refactor: migrate tool progress configuration from environment variables to config.yaml

AGENTS.md

@@ -248,9 +248,7 @@ DISCORD_ALLOWED_USERS=123456789012345678  # Comma-separated user IDs
 HERMES_MAX_ITERATIONS=60                  # Max tool-calling iterations
 MESSAGING_CWD=/home/myuser                # Terminal working directory for messaging
 
-# Tool Progress (optional)
+# Tool progress is configured in config.yaml (display.tool_progress: off|new|all|verbose)
-HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS=true                 # Send progress messages
-HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE=new             # "new" or "all"
 ```
 
 ### Working Directory Behavior
@@ -301,7 +299,7 @@ Files: `gateway/hooks.py`
 
 ### Tool Progress Notifications
 
-When `HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS=true`, the bot sends status messages as it works:
+When `tool_progress` is enabled in `config.yaml`, the bot sends status messages as it works:
 - `💻 \`ls -la\`...` (terminal commands show the actual command)
 - `🔍 web_search...`
 - `📄 web_extract...`
@@ -411,8 +409,7 @@ Terminal tool configuration (in `~/.hermes/config.yaml`):
 Agent behavior (in `~/.hermes/.env`):
 - `HERMES_MAX_ITERATIONS` - Max tool-calling iterations (default: 60)
 - `MESSAGING_CWD` - Working directory for messaging platforms (default: ~)
-- `HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS` - Enable tool progress messages (`true`/`false`)
+- `display.tool_progress` in config.yaml - Tool progress: `off`, `new`, `all`, `verbose`
-- `HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE` - Progress mode: `new` (tool changes) or `all`
 - `OPENAI_API_KEY` - Voice transcription (Whisper STT)
 - `SLACK_BOT_TOKEN` / `SLACK_APP_TOKEN` - Slack integration (Socket Mode)
 - `SLACK_ALLOWED_USERS` - Comma-separated Slack user IDs

README.md

@@ -325,14 +325,22 @@ TERMINAL_CWD=/workspace                # All terminal sessions (local or contain
 
 ### Tool Progress Notifications
 
-Get real-time updates as the agent works:
+Control how much tool activity is displayed. Set in `~/.hermes/config.yaml`:
 
-```bash
+```yaml
-# Enable in ~/.hermes/.env
+display:
-HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS=true
+  tool_progress: all    # off | new | all | verbose
-HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE=all    # or "new" for only when tool changes
 ```
 
+| Mode | What you see |
+|------|-------------|
+| `off` | Silent — just the final response |
+| `new` | Tool indicator only when the tool changes (skip repeats) |
+| `all` | Every tool call with a short preview (default) |
+| `verbose` | Full args, results, and debug logs |
+
+Toggle at runtime in the CLI with `/verbose` (cycles through all four modes).
+
 ---
 
 ## Commands
@@ -1568,8 +1576,6 @@ All variables go in `~/.hermes/.env`. Run `hermes config set VAR value` to set t
 | Variable | Description |
 |----------|-------------|
 | `HERMES_MAX_ITERATIONS` | Max tool-calling iterations per conversation (default: 60) |
-| `HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS` | Send progress messages when using tools (`true`/`false`) |
-| `HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE` | `all` (every call, default) or `new` (only when tool changes) |
 
 **Context Compression:**
 | Variable | Description |

cli-config.yaml.example

@@ -487,3 +487,11 @@ delegation:
 display:
   # Use compact banner mode
   compact: false
+
+  # Tool progress display level (CLI and gateway)
+  #   off:     Silent — no tool activity shown, just the final response
+  #   new:     Show a tool indicator only when the tool changes (skip repeats)
+  #   all:     Show every tool call with a short preview (default)
+  #   verbose: Full args, results, and debug logs (same as /verbose)
+  # Toggle at runtime with /verbose in the CLI
+  tool_progress: all

cli.py

@@ -793,7 +793,9 @@ class HermesCLI:
         # Initialize Rich console
         self.console = Console()
         self.compact = compact if compact is not None else CLI_CONFIG["display"].get("compact", False)
-        self.verbose = verbose if verbose is not None else CLI_CONFIG["agent"].get("verbose", False)
+        # tool_progress: "off", "new", "all", "verbose" (from config.yaml display section)
+        self.tool_progress_mode = CLI_CONFIG["display"].get("tool_progress", "all")
+        self.verbose = verbose if verbose is not None else (self.tool_progress_mode == "verbose")
         
         # Configuration - priority: CLI args > env vars > config file
         # Model can come from: CLI arg, LLM_MODEL env, OPENAI_MODEL env (custom endpoint), or config
@@ -1697,24 +1699,35 @@ class HermesCLI:
         return True
     
     def _toggle_verbose(self):
-        """Toggle verbose mode on/off at runtime."""
+        """Cycle tool progress mode: off → new → all → verbose → off."""
-        self.verbose = not self.verbose
+        cycle = ["off", "new", "all", "verbose"]
+        try:
+            idx = cycle.index(self.tool_progress_mode)
+        except ValueError:
+            idx = 2  # default to "all"
+        self.tool_progress_mode = cycle[(idx + 1) % len(cycle)]
+        self.verbose = self.tool_progress_mode == "verbose"
 
         if self.agent:
             self.agent.verbose_logging = self.verbose
             self.agent.quiet_mode = not self.verbose
 
-        # Reconfigure logging level to match new state
+        labels = {
+            "off": "[dim]Tool progress: OFF[/] — silent mode, just the final response.",
+            "new": "[yellow]Tool progress: NEW[/] — show each new tool (skip repeats).",
+            "all": "[green]Tool progress: ALL[/] — show every tool call.",
+            "verbose": "[bold green]Tool progress: VERBOSE[/] — full args, results, and debug logs.",
+        }
+        self.console.print(labels.get(self.tool_progress_mode, ""))
+
         if self.verbose:
             logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
             for noisy in ('openai', 'openai._base_client', 'httpx', 'httpcore', 'asyncio', 'hpack', 'grpc', 'modal'):
                 logging.getLogger(noisy).setLevel(logging.WARNING)
-            self.console.print("[bold green]Verbose mode ON[/] — tool calls, parameters, and results will be shown.")
         else:
             logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging.INFO)
             for quiet_logger in ('tools', 'minisweagent', 'run_agent', 'trajectory_compressor', 'cron', 'hermes_cli'):
                 logging.getLogger(quiet_logger).setLevel(logging.ERROR)
-            self.console.print("[dim]Verbose mode OFF[/] — returning to normal display.")
 
     def _clarify_callback(self, question, choices):
         """

docs/messaging.md

@@ -223,11 +223,9 @@ MESSAGING_CWD=/home/myuser
 # TOOL PROGRESS NOTIFICATIONS
 # =============================================================================
 
-# Show progress messages as agent uses tools
+# Tool progress is now configured in config.yaml:
-HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS=true
+#   display:
-
+#     tool_progress: all    # off | new | all | verbose
-# Mode: "new" (only when tool changes) or "all" (every tool call)
-HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE=new
 
 # =============================================================================
 # SESSION SETTINGS
@@ -301,7 +299,7 @@ The gateway keeps the "typing..." indicator active throughout processing, refres
 
 ### Tool Progress Notifications
 
-When `HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS=true`, the bot sends status messages as it works:
+When `tool_progress` is enabled in `config.yaml`, the bot sends status messages as it works:
 
 ```text
 💻 `ls -la`...

gateway/run.py

@@ -1462,9 +1462,24 @@ class GatewayRunner:
             default_toolset = default_toolset_map.get(source.platform, "hermes-telegram")
             enabled_toolsets = [default_toolset]
         
-        # Check if tool progress notifications are enabled
+        # Tool progress mode from config.yaml: "all", "new", "verbose", "off"
-        tool_progress_enabled = os.getenv("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS", "true").lower() in ("1", "true", "yes")
+        # Falls back to env vars for backward compatibility
-        progress_mode = os.getenv("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE", "all")  # "all" or "new" (only new tools)
+        _progress_cfg = {}
+        try:
+            _tp_cfg_path = _hermes_home / "config.yaml"
+            if _tp_cfg_path.exists():
+                import yaml as _tp_yaml
+                with open(_tp_cfg_path) as _tp_f:
+                    _tp_data = _tp_yaml.safe_load(_tp_f) or {}
+                _progress_cfg = _tp_data.get("display", {})
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        progress_mode = (
+            _progress_cfg.get("tool_progress")
+            or os.getenv("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE")
+            or "all"
+        )
+        tool_progress_enabled = progress_mode != "off"
         
         # Queue for progress messages (thread-safe)
         progress_queue = queue.Queue() if tool_progress_enabled else None
@@ -1627,6 +1642,7 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                 base_url=base_url,
                 max_iterations=max_iterations,
                 quiet_mode=True,
+                verbose_logging=False,
                 enabled_toolsets=enabled_toolsets,
                 ephemeral_system_prompt=combined_ephemeral or None,
                 prefill_messages=self._prefill_messages or None,

hermes_cli/commands.py

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ COMMANDS = {
     "/cron": "Manage scheduled tasks (list, add, remove)",
     "/skills": "Search, install, inspect, or manage skills from online registries",
     "/platforms": "Show gateway/messaging platform status",
-    "/verbose": "Toggle verbose mode (show tool calls, parameters, and results)",
+    "/verbose": "Cycle tool progress display: off → new → all → verbose",
     "/quit": "Exit the CLI (also: /exit, /q)",
 }
 

hermes_cli/config.py

@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
     "command_allowlist": [],
     
     # Config schema version - bump this when adding new required fields
-    "_config_version": 3,
+    "_config_version": 4,
 }
 
 # =============================================================================
@@ -318,16 +318,19 @@ OPTIONAL_ENV_VARS = {
         "password": False,
         "category": "setting",
     },
+    # HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS and HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE are deprecated —
+    # now configured via display.tool_progress in config.yaml (off|new|all|verbose).
+    # Gateway falls back to these env vars for backward compatibility.
     "HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS": {
-        "description": "Send tool progress messages in messaging channels (true/false)",
+        "description": "(deprecated) Use display.tool_progress in config.yaml instead",
-        "prompt": "Enable tool progress messages",
+        "prompt": "Tool progress (deprecated — use config.yaml)",
         "url": None,
         "password": False,
         "category": "setting",
     },
     "HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE": {
-        "description": "Progress mode: 'all' (every tool) or 'new' (only when tool changes)",
+        "description": "(deprecated) Use display.tool_progress in config.yaml instead",
-        "prompt": "Progress mode (all/new)",
+        "prompt": "Progress mode (deprecated — use config.yaml)",
         "url": None,
         "password": False,
         "category": "setting",
@@ -442,6 +445,29 @@ def migrate_config(interactive: bool = True, quiet: bool = False) -> Dict[str, A
     # Check config version
     current_ver, latest_ver = check_config_version()
     
+    # ── Version 3 → 4: migrate tool progress from .env to config.yaml ──
+    if current_ver < 4:
+        config = load_config()
+        display = config.get("display", {})
+        if not isinstance(display, dict):
+            display = {}
+        if "tool_progress" not in display:
+            old_enabled = get_env_value("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS")
+            old_mode = get_env_value("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE")
+            if old_enabled and old_enabled.lower() in ("false", "0", "no"):
+                display["tool_progress"] = "off"
+                results["config_added"].append("display.tool_progress=off (from HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS=false)")
+            elif old_mode and old_mode.lower() in ("new", "all"):
+                display["tool_progress"] = old_mode.lower()
+                results["config_added"].append(f"display.tool_progress={old_mode.lower()} (from HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE)")
+            else:
+                display["tool_progress"] = "all"
+                results["config_added"].append("display.tool_progress=all (default)")
+            config["display"] = display
+            save_config(config)
+            if not quiet:
+                print(f"  ✓ Migrated tool progress to config.yaml: {display['tool_progress']}")
+    
     if current_ver < latest_ver and not quiet:
         print(f"Config version: {current_ver} → {latest_ver}")
     

hermes_cli/setup.py

@@ -1044,27 +1044,25 @@ def run_setup_wizard(args):
     except ValueError:
         print_warning("Invalid number, keeping current value")
     
-    # Tool progress notifications (for messaging)
+    # Tool progress notifications
     print_info("")
-    print_info("Tool Progress Notifications (Messaging only)")
+    print_info("Tool Progress Display")
-    print_info("Send status messages when the agent uses tools.")
+    print_info("Controls how much tool activity is shown (CLI and messaging).")
-    print_info("Example: '💻 ls -la...' or '🔍 web_search...'")
+    print_info("  off     — Silent, just the final response")
+    print_info("  new     — Show tool name only when it changes (less noise)")
+    print_info("  all     — Show every tool call with a short preview")
+    print_info("  verbose — Full args, results, and debug logs")
     
-    current_progress = get_env_value('HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS') or 'true'
+    current_mode = config.get("display", {}).get("tool_progress", "all")
-    if prompt_yes_no("Enable tool progress messages?", current_progress.lower() in ('1', 'true', 'yes')):
+    mode = prompt("Tool progress mode", current_mode)
-        save_env_value("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS", "true")
+    if mode.lower() in ("off", "new", "all", "verbose"):
-        
+        if "display" not in config:
-        # Progress mode
+            config["display"] = {}
-        current_mode = get_env_value('HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE') or 'all'
+        config["display"]["tool_progress"] = mode.lower()
-        print_info("  Mode options:")
+        save_config(config)
-        print_info("    'new' - Only when switching tools (less spam)")
+        print_success(f"Tool progress set to: {mode.lower()}")
-        print_info("    'all' - Every tool call")
-        mode = prompt("  Progress mode", current_mode)
-        if mode.lower() in ('all', 'new'):
-            save_env_value("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS_MODE", mode.lower())
-        print_success("Tool progress enabled")
     else:
-        save_env_value("HERMES_TOOL_PROGRESS", "false")
+        print_warning(f"Unknown mode '{mode}', keeping '{current_mode}'")
     
     # =========================================================================
     # Step 6: Context Compression