[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "when%20using%20openclaw%2C%20I%20can%20chat%20with%20my%20agent%20using%20openclaw%20tty%20-%20what%20is%20the%20equivalent%20if%20using%20hermes%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "If you're used to interacting with your agent in OpenClaw using its TTY or \u201ctrusty terminal\u201d mode (`openclaw tty` or the TUI), here\u2019s how you achieve the equivalent experience when using **Hermes Agent**.\n\n---\n\n## What you're looking for\n\nIn OpenClaw:\n\n- \u201cTTY\u201d or TUI \u2192 a terminal-based chat interface where you type directly, see the agent think, see tool outputs, etc.\n- In OpenClaw this is done via commands like `openclaw chat`, `openclaw tui`, or `openclaw tty` (flavor depending on version). ([open-claw.bot](https://open-claw.bot/docs/gateway/web/tui/?utm_source=openai))\n\nIn Hermes, the equivalent is also terminal-based, with both CLI and TUI options, plus slash commands, session management, etc. Here's how to use them.\n\n---\n\n## Hermes Agent: Terminal / TUI interfaces\n\nHermes offers two main terminal-style interfaces:\n\n1. **Classic CLI**  \n   Use: `hermes`  \n   - A prompt-toolkit\u2013based command-line mode. Multiline input, history, slash commands, streaming tool output. ([hermes-agent.nousresearch.com](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/cli/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **TUI (Terminal User Interface)**  \n   Use: `hermes --tui`  \n   - A more visually rich terminal interface: modal overlays, live selection, etc. It still runs entirely in the terminal. ([hermes-agent.nousresearch.com](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/getting-started/quickstart/?utm_source=openai))\n\nSo, `hermes` on its own is similar to `openclaw chat` (plain CLI mode), and `hermes --tui` is closer to OpenClaw\u2019s `openclaw tui` or tty mode.\n\n---\n\n## Key commands & experience\n\nHere\u2019s what the experience looks like in Hermes\u2019 terminal modes:\n\n- You\u2019ll see a welcome banner showing your model/provider, available tools, and skills. ([hermes-agent.nousresearch.com](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/getting-started/quickstart/?utm_source=openai))  \n- You type messages directly into the terminal and press `Enter`. Multi-line messages work with `Alt+Enter` or `Ctrl+J`, or by using line continuation (`\\`). ([hermes-agent.nousresearch.com](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/cli/?utm_source=openai))  \n- Slash commands (prefix `/`) are available for things like `/new` (new session), `/tools`, `/model`, etc. ([hermes-agent.nousresearch.com](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/cli/?utm_source=openai))  \n- Tools like web search, terminal execution, and skills are built-in and can be triggered from the terminal chat. ([hermes-agent.nousresearch.com](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/getting-started/quickstart/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Other Hermes interfaces (optional)\n\nIf you prefer something besides terminal, Hermes also supports:\n\n- **Messaging gateways**: Talk to your agent via Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, etc. ([hermesagent.fyi](https://hermesagent.fyi/en/overview?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Web UI / \u201cWorkspace\u201d**: A browser-based chat interface with sessions, skills, memory, tool cards, etc. Not terminal, but graphical. ([hermes-workspace.com](https://hermes-workspace.com/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Summary: mapping OpenClaw \u2192 Hermes\n\n| OpenClaw action                   | Hermes equivalent                       |\n|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------|\n| `openclaw chat` / `tty` mode      | `hermes` (CLI mode)                     |\n| `openclaw tui` (terminal UI)      | `hermes --tui` (TUI mode)                |\n| Chats via messaging apps          | Hermes gateway setup/send via Telegram / Discord / etc. ([hermesagent.fyi](https://hermesagent.fyi/en/overview?utm_source=openai)) |\n| Web or app GUI                    | Hermes Workspace / Web UI ([hermes-workspace.com](https://hermes-workspace.com/?utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can walk you through installing Hermes and getting the terminal UI running on your system\u2014Linux, macOS, or whatever you're on. Do you want help with that?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "ok%2C%20hermes%20for%20basic%20and%20hermes%20--tui%20for%20enhanced.%20I%20believe%20for%20openclaw%2C%20it%20is%20openclaw%20--tui%20for%20advanced%2C%20but%20is%20there%20an%20option%20for%20basic%20text%20mode%20like%20hermes%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Yes \u2014 OpenClaw *does* have options for a basic, text-only mode (similar to Hermes' plain CLI), i.e. a non-TUI mode, though it's not always called \u201cbasic.\u201d Here\u2019s what I found:\n\n---\n\n## Basic / Text-only Mode in OpenClaw\n\n### CLI Backends (Fallback / Local CLI Models)\n\nOpenClaw supports \u201cCLI backends\u201d that allow text-in / text-out operation when APIs are unavailable, rate-limited, or misbehaving. These are meant to be very simple \u2014 tools are disabled, and the agent just processes plain text. ([docs.xiaolongxia.org](https://docs.xiaolongxia.org/gateway/cli-backends?utm_source=openai))\n\nKey aspects:\n\n- Inputs/outputs are purely text.\n- Sessions are still supported so the conversation retains context. ([docs.xiaolongxia.org](https://docs.xiaolongxia.org/gateway/cli-backends?utm_source=openai))  \n- You can invoke turns using something like:\n\n  ```\n  openclaw agent --message \"Hello\" --model claude-cli/opus-4.6\n  ```\n\n  or similar \u2014 this sends a message and gets back text. ([docs.xiaolongxia.org](https://docs.xiaolongxia.org/gateway/cli-backends?utm_source=openai))\n\nThis is analogous to \u201cbasic\u201d Hermes mode: a simple textual chat with no fancy interface.\n\n---\n\n### Output Styling & Non-TTY Fallbacks\n\nAnother piece: OpenClaw\u2019s CLI has styling (color, progress bars, etc.) but those *only* render when you are in a terminal supporting TTY. If not, it falls back to plain text. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))\n\nYou can also force plain-output or disable color styling via flags like `--plain`, `--no-color`, or using formats like `--output json` or `--output text`. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## How to Actually Use Basic Mode\n\nSo if you want \u201cbasic text mode\u201d like Hermes\u2019 CLI:\n\n1. Use `openclaw agent --message \"Your text\"` (plus model settings) to send a message and get a reply. That\u2019s plain text. ([docs.xiaolongxia.org](https://docs.xiaolongxia.org/gateway/cli-backends?utm_source=openai))  \n2. Make sure you\u2019re in a non-TTY environment (or use flags like `--no-color`, `--plain`) to avoid styled output. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))  \n3. Don\u2019t launch `openclaw tui` \u2014 that command enters the enhanced terminal/TUI mode. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can also help you with the exact command alias or script so you can use OpenClaw in basic mode more ergonomically \u2014 e.g. set up a shell alias or something."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "are%20you%20sure%20openclaw%20command%20supports%20--plain%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "I checked, and yes \u2014 OpenClaw *does* support `--plain` in some places, but **not universally** for everything (including not necessarily for the core agent chat session in basic mode). Here\u2019s what I found:\n\n---\n\n## What *does* exist: `--plain` & related flags\n\nFrom the official OpenClaw CLI documentation:\n\n- Global flags include `--no-color`, which disables ANSI color styling. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))  \n- For output styling, the docs explicitly note: **\"`--json` (and `--plain` where supported) disables styling for clean output.\u201d** ([docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli?utm_source=openai))\n\nSo `--plain` is an official flag in OpenClaw, and its purpose is to strip away styling (colors, progress bars, etc.) when the command supports it. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## What\u2019s *not* clearly supported: agent chat / turn-mode\n\nHowever, it's not clear that every command (particularly the interactive agent chat or `openclaw agent` / `openclaw chat` mode) supports `--plain`. The docs show `--plain` mostly in contexts like:\n\n- `openclaw logs --plain` ([docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli?utm_source=openai))  \n- `openclaw models list --plain` or `--status --plain` ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))  \n\nBut there is *no explicit example* showing `openclaw agent [...] --plain` in the docs. As of now, I didn\u2019t find documentation confirming that the core agent interaction mode supports the `--plain` flag for removing UI/TUI elements or formatting.\n\n---\n\n## What you can do instead (or test)\n\nSince it\u2019s not certain whether `--plain` works for agent chat mode, here are paths you can take:\n\n- Try running an agent message with `--plain`. E.g.:\n\n  ```\n  openclaw agent --message \"Hi there\" --plain\n  ```\n\n- Use `--no-color` to disable colors, and see if that removes styling. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- If your terminal environment is *not* recognized as a TTY (for example, piping output, running via a non-interactive shell, etc.), styling and TUI features might automatically be suppressed by OpenClaw. Docs mention that ANSI colors and progress indicators only show *in TTY sessions*. ([openclawlab.com](https://openclawlab.com/en/docs/cli/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can test with your version of OpenClaw (if you tell me which version you're using) to see whether `--plain` works with `openclaw agent` for your setup."
    }
]