how to build the best memory setup for Hermes:
You’ve seen thousands of tutorials on memory setups making it more difficult than ever to know what is the best. That stops today. It’s time for a setup that makes your agent remember the right thing at the right time without needing to carry everything around all the time.
so I was scrolling on my timeline and I saw this:
Embedded post:
Author: Hermes Release Watch (@HermesWatcher) Post ID: 2092205452914499676 Source: https://x.com/HermesWatcher/status/2092205452914499676 Posted: 2026-08-25T11:00:25.000Z Reply to: none
Text:
> What are you using for long-term memory in your Hermes setup right now? > > Built-in memory, OpenViking, Mem0, something else? > > What made you choose it?
I then saw it had over 150 replies, so I did what any other curious autist would do - I read them - put the answers into a spreadsheet - filtered out the ai replies - and turned the replies into a tutorial to best serve the answer to this question:
“what is the best memory setup for Hermes?”
and no, this isn’t a long drawn out article, I’m going to get straight to the point and it’s simpler than you think - so if you want to implement this later make sure you bookmark this post.
1: Keep Hermes built-in memory small
> Use MEMORY.md for important long-term facts.
> Use USER.md for your preferences and personal context.
> Only keep things Hermes should always know here.
> Do not dump everything into its built-in memory.
2: Add one retrieval memory system
> Pick one: Hindsight, GBrain or Honcho.
> Use it for information Hermes should remember only when relevant.
> Let Hermes retrieve this information when a task needs it.
> Avoid putting the same information into multiple memory systems.
3: Add Obsidian for permanent records
> Create an Obsidian vault for Hermes.
> Store project notes, decisions, research and important facts there.
> Keep information organised by project or topic.
> Use this as the human-readable source of truth.
4: Easiest recommended setup
> Keep MEMORY.md + USER.md.
> Connect Hindsight.
> Use Hindsight for deeper recall and relationships.
> Add Obsidian later if you want a permanent knowledge base.
5: Best setup for shared agent knowledge
> Keep Hermes built-in memory for preferences.
> Connect GBrain as the main knowledge layer.
> Let multiple agents or machines use the same knowledge.
> Keep project-specific facts organised by source.
6: Best setup for personal modelling
> Keep Hermes built-in memory.
> Connect Honcho.
> Let Honcho learn how you think and what you prefer.
> Use Obsidian for facts and records you want to inspect yourself.
7: Simplest setup
> Keep Hermes built-in memory.
> Create an Obsidian vault.
> Put long-term project information in Obsidian.
> Let Hermes search it when needed.
> Add a retrieval provider later if recall becomes limiting.
8: Remember this if you get confused
Built-in memory = things Hermes should always know.
Retrieval memory = things Hermes should recall when relevant.
Obsidian = things you want permanently stored and readable by you.
// RESOURCES //
Built-in memory
Retrieval memory
Obsidian
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