cae6b5486f
The dashboard's embedded Chat surface (/chat, /api/ws, /api/pty) was gated behind `hermes dashboard --tui` / HERMES_DASHBOARD_TUI=1. The desktop app and the dashboard's own Chat tab both drive the agent over the /api/ws + /api/pty WebSockets, so a dashboard started without the flag would pass the /api/status health check but slam the chat WebSocket shut with WS code 4403 — the app connects, reports "ready", and chat stays dead. This was the root cause behind multiple user reports of the desktop app failing to connect to a self-hosted gateway/dashboard, and it bit Docker and host installs alike. Make the embedded chat unconditional: - web_server.py: _DASHBOARD_EMBEDDED_CHAT_ENABLED defaults to True; drop the embedded_chat parameter and the runtime reassignment from start_server(). The WS gates still read the constant (now always true) so the seam — and its "rejects when disabled" contract test — stays meaningful. - main.py: remove the `--tui` argument from the dashboard subparser and the `embedded_chat = args.tui or HERMES_DASHBOARD_TUI==1` derivation. - web/: isDashboardEmbeddedChatEnabled() returns true unconditionally; drop the deprecated __HERMES_DASHBOARD_TUI__ alias and the dead LEGACY_TUI_RE scrape in the vite dev-token plugin. - apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs: drop `--tui` from the spawned dashboardArgs (it would now error with "unrecognized arguments: --tui") and the redundant HERMES_DASHBOARD_TUI env injection. - Docker: no s6 run-script change needed — the script never passed --tui; the HERMES_DASHBOARD_TUI env var is now simply a no-op, so the image works out of the box with no extra var. - Docs: remove every dashboard --tui / HERMES_DASHBOARD_TUI reference across the CLI reference, env-var reference, docker/desktop/web-dashboard guides, in-app tips, and the zh-Hans translations. The terminal `hermes --tui` / HERMES_TUI references are intentionally left untouched. Tests: 270 passing across web_server, dashboard lifecycle, host-header, auth-gate, and docker-override-scripts suites.
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 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.