Mastering AI Agents and System Design with Hermes Agent Kanban Board

Overview

This comprehensive course will guide you through the principles and practices of AI Agents and System Design using the Hermes Agent Kanban Board. You will learn how to create a robust and efficient system that can handle complex tasks and workflows, and how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes. By the end of this course, you will have a deep understanding of the core concepts, processes, and tools involved in AI Agents and System Design, and be able to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Background & Context

The Hermes Agent Kanban Board is a tool designed to help teams and individuals manage complex tasks and workflows in a more efficient and effective way. It was created by Tony Simons, a renowned expert in AI Agents and System Design, who recognized the need for a more robust and scalable solution to handle the increasing complexity of modern projects. The Hermes Agent Kanban Board is based on the principles of Kanban, a visual system for managing work, and uses a combination of boards, tasks, and workflows to enable teams to collaborate and manage their work in a more streamlined way.

Core Concepts

The Context Window Isn't A Manager

The context window is not a manager, but rather a box with limits that helps to contain and manage the complexity of a project. It is not a substitute for a manager, but rather a tool that can help to facilitate communication and collaboration among team members. A manager is responsible for making decisions and providing guidance, whereas the context window is a tool that helps to provide context and structure to a project.

One Agent Is The Wrong Unit

One agent is not the right unit of work, as it can lead to a situation where a single task or agent is responsible for an entire project. This can result in a lack of scalability and flexibility, as well as a high risk of failure. Instead, a team of agents working together can provide a more robust and scalable solution to complex problems.

Small Contracts Beat Giant Prompts

Small contracts are more effective than giant prompts, as they provide a clear and specific set of instructions that can be easily understood and executed. Giant prompts, on the other hand, can be vague and open-ended, leading to confusion and miscommunication. By breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable contracts, teams can ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

Receipts Beat BS Vibes

Receipts are more effective than BS vibes, as they provide a clear and tangible record of what has been done. BS vibes, on the other hand, can be vague and subjective, leading to confusion and miscommunication. By using receipts to track progress and provide feedback, teams can ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal.

How It Works / Step-by-Step

Building The Board

To build a Hermes Agent Kanban Board, you need to start with the dumbest useful setup. This means creating a basic board with the minimum number of fields and workflows necessary to get started. You can then add more fields and workflows as needed to support the complexity of your project.

Creating Tasks

To create a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board, you need to use the hermes kanban create command. This command allows you to specify the task title, assignee, workspace, and other details. You can also use the --json flag to output the task ID in JSON format.

Claiming Tasks

To claim a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board, you need to use the hermes kanban claim command. This command allows you to specify the task ID and a TTL (time to live) value. The TTL value determines how long the task will be claimed for, and can be used to prevent the task from being claimed by another agent.

Blocking Tasks

To block a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board, you need to use the hermes kanban block command. This command allows you to specify the task ID and a reason for blocking the task. The reason can be used to provide context and feedback to the agent who is blocked.

Scheduling Tasks

To schedule a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board, you need to use the hermes kanban schedule command. This command allows you to specify the task ID and a schedule value. The schedule value determines when the task will be executed, and can be used to provide a clear and specific timeline for the task.

Promoting Tasks

To promote a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board, you need to use the hermes kanban promote command. This command allows you to specify the task ID and a reason for promoting the task. The reason can be used to provide context and feedback to the agent who is promoting the task.

Completing Tasks

To complete a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board, you need to use the hermes kanban complete command. This command allows you to specify the task ID and a summary value. The summary value provides a clear and concise description of the task's completion, and can be used to provide feedback and context to the agent who completed the task.

Real-World Examples & Use Cases

Example 1: Surveying Source Notes

To survey source notes, you can create a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban create command. You can then use the --assignee flag to specify the agent responsible for the task, and the --workspace flag to specify the workspace where the task will be executed.

Example 2: Drafting an Article

To draft an article, you can create a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban create command. You can then use the --parent flag to specify the parent task that the article will be based on, and the --workspace flag to specify the workspace where the task will be executed.

Example 3: Reviewing an Article

To review an article, you can create a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban create command. You can then use the --parent flag to specify the parent task that the article will be based on, and the --workspace flag to specify the workspace where the task will be executed.

Key Insights & Takeaways

Use the Hermes Agent Kanban Board to manage complex tasks and workflows.
Break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable contracts.
Use receipts to track progress and provide feedback.
Use the hermes kanban create command to create tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Use the hermes kanban claim command to claim tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Use the hermes kanban block command to block tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Use the hermes kanban schedule command to schedule tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Use the hermes kanban promote command to promote tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Use the hermes kanban complete command to complete tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.

Common Pitfalls / What to Watch Out For

Don't use one agent as the wrong unit of work.
Don't use giant prompts instead of small contracts.
Don't rely on BS vibes instead of receipts.
Don't forget to use the hermes kanban create command to create tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Don't forget to use the hermes kanban claim command to claim tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Don't forget to use the hermes kanban block command to block tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Don't forget to use the hermes kanban schedule command to schedule tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Don't forget to use the hermes kanban promote command to promote tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Don't forget to use the hermes kanban complete command to complete tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.

Review Questions

What is the Hermes Agent Kanban Board, and how does it differ from other project management tools?
How do you create a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban create command?
How do you claim a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban claim command?
How do you block a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban block command?
How do you schedule a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban schedule command?
How do you promote a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban promote command?
How do you complete a task on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board using the hermes kanban complete command?
What are some common pitfalls to watch out for when using the Hermes Agent Kanban Board?

Further Learning

Learn more about the principles of Kanban and how they can be applied to project management.
Learn more about the Hermes Agent Kanban Board and its features and functionality.
Learn more about how to use the hermes kanban create command to create tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Learn more about how to use the hermes kanban claim command to claim tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Learn more about how to use the hermes kanban block command to block tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Learn more about how to use the hermes kanban schedule command to schedule tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Learn more about how to use the hermes kanban promote command to promote tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.
Learn more about how to use the hermes kanban complete command to complete tasks on the Hermes Agent Kanban Board.

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