# Architecture (operator summary)

Full design: **[design/DESIGN_PLAN.md](../design/DESIGN_PLAN.md)**.

## Layers

```text
Host (bootstrap, Docker, product scripts, nemohermes/openshell CLIs)
  → OpenShell gateway (credentials, L7 policy, sandbox lifecycle)
    → Hermes sandbox (minimal Lumina profile)
         skills, channels, MCP clients (allowlisted)
  → External OpenAI-compatible model (outside containers OK)
```

## How it flows

For the end-to-end narrative (design → implement → install → runtime → owner chat), see the **[root README](../README.md)** section "How the project flows."

## Related design docs

- [Planes](../design/planes.md)  
- [Det vs inference](../design/det-vs-inf.md)  
- [MCP integrations](../design/mcp-integrations.md)  
- [Updates lifecycle](../design/updates-lifecycle.md)  
- [Platform research notes](../design/research/platform-notes.md)