Installation guide

Install Penny for Hermes

Use your Penny core memories and private notes in Hermes, with automatic recall and tools for selected saves.

Instructions checked October 11, 2026

Install the Helper Labs connector

In your terminal, run:

hermes plugins install HelperLabs/penny-hermes --enable

Review the plugin permissions. This connector has no third-party Python dependencies.

Connect your Penny account

PENNY_PROFILE="${HERMES_HOME:-$HOME/.hermes}"
python "$PENNY_PROFILE/plugins/penny/penny_auth.py" login --home "$PENNY_PROFILE"

Open the link printed by the command, sign in to Penny and approve Penny for Hermes. The local callback expires after three minutes. For a named Hermes profile, use that profile’s directory instead and run Hermes in the same profile. Each profile needs its own authorization.

Select Penny and start a conversation

Merge this into the active profile’s config.yaml:

memory:
  provider: penny

Start a new local Hermes conversation. Hermes selects one external memory provider at a time; this replaces the previous external provider for that profile. Hermes still manages its built-in memory.

Verify and review what is shared

Search Penny for the exact phrase "Penny connection check 7c98e2". An empty result is fine. Do not save or change anything.

Approve the penny_search call under your usual Hermes settings. A tool result, including an empty one, confirms a working read. The agent can use penny_profile for core memory and penny_remember for selected notes.

Automatic recall sends up to the first 4,000 characters of a nontrivial local prompt to Penny as a search query. Retrieved memory enters the agent’s context. Saves send the selected note; the connector does not upload raw transcripts or files. Cron, subagent, flush and messaging gateway requests for private memory are refused.

Disconnect or remove

Remove this profile’s local credential before uninstalling:

PENNY_PROFILE="${HERMES_HOME:-$HOME/.hermes}"
python "$PENNY_PROFILE/plugins/penny/penny_auth.py" logout --home "$PENNY_PROFILE"
hermes plugins remove penny

Separately revoke Penny for Hermes in Penny Settings → Connections to end server access. Local logout and plugin removal do not revoke the remote grant. You can select another memory provider afterward.

Having trouble?

If login times out, rerun it from the terminal. Check the active profile and its memory.provider setting if tools are missing. Reauthorize in that profile after changing Penny accounts. Use Hermes’ plugin manager for reviewed updates.

Release instructions and limitations. For help, use Settings → Support or email support@mypenny.ai. Keep tokens, private memories and unredacted logs out of support messages.

Keep these instructions handy

Open this guide in your Penny dashboard · Read as Markdown

Need help with your connection? Email support@mypenny.ai. Keep passwords, tokens and private notes out of support messages.