feat(desktop): lead onboarding with Nous Portal + fix fresh-install detection (#34970)

- Feature Nous Portal as the primary onboarding card (Recommended tag,
  app logo, single pitch line); collapse other OAuth providers behind an
  "Other providers" disclosure whose open/closed state persists.
- Surface OpenRouter as a one-click API-key option inside the disclosure;
  move "I have an API key" to a quiet bottom-right link.
- Treat "no provider configured" as a normal onboarding state, not a red
  error banner (provider-setup-errors copy match).
- Fix setup.runtime_check: it reported ready when the resolved runtime had
  an empty credential or only implicit Bedrock/IAM, so fresh installs never
  saw onboarding. Now requires a usable credential.
- Auto-wire Windows fonts for WSL2 users so the renderer renders real
  Segoe UI instead of the DejaVu fallback; make WSL detection env-independent
  via the /proc kernel marker.

apps/desktop/electron/bootstrap-platform.cjs

@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
-function isWslEnvironment(env = process.env, platform = process.platform) {
+const fs = require('node:fs')
+
+function isWslEnvironment(env = process.env, platform = process.platform, kernelRelease = null) {
   if (platform !== 'linux') return false
-  return Boolean(env.WSL_DISTRO_NAME || env.WSL_INTEROP)
+  if (env.WSL_DISTRO_NAME || env.WSL_INTEROP) return true
+
+  try {
+    const release = kernelRelease ?? fs.readFileSync('/proc/sys/kernel/osrelease', 'utf8')
+    return /microsoft|wsl/i.test(release)
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
 }
 
 function isWindowsBinaryPathInWsl(filePath, options = {}) {

apps/desktop/electron/bootstrap-platform.test.cjs

@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ const { bundledRuntimeImportCheck, isWindowsBinaryPathInWsl, isWslEnvironment }
 test('isWslEnvironment detects WSL2 env vars on linux', () => {
   assert.equal(isWslEnvironment({ WSL_DISTRO_NAME: 'Ubuntu' }, 'linux'), true)
   assert.equal(isWslEnvironment({ WSL_INTEROP: '/run/WSL/123_interop' }, 'linux'), true)
-  assert.equal(isWslEnvironment({}, 'linux'), false)
+  assert.equal(isWslEnvironment({}, 'linux', '6.6.87.2-microsoft-standard-WSL2'), true)
+  assert.equal(isWslEnvironment({}, 'linux', '6.6.87-generic'), false)
   assert.equal(isWslEnvironment({ WSL_DISTRO_NAME: 'Ubuntu' }, 'darwin'), false)
 })
 

apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs

@@ -490,6 +490,44 @@ function openExternalUrl(rawUrl) {
   return true
 }
 
+function ensureWslWindowsFonts() {
+  if (!IS_WSL) return
+
+  const fontsDir = ['/mnt/c/Windows/Fonts', '/mnt/c/windows/fonts'].find(candidate => {
+    try {
+      return fs.statSync(candidate).isDirectory()
+    } catch {
+      return false
+    }
+  })
+  if (!fontsDir) return
+
+  try {
+    const confDir = path.join(app.getPath('home'), '.config', 'fontconfig', 'conf.d')
+    const confPath = path.join(confDir, '99-hermes-wsl-windows-fonts.conf')
+    let existing = ''
+    try {
+      existing = fs.readFileSync(confPath, 'utf8')
+    } catch {
+      existing = ''
+    }
+    if (existing.includes(fontsDir)) return
+
+    fs.mkdirSync(confDir, { recursive: true })
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      confPath,
+      `<?xml version="1.0"?>\n<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">\n<fontconfig>\n  <dir>${fontsDir}</dir>\n</fontconfig>\n`
+    )
+    rememberLog(`[fonts] wired WSL Windows fonts for renderer: ${fontsDir}`)
+
+    const cache = spawn('fc-cache', ['-f', fontsDir], { detached: true, stdio: 'ignore' })
+    cache.on('error', () => undefined)
+    cache.unref()
+  } catch (error) {
+    rememberLog(`[fonts] WSL font setup skipped: ${error.message}`)
+  }
+}
+
 function sleep(ms) {
   return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms))
 }
@@ -1341,9 +1379,7 @@ function resolveHermesBackend(dashboardArgs) {
         shell: false
       }
     }
-    rememberLog(
+    rememberLog(`Ignoring system Python ${python}: hermes_cli is not importable; falling through to bootstrap.`)
-      `Ignoring system Python ${python}: hermes_cli is not importable; falling through to bootstrap.`
-    )
   }
 
   // 6. Nothing usable yet -- signal the bootstrap runner that we need to
@@ -3296,6 +3332,7 @@ app.whenReady().then(() => {
     Menu.setApplicationMenu(null)
   }
   installMediaPermissions()
+  ensureWslWindowsFonts()
   createWindow()
 
   app.on('activate', () => {

apps/desktop/src/components/desktop-onboarding-overlay.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import { cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import type { OAuthProvider } from '@/types/hermes'
+
+import { $desktopOnboarding, type DesktopOnboardingState, type OnboardingContext } from '@/store/onboarding'
+
+import { Picker } from './desktop-onboarding-overlay'
+
+function provider(id: string, name = id): OAuthProvider {
+  return {
+    cli_command: `hermes login ${id}`,
+    docs_url: `https://example.com/${id}`,
+    flow: 'pkce',
+    id,
+    name,
+    status: { logged_in: false }
+  }
+}
+
+function setProviders(providers: OAuthProvider[]) {
+  $desktopOnboarding.set({
+    configured: false,
+    flow: { status: 'idle' },
+    mode: 'oauth',
+    providers,
+    reason: null,
+    requested: false
+  } satisfies DesktopOnboardingState)
+}
+
+const ctx: OnboardingContext = { requestGateway: async () => undefined as never }
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  cleanup()
+  $desktopOnboarding.set({
+    configured: null,
+    flow: { status: 'idle' },
+    mode: 'oauth',
+    providers: null,
+    reason: null,
+    requested: false
+  })
+})
+
+describe('onboarding Picker', () => {
+  it('features Nous Portal and hides other providers behind a disclosure', () => {
+    setProviders([provider('anthropic', 'Anthropic Claude'), provider('nous', 'Nous Portal')])
+    render(<Picker ctx={ctx} />)
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('Nous Portal')).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(screen.getByText('Recommended')).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Anthropic Claude')).toBeNull()
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Other providers' }))
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('Anthropic Claude')).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Collapse' })).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  it('shows every provider directly when Nous Portal is absent', () => {
+    setProviders([provider('anthropic', 'Anthropic Claude'), provider('openai-codex', 'OpenAI Codex / ChatGPT')])
+    render(<Picker ctx={ctx} />)
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('Anthropic Claude')).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(screen.getByText('OpenAI Codex / ChatGPT')).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Other sign-in options')).toBeNull()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Recommended')).toBeNull()
+  })
+})

apps/desktop/src/components/desktop-onboarding-overlay.tsx

@@ -4,7 +4,17 @@ import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { ModelPickerDialog } from '@/components/model-picker'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
-import { Check, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, ExternalLink, KeyRound, Loader2, Sparkles } from '@/lib/icons'
+import {
+  Check,
+  ChevronDown,
+  ChevronLeft,
+  ChevronRight,
+  ExternalLink,
+  KeyRound,
+  Loader2,
+  Sparkles,
+  Terminal
+} from '@/lib/icons'
 import { isProviderSetupErrorMessage } from '@/lib/provider-setup-errors'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { $desktopBoot, type DesktopBootState } from '@/store/boot'
@@ -99,9 +109,9 @@ const PROVIDER_DISPLAY: Record<string, { order: number; title: string }> = {
 }
 
 const FLOW_SUBTITLES: Record<OAuthProvider['flow'], string> = {
-  pkce: 'Opens your browser to sign in, then continues here.',
+  pkce: 'Opens your browser to sign in, then continues here',
-  device_code: 'Opens a verification page in your browser. Hermes connects automatically.',
+  device_code: 'Opens a verification page in your browser — Hermes connects automatically',
-  external: 'Sign in once in your terminal, then come back to chat.'
+  external: 'Sign in once in your terminal, then come back to chat'
 }
 
 const providerTitle = (p: OAuthProvider) => PROVIDER_DISPLAY[p.id]?.title ?? p.name
@@ -147,7 +157,7 @@ export function DesktopOnboardingOverlay({ enabled, onCompleted, requestGateway
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-1300 flex items-center justify-center bg-(--ui-chat-surface-background) p-6">
       <div className="w-full max-w-[45rem] overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-(--ui-stroke-secondary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background) shadow-sm">
         <Header />
-        <div className="grid gap-5 p-6">
+        <div className="grid gap-3 p-5">
           {reason ? <ReasonNotice reason={reason} /> : null}
           {ready ? showPicker ? <Picker ctx={ctx} /> : <FlowPanel ctx={ctx} flow={flow} /> : <Preparing boot={boot} />}
         </div>
@@ -209,13 +219,13 @@ function Preparing({ boot }: { boot: DesktopBootState }) {
 
 function Header() {
   return (
-    <div className="border-b border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background) px-6 py-5">
+    <div className="border-b border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background) px-5 py-4">
       <div className="flex items-start gap-3">
         <div className="flex size-9 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg bg-(--ui-bg-tertiary) text-(--ui-text-tertiary)">
           <Sparkles className="size-5" />
         </div>
         <div>
-          <h2 className="text-[0.9375rem] font-semibold tracking-tight">Welcome to Hermes</h2>
+          <h2 className="text-[0.9375rem] font-semibold tracking-tight">Let's get you setup with Hermes Agent</h2>
           <p className="mt-1 max-w-xl text-[0.8125rem] leading-5 text-(--ui-text-tertiary)">
             Connect a model provider to start chatting. Most options take one click.
           </p>
@@ -225,8 +235,31 @@ function Header() {
   )
 }
 
-function Picker({ ctx }: { ctx: OnboardingContext }) {
+const FEATURED_ID = 'nous'
+const FEATURED_PITCH = 'One subscription, 300+ frontier models — the recommended way to run Hermes'
+const SHOW_ALL_KEY = 'hermes-onboarding-show-all-v1'
+
+const readShowAll = () => {
+  try {
+    return window.localStorage.getItem(SHOW_ALL_KEY) === '1'
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
+}
+
+const persistShowAll = (value: boolean) => {
+  try {
+    window.localStorage.setItem(SHOW_ALL_KEY, value ? '1' : '0')
+  } catch {
+    // localStorage unavailable — degrade silently.
+  }
+
+  return value
+}
+
+export function Picker({ ctx }: { ctx: OnboardingContext }) {
   const { mode, providers } = useStore($desktopOnboarding)
+  const [showAll, setShowAll] = useState(readShowAll)
   const ordered = useMemo(() => (providers ? sortProviders(providers) : []), [providers])
   const hasOauth = ordered.length > 0
 
@@ -234,42 +267,123 @@ function Picker({ ctx }: { ctx: OnboardingContext }) {
     return <ApiKeyForm canGoBack={hasOauth} ctx={ctx} />
   }
 
+  if (providers === null) {
+    return <Status>Looking up providers...</Status>
+  }
+
+  const select = (p: OAuthProvider) => void startProviderOAuth(p, ctx)
+  const featured = ordered.find(p => p.id === FEATURED_ID) ?? null
+  const rest = featured ? ordered.filter(p => p.id !== FEATURED_ID) : ordered
+  // Collapse the secondary providers behind a disclosure only when Nous
+  // Portal is present to anchor the choice — otherwise show the full list.
+  const collapsible = Boolean(featured) && rest.length > 0
+  const showRest = !collapsible || showAll
+
   return (
-    <div className="grid gap-3">
+    <div className="grid gap-2">
-      {providers === null ? (
+      {featured ? <FeaturedProviderRow onSelect={select} provider={featured} /> : null}
-        <Status>Looking up providers...</Status>
+      {showRest ? (
-      ) : (
+        <>
-        ordered.map(provider => (
+          {rest.map(p => (
-          <ProviderRow key={provider.id} onSelect={p => void startProviderOAuth(p, ctx)} provider={provider} />
+            <ProviderRow key={p.id} onSelect={select} provider={p} />
-        ))
+          ))}
-      )}
+          <KeyProviderRow onClick={() => setOnboardingMode('apikey')} />
-      <FooterLink onClick={() => setOnboardingMode('apikey')}>I have an API key</FooterLink>
+        </>
+      ) : null}
+      {collapsible ? (
+        <button
+          className="flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 pt-1 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground transition hover:text-foreground"
+          onClick={() => setShowAll(persistShowAll(!showAll))}
+          type="button"
+        >
+          {showAll ? 'Collapse' : 'Other providers'}
+          <ChevronDown className={cn('size-3.5 transition', showAll && 'rotate-180')} />
+        </button>
+      ) : null}
+      <div className="flex justify-end pt-1">
+        <button
+          className="text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+          onClick={() => setOnboardingMode('apikey')}
+          type="button"
+        >
+          I have an API key
+        </button>
+      </div>
     </div>
   )
 }
 
-function FooterLink({ children, onClick }: { children: React.ReactNode; onClick: () => void }) {
+function FeaturedProviderRow({
+  onSelect,
+  provider
+}: {
+  onSelect: (provider: OAuthProvider) => void
+  provider: OAuthProvider
+}) {
+  const loggedIn = provider.status?.logged_in
+
   return (
-    <div className="pt-2 text-center">
+    <button
-      <button
+      className={cn(
-        className="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 hover:underline"
+        'group flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-4 rounded-2xl border-2 border-primary/50 bg-primary/5 p-4 text-left transition hover:border-primary hover:bg-primary/10',
-        onClick={onClick}
+        loggedIn && 'border-primary'
-        type="button"
+      )}
-      >
+      onClick={() => onSelect(provider)}
-        {children}
+      type="button"
-      </button>
+    >
-    </div>
+      <div className="min-w-0">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          <img alt="" className="size-5 shrink-0 rounded" src="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
+          <span className="text-base font-semibold">{providerTitle(provider)}</span>
+          {loggedIn ? (
+            <ConnectedTag />
+          ) : (
+            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 bg-primary px-2 py-0.5 text-[0.64rem] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.16em] text-primary-foreground">
+              <span aria-hidden="true" className="dither inline-block size-2 shrink-0" />
+              Recommended
+            </span>
+          )}
+        </div>
+        <p className="mt-1 text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">{FEATURED_PITCH}</p>
+      </div>
+      <ChevronRight className="size-5 shrink-0 text-primary transition group-hover:translate-x-0.5" />
+    </button>
+  )
+}
+
+function ConnectedTag() {
+  return (
+    <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-primary/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-primary">
+      <Check className="size-3" />
+      Connected
+    </span>
+  )
+}
+
+function KeyProviderRow({ onClick }: { onClick: () => void }) {
+  return (
+    <button
+      className="group flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-border bg-background/60 p-3 text-left transition hover:border-primary/40 hover:bg-accent/40"
+      onClick={onClick}
+      type="button"
+    >
+      <div className="min-w-0">
+        <span className="text-sm font-semibold">OpenRouter</span>
+        <p className="mt-1 text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">One key, hundreds of models — a solid default</p>
+      </div>
+      <ChevronRight className="size-4 text-muted-foreground transition group-hover:text-foreground" />
+    </button>
   )
 }
 
 function ProviderRow({ onSelect, provider }: { onSelect: (provider: OAuthProvider) => void; provider: OAuthProvider }) {
   const loggedIn = provider.status?.logged_in
-  const Trail = provider.flow === 'external' ? ExternalLink : ChevronRight
+  const Trail = provider.flow === 'external' ? Terminal : ChevronRight
 
   return (
     <button
       className={cn(
-        'group flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-border bg-background/60 p-4 text-left transition hover:border-primary/40 hover:bg-accent/40',
+        'group flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-border bg-background/60 p-3 text-left transition hover:border-primary/40 hover:bg-accent/40',
         loggedIn && 'border-primary/30'
       )}
       onClick={() => onSelect(provider)}
@@ -278,12 +392,7 @@ function ProviderRow({ onSelect, provider }: { onSelect: (provider: OAuthProvide
       <div className="min-w-0">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
           <span className="text-sm font-semibold">{providerTitle(provider)}</span>
-          {loggedIn ? (
+          {loggedIn ? <ConnectedTag /> : null}
-            <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-primary/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-primary">
-              <Check className="size-3" />
-              Connected
-            </span>
-          ) : null}
         </div>
         <p className="mt-1 text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">{FLOW_SUBTITLES[provider.flow]}</p>
       </div>

apps/desktop/src/lib/provider-setup-errors.test.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ describe('isProviderSetupErrorMessage', () => {
       true
     )
     expect(isProviderSetupErrorMessage('No inference provider is configured.')).toBe(true)
+    expect(isProviderSetupErrorMessage('No Hermes provider is configured.')).toBe(true)
     expect(isProviderSetupErrorMessage('set an API key (OPENROUTER_API_KEY) in ~/.hermes/.env')).toBe(true)
   })
 

apps/desktop/src/lib/provider-setup-errors.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const PROVIDER_SETUP_ERROR_RE =
-  /No inference provider(?: is)? configured|no_provider_configured|OPENROUTER_API_KEY|OPENAI_API_KEY|ANTHROPIC_API_KEY|set an API key/i
+  /No (?:inference|Hermes) provider(?: is)? configured|no_provider_configured|OPENROUTER_API_KEY|OPENAI_API_KEY|ANTHROPIC_API_KEY|set an API key/i
 
 export function isProviderSetupErrorMessage(message: null | string | undefined): boolean {
   const text = message?.trim()

tests/test_tui_gateway_server.py

@@ -1615,6 +1615,57 @@ def test_setup_status_reports_provider_config(monkeypatch):
     assert resp["result"]["provider_configured"] is False
 
 
+def test_setup_runtime_check_rejects_empty_runtime_key(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.main._has_any_provider_configured", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "hermes_cli.runtime_provider.resolve_runtime_provider",
+        lambda requested=None: {
+            "provider": "openrouter",
+            "api_key": "",
+            "source": "env/config",
+        },
+    )
+
+    resp = server.handle_request({"id": "1", "method": "setup.runtime_check", "params": {}})
+
+    assert resp["result"]["ok"] is False
+    assert resp["result"]["provider"] == "openrouter"
+
+
+def test_setup_runtime_check_allows_no_key_custom_runtime(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.main._has_any_provider_configured", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "hermes_cli.runtime_provider.resolve_runtime_provider",
+        lambda requested=None: {
+            "provider": "custom",
+            "api_key": "no-key-required",
+            "source": "env/config",
+        },
+    )
+
+    resp = server.handle_request({"id": "1", "method": "setup.runtime_check", "params": {}})
+
+    assert resp["result"]["ok"] is True
+    assert resp["result"]["provider"] == "custom"
+
+
+def test_setup_runtime_check_rejects_implicit_bedrock_when_unconfigured(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr("hermes_cli.main._has_any_provider_configured", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "hermes_cli.runtime_provider.resolve_runtime_provider",
+        lambda requested=None: {
+            "provider": "bedrock",
+            "api_key": "aws-sdk",
+            "source": "iam-role",
+        },
+    )
+
+    resp = server.handle_request({"id": "1", "method": "setup.runtime_check", "params": {}})
+
+    assert resp["result"]["ok"] is False
+    assert resp["result"]["provider"] == "bedrock"
+
+
 def test_complete_slash_includes_provider_alias():
     resp = server.handle_request(
         {"id": "1", "method": "complete.slash", "params": {"text": "/pro"}}

tui_gateway/server.py

@@ -5263,8 +5263,49 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
     """
     try:
         from hermes_cli.runtime_provider import resolve_runtime_provider
+        from hermes_cli.auth import has_usable_secret
+        from hermes_cli.main import _has_any_provider_configured
 
         runtime = resolve_runtime_provider(requested=None)
+        provider_configured = bool(_has_any_provider_configured())
+        provider = runtime.get("provider") or "provider"
+        source = str(runtime.get("source") or "")
+        if not provider_configured and provider == "bedrock" and source in {
+            "iam-role",
+            "aws-sdk-default-chain",
+        }:
+            return _ok(
+                rid,
+                {
+                    "ok": False,
+                    "provider": provider,
+                    "model": runtime.get("model"),
+                    "source": source,
+                    "error": "No Hermes provider is configured.",
+                },
+            )
+
+        api_key = runtime.get("api_key")
+        api_key_text = "" if callable(api_key) else str(api_key or "").strip()
+        credential_ok = (
+            callable(api_key)
+            or api_key_text in {"aws-sdk", "no-key-required"}
+            or has_usable_secret(api_key_text)
+            or bool(runtime.get("command"))
+        )
+
+        if not credential_ok:
+            return _ok(
+                rid,
+                {
+                    "ok": False,
+                    "provider": provider,
+                    "model": runtime.get("model"),
+                    "source": runtime.get("source"),
+                    "error": f"No usable credentials found for {provider}.",
+                },
+            )
+
         return _ok(
             rid,
             {