I'd recommend starting with clear tool definitions. Before you even touch the code, spend time documenting exactly what each tool should do—inputs, outputs, error cases. Hermes agents perform best when they have well-structured, unambiguous tool specs to work with.

Also, test your tools independently first. Don't let the agent layer add complexity while you're debugging basic functionality.

One more thing: start simple. Get a basic agent working with 2-3 tools before scaling up. The interaction dynamics change as you add more tools, and it's easier to iterate on a minimal setup.

Good luck with the setup!