- name
- comfyui
- description
- Generate images, video, and audio with ComfyUI — install, launch, manage nodes/models, run workflows with parameter injection. Uses the official comfy-cli for lifecycle and direct REST/WebSocket API for execution.
- version
- 5.0.0
- author
- ["kshitijk4poor","alt-glitch"]
- license
- MIT
- platforms
- ["macos","linux","windows"]
- compatibility
- Requires ComfyUI (local, Comfy Desktop, or Comfy Cloud) and comfy-cli (auto-installed via pipx/uvx by the setup script).
- prerequisites
- {"commands":["python3"]}
- setup
- {"help":"Run scripts/hardware_check.py FIRST to decide local vs Comfy Cloud; then scripts/comfyui_setup.sh auto-installs locally (or use Cloud API key for platform.comfy.org)."}
- metadata
- {"hermes":{"tags":["comfyui","image-generation","stable-diffusion","flux","sd3","wan-video","hunyuan-video","creative","generative-ai","video-generation"],"related_skills":["stable-diffusion-image-generation","image_gen"],"category":"creative"}}
- origin
- aggregated
- source_license
- MIT
- source_repo
- NousResearch/hermes-agent
- source_url
- https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/tree/main/skills/creative/comfyui
- language
- en
# ComfyUI
Generate images, video, audio, and 3D content through ComfyUI using the
official `comfy-cli` for setup/lifecycle and direct REST/WebSocket API
for workflow execution.
## What's in this skill
**Reference docs (`references/`):**
- `official-cli.md` — every `comfy ...` command, with flags
- `rest-api.md` — REST + WebSocket endpoints (local + cloud), payload schemas
- `workflow-format.md` — API-format JSON, common node types, param mapping
**Scripts (`scripts/`):**
| Script | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `_common.py` | Shared HTTP, cloud routing, node catalogs (don't run directly) |
| `hardware_check.py` | Probe GPU/VRAM/disk → recommend local vs Comfy Cloud |
| `comfyui_setup.sh` | Hardware check + comfy-cli + ComfyUI install + launch + verify |
| `extract_schema.py` | Read a workflow → list controllable params + model deps |
| `check_deps.py` | Check workflow against running server → list missing nodes/models |
| `auto_fix_deps.py` | Run check_deps then `comfy node install` / `comfy model download` |
| `run_workflow.py` | Inject params, submit, monitor, download outputs (HTTP or WS) |
| `run_batch.py` | Submit a workflow N times with sweeps, parallel up to your tier |
| `ws_monitor.py` | Real-time WebSocket viewer for executing jobs (live progress) |
| `health_check.py` | Verification checklist runner — comfy-cli + server + models + smoke test |
| `fetch_logs.py` | Pull traceback / status messages for a given prompt_id |
**Example workflows (`workflows/`):** SD 1.5, SDXL, Flux Dev, SDXL img2img,
SDXL inpaint, ESRGAN upscale, AnimateDiff video, Wan T2V. See
`workflows/README.md`.
## When to Use
- User asks to generate images with Stable Diffusion, SDXL, Flux, SD3, etc.
- User wants to run a specific ComfyUI workflow file
- User wants to chain generative steps (txt2img → upscale → face restore)
- User needs ControlNet, inpainting, img2img, or other advanced pipelines
- User asks to manage ComfyUI queue, check models, or install custom nodes
- User wants video/audio/3D generation via AnimateDiff, Hunyuan, Wan, AudioCraft, etc.
## Architecture: Two Layers
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Layer 1: comfy-cli (official lifecycle tool) │
│ Setup, server lifecycle, custom nodes, models │
│ → comfy install / launch / stop / node / model │
└─────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
│
┌─────────────────────────▼───────────────────────────┐
│ Layer 2: REST/WebSocket API + skill scripts │
│ Workflow execution, param injection, monitoring │
│ POST /api/prompt, GET /api/view, WS /ws │
│ → run_workflow.py, run_batch.py, ws_monitor.py │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
**Why two layers?** The official CLI is excellent for installation and server
management but has minimal workflow execution support. The REST/WS API fills
that gap — the scripts handle param injection, execution monitoring, and
output download that the CLI doesn't do.
## Quick Start
### Detect environment
```bash
# What's available?
command -v comfy >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "comfy-cli: installed"
curl -s http://127.0.0.1:8188/system_stats 2>/dev/null && echo "server: running"
# Can this machine run ComfyUI locally? (GPU/VRAM/disk check)
python3 scripts/hardware_check.py
```
If nothing is installed, see **Setup & Onboarding** below — but always run the
hardware check first.
### One-line health check
```bash
python3 scripts/health_check.py
# → JSON: comfy_cli on PATH? server reachable? at least one checkpoint? smoke-test passes?
```
## Core Workflow
### Step 1: Get a workflow JSON in API format
Workflows must be in API format (each node has `class_type`). They come from:
- ComfyUI web UI → **Workflow → Export (API)** (newer UI) or
the legacy "Save (API Format)" button (older UI)
- This skill's `workflows/` directory (ready-to-run examples)
- Community downloads (civitai, Reddit, Discord) — usually editor format,
must be loaded into ComfyUI then re-exported
Editor format (top-level `nodes` and `links` arrays) is **not directly
executable**. The scripts detect this and tell you to re-export.
### Step 2: See what's controllable
```bash
python3 scripts/extract_schema.py workflow_api.json --summary-only
# → {"parameter_count": 12, "has_negative_prompt": true, "has_seed": true, ...}
python3 scripts/extract_schema.py workflow_api.json
# → full schema with parameters, model deps, embedding refs
```
### Step 3: Run with parameters
```bash
# Local (defaults to http://127.0.0.1:8188)
python3 scripts/run_workflow.py \
--workflow workflow_api.json \
--args '{"prompt": "a beautiful sunset over mountains", "seed": -1, "steps": 30}' \
--output-dir ./outputs
# Cloud (export API key once; uses correct /api routing automatically)
export COMFY_CLOUD_API_KEY="comfyui-..."
python3 scripts/run_workflow.py \
--workflow workflow_api.json \
--args '{"prompt": "..."}' \
--host https://cloud.comfy.org \
--output-dir ./outputs
# Real-time progress via WebSocket (requires `pip install websocket-client`)
python3 scripts/run_workflow.py \
--workflow flux_dev.json \
--args '{"prompt": "..."}' \
--ws
# img2img / inpaint: pass --input-image to upload + reference automatically
python3 scripts/run_workflow.py \
--workflow sdxl_img2img.json \
--input-image image=./photo.png \
--args '{"prompt": "make it watercolor", "denoise": 0.6}'
# Batch / sweep: 8 random seeds, parallel up to cloud tier limit
python3 scripts/run_batch.py \
--workflow sdxl.json \
--args '{"prompt": "abstract"}' \
--count 8 --randomize-seed --parallel 3 \
--output-dir ./outputs/batch
```
`-1` for `seed` (or omitting it with `--randomize-seed`) generates a fresh
random seed per run.
### Step 4: Present results
The scripts emit JSON to stdout describing every output file:
```json
{
"status": "success",
"prompt_id": "abc-123",
"outputs": [
{"file": "./outputs/sdxl_00001_.png", "node_id": "9",
"type": "image", "filename": "sdxl_00001_.png"}
]
}
```
## Decision Tree
| User says | Tool | Command |
|-----------|------|---------|
| **Lifecycle (use comfy-cli)** | | |
| "install ComfyUI" | comfy-cli | `bash scripts/comfyui_setup.sh` |
| "start ComfyUI" | comfy-cli | `comfy launch --background` |
| "stop ComfyUI" | comfy-cli | `comfy stop` |
| "install X node" | comfy-cli | `comfy node install <name>` |
| "download X model" | comfy-cli | `comfy model download --url <url> --relative-path models/checkpoints` |
| "list installed models" | comfy-cli | `comfy model list` |
| "list installed nodes" | comfy-cli | `comfy node show installed` |
| **Execution (use scripts)** | | |
| "is everything ready?" | script | `health_check.py` (optionally with `--workflow X --smoke-test`) |
| "what can I change in this workflow?" | script | `extract_schema.py W.json` |
| "check if W's deps are met" | script | `check_deps.py W.json` |
| "fix missing deps" | script | `auto_fix_deps.py W.json` |
| "generate an image" | script | `run_workflow.py --workflow W --args '{...}'` |
| "use this image" (img2img) | script | `run_workflow.py --input-image image=./x.png ...` |
| "8 variations with random seeds" | script | `run_batch.py --count 8 --randomize-seed ...` |
| "show me live progress" | script | `ws_monitor.py --prompt-id <id>` |
| "fetch the error from job X" | script | `fetch_logs.py <prompt_id>` |
| **Direct REST** | | |
| "what's in the queue?" | REST | `curl http://HOST:8188/queue` (local) or `--host https://cloud.comfy.org` |
| "cancel that" | REST | `curl -X POST http://HOST:8188/interrupt` |
| "free GPU memory" | REST | `curl -X POST http://HOST:8188/free` |
## Setup & Onboarding
When a user asks to set up ComfyUI, **the FIRST thing to do is ask whether
they want Comfy Cloud (hosted, zero install, API key) or Local (install
ComfyUI on their machine)**. Don't start running install commands or hardware
checks until they've answered.
**Official docs:** https://docs.comfy.org/installation
**CLI docs:** https://docs.comfy.org/comfy-cli/getting-started
**Cloud docs:** https://docs.comfy.org/get_started/cloud
**Cloud API:** https://docs.comfy.org/development/cloud/overview
### Step 0: Ask Local vs Cloud (ALWAYS FIRST)
Suggested script:
> "Do you want to run ComfyUI locally on your machine, or use Comfy Cloud?
>
> - **Comfy Cloud** — hosted on RTX 6000 Pro GPUs, all common models pre-installed,
> zero setup. Requires an API key (paid subscription required to actually run
> workflows; free tier is read-only). Best if you don't have a capable GPU.
> - **Local** — free, but your machine MUST meet the hardware requirements:
> - NVIDIA GPU with **≥6 GB VRAM** (≥8 GB for SDXL, ≥12 GB for Flux/video), OR
> - AMD GPU with ROCm support (Linux), OR
> - Apple Silicon Mac (M1+) with **≥16 GB unified memory** (≥32 GB recommended).
> - Intel Macs and machines with no GPU will NOT work — use Cloud instead.
>
> Which would you like?"
Routing:
- **Cloud** → skip to **Path A**.
- **Local** → run hardware check first, then pick a path from Paths B–E based on the verdict.
- **Unsure** → run the hardware check and let the verdict decide.
### Step 1: Verify Hardware (ONLY if user chose local)
```bash
python3 scripts/hardware_check.py --json
# Optional: also probe `torch` for actual CUDA/MPS:
python3 scripts/hardware_check.py --json --check-pytorch
```
| Verdict | Meaning | Action |
|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| `ok` | ≥8 GB VRAM (discrete) OR ≥32 GB unified (Apple Silicon) | Local install — use `comfy_cli_flag` from report |
| `marginal` | SD1.5 works; SDXL tight; Flux/video unlikely | Local OK for light workflows, else **Path A (Cloud)** |
| `cloud` | No usable GPU, <6 GB VRAM, <16 GB Apple unified, Intel Mac, Rosetta Python | **Switch to Cloud** unless user explicitly forces local |
The script also surfaces `wsl: true` (WSL2 with NVIDIA passthrough) and
`rosetta: true` (x86_64 Python on Apple Silicon — must reinstall as ARM64).
If verdict is `cloud` but the user wants local, do not proceed silently.
Show the `notes` array verbatim and ask whether they want to (a) switch to
Cloud or (b) force a local install (will OOM or be unusably slow on modern models).
### Choosing an Installation Path
Use the hardware check first. The table below is the fallback for when the
user has already told you their hardware:
| Situation | Recommended Path |
|-----------|------------------|
| `verdict: cloud` from hardware check | **Path A: Comfy Cloud** |
| No GPU / want to try without commitment | **Path A: Comfy Cloud** |
| Windows + NVIDIA + non-technical | **Path B: ComfyUI Desktop** |
| Windows + NVIDIA + technical | **Path C: Portable** or **Path D: comfy-cli** |
| Linux + any GPU | **Path D: comfy-cli** (easiest) |
| macOS + Apple Silicon | **Path B: Desktop** or **Path D: comfy-cli** |
| Headless / server / CI / agents | **Path D: comfy-cli** |
For the fully automated path (hardware check → install → launch → verify):
```bash
bash scripts/comfyui_setup.sh
# Or with overrides:
bash scripts/comfyui_setup.sh --m-series --port=8190 --workspace=/data/comfy
```
It runs `hardware_check.py` internally, refuses to install locally when the
verdict is `cloud` (unless `--force-cloud-override`), picks the right
`comfy-cli` flag, and prefers `pipx`/`uvx` over global `pip` to avoid polluting
system Python.
---
### Path A: Comfy Cloud (No Local Install)
For users without a capable GPU or who want zero setup. Hosted on RTX 6000 Pro.
**Docs:** https://docs.comfy.org/get_started/cloud
1. Sign up at https://comfy.org/cloud
2. Generate an API key at https://platform.comfy.org/login
3. Set the key:
View on GitHub