diff --git a/apps/dashboard/README.md b/apps/dashboard/README.md
index 0c9f5df14a..041427feed 100644
--- a/apps/dashboard/README.md
+++ b/apps/dashboard/README.md
@@ -10,17 +10,34 @@ Browser-based dashboard for managing Hermes Agent configuration, API keys, and m
 
 ## Development
 
-```bash
-# Start the backend API server
-cd ../..
-python -m hermes_cli.main web --no-open
+Install workspace dependencies from the repo root first:
 
-# In another terminal, start the Vite dev server (with HMR + API proxy)
-cd apps/dashboard/
+```bash
+npm install
+```
+
+Start the backend API server from the repo root:
+
+```bash
+hermes dashboard --tui --no-open
+```
+
+`--tui` exposes the in-browser Chat tab through `/api/pty`. Omit it if you only need the config/session dashboard.
+
+In another terminal, start the Vite dev server:
+
+```bash
+cd apps/dashboard
 npm run dev
 ```
 
-The Vite dev server proxies `/api` requests to `http://127.0.0.1:9119` (the FastAPI backend).
+The Vite dev server proxies `/api`, `/api/pty`, and `/dashboard-plugins` to `http://127.0.0.1:9119` (the FastAPI backend). It also fetches the backend's `index.html` on each dev page load so the ephemeral session token stays in sync.
+
+If the `hermes` entry point is not installed, use:
+
+```bash
+python -m hermes_cli.main dashboard --tui --no-open
+```
 
 ## Build
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/README.md b/apps/desktop/README.md
index 776a29a744..ba33233416 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/README.md
+++ b/apps/desktop/README.md
@@ -2,18 +2,62 @@
 
 Native Electron shell for Hermes. It packages the desktop renderer, a bundled Hermes source payload, and installer targets for macOS and Windows.
 
-## Development
+## Setup
+
+Install workspace dependencies from the repo root so `apps/desktop`, `apps/dashboard`, and `apps/shared` stay linked:
 
 ```bash
 npm install
+```
+
+Use the normal Hermes Python environment for local runs:
+
+```bash
+source .venv/bin/activate  # or: source venv/bin/activate
+python -m pip install -e .
+```
+
+## Development
+
+```bash
+cd apps/desktop
 npm run dev
 ```
 
-`npm run dev` runs Vite plus Electron against the local repo checkout. This path is for UI iteration and may still show Electron/dev identities in OS prompts.
+`npm run dev` starts Vite on `127.0.0.1:5174`, launches Electron, and lets Electron boot the Hermes dashboard backend on an open port in `9120-9199`. This path is for UI iteration and may still show Electron/dev identities in OS prompts.
+
+Useful overrides:
+
+```bash
+HERMES_DESKTOP_HERMES_ROOT=/path/to/hermes-agent npm run dev
+HERMES_DESKTOP_PYTHON=/path/to/python npm run dev
+HERMES_DESKTOP_CWD=/path/to/project npm run dev
+HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING=1 npm run dev
+```
+
+`HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING=1` skips any `hermes` CLI already on `PATH`, which is useful when testing the bundled/runtime bootstrap path.
+
+## Dashboard Dev
+
+Run the Python dashboard backend with embedded chat enabled:
+
+```bash
+hermes dashboard --tui --no-open
+```
+
+For dashboard HMR, start Vite in another terminal:
+
+```bash
+cd apps/dashboard
+npm run dev
+```
+
+Open the Vite URL. The dev server proxies `/api`, `/api/pty`, and plugin assets to `http://127.0.0.1:9119` and fetches the live dashboard HTML so the ephemeral session token matches the running backend.
 
 ## Build
 
 ```bash
+npm run build
 npm run pack          # unpacked app at release/mac-<arch>/Hermes.app
 npm run dist:mac      # macOS DMG + zip
 npm run dist:mac:dmg  # DMG only