Hermes Mod solves a niche problem that many CLI users face: how to customize the look and feel of terminal tools without wrestling with raw YAML files or cryptic config syntax. It provides a web-based visual editor for the Hermes CLI skin system, allowing you to generate and tweak terminal hero images and banner logos from text or uploaded images, rendered in multiple ASCII art styles compatible with your terminal.
visual customization for Hermes CLI skins with image-to-ascii rendering
At its core, Hermes Mod is a Node.js application that reads and writes YAML configuration files located under ~/.hermes/skins/ for skin definitions, and updates the active skin in ~/.hermes/config.yaml. The app offers a web interface where you can pick or create skins, generate hero images from text or PNG/JPG/GIF/WEBP uploads, and select rendering styles like braille characters, ASCII ramps, blocks, or dots.
The architecture is straightforward: a backend Node.js server handles reading and writing the YAML files, and serves the UI for editing. The UI itself is a web app (likely React-based though not explicitly stated) that lets you visually edit skin properties and preview the hero art in different styles. The rendering pipeline converts uploaded images into terminal-compatible ASCII art using different algorithms, supporting a range of terminal aesthetics that go beyond simple text banners.
Distribution is convenient: you can run it instantly with npx -y hermes-mod, bypassing any install prompts, or install it via Pinokio for a one-click desktop app experience. The app respects the HERMES_HOME environment variable if you want to customize where your Hermes configuration lives.
image-to-ascii hero art pipeline and yaml skin management
What distinguishes Hermes Mod is its support for multiple hero image rendering styles, including braille patterns, ASCII ramps, blocks, and dots. This variety lets users pick a style that best fits their terminal’s font and color capabilities. The image processing pipeline supports common image formats (PNG, JPG, GIF, WEBP) for uploads, which it then converts into monochrome or ANSI-compatible ASCII art representations.
The codebase likely uses popular Node.js libraries for YAML parsing and image manipulation, but the cleverness lies in integrating these steps into a seamless visual workflow for skin editing. Instead of editing YAML by hand, users get a live preview and easy controls for hero image style, width, and content.
One tradeoff is the limitation inherent in ASCII art rendering: the output is constrained by the resolution and color fidelity of terminal fonts. While styles like braille allow for higher detail density, they may not render well in all terminal environments or fonts. Also, the app depends on Node.js and npm for manual installs, which might be a barrier for some users compared to pure binary tools.
The YAML-based approach means skins are portable and versionable, but users need some familiarity with how Hermes skins work under the hood to fully leverage the tool. The app handles activation by updating a central config file, simplifying skin switching without manual file edits.
quick start
1. 1-Click Install
Find it on https://pinokio.co and 1-click install.
2. Run with npx
npx -y hermes-mod
The -y flag skips the install prompt and starts the published package immediately.
3. Manual Install
Go into app and run:
npm install
Then run:
npm start
How to use
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/52d911c3-6017-458c-92f6-c59f057c0528
- Install the app in Pinokio.
- Start the app.
- Open Skin Studio.
- Choose a built-in or custom skin.
- Generate a logo from text and upload a PNG, JPG, GIF, or WEBP image to create hero art. Optionally change the hero look style or width.
- Edit fields and click Save.
- Click Activate to set it as the current Hermes skin.
verdict
Hermes Mod is a practical and well-integrated tool for anyone who uses the Hermes CLI and wants a nicer way to customize skins without manual YAML editing. Its multi-style ASCII art hero generation is a neat feature that goes beyond typical text banners, offering real visual flair in terminal environments.
However, it’s not for everyone. If you’re not already invested in the Hermes ecosystem or if you prefer simpler CLI customization, this might be overkill. The Node.js dependency and image processing pipeline add some complexity and resource use compared to plain text config tweaks.
Overall, Hermes Mod strikes a fair balance between usability and functionality for terminal skin customization enthusiasts. It’s worth exploring if you want to jazz up your Hermes CLI experience with visual hero banners and skin management in a friendly UI.
→ GitHub Repo: cocktailpeanut/hermes-mod ⭐ 113 · JavaScript