Master the Hermes Agent Challenge: 8 Must-Know Details for $1,000 in Prizes

The Hermes Agent Challenge is your golden ticket to dive deep into one of the most promising open-source agentic systems out there. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a curious writer, this competition—running through May 31—offers a chance to build, learn, and share while competing for $1,000 in prizes. To help you navigate the contest, we've broken down everything you need to know into eight essential points. From understanding what Hermes Agent can do to crafting a winning submission, this guide covers it all. Let's explore what it takes to succeed and how you can make the most of this opportunity.

1. What Is Hermes Agent?

Hermes Agent is an open-source system designed to run on your own infrastructure, giving you full control over your AI workflows. Unlike closed alternatives, it emphasizes transparency and flexibility. At its core, Hermes Agent excels at planning, tool use, and multi-step reasoning—meaning it can break down complex tasks into actionable steps, integrate with external APIs, and reason through problems logically. It's been quietly gaining attention in the AI community for its reliability and adaptability. Whether you're automating research, building a productivity assistant, or experimenting with agentic behaviors, this framework provides a solid foundation. Understanding its capabilities is the first step to crafting a standout submission in the challenge.

2. The Challenge at a Glance

The Hermes Agent Challenge runs until May 31 and invites participants to engage with the system in two distinct ways: building a project or writing about it. The competition is designed to appeal to both technical builders and thoughtful communicators. With $1,000 in prizes up for grabs—distributed among eight winners—the stakes are high but approachable. You don't need to be an expert to enter; the challenge encourages experimentation and fresh perspectives. The only rule? Your submission must feature Hermes Agent in a meaningful role. This could mean using it as the engine for a tool you create or as the subject of an insightful article.

3. Build With Hermes Agent: What to Create

If you love coding, the "Build With Hermes Agent" prompt is your playground. You're free to construct anything from an automated research pipeline to a multi-tool productivity assistant or a creative agentic experiment. The key is that Hermes Agent must be doing real work at the heart of your project—not just a cameo. Strong submissions demonstrate effective use of the system's planning and tool-use abilities, clean code, and genuine originality. Think about a problem you face daily and how an agentic solution could solve it. Then prototype, test, and share your creation with the community. Use the provided submission template to structure your entry.

4. Write About Hermes Agent: Share Your Insights

Prefer words over code? The "Write About Hermes Agent" prompt lets you publish a post that educates, inspires, or sparks discussion. You can write a how-to guide for setting it up locally, a comparison with other frameworks, a personal essay on what open agentic systems mean for AI's future, or a deep technical breakdown of its reasoning capabilities. The goal is to offer something genuine and valuable—not just repackage documentation. Your article should have clarity, original insight, practical tips, and well-crafted writing. If you're primarily showcasing a project, submit to the Build prompt instead; each entry can only compete in one category.

5. Judging Criteria for Build Submissions

When evaluating build entries, the judges focus on four main areas. First, effective use of Hermes Agent's capabilities—does your project leverage planning, tool use, and multi-step reasoning? Second, technical implementation and code quality—is your code clean, well-documented, and scalable? Third, creativity and originality—does your project solve a problem in a novel way? Finally, usability and user experience—can others easily understand and interact with your creation? Aim to excel in each area. A polished demo or clear instructions can boost your score. Remember, the tool is the star, so make sure its role is central and well-integrated.

6. Judging Criteria for Write Submissions

For writing entries, judges prioritize different strengths. Clarity and depth of explanation matter most—can a reader new to agentic systems follow your argument? Next is originality of perspective or insight—avoid rehashing common talking points; bring something fresh. Practical value to the community is crucial—does your post help others build, learn, or decide? Finally, quality of writing—grammar, structure, and flow count. A personal tone or a bold opinion can work well if backed by reasoning. Whether you're explaining how Hermes Agent compares to LangChain or arguing for open-source AI governance, make your post actionable and engaging. Use the submission template to format your entry.

7. What You Can Win

Eight winners will be selected—four from each prompt. Each winner receives $125 USD and a DEV++ membership, which unlocks premium features on the DEV community platform. That's a total of $1,000 in prize money distributed among the top entries. While the monetary reward is modest, the real value lies in recognition, networking, and the chance to showcase your skills to a growing audience. Plus, you'll have a polished project or article for your portfolio. The DEV++ membership adds ongoing value for active community members. Don't underestimate the boost that winning—or even being featured—can give your career.

8. How to Participate and Succeed

To enter, first get familiar with Hermes Agent by cloning the repository and running it locally. Experiment with its tool integration and reasoning. Then choose your prompt—Build or Write—and create your submission using the provided templates. Submit before May 31 via the DEV platform. For success, focus on meaningful incorporation of Hermes Agent: build something it powers uniquely, or write something only you can write. Engage with the community on social media or forums to get feedback early. Read the judging criteria carefully and tailor your work. Most importantly, have fun! The challenge is as much about learning as winning.

The Hermes Agent Challenge is more than a contest—it's a chance to shape how agentic tools are understood and used. Whether you build a clever automation or write a thought-provoking post, your contribution adds to the ecosystem. Don't let the deadline slip by. Start today, explore the possibilities, and maybe you'll be one of the eight winners taking home a prize and a boost to your portfolio. Good luck!