hermes-agent/apps/desktop/README.md
emozilla 61fb5a48b7 refactor(desktop): align install layout with install.ps1 / install.sh
Make the desktop app's runtime layout match what scripts/install.ps1 and
scripts/install.sh produce, so a desktop-only user and a CLI-only user end
up with the same files in the same places and can share one install.

Layout
- ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT = HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent  (was: process.resourcesPath/hermes-agent, read-only)
- VENV_ROOT          = HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent/venv  (was: userData/hermes-runtime)
- desktop.log        = HERMES_HOME/logs/desktop.log  (was: userData/desktop.log)
- HERMES_HOME default: %LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes on Windows, ~/.hermes elsewhere

The packaged .app/.exe still ships a read-only payload at
process.resourcesPath/hermes-agent (FACTORY_HERMES_ROOT). On first launch
or after an installer-driven upgrade we sync factory -> active, then
provision the venv and run pip install -e . against the active root.

Key behaviors
- Pin HERMES_HOME in the spawned Python's env so get_hermes_home() resolves
  to the same path resolveHermesHome() picked. Without this, Python falls
  back to ~/.hermes on every platform - fine on mac/linux, a split-state
  bug on Windows where our default is %LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes.
- Detect developer installs by .git presence at ACTIVE; never overwrite
  a user's checkout via factory sync.
- Marker at ACTIVE/.hermes-desktop-runtime.json (schema v4) tracks
  pyproject hash + factory version + runtime schema version. depsFresh
  fast-paths when nothing changed.
- Dev (npm run dev) prefers SOURCE_REPO_ROOT over ACTIVE so devs run
  their local edits, not whatever's under HERMES_HOME.
- Better error messages distinguish "no payload" from "no Python".
- Preserve a legacy ~/.hermes on Windows when no %LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes
  exists, so users with prior pip/manual installs aren't orphaned.

pyproject.toml
- Promote fastapi, uvicorn[standard], ptyprocess (non-Windows), and
  pywinpty (Windows) to main dependencies. The dashboard backend
  (hermes dashboard) needs them at runtime; the previous lazy-import
  fallback was a footgun for fresh installs.
- Empty the [pty] optional-extra; kept as a no-op back-compat alias for
  any existing pip install hermes-agent[pty] invocations.

Drops the hardcoded BUNDLED_RUNTIME_REQUIREMENTS list in main.cjs - the
desktop now installs whatever pyproject.toml says, single source of truth.

Files
- apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs:    runtime layout, HERMES_HOME pin,
                                      factory->active sync, marker v4
- apps/desktop/scripts/test-desktop.mjs:  track new venv location
- apps/desktop/README.md:            new Setup, Runtime Bootstrap, and
                                      Debugging sections
- pyproject.toml:                    fastapi/uvicorn/pty backends in main
                                      dependencies; [pty] extra emptied

Tested locally on Windows: npm run dev boots cleanly, sessions land at
the new location, type-check + lint + test:desktop:platforms all pass.
Verified end-to-end on a fresh Win11 VM via dist:win installer.

Known gaps (filed as follow-ups, not in this PR):
- Skills not seeded on packaged installs (sync_skills only runs in
  cmd_chat, not cmd_dashboard). Need to move to shared pre-dispatch.
- Git Bash not bundled or detected; agent's terminal tool errors out
  with a useful message but desktop bootstrapper should pre-flight it.
- install.ps1 / install.sh should be decomposed into composable phase
  libraries so the desktop bootstrapper can reuse them as a single
  source of truth across all install surfaces.
2026-05-11 00:43:46 -04:00

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# Hermes Desktop
Native Electron shell for Hermes. It packages the desktop renderer, a bundled Hermes source payload, and installer targets for macOS and Windows.
## Setup
Install workspace dependencies from the repo root so `apps/desktop`, `apps/dashboard`, and `apps/shared` stay linked:
```bash
npm install
```
For Python, you have two options:
**Option A — let the desktop provision it for you (recommended for first-time setup):** just run `npm run dev`. On first launch the desktop creates a venv at `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent/venv` and runs `pip install -e .` against the resolved Hermes source automatically. Requires Python 3.11+ on `PATH`.
**Option B — share an existing CLI install:** if you already ran `scripts/install.ps1` / `scripts/install.sh`, that's the same layout the desktop uses. The desktop reuses your existing venv and editable install — no extra steps. See [Runtime Bootstrap](#runtime-bootstrap) below for details.
If you're hacking on Hermes from a clone outside `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent`, point the desktop at it explicitly:
```bash
HERMES_DESKTOP_HERMES_ROOT=/path/to/your/clone npm run dev
```
## Development
```bash
cd apps/desktop
npm run dev
```
`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_HOME=/tmp/throwaway-hermes-home npm run dev
HERMES_DESKTOP_BOOT_FAKE=1 npm run dev
HERMES_DESKTOP_BOOT_FAKE=1 HERMES_DESKTOP_BOOT_FAKE_STEP_MS=900 npm run dev
```
`HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING=1` skips any `hermes` CLI already on `PATH`, which is useful when testing the factory-image bootstrap path.
`HERMES_HOME` overrides the install root (default: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes` on Windows, `~/.hermes` elsewhere) — handy for sandboxed dev runs that shouldn't touch your real config.
`HERMES_DESKTOP_BOOT_FAKE=1` adds deterministic per-phase delays to desktop startup so you can validate the startup overlay and progress bar. For convenience, `npm run dev:fake-boot` enables fake mode with defaults.
On a fresh Hermes profile, Desktop shows a first-run setup overlay after boot. The overlay saves the minimum required provider credential (for example `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`, `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`, or `OPENAI_API_KEY`) to the active Hermes `.env`, reloads the backend env, and then lets the user continue without opening Settings manually.
## 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
npm run dist:mac:zip # zip only
npm run dist:win # NSIS + MSI
```
Before packaging, `stage:hermes` copies the Python Hermes payload into `build/hermes-agent`. Electron Builder then ships it as `Contents/Resources/hermes-agent`.
## Automated Releases
Desktop installers are published by [`.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml`](../../.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml) with two channels:
- **Stable:** runs on published GitHub releases and uploads signed artifacts to that release tag.
- **Nightly:** runs on `main` pushes and updates the rolling `desktop-nightly` prerelease.
The workflow injects a channel-aware desktop version at build time:
- stable: derived from the release tag (for example `v2026.5.5` -> `2026.5.5`)
- nightly: `0.0.0-nightly.YYYYMMDD.<sha>`
Artifact names include channel, platform, and architecture:
```text
Hermes-<version>-<channel>-<platform>-<arch>.<ext>
```
Each run also publishes `SHA256SUMS-<platform>.txt` so installers can be verified.
### Stable release gates
Stable builds fail fast if signing credentials are missing:
- macOS signing + notarization: `CSC_LINK`, `CSC_KEY_PASSWORD`, `APPLE_API_KEY`, `APPLE_API_KEY_ID`, `APPLE_API_ISSUER`
- Windows signing: `WIN_CSC_LINK`, `WIN_CSC_KEY_PASSWORD`
Stable macOS builds also validate stapling and Gatekeeper assessment in CI before upload.
## Icons
Desktop icons live in `assets/`:
- `assets/icon.icns`
- `assets/icon.ico`
- `assets/icon.png`
The builder config points at `assets/icon`. Replace these files directly if the app icon changes.
## Testing Install Paths
Use the package-local test scripts from this directory:
```bash
npm run test:desktop:all
npm run test:desktop:existing
npm run test:desktop:fresh
npm run test:desktop:dmg
npm run test:desktop:platforms
```
`test:desktop:existing` builds the packaged app and opens it normally. It should use an existing `hermes` CLI if one is on `PATH`, preserving the users real `~/.hermes` config.
`test:desktop:fresh` builds the packaged app and launches it in a throwaway fresh-install sandbox. It sets `HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING=1`, points Electron `userData` at a temp dir, points `HERMES_HOME` at a temp dir, and launches through the factory-image bootstrap path without touching your real desktop runtime or `~/.hermes`.
`test:desktop:dmg` builds and opens the DMG.
`test:desktop:platforms` runs platform bootstrap-path assertions, including:
- existing-CLI vs factory-image runtime path selection semantics
- WSL2 protection against Windows `.exe/.cmd/.bat/.ps1` overrides
- platform-specific runtime import checks (`winpty` vs `ptyprocess`)
For fast reruns without rebuilding:
```bash
HERMES_DESKTOP_SKIP_BUILD=1 npm run test:desktop:fresh
HERMES_DESKTOP_SKIP_BUILD=1 npm run test:desktop:existing
HERMES_DESKTOP_SKIP_BUILD=1 npm run test:desktop:dmg
```
## Installing Locally
```bash
npm run dist:mac:dmg
open release/Hermes-0.0.0-arm64.dmg
```
Drag `Hermes` to Applications. If testing repeated installs, replace the existing app.
## Runtime Bootstrap
Hermes Desktop shares its install layout with the CLI installers (`scripts/install.ps1`, `scripts/install.sh`) so a desktop-only user and a CLI-only user end up with the same files in the same places.
### Where things live
```text
HERMES_HOME/ # %LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes (Windows)
# ~/.hermes (macOS / Linux)
├── hermes-agent/ # ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT — the canonical install
│ ├── hermes_cli/, agent/, ... # Python source
│ ├── pyproject.toml # source of truth for deps
│ ├── venv/ # virtualenv (Scripts\python.exe on Windows,
│ │ # bin/python elsewhere)
│ └── .hermes-desktop-runtime.json # marker: schema version + pyproject hash
├── config.yaml # user config
├── .env # API keys
└── logs/
├── desktop.log # Electron-side boot log
├── agent.log
├── errors.log
└── gateway.log
```
The factory image (`Contents/Resources/hermes-agent` on macOS, `resources\hermes-agent` on Windows) ships inside the `.app` / `.exe` and seeds `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent` on first launch.
### Resolution order
The desktop resolves a Hermes backend in this order:
1. `HERMES_DESKTOP_HERMES_ROOT` — explicit dev override.
2. Existing `hermes` CLI on PATH (skipped when `HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING=1`).
3. Repo source root — only when running `npm run dev` from a checkout. Takes precedence over `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent` so devs always run their local edits.
4. `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent` if it already exists (CLI installer or prior desktop launch).
5. Packaged + factory image present → sync factory → `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent`, then use it.
6. Pip-installed `hermes_cli` module via system Python.
### First-launch flow on a packaged install
1. Sync factory image → `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent`. Skipped if a `.git` directory exists at the destination (developer install) — never overwrites a user's local repo.
2. Create venv at `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent/venv` using system Python (errors out with a Python-install hint if no Python 3.11+ is found).
3. `pip install -e HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent``pyproject.toml` is the single source of truth for dependencies.
4. Stamp `.hermes-desktop-runtime.json` with the schema version + pyproject hash + factory version.
Subsequent launches compare the marker against the active `pyproject.toml` and skip steps 2-4 when nothing has changed.
### Upgrades
A new installer drops a new factory image. On next launch the marker mismatches → factory contents are copied over `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent` (excluding `venv/`, `.git`, `__pycache__`, etc.), `pip install -e` re-runs to pick up new deps, the marker is re-stamped. The venv is preserved across upgrades to keep the upgrade fast when deps haven't moved.
A user who installed via `scripts/install.ps1` / `scripts/install.sh` (so `HERMES_HOME/hermes-agent/.git` exists) is detected as a developer install and the desktop never overwrites their checkout — they keep using `hermes update` / `git pull` to update.
## Debugging
Desktop boot logs are written to:
```text
HERMES_HOME/logs/desktop.log # %LOCALAPPDATA%\hermes\logs\desktop.log on Windows
# ~/.hermes/logs/desktop.log on macOS / Linux
```
If the UI reports `Desktop boot failed`, check that log first. It includes the backend command output and recent Python traceback context.
To reset desktop runtime state (forces re-sync from the factory image and re-`pip install -e .` on next launch):
```bash
# macOS / Linux
rm "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/.hermes-desktop-runtime.json"
# Windows (PowerShell)
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\hermes\hermes-agent\.hermes-desktop-runtime.json"
```
For a full reset of just the Python venv (rare — usually only needed if the venv is broken):
```bash
# macOS / Linux
rm -rf "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/venv"
# Windows (PowerShell)
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\hermes\hermes-agent\venv"
```
To reset stale macOS microphone permission prompts:
```bash
tccutil reset Microphone com.github.Electron
tccutil reset Microphone com.nousresearch.hermes
```
## Verification
Run before handing off installer changes:
```bash
npm run fix
npm run type-check
npm run lint
npm run test:desktop:all
```
Current lint may report existing warnings, but it should exit with no errors.