What is an Agent OS? (HazelJS)

Q: Can Skillgate use non-HazelJS APIs?

Yes. Skillgate.fromOpenApi works with any OpenAPI-like document. fromModule is the HazelJS controller path.

Agent OS is the production lifecycle for AI-native TypeScript agents inside a Node backend — durable runs, Skillgate, policies, DNA — not a bare-metal OS.

Author: HazelJS Team

Agent OS is the production lifecycle for AI-native TypeScript agents inside a Node.js backend: durable runs, policies, contracts, recovery, DNA, Skillgate, Inspector timelines, and CI tests — not a bare-metal operating system and not a Python-only governance kernel.

HazelJS ships Agent OS in @hazeljs/agent so agents behave like product features you can restart, lease, govern, and test — not one-off chat scripts.

Agent OS vs agent frameworks

Libraries like LangGraph orchestrate graphs and state machines. That is valuable. An Agent OS adds the surrounding lifecycle:

Concern	Typical graph / chain lib	HazelJS Agent OS
Crash mid-HITL	Often in-memory / process-bound	Durable suspend + SQL/file AgentRun
Multi-worker safety	DIY locks	Worker leases + reclaim
Tool governance	Ad hoc	Policies, Skillgate, approval defaults
CI regression	Separate harness	`describeAgent` in `@hazeljs/testing`
Backend home	Bolt onto Express / Nest	Same DI / modules as your API

Agent OS vs workflow engines

Durable workflow engines (and @hazeljs/flow) excel at long-running business processes. Agent OS focuses on the agent think–act loop: LLM turns, tools, confidence loops, DNA, and human approval for tool use — with durable AgentRun records when you enable Gamma stores.

Use both when you need agent reasoning and multi-day workflows.

Agent OS vs bare-metal “agentOS” projects

Some projects use “Agent OS” for bootable microkernels or host OS experiments. HazelJS Agent OS is different by design:

Runs on Node.js / TypeScript
Lives inside your application backend
Ships as npm packages (@hazeljs/agent, @hazeljs/skillgate, …)
Does not replace Linux or claim hardware capability isolation

If you search “agent os”, look for TypeScript, Node, and AI-native backend — that is the HazelJS category.

What Gamma adds

Agent OS Gamma hardens the kernel:

Durable HITL — workers free while waiting for humans
SQL AgentRun store — any Prisma SQL provider
Worker leases — fencing for multi-worker claim/reclaim
CLI — hazel agent run / doctor / runs

Deep dive: Agent OS Gamma: Durable Runs, SQL Stores, and Worker Leases.

What Skillgate adds

Skillgate turns selected OpenAPI / REST endpoints into governed agent skills (tools). Reads by default; writes need approval; Agent OS runs the loop.

Guide: Skillgate
Starter: hazeljs-skillgate-agent-starter
Blog: Skillgate — OpenAPI to agent skills

How to start

Read the Agent OS guide
Install @hazeljs/agent and wire AgentModule / AgentRuntime
Enable durable stores + workerId for production (Gamma)
Curate REST skills with Skillgate when APIs should become tools
Add describeAgent tests and Inspector timelines

Homepage: Agent OS section · Lander: /agent-os

FAQ

Is HazelJS Agent OS a real operating system?
No. It is a production lifecycle layer for AI-native TypeScript agents inside a Node backend.

Does Agent OS require Hazel Cloud?
No. The OSS runtime stays correct without Cloud. Cloud is an optional control plane.

How is this different from LangChain / LangGraph?
Those are orchestration libraries. Agent OS adds durable runs, leases, Skillgate, policies, DNA, Inspector, and CI inside the same HazelJS TypeScript backend. Compare: /compare/langgraph.

Can Skillgate use non-HazelJS APIs?
Yes. Skillgate.fromOpenApi works with any OpenAPI-like document. fromModule is the HazelJS controller path.

Where do I learn durable runs?
Agent OS Gamma blog and the Gamma section of the guide.

Apache-2.0 · ship agents as part of your product, not bolted on.