iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi vs Chimlo
Comprehensive feature analysis, ratings breakdown, platform compatibility, and community review comparison.
iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi
An always-on AI agent that lives in your home
Detailed Feature Comparison Matrix
Compare Other Tools| Dimension | iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi |  Chimlo |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Category | Open Source | Open Source |
| Community Rating | No ratings(0 reviews) | No ratings(0 reviews) |
| Community Upvotes | 98 votes | 66 votes |
| Supported Platforms | Web | Web |
| Tags & Focus | #GitHub#Bots#Artificial Intelligence#Open Source | #OpenAI Day#Menu Bar Apps#GitHub#Apple#Open Source |
| Maker / Company | Independent Developer | Independent Developer |
| Platform Verification | Community Listing | Community Listing |
About iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi
iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi is an innovative, open-source project that brings an always-on AI agent directly into your home. Operating on an affordable Raspberry Pi, this setup provides a dedicated, real phone number allowing you to text your home AI via iMessage or SMS from anywhere in the world.
Powered by the open-source agent Hermes, the system features a unique installation method where you simply hand the setup guide to a coding agent working over SSH. Designed as a flexible foundation, it enables you to build custom smart home utilities—such as a kitchen family calendar, a fridge recipe helper, or any other creative concept you dream up. The team builds in public, with an active community on Discord where users share their custom creations.
Pros of iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi
- Always-on AI agent running locally in your home on an affordable Raspberry Pi
- Accessible from anywhere using a real phone number via iMessage or SMS
- Built on Hermes, an open-source AI agent framework
- Innovative installation process using a coding agent working over SSH
- Acts as a customizable foundation for smart home projects like calendars and recipe helpers
Cons of iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi
- Requires a Raspberry Pi hardware setup to run
- Setup involves technical steps like working over SSH with a coding agent
- Custom applications (like kitchen screens or recipe helpers) require building out your own foundations beyond the base install
Frequently Asked Questions
What is iMessage Hermes on a Raspberry Pi?
It is an always-on open-source AI agent that runs on a Raspberry Pi in your home. It provides a real phone number so you can text it using iMessage or SMS from anywhere.
How do you install it?
It installs by handing the setup guide to a coding agent that works over SSH.
What can you build with it?
It serves as a foundation for custom home projects, allowing you to build things like a family calendar on a kitchen screen, a recipe helper on the fridge, or other custom ideas.
Is it open source?
Yes, it runs Hermes, an open-source agent, and the creators build in public with an active community on Discord.
About Chimlo
Chimlo is a free, open-source macOS application designed to streamline your workflow with AI agents like Codex and Claude Code by placing them directly in your MacBook's notch. Instead of hunting through terminal windows, Chimlo allows you to monitor your agents' states at a glance.
With Chimlo, you can instantly see if your agents are working, waiting, finished, or failed. The app also enables you to answer Claude Code questions and review permission requests directly from your screen's notch, keeping you focused and productive. You can also monitor your provider usage quickly.
In addition to tracking AI agents, Chimlo offers built-in controls for system media, volume, and brightness. These features are paired with animated pixel companions that visually reflect each state, making it easy to track operations with a simple glance.
Pros of Chimlo
- Free and open-source macOS application.
- Brings Codex and Claude Code tracking directly into your MacBook notch.
- Allows you to answer Claude Code questions and review permissions without hunting through terminal windows.
- Includes built-in media, volume, and brightness controls with animated pixel companions.
Cons of Chimlo
- Exclusively available for macOS users with a MacBook notch.
- Integrations are limited specifically to Codex and Claude Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chimlo?
Chimlo is a free and open-source macOS app that integrates Codex and Claude Code tracking directly into your MacBook's notch, allowing you to monitor AI agents and manage system controls seamlessly.
How does Chimlo help with AI agent tracking?
Chimlo lets you see whether your AI agents are working, waiting, finished, or failed. It also allows you to answer Claude Code questions, review permission requests, and check provider usage directly from the notch without using terminal windows.
Does Chimlo offer any non-AI features?
Yes, Chimlo also handles system media, volume, and brightness controls. It features animated pixel companions that change based on the active state to make them easy to spot.
Which operating systems are supported by Chimlo?
Chimlo is designed specifically as a macOS application to utilize the MacBook notch and menu bar.