hermes - 💡(How to fix) Fix Feature Request: Official Plugin API for TUI Status Bar Customization [1 comments, 2 participants]

Problem Statement

Currently, there is no supported or stable public API for plugins to customize the TUI status bar in Hermes Agent. Plugins that wish to display dynamic information (such as status indicators, icons, or custom text fragments) in the CLI status bar are forced to patch internal core files directly.

A specific example of this limitation is the "caveman" plugin, which injects a custom icon (🗿) into the status bar. To achieve this, the plugin currently requires direct modification of ~/.hermes/hermes-agent/cli.py. This approach is highly fragile because:

1. Update Breakage: Any update to the Hermes Agent core code will likely overwrite these patches, breaking the plugin's functionality.
2. Internal API Instability: Relying on internal implementation details (like specific variable names or rendering logic within cli.py) violates the principle of separation of concerns and makes plugin development risky.
3. Maintenance Overhead: Plugin maintainers must constantly track upstream changes to re-apply patches, discouraging community contributions.

Proposed Solution

Introduce a dedicated, documented plugin hook or method for status bar customization. This should be part of the official plugin lifecycle, allowing plugins to register fragments or update icons without touching core source files.

Suggested API designs:

• Option A (Fragment Registration):

  # In plugin initialization
  def on_load(self, agent):
      agent.cli.register_status_bar_fragment(
          id="caveman_status",
          content="🗿",
          priority=10
      )

• Option B (Direct Icon/State Update):

  # In plugin logic
  def update_status_icon(self, icon: str, intensity: float = 1.0):
      # Updates the specific fragment dynamically
      pass

The implementation should ensure thread safety and handle rendering conflicts if multiple plugins attempt to modify the same section of the bar.

Benefits

1. Stability: Plugins will survive core updates without modification.
2. Ecosystem Growth: Lowering the barrier to entry for plugin developers will encourage more creative integrations and community engagement.
3. Code Quality: Decouples plugin logic from core rendering logic, leading to cleaner and more maintainable codebases for both Hermes Agent and its plugins.

Technical Details

• Current Workaround: Direct file patching of cli.py (specifically modifying the status bar rendering loop or state variables).
• Why it is problematic: This bypasses the plugin system's encapsulation. It relies on internal implementation details that are subject to change without notice (e.g., refactoring of the cli module).
• Scope: The feature should focus on the CLI/TUI status bar. It does not necessarily need to support complex UI elements (like progress bars) immediately, but the API should be extensible for future enhancements.

Conclusion

Official support for status bar customization is a logical next step for Hermes Agent's plugin architecture. It transforms a "hacky" workaround into a first-class citizen feature, ensuring long-term compatibility and fostering a healthier plugin ecosystem.