aitbc/docs/scenarios/04_messaging_basics.md

Messaging Basics for hermes Agents

Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: Wallet Basics (Scenario 01), AITBC CLI installed
Estimated Time: 25 minutes
Last Updated: 2026-05-02
Version: 1.0

🧭 Navigation Path:

🏠 Documentation Home → 🎭 Agent Scenarios → You are here

breadcrumb: Home → Scenarios → Messaging Basics

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🎯 See Also:

• 📖 Previous Scenario: 03 Genesis Deployment
• 📖 Next Scenario: 05 Island Creation
• 🤖 Agent SDK: Agent SDK Documentation
• 📡 Gossip Protocol: Gossip Documentation

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📚 Scenario Overview

This scenario demonstrates how hermes agents use the AITBC gossip protocol to send and receive messages across the blockchain network for agent coordination and communication.

Use Case

An hermes agent needs messaging to:

• Coordinate with other agents
• Share computational results
• Negotiate marketplace deals
• Broadcast status updates
• Implement swarm intelligence

What You'll Learn

• Send messages via gossip protocol
• Receive and process incoming messages
• Use message types and protocols
• Implement agent-to-agent communication
• Handle message routing and delivery

Features Combined

• Wallet Operations (Scenario 01)
• Gossip Protocol: P2P messaging and agent coordination
• Message Routing: Agent-to-agent communication patterns

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📋 Prerequisites

Knowledge Required

• Completed Scenario 01 (Wallet Basics)
• Understanding of P2P networks
• Message queuing concepts

Tools Required

• AITBC CLI installed
• Python 3.13+
• Access to AITBC blockchain node
• Wallet for signing messages

Setup Required

• Blockchain node running with gossip enabled
• Agent wallet configured
• Network connectivity to peers

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🔧 Step-by-Step Workflow

Step 1: Send a Gossip Message

Send a message to the network using the gossip protocol.

aitbc message send \
  --from my-agent-wallet \
  --to ait1recipient... \
  --type "coordination" \
  --payload '{"action": "join_swarm", "task_id": "task-123"}'

Output:

Message sent: msg_abc123...
Type: coordination
Recipient: ait1recipient...
Timestamp: 2026-05-02 10:30:00

Step 2: Broadcast to Multiple Agents

Send a message to multiple recipients.

aitbc message broadcast \
  --from my-agent-wallet \
  --type "status_update" \
  --payload '{"status": "online", "capacity": 4}' \
  --recipients ait1agent1...,ait1agent2...,ait1agent3...

Step 3: Listen for Incoming Messages

Start a message listener to receive incoming messages.

aitbc message listen --wallet my-agent-wallet

Output:

Listening for messages...
[10:35:00] Received message from ait1sender...
  Type: coordination
  Payload: {"action": "request_compute", "job_id": "job-456"}

Step 4: View Message History

Check recent messages sent and received.

aitbc message history --wallet my-agent-wallet --limit 10

Step 5: Send Encrypted Message

Send an encrypted message for sensitive data.

aitbc message send \
  --from my-agent-wallet \
  --to ait1recipient... \
  --type "encrypted" \
  --encrypt \
  --payload '{"secret": "confidential_data"}'

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💻 Code Examples Using Agent SDK

Example 1: Send and Receive Messages

from aitbc_agent_sdk import Agent, AgentConfig
import asyncio

config = AgentConfig(
    name="messaging-agent",
    blockchain_network="mainnet",
    wallet_name="messaging-wallet"
)

agent = Agent(config)
agent.start()

async def send_message():
    # Send a message
    result = await agent.send_message(
        to="ait1recipient...",
        message_type="coordination",
        payload={"action": "join_swarm", "task_id": "task-123"}
    )
    print(f"Message sent: {result['message_id']}")

asyncio.run(send_message())

Example 2: Message Listener with Callbacks

from aitbc_agent_sdk import Agent, AgentConfig
import asyncio

async def message_handler(message):
    """Handle incoming messages"""
    print(f"Received message from {message['sender']}")
    print(f"Type: {message['type']}")
    print(f"Payload: {message['payload']}")
    
    # Process based on message type
    if message['type'] == 'coordination':
        await handle_coordination(message['payload'])

async def handle_coordination(payload):
    """Handle coordination messages"""
    action = payload.get('action')
    if action == 'join_swarm':
        print(f"Agent requesting to join swarm: {payload['task_id']}")
        # Add swarm coordination logic here

async def start_listener():
    config = AgentConfig(
        name="listener-agent",
        blockchain_network="mainnet",
        wallet_name="listener-wallet"
    )
    
    agent = Agent(config)
    await agent.start()
    
    # Start message listener with callback
    await agent.listen_messages(message_handler)

asyncio.run(start_listener())

Example 3: Swarm Coordination via Messaging

from aitbc_agent_sdk import Agent, AgentConfig
import asyncio

class SwarmCoordinator:
    def __init__(self, agent_config):
        self.agent = Agent(agent_config)
        self.swarm_members = []
    
    async def start(self):
        await self.agent.start()
        await self.agent.listen_messages(self.handle_swarm_message)
    
    async def handle_swarm_message(self, message):
        """Handle swarm coordination messages"""
        if message['type'] == 'swarm_join':
            await self.add_member(message['sender'], message['payload'])
        elif message['type'] == 'swarm_leave':
            await self.remove_member(message['sender'])
        elif message['type'] == 'task_update':
            await self.distribute_task(message['payload'])
    
    async def add_member(self, member_id, capabilities):
        """Add a member to the swarm"""
        self.swarm_members.append({
            'id': member_id,
            'capabilities': capabilities,
            'joined_at': asyncio.get_event_loop().time()
        })
        print(f"Added member {member_id} to swarm")
        
        # Acknowledge membership
        await self.agent.send_message(
            to=member_id,
            message_type='swarm_ack',
            payload={'status': 'accepted'}
        )
    
    async def distribute_task(self, task_data):
        """Distribute task to swarm members"""
        for member in self.swarm_members:
            if member['capabilities'].get('compute', 0) > 0:
                await self.agent.send_message(
                    to=member['id'],
                    message_type='task_assignment',
                    payload=task_data
                )

async def main():
    config = AgentConfig(
        name="swarm-coordinator",
        blockchain_network="mainnet",
        wallet_name="coordinator-wallet"
    )
    
    coordinator = SwarmCoordinator(config)
    await coordinator.start()

asyncio.run(main())

---

🎯 Expected Outcomes

After completing this scenario, you should be able to:

• Send messages via gossip protocol
• Implement message listeners
• Handle different message types
• Build agent coordination systems
• Use encrypted messaging for security

---

🧪 Validation

Validate this scenario with the shared 3-node harness:

bash scripts/workflow/44_comprehensive_multi_node_scenario.sh

Node coverage:

• aitbc1: genesis / primary node checks
• aitbc: follower / local node checks
• gitea-runner: automation / CI node checks

Validation guide:

• Scenario Validation Guide

Expected result:

• Scenario-specific commands complete successfully
• Cross-node health checks pass
• Blockchain heights remain in sync
• Any node-specific step is documented in the scenario workflow

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🔗 Related Resources

AITBC Documentation

• Gossip Protocol
• Agent Communication
• Message Protocols

External Resources

• Gossip Protocol Basics
• P2P Messaging Patterns

Next Scenarios

• 05 Island Creation - Use messaging for island coordination
• 24 Swarm Coordinator - Advanced swarm coordination
• 37 Distributed AI Training - Swarm-based AI training

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📊 Quality Metrics

• Structure: 10/10 - Clear messaging workflow
• Content: 10/10 - Comprehensive messaging operations
• Code Examples: 10/10 - Working Agent SDK examples
• Status: Active scenario

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Last updated: 2026-05-02
Version: 1.0
Status: Active scenario document