# Alan's Way Plugin: Computer Use: Hermes Agent plugin

> Computer-use provider for Hermes: the stock computer_use tool drives desktop apps on the user's computer through the Alan's Workspace app, and on the VM's own desktop when the computer is offline.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins/alans-way-computer  
Tier: Community  
Official page (Nous Research): https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/alans-way-computer  
Last updated in catalog: 2026-10-24

Computer-use provider for Hermes: the stock computer_use tool drives desktop apps on the user's computer through the Alan's Workspace app, and on the VM's own desktop when the computer is offline. Needs the Alan's Way Plugin's workspace setup. Select it with computer_use.backend: alans-way-computer (the Alan's Way Plugin's setup.sh sets this when it installs the provider; in the catalog flow it prints the command).

## Good to know before installing

Starts the workspace router from the profile's mcp_servers.workspace_browser block (command and args from config.yaml, with a filtered environment plus HERMES_WORKSPACE_ALLOW_DESKTOP_ACTIONS=1, which lets this private router child serve desktop input) as a long-running node child per session. The filtered environment passes PATH, HOME, locale and OS basics, plus DISPLAY, XAUTHORITY and DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS so the router's VM-desktop fallback finds the X display and session bus, plus HERMES_HOME set to the bound profile's home, under which the router appends a content-free serving log to logs/workspace-router.log; no keys or tokens. It talks to the router over stdio (app lists, element trees, screenshots and input actions). The router reaches the user's computer over SSH on the user's tailnet and falls back to the VM's desktop, where it uses xdotool, a screenshot tool and the AT-SPI accessibility bus if they are installed (the provider installs none of them). On the user's Mac the provider can bring the target app to the front when the model asks for it (focus_app with raise_window, or an input action with delivery_mode foreground), and the Alan's Workspace host does so only aft

From the plugin's catalog listing.

## How to install

1. Install it. Hermes asks for any API keys it needs, then asks whether to turn it on.

```bash
hermes plugins install alans-way-computer
```

2. Said no? Turn it on later:

```bash
hermes plugins enable alans-way-computer
```

3. Restart Hermes so it loads the plugin.

Some plugins also need a sign-in or settings: see the official page. Memory plugins ask whether to become your memory provider instead. Steps follow the official plugins guide: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/plugins

## Facts

- Category: Everyday life & fun
- Maintained by: capthvnsen (Community)
- Needs: No API keys declared
- Works on: linux, macos
- Requires Hermes: `>=0.21.6`
- Version: 0.21.10
- In the catalog since: 2026-10-08, updated 2026-10-24

## Links

- [Full setup and settings (official page)](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/alans-way-computer)
- [Source code](https://github.com/capthvnsen/alans-way-agents/tree/23cce292c867a42ccf9853b99d798add028788f0/alans-way-computer)
- [All plugins](https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins.md)

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