can add, replace, or remove memory entries through its `memory` tool. The `/journey` view lets users inspect, edit, or delete memory chunks and saved skills. You can also enable `memory.write_approval: true`, then review pending writes with `/memory pending`, `/memory approve `, and `/memory reject `, as shown in the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). ## Keep important memory concise Hermes limits `MEMORY.md` to 2,200 characters and `USER.md` to 1,375 characters. Memory does not auto-compact, so an over-limit write returns an error. The guide recommends consolidating entries when usage passes 80 percent. See the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md) for the limits. ## Search earlier conversations Hermes can search past conversations with `session_search`. It retrieves actual messages from SQLite without LLM summarization or truncation, according to the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). This search covers stored conversations rather than a separate saved-reference library. ## Keep saved references in KnowMan KnowMan saves articles and links, reads and tags them, [answers questions](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-knowledge-base) with citations, and keeps claims, decisions, and playbooks. It also provides a local stdio MCP server with tools for searching [saved items](https://www.knowman.io/guides/how-to-save-articles), reading an item, asking questions, and saving URLs. See the [KnowMan MCP guide](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base). ## Questions ### Where should I put my personal preferences? Put identity, preferences, communication style, and workflow habits in `USER.md`. Hermes loads this file into the system prompt at session start. See the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). ### Where should I put my project rules? Put environment facts, project conventions, tool workarounds, and lessons in `MEMORY.md`. Changes are persisted during a session but enter the system prompt only at the next session start. See the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). ### Can I search my earlier Hermes conversations? Yes. Hermes provides `session_search` for retrieving actual messages from stored conversations without LLM summarization or truncation. See the [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md). ### Does Hermes change memory during a chat? Yes. Its `memory` tool can add, replace, or remove entries, but changes enter the system prompt only in the next session. The [Hermes memory documentation](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/main/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md) also explains how to require approval for writes. ## Related guides - [What Is a Knowledge Base for AI Agents?](https://www.knowman.io/guides/knowledge-base-for-ai-agents) - [Connect your knowledge base through KnowMan's MCP server](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base) - [What is a personal knowledge base, and how do you build one?](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-base) - [Persistent Memory for AI Agents](https://www.knowman.io/guides/persistent-memory-for-ai-agents) ## More in this topic - [How to teach JetBrains AI Assistant your knowledge](https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-jetbrains-your-knowledge) - [How to teach Kilo Code your knowledge](https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-kilo-code-your-knowledge) - [How to teach Kiro your knowledge](https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-kiro-your-knowledge) ## More for Hermes Agent - [KnowMan MCP server for Hermes Agent](https://www.knowman.io/integrations/hermes) - [How to give Hermes Agent better memory](https://www.knowman.io/guides/hermes-memory) ## Build a saved reference library Try KnowMan Pro for 14 days with no credit card. [Create your account](https://app.knowman.io/signup) [Start free](https://app.knowman.io/signup) Every new account starts with 14 days of Pro. No credit card. Source: https://www.knowman.io/guides/teach-hermes-your-knowledge