| name | agent-self-evaluation |
| description | Self-rate output on 5 axes (accuracy, completeness, clarity, actionability, conciseness) after completing non-trivial tasks. Produces a structured 1-5 scorecard with improvement suggestions. |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| author | Hermes Agent (adapted from ECC) |
| license | MIT |
| platforms | ["linux","macos","windows"] |
| metadata | {"hermes":{"tags":["quality","self-review","evaluation","reflection"],"related_skills":["verification-loop","eval-harness"]}} |
Agent Self-Evaluation
After completing a complex task, pause to rate your output against a structured 5-axis rubric. This is NOT a pass/fail gate — it's a deliberate reflection step that catches omissions, flags overconfidence, and surfaces areas for improvement before the user has to.
When to Activate
- After writing code that spans 3+ files or 50+ lines
- After completing a multi-step workflow (implement → test → review)
- After a debugging session that involved 3+ attempts
- After producing a design document, architecture decision, or written analysis
- When the user asks "how good was that?" or "rate yourself"
The 5 Evaluation Axes
| Axis | Question | What it catches |
|---|
| Accuracy | Are the facts, claims, and outputs correct? | Hallucinations, wrong API names, incorrect syntax, false statements |
| Completeness | Did it cover everything the user asked for? | Missed edge cases, unhandled error paths, forgotten requirements |
| Clarity | Is the explanation understandable and well-structured? | Confusing explanations, jargon, missing context, rambling |
| Actionability | Can the user act on the output immediately? | Vague suggestions, missing steps, no verification path |
| Conciseness | Did it use the minimum words/tokens needed? | Redundancy, over-explanation, filler content |
Scoring Scale
5 — Exceptional: no reasonable improvement possible
4 — Good: minor nits only, no substantive gaps
3 — Adequate: meets the request but has a notable weakness on at least one axis
2 — Weak: has a clear gap that affects usability or correctness
1 — Poor: fundamentally misses the request or contains significant errors
The Evidence Rule
Every score below 5 MUST cite specific evidence. A score of 3 cannot just say "could be better" — it must say exactly what is missing or wrong. "Show the gap, don't just name it."
Workflow
Step 1: Collect the Raw Material
- The original user request
- Your final response/output
- Any tool outputs that verify correctness (test results, exit codes, lint output)
- Any user feedback received during the task
Step 2: Score Each Axis Independently
Work through the 5 axes one at a time. Score each axis fresh — don't pre-average.
Step 3: Produce the Evaluation Report
Scorecard:
Accuracy: X — [evidence]
Completeness: X — [evidence]
Clarity: X — [evidence]
Actionability: X — [evidence]
Conciseness: X — [evidence]
Overall: X.X / 5
Top improvements:
1. [highest impact fix]
2. [next]
3. [next]
Step 4: Apply the Improvement
If any axis scored 3 or below:
- State what you would do differently
- If gap is fixable in < 30 seconds, fix it now
- If gap requires rework, flag it explicitly
Hermes Integration
- Run after
delegate_task completes for subagent quality check
- Run after significant
write_file or replace_string_in_file operations
- Combine with
verification-loop for comprehensive quality gates
- Combine with
eval-harness for formal evaluation tracking