hermes - 💡(How to fix) Fix [Bug]: skill_manage tool fails with "file_content is required" when agent mistakenly passes content instead of file_content

Bug Description

When the agent uses the skill_manage tool to perform a write_file action (to create or update supporting files in a skill directory), it sometimes gets confused by the schema and passes the file's text using the content argument instead of the file_content argument.

Because the Python backend strictly checks for file_content, it fails and blocks the agent from saving the file, resulting in lost auxiliary skill files.

Error Log json

WARNING agent.tool_executor: Tool skill_manage returned error (0.00s): {"error": "file_content is required for 'write_file'.", "success": false} Root Cause The OpenAI JSON schema for skill_manage is highly multiplexed. It has a content field (used for create/edit actions) and a file_content field (used for write_file). Because neither field is strictly enforced in the JSON schema's required array, the LLM will occasionally swap them.

In tools/skill_manager_tool.py, the skill_manage function strictly checks for file_content during a write_file action and throws an error if it's missing, without checking if the LLM provided the text in the content field instead.

Proposed Fix Make skill_manager_tool.py gracefully fall back to the other parameter if the required one is missing.

In tools/skill_manager_tool.py within the skill_manage function:

python

if action == "create":
    # Fallback to file_content if LLM gets confused
    content = content if content is not None else file_content
    if not content:
        return tool_error("content is required for 'create'. Provide the full SKILL.md text (frontmatter + body).", success=False)
    result = _create_skill(name, content, category)
elif action == "edit":
    # Fallback to file_content if LLM gets confused
    content = content if content is not None else file_content
    if not content:
        return tool_error("content is required for 'edit'. Provide the full updated SKILL.md text.", success=False)
    result = _edit_skill(name, content)
# ... [patch and delete logic remains unchanged] ...
elif action == "write_file":
    if not file_path:
        return tool_error("file_path is required for 'write_file'. Example: 'references/api-guide.md'", success=False)
    
    # Fallback to content if LLM gets confused
    file_content = file_content if file_content is not None else content
    if file_content is None:
        return tool_error("file_content is required for 'write_file'.", success=False)
    result = _write_file(name, file_path, file_content)

Feel free to copy this exactly as it is; it gives the Hermes developers everything they need to implement the fix!

Steps to Reproduce

teps to Reproduce Start a conversation with the Hermes agent. Ask the agent to create a new skill that requires a supporting file, or directly prompt the agent to execute a write_file action but specifically instruct it to use the content parameter instead of file_content to simulate the LLM's mistake. For example, you can tell the agent: "Please call the skill_manage tool with action="write_file", name="test-skill", file_path="scripts/test.py", and put the file's text in the content argument instead of file_content." Observe the tool execution failure in the terminal or logs: WARNING agent.tool_executor: Tool skill_manage returned error (0.00s): {"error": "file_content is required for 'write_file'.", "success": false}

Expected Behavior

Because content and file_content serve the exact same conceptual purpose (providing the text payload for the file being written/edited), the tool should be robust against the LLM mixing them up.

If the LLM provides content during a write_file action, the tool should gracefully use that text as the file content instead of failing. Similarly, if the LLM provides file_content during a create or edit action, it should gracefully use that text as the SKILL.md content. The action should succeed and the file should be saved correctly.

Actual Behavior

Observe the tool execution failure in the terminal or logs: WARNING agent.tool_executor: Tool skill_manage returned error (0.00s): {"error": "file_content is required for 'write_file'.", "success": false}

Affected Component

Gateway (Telegram/Discord/Slack/WhatsApp)

Messaging Platform (if gateway-related)

N/A (CLI only)

Debug Report

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  • System info (OS, Python version, Hermes version, provider, which API keys
    are configured — NOT the actual keys)
  • Recent log lines (agent.log, errors.log, gateway.log — may contain
    conversation fragments and file paths)
  • Full agent.log and gateway.log (up to 512 KB each — likely contains
    conversation content, tool outputs, and file paths)

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Operating System

windows

Python Version

3.11

Hermes Version

0.15

Additional Logs / Traceback (optional)

Root Cause Analysis (optional)

No response

Proposed Fix (optional)

No response

Are you willing to submit a PR for this?

• I'd like to fix this myself and submit a PR