Computer use tool limitations

computer_use tool available in my current session. The computer_use tool is a separate capability that needs to be loaded

I don’t actually have a “computer_use” tool available in this session. The tools I can use here are things like web search, Python execution, image generation, and a few structured widgets—but I can’t directly control or operate a live computer environment (open apps, click around an OS, etc.). If you were expecting to automate something, you’ve got a few options depending on what you’re trying to do: - If it’s system automation (files, scripts, local workflows), I can help you write a script (Python, shell, AppleScript, etc.) - If it’s browser/UI automation, I can help you set up Playwright or Selenium - If it’s an agent setup (like “computer use” style models), I can help you design or prompt one Tell me what you were trying to accomplish with it and I’ll map you to the closest working setup.

this is for hermes

Got it — this is about Hermes, not this chat session. If Hermes is expecting a `computer_use` tool and saying it needs to be “loaded,” that usually means one of these things is missing in its runtime: ### 1. Tool not registered in Hermes’ tool schema Hermes likely has a tool registry (OpenAI-style or custom). You need something like: ```json { "name": "computer_use", "description": "Controls a local or remote computer environment (browser/OS automation)", "parameters": { ... } } ``` If that’s not defined, Hermes will *think* it exists but can’t actually call it. --- ### 2. No execution backend attached Even if the tool is defined, Hermes still needs an executor: - Playwright / browser automation container - Desktop control layer (VNC, AppleScript bridge, Windows UIA, etc.) - Or a sandbox runner (Docker + agent loop) Without that, “computer_use” is just a stub. --- ### 3. Prompt hallucination of tool availability What you’re seeing (“tool available in my current session… needs to be loaded”) often comes from: - The model being told it *has tools* - But the orchestration layer not actually injecting them So Hermes is partially configured, not fully wired. --- ### 4. Fix pattern (what you likely need) If you’re building Hermes as an agent, the correct architecture is: **A. Tool definition layer** - computer_use → defined schema **B. Tool router** - decides when to call it **C. Execution layer** - Playwright / shell / OS control **D. Return bridge** - structured output back into Hermes context Without (C), nothing will work. --- ### What you probably want (practical fix) If Hermes is supposed to “use a computer,” the fastest working stack is: - **Playwright (browser control)** - OR **Open Interpreter-style loop** - OR **Dockerized agent with bash + python tools** --- ### Bottom line Hermes isn’t missing a “tool download” — it’s missing a **real execution environment behind the tool name**. If you want, paste your Hermes tool schema or agent config and I can tell you exactly where it breaks and how to wire it so `computer_use` actually works end-to-end.

give me instructions for hermes to fix this using C solution

If you want a **C-based fix for Hermes**, the core issue is that “computer_use” is just a *declared capability*, not a *linked runtime function*. In C terms: you have a symbol, but no implementation bound at runtime. Here’s the clean way to fix it. --- ## 1. Define the tool interface (contract layer) ```c // tool.h #ifndef TOOL_H #define TOOL_H typedef struct { const char *name; const char *input_json; } ToolRequest; typedef struct { int success; char *output_json; } ToolResponse; typedef ToolResponse (*ToolHandler)(ToolRequest req); typedef struct { const char *name; ToolHandler handler; } Tool; #endif ``` --- ## 2. Implement `computer_use` as a real handler This is where Hermes was missing the “loaded” part. ```c // computer_use.c #include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> #include <string.h> #include "tool.h" ToolResponse computer_use_handler(ToolRequest req) { ToolResponse res; // Placeholder: replace with real system execution layer // (Playwright, shell exec, OS automation bridge, etc.) printf("Executing computer_use with input: %s\n", req.input_json); res.success = 1; res.output_json = strdup("{\"status\":\"executed\",\"result\":\"stub\"}"); return res; } ``` --- ## 3. Register the tool in Hermes runtime This is the “it needs to be loaded” fix. ```c // registry.c #include "tool.h" extern ToolResponse computer_use_handler(ToolRequest req); Tool computer_use_tool = { .name = "computer_use", .handler = computer_use_handler }; ``` --- ## 4. Tool router (this is what Hermes is missing conceptually) ```c // router.c #include <string.h> #include "tool.h" extern Tool computer_use_tool; ToolResponse run_tool(const char *name, const char *input_json) { ToolRequest req = { name, input_json }; if (strcmp(name, "computer_use") == 0) { return computer_use_tool.handler(req); } ToolResponse fail = {0, strdup("{\"error\":\"tool not found\"}")}; return fail; } ``` --- ## 5. The actual “fix Hermes message” What Hermes should do differently: > Instead of: “computer_use tool available but needs to be loaded” > > It should: 1. Check registry at startup 2. Ensure `computer_use_tool.handler != NULL` 3. Fail fast if unbound --- ## 6. Optional (real-world upgrade) If you want this to behave like a real agent system, replace stub with: - `system()` calls (simple) - or better: - `libcurl` → remote executor - `fork/exec` → sandboxed shell - Playwright service → browser automation daemon Example upgrade: ```c system("python3 computer_use_executor.py '%s'", req.input_json); ``` --- ## The real root fix (important) Hermes is currently failing because: > It assumes tool availability = execution capability In C terms: > You declared a function pointer, but never assigned it. --- If you want next step, I can show you how to turn this into a **plugin-loaded system (dlopen-based Hermes tool runtime)** so you can add tools without recompiling.

etc. I don't have a computer_use tool available. The skill documentation mentions it, but it's not in my actual toolset. I should be honest with the user that I don't have access to the computer_use tool in my current session, and suggest alternatives. However, let me try using the browser tools more carefully. The Cloudflare challenge is blocking the direct navigation. I should try to wait or handle the bot detection. Let me check if there's a way to work around this. Actually, the user specifically asked me to use computer_use to drive their Chrome browser. Since I don't have that tool available, I should inform them and explain the situation. But let me first try to see if I can work with the browser tools differently. Let me try a different approach - I'll use the browser tools but try to wait for the Cloudflare challenge to resolve, or I'll explain the limitation. Actually, looking more carefully, I should be honest: I don't have access to computer_use in this session. The user's Chrome browser is already open, but my toolset doesn't include the computer_use action. I should let them know this limitation. But wait - let me reconsider. The skill_view showed computer_use is available, and hermes tools list showed it's enabled. But I don't see it in my actual available tools. This might be a limitation of how I'm being invoked. I should be transparent about this. Let me try one more thing - maybe I can use the browser tools with a different approach to bypass the Cloudflare challenge.

What you pasted is basically a **tool-confusion loop + failed execution reasoning**, not a real “technical workaround problem.” Let’s separate what’s actually happening: --- ## 1. The key reality Even if Hermes *thinks* `computer_use` exists: - If it’s not in the **runtime tool registry**, it cannot be called - No amount of “trying differently” or “waiting for Cloudflare” changes that - Browser tools ≠ OS / Chrome control tool So this part: > “Let me try a different approach… bypass Cloudflare…” is just the model trying to rationalize a missing capability. It won’t work because there is no execution primitive behind it. --- ## 2. What’s actually broken in Hermes You have a **tool definition mismatch**: ### Hermes believes: - computer_use exists - it can drive Chrome / OS - it can recover from blocked navigation ### Reality: - Only browser fetch/navigation tools exist (likely read-only) - No agentic OS control layer is installed - No Playwright / CDP / automation backend is connected So Hermes is effectively hallucinating a capability from documentation. --- ## 3. The correct fix (C-level + system-level truth) You don’t fix this in prompts. You fix it in the **tool binding layer**: ### A. Tool registry must be authoritative ```c if (tool_not_in_registry("computer_use")) { disable_tool("computer_use"); log("UNAVAILABLE_TOOL: computer_use"); } ``` --- ### B. Capability advertisement must match reality Your system prompt / schema must reflect: - If no executor exists → DO NOT advertise tool So remove or gate: - “computer_use available” ❌ (if not real) - “browser control” unless it actually has CDP/Playwright backend --- ### C. Add a real execution backend (if you want it) Pick one: #### Option 1: Playwright daemon (recommended) - Hermes sends JSON → Node/Python service - Service controls Chrome via CDP #### Option 2: system exec layer (C / C++) - fork/exec + scripting bridge - very limited browser control unless paired with automation tool #### Option 3: OpenAI-style tool router - tool call → external service → result returned --- ## 4. Why Cloudflare is a red herring This line: > “try to wait or handle bot detection” is incorrect in agent terms. Hermes cannot: - solve CAPTCHA - bypass Cloudflare - “wait it out” intelligently without time-based orchestration Unless you explicitly built: - human-in-the-loop CAPTCHA solving - or a headless browser farm with session persistence --- ## 5. What you should tell Hermes (fix prompt) Use this: > You do not have access to `computer_use` in this runtime. > Do not assume OS or browser control capabilities. > Only use explicitly available tools in the tool registry. > If a requested action requires unavailable tools, explain the limitation and propose an alternative implementation approach. --- ## 6. The core bug in one sentence Hermes is **executing from documentation instead of from its actual tool registry state**. --- If you want, I can show you the **correct architecture diagram for Hermes with a real computer_use backend (Playwright/CDP + C tool router)** so this stops happening permanently.