* fix(desktop): stabilize project folder sessions Keep desktop folder selection aligned with new sessions and scope TUI gateway cwd through session context so prompts and tools resolve against the selected workspace. * fix(desktop): address review feedback on folder sessions Snapshot sessions before iterating to avoid concurrent-mutation crashes, optional-chain the revealLogs catch, and read console-message args from the correct Electron event/messageDetails positions. * fix(desktop): address second review pass on folder sessions Sync the remembered workspace key with the cwd atom (clear on empty), only load tree children for real directory nodes, and throttle renderer auto-reloads so a deterministic startup crash can't loop forever. * fix(desktop): inherit parent workspace for ephemeral agent tasks Background and preview tasks use ephemeral ids absent from the session map, so pass the parent session cwd into the session context explicitly instead of clearing it back to the gateway launch dir. Also correct the set_session_vars docstring about clear_session_vars semantics. * fix(desktop): validate preview cwd before pinning session context A non-empty but non-existent client cwd would pin an unusable override and silently fall back to the launch dir. Validate once, reuse for both the session context and the terminal override, and fall back to the parent session workspace when invalid. * fix(desktop): harden preview cwd normalization and adopt normalized cwd Guard preview cwd normalization against malformed client paths so a bad input can't fail the whole restart, and adopt the backend's normalized config.get cwd in the no-active-session path so the persisted workspace stays consistent with what the agent uses. |
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| assets | ||
| electron | ||
| public | ||
| scripts | ||
| src | ||
| .prettierrc | ||
| components.json | ||
| eslint.config.mjs | ||
| index.html | ||
| package-lock.json | ||
| package.json | ||
| preview-demo.html | ||
| README.md | ||
| tsconfig.json | ||
| vite.config.ts | ||
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.
# Force a clean first-launch setup
rm "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/.hermes-bootstrap-complete" # macOS/Linux
# Rebuild a broken Python venv
rm -rf "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/venv" # macOS/Linux
# Reset a stuck macOS microphone prompt
tccutil reset Microphone com.nousresearch.hermes
Community
- 💬 Discord
- 📖 Documentation
- 🐛 Issues
License
MIT — see LICENSE.
Built by Nous Research.