---
name: athena-operator
description: Operate and extend Mike's Athena AI host safely. Use for Athena models, profiles, Docker services, GPU allocation, inference modes, benchmarks, cleanup, deployment, backups, documentation, or when testing a new local AI model for Hermes.
license: MIT
metadata:
  hermes:
    version: 3.0.0
    author: Michael Roll
    platforms: [linux]
    tags: [athena, docker, gpu, models, benchmark, cleanup, backup]
---

# Athena Operator

Use this skill for work on Athena itself: Docker, models, profiles, Hermes
integration, TTS, STT, image/audio/music workers, Git and backups.

## Start

1. Call `athena_operator_inspect` with `subject=guide`.
2. Choose and read the matching reference before acting:
   - architecture, containers or modes: `references/architecture-and-modes.md`
   - a model download, profile or A/B test: `references/model-evaluation.md`
   - deployment, cleanup, documentation or publication:
     `references/change-and-cleanup.md`
3. Inspect only the affected live area with `overview`, `containers`, `models`,
   `jobs` or `git_status`.
4. Search for the exact source path before reading or editing it.

Do not rediscover the complete platform for every task. Do not read entire
large files when a bounded section is enough. Do not guess file paths.

## Change

When the user clearly requests a change, use `athena_operator_change` to apply
the smallest durable change. The operator owns the Git worktree and deployment
access; do not clone another repository or request another SSH key.

Afterwards run focused checks, verify the affected service functionally, update
the affected documentation, commit and push.
The scheduled Docker-data backup is automatic. After storage-affecting work,
run one manual backup and verify its archive instead of building a special
recovery kit.

For every model candidate, preserve the currently working profile until the
candidate is downloaded and ready. Compare like with like, record the exact
artifact and result in `docs/TESTED_MODELS.md`, then either promote it or remove
its weights and test-only runtime. Never silently lower a standard profile
below Q4; Q3 is allowed only after a documented comparison shows negligible
quality loss for the intended work.

## Tool discipline

- One failed path may be corrected once. Repeated `file not found`, permission
  or circuit-breaker responses mean stop and report the exact blocker.
- Keep search and terminal output bounded.
- Prefer specialist MCPs for Home Assistant, Unraid, ARR, Navidrome and other
  external systems.
- A healthy container is not proof; perform one bounded functional check.
- `Created` or cleanly stopped model workers are normal on-demand services, not
  proof of garbage.
- Never claim a write, deploy, commit, push or backup succeeded without its
  actual result.

## Remote-host boundary

Never shut down or reboot Athena and never change its SSH, LAN, WireGuard,
firewall, boot, kernel, partition or mount configuration unless the user gives
a separate explicit current instruction. Do not restart Router, Qwen, Hermes
or the whole stack merely to deploy one component.

Temporary helpers belong under `/tmp` or in an ephemeral container. Permanent
software belongs in the Git-managed stack. Secrets stay under `/etc/mike-ai`
and must not be committed or printed.