How Hermes uses a secret

An agent needs keys to do real work. The mix-up is treating every secret like the same object. A secret has a job.

I Don't Understand Why Anyone Needs a Team of AI Agents

Everyone wants a company of AI agents. I run one Hermes agent with a pile of sessions, and I still do not see why a solo user would want the org chart.

Keep Hermes Agent Running When Your Laptop Sleeps

Hermes dies when the laptop sleeps. Here is the getting-started path I would use: desktop app, spare machine, or Cloudways Managed AI with your own key.

AppSumo Alumni Bundle Hands-On: $29 for Pictory, Nifty, and Gumlet (1 Year)

AppSumo’s Alumni Bundle is $29 for one year of Pictory, Nifty, and Gumlet Video. I walk through what each tool does and the fine print that matters before you buy.

Tough Tongue AI AppSumo Hands-On: Practice Hard Conversations (8.3/10)

I tested Tough Tongue AI during AppSumo AI Week — live sales roleplay, scores, scenario courses, and where I would actually use AI agents versus keep humans on the call.

Skillplate AppSumo Hands-On: $79 Course Stack, AI Outlines, and the Real Cut

I got access to the Skillplate AppSumo deal, made a fresh account, and tried to break it. Here is what is strong, what is rough, and the lifetime-deal math under the $79 sticker.

How to Vibe Code a Business App Clients Can Use

Vibe coding can put a UI on screen in minutes. A business app still needs data, logins, permissions, and handoffs. Here is how I build a Client Work Hub in Softr that real clients can actually use.

RobinReach on AppSumo: AI Social Desk + MCP Walkthrough

RobinReach is an AI social media manager on AppSumo. I walked the full setup — accounts, compose, AI tools, scheduling — and the MCP layer that lets my agent run the desk.

HelpLoom AppSumo: Live Chat + AI Support Widget

I installed HelpLoom on DaveSwift.com — a $99 AppSumo live chat and AI support widget with knowledge base, help center, unlimited agents, and MCP. Here is the full setup and score.

I Used a Hermes Agent to Plan Our Family Road Trip

A practical everyday Hermes walkthrough: planning a real family road trip with an always-on agent, private Tailscale access, and a trip site the whole family can use.

Hyprcore Mac Dictation App Walkthrough

Hyprcore is a Mac app for local-first dictation with optional cloud polish, a vault for notes and transcripts, built-in meeting recording, team sharing, and MCP access. Here’s what stood out in my walkthrough during AppSumo’s The Deal Is Right promo.

BitFlows Offers WordPress Automation Without SaaS Fees

BitFlows brings Zapier-style automation into WordPress. I built a real lead workflow, sent form data to Slack, added AI filtering, and tested the newer human approval and MCP features.

Dave's Toolbox

Dave's Toolbox -- July 28, 2026

Five tools for finishing work: desktop deliverables, human+agent rooms, an agent browser, polished demos, and an open coding harness.

AppSumo

RobinReach on AppSumo: AI Social Desk + MCP Walkthrough

RobinReach is an AI social media manager on AppSumo. I walked the full setup — accounts, compose, AI tools, scheduling — and the MCP layer that lets my agent run the desk.

Dave's Toolbox

Dave's Toolbox -- July 21, 2026

Five open tools: agent video edits, SEO with real numbers, a self-hosted agent front door, an open coding agent, and ship-on-your-own-servers.

ltd

HelpLoom AppSumo: Live Chat + AI Support Widget

I installed HelpLoom on DaveSwift.com — a $99 AppSumo live chat and AI support widget with knowledge base, help center, unlimited agents, and MCP. Here is the full setup and score.

AI

I Used a Hermes Agent to Plan Our Family Road Trip

A practical everyday Hermes walkthrough: planning a real family road trip with an always-on agent, private Tailscale access, and a trip site the whole family can use.

ltd

Hyprcore Mac Dictation App Walkthrough

Hyprcore is a Mac app for local-first dictation with optional cloud polish, a vault for notes and transcripts, built-in meeting recording, team sharing, and MCP access. Here’s what stood out in my walkthrough during AppSumo’s The Deal Is Right promo.

Dave's Toolbox

Dave's Toolbox -- July 14, 2026

Tools that pull AI out of the chat window: a Hermes browser side panel, an open map of primary school, code-built lessons, paying for machine traffic, and no-code voice agents.

Dave's Toolbox

Dave's Toolbox -- July 7, 2026

A road-trip office powered by FSD, Starlink, Vision Pro, and agents — plus Grok 4.5, FluentPlayer, Knockoff, and Unbroker.

wordpress

BitFlows Offers WordPress Automation Without SaaS Fees

BitFlows brings Zapier-style automation into WordPress. I built a real lead workflow, sent form data to Slack, added AI filtering, and tested the newer human approval and MCP features.

Dave's Toolbox

Dave's Toolbox -- June 30, 2026

Coding agents leave the desk: mobile reviews, creative pipelines, local privacy, smarter Mac sleep, and on-device voice.

wordpress

Cloudways vs WP Engine for WordPress Hosting

Cloudways and WP Engine both sell managed WordPress hosting, but they make very different tradeoffs. Here is how I think about pricing, resource limits, backups, security, performance, Safe Updates, support, and which one I would choose for real client sites.

productivity

Build a Freelancer Management Portal with Softr AI

I built a freelancer management portal in Softr for the kind of work that usually gets scattered across email, spreadsheets, Slack, and random folders. The app gives admins one place to manage assignments, invoices, documents, and freelancer access.