---
name: blackbox-fd66cd374872
description: Delegate coding tasks to Blackbox AI CLI agent. Multi-model agent with built-in judge that runs tasks through multiple LLMs and picks the best result. Requires the blackbox CLI and a Blackbox AI API key.
version: 1.0.0
author: Hermes Agent (Nous Research)
license: MIT
platforms: [linux, macos, windows]
metadata:
  hermes:
    tags: [Coding-Agent, Blackbox, Multi-Agent, Judge, Multi-Model]
    related_skills: [claude-code, codex, hermes-agent]
---

# Blackbox CLI

Delegate coding tasks to [Blackbox AI](https://www.blackbox.ai/) via the Hermes terminal. Blackbox is a multi-model coding agent CLI that dispatches tasks to multiple LLMs (Claude, Codex, Gemini, Blackbox Pro) and uses a judge to select the best implementation.

The CLI is [open-source](https://github.com/blackboxaicode/cli) (GPL-3.0, TypeScript, forked from Gemini CLI) and supports interactive sessions, non-interactive one-shots, checkpointing, MCP, and vision model switching.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 20+ installed
- Blackbox CLI installed: `npm install -g @blackboxai/cli`
- Or install from source:
  ```
  git clone https://github.com/blackboxaicode/cli.git
  cd cli && npm install && npm install -g .
  ```
- API key from [app.blackbox.ai/dashboard](https://app.blackbox.ai/dashboard)
- Configured: run `blackbox configure` and enter your API key
- Use `pty=true` in terminal calls — Blackbox CLI is an interactive terminal app

## One-Shot Tasks

```
terminal(command="blackbox --prompt 'Add JWT authentication with refresh tokens to the Express API'", workdir="/path/to/project", pty=true)
```

For quick scratch work:
```
terminal(command="cd $(mktemp -d) && git init && blackbox --prompt 'Build a REST API for todos with SQLite'", pty=true)
```

## Background Mode (Long Tasks)

For tasks that take minutes, use background mode so you can monitor progress:

```
# Start in background with PTY
terminal(command="blackbox --prompt 'Refactor the auth module to use OAuth 2.0'", workdir="~/project", background=true, pty=true)
# Returns session_id

# Monitor progress
process(action="poll", session_id="<id>")
process(action="log", session_id="<id>")

# Send input if Blackbox asks a question
process(action="submit", session_id="<id>", data="yes")

# Kill if needed
process(action="kill", session_id="<id>")
```

## Checkpoints & Resume

Blackbox CLI has built-in checkpoint support for pausing and resuming tasks:

```
# After a task completes, Blackbox shows a checkpoint tag
# Resume with a follow-up task:
terminal(command="blackbox --resume-checkpoint 'task-abc123-2026-03-06' --prompt 'Now add rate limiting to the endpoints'", workdir="~/project", pty=true)
```

## Session Commands

During an interactive session, use these commands:

| Command | Effect |
|---------|--------|
| `/compress` | Shrink conversation history to save tokens |
| `/clear` | Wipe history and start fresh |
| `/stats` | View current token usage |
| `Ctrl+C` | Cancel current operation |

## PR Reviews

Clone to a temp directory to avoid modifying the working tree:

```
terminal(command="REVIEW=$(mktemp -d) && git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git $REVIEW && cd $REVIEW && gh pr checkout 42 && blackbox --prompt 'Review this PR against main. Check for bugs, security issues, and code quality.'", pty=true)
```

## Parallel Work

Spawn multiple Blackbox instances for independent tasks:

```
terminal(command="blackbox --prompt 'Fix the login bug'", workdir="/tmp/issue-1", background=true, pty=true)
terminal(command="blackbox --prompt 'Add unit tests for auth'", workdir="/tmp/issue-2", background=true, pty=true)

# Monitor all
process(action="list")
```

## Multi-Model Mode

Blackbox's unique feature is running the same task through multiple models and judging the results. Configure which models to use via `blackbox configure` — select multiple providers to enable the Chairman/judge workflow where the CLI evaluates outputs from different models and picks the best one.

## Key Flags

| Flag | Effect |
|------|--------|
| `--prompt "task"` | Non-interactive one-shot execution |
| `--resume-checkpoint "tag"` | Resume from a saved checkpoint |
| `--yolo` | Auto-approve all actions and model switches |
| `blackbox session` | Start interactive chat session |
| `blackbox configure` | Change settings, providers, models |
| `blackbox info` | Display system information |

## Vision Support

Blackbox automatically detects images in input and can switch to multimodal analysis. VLM modes:
- `"once"` — Switch model for current query only
- `"session"` — Switch for entire session
- `"persist"` — Stay on current model (no switch)

## Token Limits

Control token usage via `.blackboxcli/settings.json`:
```json
{
  "sessionTokenLimit": 32000
}
```

## Rules

1. **Always use `pty=true`** — Blackbox CLI is an interactive terminal app and will hang without a PTY
2. **Use `workdir`** — keep the agent focused on the right directory
3. **Background for long tasks** — use `background=true` and monitor with `process` tool
4. **Don't interfere** — monitor with `poll`/`log`, don't kill sessions because they're slow
5. **Report results** — after completion, check what changed and summarize for the user
6. **Credits cost money** — Blackbox uses a credit-based system; multi-model mode consumes credits faster
7. **Check prerequisites** — verify `blackbox` CLI is installed before attempting delegation


---
Source attribution: CUexter
Original project: https://github.com/CUexter/hermes-agent/blob/e1eba6f8ccd272ff9c213afbd6c0397bf828be72/optional-skills/autonomous-ai-agents/blackbox/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 Nous Research

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: CUexter
Original project: https://github.com/CUexter/hermes-agent/blob/e1eba6f8ccd272ff9c213afbd6c0397bf828be72/optional-skills/autonomous-ai-agents/blackbox/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Content & Media, Development & Engineering
Roles: Backend Developer, Frontend Developer, Full-Stack Developer, ML / AI Engineer, Technical Writer
Specialties: API, Backend, DevOps
Tools: Blackbox
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 3ffce99e2509f83cc30f2dc42a51187efd5e52ea59325254d62baba0ca62ac09