Hermes vs. OpenClaw: Open-Source AI Tools Face Off
Thursday, May 14, 2026
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Hello, this weekly newsletter guides you through the most important new videos from a curated selection of AI and coding YouTube channels. Each video gets a compact summary, plus a daily overview of the dominant topics. If interested, simply click the link under the summary.
This week was all about comparing and discussing open-source AI tools, particularly in the coding agents space. Several videos from Alex Finn and Leon van Zyl focused on direct comparisons between Hermes and OpenClaw, with thorough analysis of both tools’ strengths and weaknesses. The discussions centered on stability, reliability, and user-friendliness, with Hermes praised for its regular updates and self-improvement capabilities, while OpenClaw was highlighted for its consistency and ease of use.
Another key focus was the use of open-source models and tools like OpenCode, Honeyfree, and Local Forge. These tools enable users to independently plan and execute software projects, with free models like Qwen 3.6 and JML4 playing an important role. The videos demonstrated how to set up and deploy these tools for various tasks, from creating simple to-do apps to more complex projects.
A particular highlight was the discussion about the strategic alliance between Anthropic and Elon Musk’s XAI, which is revitalizing competition with OpenAI. This partnership could lead to a new era of innovation and improvement in AI tools in the long term, benefiting consumers. The videos emphasized the importance of using both leading AI tools, Claude Code and Codeex, to benefit from their respective strengths.
Beyond technical discussions, there were also personal insights and anecdotes from creators that made the videos entertaining and accessible. Overall, this week provided a comprehensive overview of current developments and trends in the open-source AI tools and coding agents space.
Niklas Steenfatt
No new videos in this period.
Fireship (2 new videos)
- Every operating system concept in one video…
7.5.2026, 17:32:34The video explains in detail how an operating system works from the moment the power button is pressed until shutdown. It starts with the bootloader, which loads the operating system, then moves on to privilege rings, which separate the rights of the kernel and applications. Virtual memory is described as a system that allows multiple applications to run in parallel without interfering with each other. The kernel builds the file system, loads device drivers, and enables interrupts, which allow the system to respond to input. The kernel then starts the first process (PID1), which is the ancestor of all other processes. System calls enable applications to communicate with the kernel, and the scheduler manages CPU time for many processes. Threads allow applications to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and inter-process communication (IPC) allows different processes to communicate safely. Finally, the shutdown process is described, in which all processes are terminated and the system is safely shut down.
The video covers operating systems and their components in general, without naming specific tools or providers, and is more suitable for intermediate or advanced viewers.
- 732 bytes of Python just borked every Linux machine on earth…
4.5.2026, 18:40:40The video covers a critical security vulnerability in the Linux kernel, referred to as “copy fail” (CVE-2023-31431), which has existed since 2017 and was discovered by an AI tool. The vulnerability allows a local user to gain root access by writing four bytes to the page cache of a read-only file. All Linux distributions updated after 2017 are affected. The vulnerability was exploited through a Python script that uses the ONC ESN protocol and the AF_AGL interface. Although the vulnerability is not remotely exploitable, systems are strongly recommended to be updated. The video also mentions the role of AI in discovering security vulnerabilities and promotes Code Rabbit, an AI tool for improving code quality.
The video explicitly covers AI tools such as the AI agent tool used by Theori and Code Rabbit, and is intended for intermediate to advanced users.
Alex Finn (8 new videos)
- LIVE: The greatest Claude Code workflow ever
13.5.2026, 20:12:33The video showcases a detailed, advanced workflow for Claude Code that integrates various tools like Slack, Linear, GitHub, and Claude Code. The host explains how these tools work together to boost productivity, track changes, and organize development. The workflow includes creating tasks and projects in Linear, linking with GitHub for branch management, and leveraging Claude Code for automating and managing these processes. The host emphasizes the benefits of this workflow, such as increased speed, better error prevention, and improved traceability.
Additionally, the host discusses personal experiences and challenges, such as dealing with difficult times and the importance of persistence. He also shares his thoughts on using AI tools like Claude Code and Codex, as well as their differences and use cases.
The video is intended for advanced users who already have experience with Claude Code and similar tools and want to optimize their workflows. Specific tools such as Claude, OpenAI, and Linear are discussed.
- Hermes Agent powered by local models on the DGX Spark is basically magic
13.5.2026, 13:30:07The video demonstrates how to set up a Hermes Agent on a local model on an Nvidia DGX Spark to create a 24/7 available AI employee. The process includes setting up the DGX Spark in headless mode, installing a local model (Qwen 3.6 27B), and integrating the model into the Hermes Agent. The creator demonstrates three use cases: a daily report on AI stocks for beginners, repurposing YouTube video content for advanced users, and vibe-coding a to-do list app for advanced users. The focus is on the benefits of local models, such as being free (apart from electricity costs), privacy, customizability, and educational value.
Final comment: The video explicitly covers Nvidia DGX Spark, Hermes Agent, Qwen 3.6 27B, and Tail Scale, and is intended for intermediate to advanced users.
- LIVE: Talking AI news (no Hermes use cases ignore the thumbnail)
11.5.2026, 20:11:47The video is a live stream session that primarily revolves around discussing Hermes Agent and its use cases. The host, Alex Finn, begins with an introduction to Hermes Agent and emphasizes the importance of use cases for leveraging the technology. He mentions that Hermes has released a new website with hundreds of use cases, which he and the viewers will go through and test.
However, a large portion of the video is taken up by various tangents and discussions, including:
1. **Investment Corner**: Alex talks about current investment opportunities in the AI industry, particularly in companies like Nvidia, Micron, TSMC, and Tesla. He emphasizes the importance of current AI developments and the need to invest in the right companies.
2. **Personal Stories and Anecdotes**: Alex shares personal stories and anecdotes, which are often humorous and entertaining, but not directly related to the main topic of the video.
3. **Chat Interaction**: A large part of the video consists of interaction with the live chat, where Alex answers questions, makes comments, and engages with the viewers.
4. **Use Cases for Hermes Agent**: Towards the end of the video, Alex begins to discuss some of the use cases from the new Hermes website. He mentions use cases such as creating research reports, managing tasks, and automating processes.
5. **Announcements and Updates**: Alex provides updates on his own projects and announcements, such as launching a second YouTube channel and attending a Baby Keem concert.
**Final comment**: The video explicitly covers open-source AI models and tools such as Hermes Agent and OpenClaw. It is more suited for intermediate to advanced users who already have some understanding of AI and its applications.
- Hermes Agent is blowing me away…
9.5.2026, 20:54:26The video compares the AI agents Hermes and OpenClaw, recommending Hermes for its reliability, self-improvement, and user-friendliness. The author describes the benefits of Hermes, including regular, thematic updates, self-improving capability through use, and a strong emphasis on experimentation and local models. Installing Hermes is described as straightforward, with options for various models and communication services, with Telegram and Opus recommended. The author demonstrates three use cases: one for beginners that discovers new AI tools daily, one for advanced users that performs daily proactive check-ins, and one for experts that creates AI-generated videos. The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of brain-dumping and reverse-prompting to use the AI agent personally and effectively.
The video explicitly covers the AI tools Hermes Agent and OpenClaw and is more suited for intermediate and advanced users.
- LIVE: Anthropic and Elon just teamed up to take down OpenAI
6.5.2026, 20:12:34The video covers the strategic alliance between Anthropic and Elon Musk’s XAI (X.AI), characterized by a major compute power deal. Anthropic gains access to SpaceX’s Colossus-1 cluster, which will significantly enhance their ability to develop and train AI models. This partnership marks a turning point in competition with OpenAI, which has taken a dominant position in recent months with Codex. During this time, Anthropic has struggled with declining limits and less powerful models, which the new alliance aims to address. Elon Musk, who was previously critical of Anthropic, is now providing massive computing resources, changing the dynamics of AI competition. The video also discusses Elon Musk’s long-term strategies, where he may be focusing on bigger goals like autonomous vehicles, space exploration, and robotics, rather than staying in the AI chatbot competition. The alliance could lead to a new era of innovation and improvement in AI tools, from which consumers will benefit. The video emphasizes the importance of using both leading AI tools, Claude Code and Codex, to benefit from their respective strengths.
**AI Tools/Models/Providers:** Anthropic, OpenAI, Elon Musk (X.AI), Claude, Codex, Grock, Gemini, Open-Source
**Target Audience:** Intermediate - Hermes Agent might have just killed OpenClaw
5.5.2026, 21:11:59The video presents Hermes Agent as a more reliable alternative to OpenClaw and discusses seven new features that improve productivity and user-friendliness. These include:
1. **Kanban Board**: Enables multitasking through parallel processing of multiple task threads. A manager agent populates tasks with details and moves them through various statuses (Triage, To-Do, Ready, In Progress, Block, Done).
2. **Slashgo**: A high-level mission function that assigns long-term tasks to the agent that can be worked on over an extended period. The quality of the prompt is crucial for good results.
3. **Profiles (Multi-Agents)**: Allows the creation of multiple agents with their own memories and capabilities to optimize performance and avoid overload.
4. **Model Catalog**: Simplifies switching and assigning models to specific tasks, improving cost control and efficiency.
5. **Compression**: By adjusting the compression threshold to 0.5, less drastic compressions are performed, improving memory retention.
6. **Curator Feature**: Automatically archives rarely used skills every seven days to reduce bloat and maintain performance.
The video criticizes OpenClaw for frequent updates that lead to instability and performance issues, and highlights Hermes’ targeted, reliable updates. It is recommended to use Hermes’ new features to boost productivity.
**Final comment**: The video explicitly covers Hermes Agent and OpenClaw and is more suited for intermediate to advanced users.
- LIVE: Is Hermes better than OpenClaw? FINALE!!!
4.5.2026, 21:53:53The YouTube video shows a live stream in which the host tests various AI agents (OpenClaw and Hermes) in a competition called “Agent Olympics.” The stream is unusually long (3.5 hours) and is divided into various segments, ranging from technical tests to personal discussions to spontaneous decisions.
**Content Summary:**
1. **Agent Olympics:**
– The host tests four combinations of AI agents (OpenClaw and Hermes with various backend models like ChatGPT and Opus) on five different tasks.
– The tasks include creating infographics, animated music videos, and other complex assignments.
– Results are scored live, with OpenClaw with Opus ultimately emerging as the winner.2. **Technical Discussions:**
– There are detailed discussions about the stability and reliability of the various AI agents, particularly Hermes, which is criticized for “compaction” errors (loss of working states).
– OpenClaw is praised for its consistency and user-friendliness.3. **Personal Topics:**
– The host discusses his sleep problems and experiments with various solutions such as kiwis and magnesium.
– There are discussions about work methods, including the use of treadmills and standing desks, where the host expresses his preferences and dislikes.4. **Community Interaction:**
– Viewers are actively engaged in the chat, asking questions and providing feedback.
– The host spontaneously decides to create a second YouTube channel called “Alex Finn Labs,” leading to an entertaining interaction with a viewer who had already reserved the desired channel name.5. **Announcements and Future Plans:**
– The host announces plans to publish more videos about Hermes and multi-agent setups in the future.
– There is discussion about whether live streams should be held at later times to reach a broader audience.**Final comment:**
The video explicitly covers the AI tools OpenClaw, Hermes, ChatGPT, and Opus. It is more suited for intermediate and advanced users as it covers technical details and advanced applications of AI agents. - LIVE: OpenClaw vs Hermes Agent: The ultimate showdown
1.5.2026, 20:48:54The YouTube video shows a live stream in which various AI agents are tested in a direct comparison. The main participants are OpenClaw and Hermes, each running with the models ChatGPT and Opus. The stream is divided into several tests that evaluate the capabilities of the agents in different task areas.
1. **Test 1: Real-time Stock Dashboard**
– **OpenClaw with ChatGPT**: Fastest completion, but with an unattractive user interface (UI). Functionality was rated as solid.
– **Hermes with ChatGPT**: Slower and crashed the computer, resulting in a poor rating.
– **OpenClaw with Opus**: Slower than the ChatGPT version, but with a somewhat better UI and additional features like TradingView integration.
– **Hermes with Opus**: Best UI and functionality, but slower than OpenClaw with ChatGPT.2. **Test 2: Game Development**
– **OpenClaw with ChatGPT**: Fast, but unplayable game.
– **OpenClaw with Opus**: Playable, but not particularly entertaining.
– **Hermes with ChatGPT**: Unplayable and poor graphics.
– **Hermes with Opus**: Best graphics and playability, rated as actually entertaining.3. **Test 3: Website Recreation (Apple.com)**
– **Hermes with Opus**: First completion, but below-average accuracy.
– **OpenClaw with Opus**: Better than Hermes with Opus, but not perfect.
– **OpenClaw with ChatGPT**: Most accurate, nearly perfect.
– **Hermes with ChatGPT**: Perfect recreation via screenshots, but ethically questionable.The stream ends with Hermes with Opus in the lead, followed by OpenClaw with Opus and OpenClaw with ChatGPT. Hermes with ChatGPT falls significantly behind. The remaining tests will continue in the next live stream.
**Final comment**: The video explicitly covers the AI models Claude (Opus), OpenAI (ChatGPT), and specific tools such as OpenClaw and Hermes. It is more suited for intermediate and advanced users interested in the performance and comparison of AI agents.
Leon van Zyl (9 new videos)
- Claude Code Agent View: Parallel Agents Are Here
May 14, 2026, 10:51:58The video reports on a supply chain attack on npm packages, where over 100 packages with a combined download rate of more than 50 million times per week were compromised. The attack exploited a vulnerability in Tanstack’s release process, a major project in the React ecosystem. The attacker was able to trigger the publishing workflow by creating a pull request from a fork, which ran with the permissions of the main repository. This allowed malicious code to be injected into the CI server’s shared cache and later used to publish new, compromised package versions. The malware spread further by stealing npm publishing tokens from infected systems and compromising additional packages. The malware was particularly persistent, embedding itself in code editors and deleting the root directory of infected machines when stolen tokens expired.
To prevent such attacks in the future, the video recommends using PNPM version 1 or higher, which offers features like minimum publish age, exotic sub-dependency blocking, and approved builds. These measures can help prevent malware distribution. Additionally, Sentry is presented as a tool for debugging in production, working with AI-powered agents to automatically investigate and fix issues.
The video covers specific tools like PNPM, npm, and Sentry and is aimed at intermediate and advanced users.
- Codex CLI Tutorial: Build an AI Image Studio from Scratch
May 11, 2026, 11:17:21This video walks through building an AI image studio for creating YouTube thumbnails, posters, banners, and other graphic content step by step. The process begins with setting up a Next.js project using the Codex CLI tool, which is based on GPT-5.5 and a high reasoning level. A database is set up with Docker and Postgres, and the necessary tables for user authentication are migrated.
The focus is on creating a user-friendly interface that allows users to upload reference images, write prompts, and generate images. The developer uses the capabilities of the Codex tool to design and test the user interface, paying attention to adhering to a predefined design system. After designing the interface, the actual functionality is implemented, using the OpenAI API key for the GPT-4 image model. The developer shows how to upload reference images and assets and how to generate thumbnails that combine these elements.
At the end, the user interface is adjusted to ensure image generation only occurs through the dashboard and not the home page. The home page is redesigned with a generated image and marketing text. The video emphasizes the efficiency and time savings from using Codex and OpenAI, while noting the token limitations of the ChatGPT Plus plan.
The video specifically covers OpenAI (GPT-5.5, GPT-4 image model) and Codex. It is aimed at intermediate and advanced users as it covers advanced concepts like Docker, Postgres, Next.js, and API integration.
- Create Custom OpenCode Agents #Shorts #OpenCode #AICoding
May 10, 2026, 07:00:16The video shows how to create custom agents in OpenCode. By default, there are two agents: “build” and “plan”. To create a custom agent, you run the `open code agent create` command in the terminal. You then provide a description of the agent, for example, that an agent named John only responds with emojis. After creation, you can use the spacebar to specify which functions or tools the agent has access to. You also choose the agent mode: either for primary and subordinate roles or only as a subordinate agent. The video demonstrates creating a subordinate agent named John and shows how the main agent delegates a task to John. You can track the subordinate agent’s work and view its reasoning and output. Finally, it’s emphasized that this is just a demonstration, and in practice you could use more specific system prompts and tool access for subordinate agents.
The video covers OpenCode and is suitable for intermediate users.
- OpenCode’s Best Hidden Feature #Shorts #OpenCode #AICoding
May 9, 2026, 07:00:19The video explains how to set different models for different modes in OpenCode. For example, you can use a powerful model like GPT-5 for planning mode and a fast, cost-effective model like Big Pickle for build mode. Alternatively, you can use GPT-5.5 for planning but reduce effort by selecting the “/variants” command with the “low effort” option. This allows planning to be done by an intelligent model while implementation is handled by a less powerful but faster model.
The video covers OpenCode models and is aimed at intermediate users.
- I Turned Hermes Agent Into a Coding Agent
May 8, 2026, 11:02:33The video shows how to use the Hermes Agent as a coding agent to create and deploy a web app online. The process includes setting up the Hermes Agent on a VPS, integrating it with Telegram for communication, installing the Vercel CLI tool for deployment, and configuring the necessary skills for the agent. The creator tests whether the agent can create a personal portfolio page by scraping information from the creator’s YouTube channel and creating an appealing frontend design. The agent successfully creates the app, deploys it to Vercel, and provides a public URL that opens the app in a browser. The video also shows that the agent is able to make changes to the app and deploy them automatically.
The creator concludes that Hermes is suitable as a coding agent for simple tasks and quick dashboards, but not for complex software projects. The video specifically covers Hermes Agent, OpenAI Codex, GPT 5.5, Vercel, and Telegram. It is aimed at intermediate and advanced users.
- This free OpenCode trick saves thousands #opencode #aitools #hacks
May 7, 2026, 13:38:39The video explains how to use free AI models for code creation in OpenCode. To do this, you first run the “connect” command and search for “OpenCode Zen” under the provider. You then generate an API key through a provided URL, which is free. After entering the API key, you get a list of supported models, including Big Pickle, HY3, Miniax M2.5, and Neurotron 3 Super from Nvidia. These models are powerful and completely free.
The video covers OpenCode and OpenCode Zen and is aimed at intermediate users.
- I Built a Coding Agent That Runs Locally for Free
May 6, 2026, 12:25:00The video introduces the open-source tool “Honeyfree”, which enables software projects to be planned and executed autonomously. The user describes to the tool what they want to build, and it plans the features, adds them to a kanban board, and implements them automatically. The tool supports various models like Alum Studio and Ollama and can also break down complex tasks into smaller features. The user demonstrates creating a simple to-do app and shows how new features can be added and implemented. The video emphasizes that this is now possible with free models, which wasn’t the case a few months ago. It also explains how to download models like Qwen 3.6 or JML4 and use them in Alum Studio or Llama Studio. The user recommends increasing the context window length of the models to at least 64,000 tokens for better performance. The video also shows how to install and set up Local Forge to create and manage projects. It’s emphasized that free models are good at writing code but need more detailed instructions for better results. The user recommends using a paid model like Claude for planning features while using free models for actual implementation. The video ends with an invitation to sign up for a masterclass course on building applications with coding agents.
The video covers open-source models like Qwen 3.6 and JML4 as well as tools like Alum Studio, Llama Studio, and Local Forge. It’s aimed at intermediate and advanced users who already have experience using AI models and developing software.
- OpenCode Tutorial for Beginners: Setup, Agents, Skills & MCP
May 5, 2026, 12:33:17This video is a tutorial showing how to create a Next.js application with OpenCode, an open-source AI tool. The process begins with installing and configuring OpenCode, including connecting to various AI models and providers, both free and paid. The tutorial shows how to add agent skills like frontend design and Next.js skills to improve the quality of generated code. It also demonstrates how to use memory files and design systems to increase the agent’s consistency and efficiency. The tutorial continues with creating an application that allows users to input a rough idea of their app and receive a detailed project plan. The agent uses subagents to execute tasks in parallel and protect the main context. At the end, the application is tested and improved, with the agent completely redesigning the UI and running automated tests. The video is suitable for intermediate and advanced users interested in AI-powered coding tools.
AI tools/models/providers: OpenCode (open source), OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, BigPikko, HY3, Minimax, Nvidia, Vercel, Cintra AI.
- I Built a Full App Using Only Cursor AI
May 4, 2026, 11:01:35In this video, an AI-powered YouTube summarizer is developed using the Cursor tool. The process begins with creating a user interface that takes a YouTube URL and provides a summary of the video. Requirements include a short summary (TLDR), five to eight key points, a “watch these moments” section with timestamps and descriptions, and the original video link.
The creator uses Cursor and decides on the Composer 2 model to scaffold the project. He installs Next.js and the Shad cn library for the user interface. With Cursor’s agents, a basic user interface is created that meets the requirements. Functionality is then added to retrieve the transcript of a YouTube video using the YouTube Transcript API.
For AI-powered summarization, Cursor’s AI SDK is used to return structured data. The creator chooses the “anthropic/claude-2” model from OpenRouter and integrates the API key into an .env file. The agent then generates the summary, including the TLDR, key points, and recommended moments from the transcript.
The video specifically covers the tools Cursor, Composer 2, Next.js, Shad cn, YouTube Transcript API, AI SDK, and OpenRouter. It is aimed at intermediate and advanced users.
Leon van Zyl (1 new video)
- Claude Code Agent View: Parallel Agents Are Here
14.5.2026, 10:51:58The video reports on a critical supply chain attack targeting open-source packages in the npm ecosystem, with over 100 packages compromised that receive more than 50 million downloads per week. The attack exploited a vulnerability in Tanstack’s release process by having an attacker create a pull request in a fork of the repository, which triggered the CI/CD workflow. By using the `pull_request_target` option, the attacker was able to inject malicious files into the CI server’s shared cache and later steal an npm publish token to release compromised packages. The malware spread further by searching for additional npm publish tokens and infecting further packages, including those from major companies like Mistral AI and UiPath. The malware deeply integrated itself into developer environments and even employed a “dead man switch” to delete infected systems once the stolen tokens were invalidated. As protective measures, using PNPM 1 or higher is recommended, which offers features such as “Minimum Release Age”, “Block Exotic Subdependencies”, and “Approved Builds” to prevent such attacks.
The video addresses specific open-source tools and platforms such as npm, GitHub Actions, PNPM, and Sentry and is aimed at intermediate to advanced users who work with open-source development and security issues.
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