## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work.
> - Paperclip runs agents through adapters, including built-in local and
gateway-style adapters.
> - Hermes gateway users need to connect Paperclip to an already-running
Hermes API server.
> - The gateway setup flow was missing clear non-local adapter
configuration fields and accepted fewer URL shapes than operators
naturally paste from Hermes.
> - It also surfaced sparse diagnostics when the gateway was unreachable
or when Paperclip generated onboarding prompts for gateway agents.
> - This pull request tightens Hermes gateway configuration, URL
normalization, diagnostics, and onboarding defaults.
> - The benefit is that Hermes gateway setup is easier to complete and
easier to debug without affecting unrelated adapters.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
No public issue found for this exact follow-up. Related prior/in-flight
Hermes work:
- Refs #2363
- Refs #4359
- Refs #6473
Problem statement:
- **Type:** Adapter follow-up / setup reliability
- **Adapter:** `hermes_gateway`
- **Motivation:** Operators configure `hermes_gateway` against a running
Hermes API server, but the UI and onboarding flow did not expose enough
gateway-specific configuration or diagnostics.
- **Expected behavior:** Paperclip should render the gateway fields,
normalize common Hermes dashboard/API URL inputs, preserve sensible
gateway onboarding defaults, and report reachability failures with
actionable detail.
- **Deployment mode:** Built-in adapter package in the Paperclip
monorepo.
## What Changed
- Added UI config fields for non-local Hermes gateway settings,
including tests for rendering and field behavior.
- Accepted Hermes dashboard URLs by normalizing them to gateway API URLs
for execution.
- Improved gateway reachability and run URL diagnostics.
- Updated Hermes gateway onboarding text/default behavior so join
prompts preserve gateway configuration.
- Added focused server, UI, and adapter tests for the gateway
configuration and onboarding paths.
## Verification
- `pnpm install --frozen-lockfile --prefer-offline`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/hermes-paperclip-adapter exec vitest run
src/gateway/server/execute.test.ts` — 20 passed
- `pnpm exec vitest run
server/src/__tests__/invite-accept-gateway-defaults.test.ts
server/src/__tests__/invite-onboarding-text.test.ts
ui/src/adapters/hermes-gateway/config-fields.test.tsx
ui/src/components/AgentConfigForm.render.test.tsx
ui/src/lib/agent-onboarding-prompt.test.ts` — 23 passed across 5 files
- Confirmed the PR diff excludes `pnpm-lock.yaml` and
`.github/workflows`.
## Risks
Low to moderate risk. The changes are scoped to Hermes gateway
configuration/onboarding and generic non-local adapter field rendering.
The main risk is rejecting an unusual Hermes URL shape that should be
accepted; the normalization tests cover dashboard and API URL variants
added here.
> For core feature work, check [`ROADMAP.md`](ROADMAP.md) first and
discuss it in `#dev` before opening the PR. Feature PRs that overlap
with planned core work may need to be redirected — check the roadmap
first. See `CONTRIBUTING.md`.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-5-based coding agent in a tool-enabled local CLI
environment, with shell/GitHub/Paperclip API access. Exact runtime model
identifier was not exposed in this session.
## Checklist
- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
---------
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
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