# Skill Retrieval: Hermes Agent plugin

> BM25-based skill retrieval for large skill libraries.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins/skill-retrieval  
Tier: Community  
Official page (Nous Research): https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/skill-retrieval  
Last updated in catalog: 2026-10-03

BM25-based skill retrieval for large skill libraries. An llm_request middleware rewrites the outgoing request's <available_skills> block to names only (the same bytes every turn, so prompt caching is unaffected), and a pre_llm_call hook appends the top-K matching skill descriptions to the current user message. Uses public plugin surfaces only (register_middleware, register_hook); reads SKILL.md frontmatter from the profile's skill roots and imports a few agent.prompt_builder / agent.skill_utils helpers read-only. pyyaml is the only dependency.

## Good to know before installing

Optional Jev rerank, off by default: with SKILL_RETRIEVAL_RERANK=jev and TYPESAFE_API_KEY set (read from the environment only), each turn POSTs the user message (injection patterns stripped, capped at 2000 chars) and up to 12 shortlisted skill descriptions (400 chars each) to api.typesafe.ai (3 s timeout, no retries, BM25 order kept on error), and appends a local JSONL log (timestamp, session id, 200-char query excerpt, both orders) under $HERMES_HOME/data/jev-trial/, rotated past 5 MB. With the rerank off it makes no network calls and writes no files.

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 skill-retrieval
```

2. Said no? Turn it on later:

```bash
hermes plugins enable skill-retrieval
```

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: Coding & developer tools
- Maintained by: moonlight-lupin (Community)
- Needs: No API keys declared
- Requires Hermes: `>=0.21.1`
- Version: 0.6.0
- In the catalog since: 2026-09-26, updated 2026-10-03

## Links

- [Full setup and settings (official page)](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/skill-retrieval)
- [Source code](https://github.com/moonlight-lupin/agent-skills)
- [All plugins](https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins.md)

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