watchers

Poll RSS, JSON, and GitHub sources to surface new items with watermark dedup.

Updated May 4, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/Plaidmustache/hermes-nulab --skill watchers-plaidmustache
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: watchers
Source: https://github.com/Plaidmustache/hermes-nulab/tree/main/optional-skills/devops/watchers
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/Plaidmustache/hermes-nulab --skill watchers-plaidmustache

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Poll external sources (RSS/Atom feeds, JSON endpoints, and GitHub activity) to surface only new items, reducing noise and manual checking.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Ready-made watchers for RSS, JSON, and GitHub that deduplicate via a watermark and emit only new items.
  • Works with cron/terminal workflows and renders Markdown for easy delivery to chat channels or emails.
  • Use cases include monitoring news feeds, repository events, and API streams for alerts or summaries.

Quick Start

Configure a watcher name and endpoint, then run it to start polling and delivering new items from your feeds.

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 GitHub for new items without duplicates?

Poll RSS, JSON, and GitHub activity via watchers to surface new items without duplicates. A watermark-based dedup system tracks state locally, ensuring only new entries are emitted on subsequent runs.

Can I run a JSON endpoint watcher on a cron schedule?

JSON endpoint watchers run on cron or ad hoc. You configure a watcher name and target endpoint, and the system handles polling, deduplication, and state storage for cross-session recall.

How does watermark deduplication work for monitoring API streams?

Watermark deduplication tracks the last processed item from API streams to filter out previously seen entries. It establishes a first-run baseline and stores state locally to recall progress across sessions.

Do I need extra dependencies to monitor GitHub repository events?

Monitoring GitHub repository events requires no special setup or extra dependencies. You simply provide a watcher name and the target GitHub endpoint to start polling and delivering new activity.

What is the best way to format GitHub activity polling results for chat channels?

Format GitHub activity polling results for chat channels using Markdown rendering. The watchers output Markdown natively, making it easy to deliver alerts or summaries directly to terminal workflows or emails.

How are network or API issues handled when polling external data sources?

Network or API issues are handled by built-in error handling within the watchers. This prevents polling failures from breaking the workflow when monitoring RSS feeds, JSON endpoints, or GitHub activity.