* fix(desktop): critical fixes — attachments, IME composition, scroll, fetchJson
DC2: Pass attachments to onSubmit() on direct Enter submit and call
clearComposerAttachments(). Previously attachments were silently
dropped — only text was sent while attachment pills remained visible.
DH1: Add 'open' to ThinkingDisclosure ResizeObserver effect deps.
When the disclosure toggles, refs point to new DOM but the observer
wasn't reattached, breaking live-scroll preview after expand/collapse
and leaking detached DOM nodes.
DH3+DH4: Add composition tracking via composingRef (set by
compositionstart/compositionend). Guards handleEditorInput (skip
preedit state writes), handleEditorKeyDown (prefer composingRef over
unreliable isComposing), and form onSubmit (prevent IME Enter from
triggering submission). Fixes IME Enter message splitting and preedit
text leaking into app state on CJK input.
DH6: Add res.on('error', reject) to fetchJson response stream.
Without this, a TCP reset mid-transfer left the promise hanging forever,
freezing the desktop UI.
All TypeScript compiles cleanly.
* chore: add copii.list@gmail.com to AUTHOR_MAP (stremtec)
* fix(desktop): prevent scroll snap-back during streaming, atomic config writes
DH2: Defer pinToBottom() in useLayoutEffect to rAF so that browser
scroll/wheel events from the current frame are processed first.
Previously an immediate pinToBottom() could snap the viewport back
to bottom against the user's trackpad scroll-up intent during
streaming — the wheel event hadn't fired yet so stickyBottomRef was
still true.
DH7: Add writeFileAtomic() helper (write to .tmp then rename) and
use it in writeDesktopConnectionConfig, writeDesktopUpdateConfig,
and writeBootstrapMarker. Prevents partial writes on crash/power
loss that would corrupt JSON config files, requiring manual repair.
* fix(desktop): guard nativeTheme listener from duplicates, invalidate connection config cache
DM9: Guard nativeTheme.on('updated') with a one-shot flag so that
multiple createWindow() calls (e.g. macOS activate after all windows
closed) don't accumulate duplicate listeners on the process-wide
singleton.
DM3: Add mtime-based cache invalidation to readDesktopConnectionConfig.
Previously the cache was populated once and never invalidated — if an
external tool modified connection.json, the desktop ignored the change
until restart. Now re-reads when the file's mtime differs.
* fix(desktop): widen fetchJson res.on('error') to sibling fetch + sort JSX props
Follow-up to salvaged #38502:
- resourceBufferFromUrl had the same mid-stream-reset hang class as
fetchJson (req.on('error') present, res.on('error') missing). Add the
response-stream error handler so a TCP reset during body read rejects
instead of leaving the promise unsettled.
- Sort the new onComposition* JSX props to satisfy perfectionist/sort-jsx-props
(was an introduced eslint error in the composer).
---------
Co-authored-by: asill-livestream <copii.list@gmail.com>
Hermes Desktop ☤
The native desktop app for Hermes Agent — the self-improving AI agent from Nous Research. Same agent, same skills, same memory as the CLI and gateway, in a polished native window — chat with streaming tool output, side-by-side previews, a file browser, voice, and settings, no terminal required. Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
| Chat with the full agent | Streaming responses, live tool activity, structured tool summaries, and the same conversation history as every other Hermes surface. |
| Side-by-side previews | Render web pages, files, and tool outputs in a right-hand pane while you keep chatting. |
| File browser | Explore and preview the working directory without leaving the app. |
| Voice | Talk to Hermes and hear it back. |
| Settings & onboarding | Manage providers, models, tools, and credentials from a real UI. First-run setup gets you to your first message in seconds. |
| Stays current | Built-in updates pull the latest agent and rebuild the app in place. |
Install
Install with Hermes (recommended)
Add --include-desktop to the one-line installer and it sets up the agent and builds the desktop app in one go:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/main/scripts/install.sh | bash -s -- --include-desktop
Already have the Hermes CLI? Just run:
hermes desktop
It builds and launches the GUI against your existing install — same config, keys, sessions, and skills. On first launch Hermes walks you through picking a provider and model; nothing else to configure.
Prebuilt installers
When a release ships desktop installers they're attached to its releases page — .dmg (macOS), .exe / .msi (Windows), .AppImage / .deb / .rpm (Linux). These are published manually, so the install-with-Hermes path above is the most reliable way to get the latest.
Updating
The app checks for updates in the background and offers a one-click update when one is ready. You can also update any time from the CLI:
hermes update
Requirements
The installer handles everything for you (Python 3.11+, a portable Git, ripgrep). The only thing worth knowing:
- Windows — the installer bundles its own Git and Python; no admin rights or system changes required.
- macOS / Linux — uses your system Python 3.11+ (installed automatically if missing).
Development
Want to hack on the app itself? Install workspace deps from the repo root once, then run the dev server from this directory:
npm install # from repo root — links apps/desktop, web, apps/shared
cd apps/desktop
npm run dev # Vite renderer + Electron, which boots the Python backend
Point the app at a specific source checkout, or sandbox it away from your real config:
HERMES_DESKTOP_HERMES_ROOT=/path/to/clone npm run dev
HERMES_HOME=/tmp/throwaway npm run dev
npm run dev:fake-boot # exercise the startup overlay with deterministic delays
Building installers
npm run dist:mac # DMG + zip
npm run dist:win # NSIS + MSI
npm run dist:linux # AppImage + deb + rpm
npm run pack # unpacked app under release/ (no installer)
Installers are built and uploaded to GitHub Releases manually. macOS/Windows signing & notarization happen automatically when the relevant credentials are present in the environment (CSC_LINK / CSC_KEY_PASSWORD / APPLE_* for macOS, WIN_CSC_* for Windows).
How it works
The packaged app ships only the Electron shell. On first launch it installs the Hermes Agent runtime into HERMES_HOME (~/.hermes, or %LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes on Windows) — the same layout a CLI install uses, so the two are interchangeable. The renderer (React, in src/) talks to a hermes dashboard --tui backend over the standard gateway APIs and reuses the embedded TUI rather than reimplementing chat. The install, backend-resolution, and self-update logic all live in electron/main.cjs.
Verification
Run before opening a PR (lint may surface pre-existing warnings but must exit cleanly):
npm run fix
npm run type-check
npm run lint
npm run test:desktop:all
Troubleshooting
Boot logs land in HERMES_HOME/logs/desktop.log (includes backend output and recent Python tracebacks) — check it first if the app reports a boot failure.
macOS / Linux:
# Force a clean first-launch setup
rm "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/.hermes-bootstrap-complete"
# Rebuild a broken Python venv
rm -rf "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/venv"
# Reset a stuck macOS microphone prompt (macOS only)
tccutil reset Microphone com.nousresearch.hermes
Windows (PowerShell):
# Force a clean first-launch setup
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\hermes\hermes-agent\.hermes-bootstrap-complete"
# Rebuild a broken Python venv
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\hermes\hermes-agent\venv"
The default Hermes home on Windows is
%LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes. Set theHERMES_HOMEenv var if you've relocated it.
Community
- 💬 Discord
- 📖 Documentation
- 🐛 Issues
License
MIT — see LICENSE.
Built by Nous Research.