# Move your Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or OpenClaw setup into Hermes with a dry run first

PaperChase agent use case (free feed entry), version 1.0. Source: [Nous Research (Hermes Agent docs); workflow write-up by @Cuiszt_Cui](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/import-from-other-agents), 2026-10-30.

## What they did

Install the plugin, run hermes import-agent with the source agent and --dry-run, read the plan, then apply. Instruction files and memories become Hermes memory entries, Bash permission rules become allow and deny lists, MCP servers land in the config and skills are copied. Existing items that clash are reported and skipped unless you pass --overwrite, and --sync later pulls in changes from the source. A builder on X wrote it up as a five-step switch, and the Hermes docs confirm the commands.

## Worth knowing

The dry run and the skip-on-conflict default are what make this safe to try. API keys are never copied for Claude Code, Codex or Cursor; for OpenClaw they only move with --migrate-secrets, so leave that off and set keys fresh. Review imported allow lists before trusting them, since a loose rule copies over as loose.

## Workflow template

```text
Apply this workflow to [your project]:
1. Install the plugin: hermes plugins install agent-importers.
2. Preview: hermes import-agent claude-code --dry-run (or codex, cursor, openclaw).
3. Read the per-item plan, especially MCP servers and command allow lists.
4. Apply without --overwrite so existing Hermes items are kept.
5. Set API keys fresh in Hermes instead of migrating them.
6. Use hermes import-agent --sync --dry-run later to see what changed at the source.
Stop and ask me before anything irreversible: deploys, payments, sends or deletes.
```

## Steps

1. **Install the plugin: hermes plugins install agent-importers.** Install the plugin: hermes plugins install agent-importers.
2. **Preview: hermes import-agent claude-code --dry-run (or codex, cursor, .** Preview: hermes import-agent claude-code --dry-run (or codex, cursor, openclaw).
3. **Read the per-item plan, especially MCP servers and command allow lists.** Read the per-item plan, especially MCP servers and command allow lists.
4. **Apply without --overwrite so existing Hermes items are kept.** Apply without --overwrite so existing Hermes items are kept.
5. **Set API keys fresh in Hermes instead of migrating them.** Set API keys fresh in Hermes instead of migrating them.
6. **Use hermes import-agent --sync --dry-run later to see what changed at .** Use hermes import-agent --sync --dry-run later to see what changed at the source.

## Credit

Workflow reported by Nous Research (Hermes Agent docs); workflow write-up by @Cuiszt_Cui: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/import-from-other-agents
Related: https://x.com/Cuiszt_Cui/status/2116025866320740479
Related: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/agent-importers

Summary and template written by PaperChaseWebb in our own words. Questions: mgmt@paperchasewebb.com