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AlvaroBiano
AlvaroBianoCOMMUNITY
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watchers

Poll RSS feeds, GitHub activity, and JSON endpoints for new items.

Updated May 2, 2026
Search Tags:#automation#monitoring#github#deduplication#polling#http#rss
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/AlvaroBiano/hermes-agent --skill watchers-alvarobiano
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: watchers
Source: https://github.com/AlvaroBiano/hermes-agent/tree/main/optional-skills/devops/watchers
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/AlvaroBiano/hermes-agent --skill watchers-alvarobiano

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Keeps you updated by watching external data sources (RSS, JSON endpoints, and GitHub activity) and surfacing only new items.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Ready-made scripts in scripts/ that perform RSS, JSON, and GitHub polling with a shared watermark helper for deduplication.
  • Persistent watermark state stored under watcher-state to enable cross-session recall and avoid re-emitting items.
  • Seamless cron integration and on-demand ad-hoc checks via the Hermes terminal interface, with configurable per-source options.

Quick Start

Run the watch_rss.py script with a name and URL to start tracking updates.

Frequently Asked Questions about watchers

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I poll RSS feeds and only get notified of new items?▼

You can poll RSS feeds for new items by running the watch_rss.py script with a name and URL. It uses a persistent watermark under watcher-state to track seen entries, deduplicates content, and outputs Markdown-ready entries for delivery.

What is a watermark in polling and how does deduplication work?▼

A watermark in polling tracks seen items from RSS, JSON, or GitHub activity. It enables deduplication by storing persistent state under watcher-state, ensuring cross-session recall and preventing the re-emission of old entries.

Can I use cron to automate monitoring GitHub activity and JSON endpoints?▼

Yes, you can use cron to automate monitoring GitHub activity and JSON endpoints. The scripts are designed for cron-based polling and ad-hoc checks, surfacing only new items with configurable per-source options.

Does the polling script require any external dependencies to monitor HTTP sources?▼

No external dependencies are required to monitor HTTP sources. The watcher scripts handle RSS, GitHub activity, and JSON endpoints natively, using a shared watermark helper for deduplication without additional packages.

What is the best way to avoid duplicate notifications when polling external data sources?▼

The best way to avoid duplicate notifications when polling external data sources is using a persistent watermark. It tracks seen items across sessions under watcher-state, performing deduplication so only genuinely new content is surfaced.

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