# Iris Chat: Hermes Agent plugin

> Private messaging through the separately installed Iris CLI.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins/iris-chat  
Tier: Community  
Official page (Nous Research): https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/iris-chat  
Last updated in catalog: 2026-10-29

Private messaging through the separately installed Iris CLI. Instruction-only skill; uses a selected local identity and message history, connects to Nostr relays, and may run a persistent sync service.

## Good to know before installing

Instruction-only skill: the agent runs the separately installed iris CLI in the terminal, which creates a local messaging identity (secret keys and message history stored on disk), connects to Nostr relays and peers, can run a persistent sync service until stopped, and sends messages on the user's behalf; messages received from other people are read into the agent's context.

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 iris-chat
```

2. Said no? Turn it on later:

```bash
hermes plugins enable iris-chat
```

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: Chat apps & voice
- Maintained by: Sirius Business Ltd (Community)
- Needs: No API keys declared
- Version: 0.1.1
- In the catalog since: 2026-10-29

## Links

- [Full setup and settings (official page)](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/iris-chat)
- [Source code](https://github.com/irislib/iris-chat-rs/blob/43a1066894f1948adb3febc1e3a91a31ccccef14/plugins/iris-chat/README.md)
- [All plugins](https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins.md)

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