docs(analysis): map IDE coding-agent harness techniques onto Hermes

Study of the five harness subsystems that make in-editor coding agents
outperform the raw model (same models underneath), with a grounded map of
each onto the Hermes codebase: indexed semantic retrieval, retrieval-as-
accuracy-driver, decoupled apply model, ambient context, per-task routing.

Findings reference real files (tools/fuzzy_match.py, agent/auxiliary_client.py,
agent/prompt_builder.py, hermes_state.py). Identifies semantic codebase
retrieval as the one structural gap; apply-reliability and model-routing as
existing strengths.

.envrc

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 watch_file pyproject.toml uv.lock
-watch_file ui-tui/package-lock.json ui-tui/package.json
+watch_file package-lock.json package.json web/package.json ui-tui/package.json website/package.json apps/shared/package.json apps/desktop/package.json ui-tui/packages/hermes-ink/package.json
 watch_file flake.nix flake.lock nix/devShell.nix nix/tui.nix nix/package.nix nix/python.nix
 
 use flake

.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml

@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ on:
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
+  # Needed so the arm64 job can push/pull its registry-backed build cache
+  # to ghcr.io (cache-to/cache-from type=registry).  See the build-arm64
+  # job for why registry cache replaced the gha cache on that arch.
+  packages: write
 
 # Concurrency: push/release runs are NEVER cancelled so every merge gets
 # its own image.  PR runs reuse a PR-scoped group with
@@ -54,8 +58,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd  # v6.0.2
-        with:
-          submodules: recursive
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@8d2750c68a42422c14e847fe6c8ac0403b4cbd6f  # v3
@@ -190,17 +192,38 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd  # v6.0.2
-        with:
-          submodules: recursive
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@8d2750c68a42422c14e847fe6c8ac0403b4cbd6f  # v3
 
-      # Build once, load into the local daemon for smoke testing. PR arm64
-      # builds deliberately avoid the gha cache: cold-cache arm64 builds can
-      # outlive GitHub's short-lived Azure cache SAS token, then fail while
-      # reading or writing cache blobs before the smoke test can run.
-      - name: Build image (arm64, smoke test, uncached PR)
+      # Log in to ghcr.io so the registry-backed build cache below can be
+      # read (cache-from) on every event and written (cache-to) on
+      # push/release.  Uses the workflow's GITHUB_TOKEN, which is valid for
+      # the whole job — unlike the gha cache backend's short-lived Azure SAS
+      # token, which expired mid-build on slow cold-cache arm64 runs and
+      # crashed the build before the smoke test (the reason the gha cache
+      # was removed from arm64 PRs in the first place).
+      - name: Log in to ghcr.io (build cache)
+        uses: docker/login-action@4907a6ddec9925e35a0a9e82d7399ccc52663121  # v4.1.0
+        with:
+          registry: ghcr.io
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      # Build once, load into the local daemon for smoke testing.
+      #
+      # PR builds use the registry-backed cache READ-ONLY (cache-from only):
+      # they pull warm layers pushed by the most recent main build but never
+      # write, so rapid PR pushes don't race on cache writes or pollute the
+      # cache ref.  This restores warm-cache speed to arm64 PR builds (which
+      # were running fully uncached and were ~45% slower than amd64, making
+      # them the job most often cancelled on supersede).
+      #
+      # Registry cache (type=registry on ghcr.io) is used instead of the gha
+      # cache that previously broke here: its credential is the job-lifetime
+      # GITHUB_TOKEN, not a short-lived SAS token, so the cold-build-outlives-
+      # token failure mode cannot recur.
+      - name: Build image (arm64, smoke test, cache read-only PR)
         if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
         uses: docker/build-push-action@bcafcacb16a39f128d818304e6c9c0c18556b85f  # v7.1.0
         with:
@@ -211,9 +234,11 @@ jobs:
           tags: ${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:test
           build-args: |
             HERMES_GIT_SHA=${{ github.sha }}
+          cache-from: type=registry,ref=ghcr.io/nousresearch/hermes-agent:buildcache-arm64
 
-      # Main/release builds still use the per-arch gha cache so the digest
-      # push below can reuse layers from this smoke-test build.
+      # Main/release builds read AND write the registry cache so the digest
+      # push below reuses layers from this smoke-test build, and so the next
+      # PR/main build starts warm.
       - name: Build image (arm64, smoke test, cached publish)
         if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
         uses: docker/build-push-action@bcafcacb16a39f128d818304e6c9c0c18556b85f  # v7.1.0
@@ -225,8 +250,8 @@ jobs:
           tags: ${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:test
           build-args: |
             HERMES_GIT_SHA=${{ github.sha }}
-          cache-from: type=gha,scope=docker-arm64
-          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max,scope=docker-arm64
+          cache-from: type=registry,ref=ghcr.io/nousresearch/hermes-agent:buildcache-arm64
+          cache-to: type=registry,ref=ghcr.io/nousresearch/hermes-agent:buildcache-arm64,mode=max
 
       - name: Smoke test image
         uses: ./.github/actions/hermes-smoke-test
@@ -253,8 +278,8 @@ jobs:
           build-args: |
             HERMES_GIT_SHA=${{ github.sha }}
           outputs: type=image,name=${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }},push-by-digest=true,name-canonical=true,push=true
-          cache-from: type=gha,scope=docker-arm64
-          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max,scope=docker-arm64
+          cache-from: type=registry,ref=ghcr.io/nousresearch/hermes-agent:buildcache-arm64
+          cache-to: type=registry,ref=ghcr.io/nousresearch/hermes-agent:buildcache-arm64,mode=max
 
       - name: Export digest
         if: github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' || github.event_name == 'release'

.github/workflows/nix-lockfile-fix.yml

@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ on:
   push:
     branches: [main]
     paths:
-      - 'ui-tui/package-lock.json'
+      - 'package-lock.json'
+      - 'package.json'
       - 'ui-tui/package.json'
-      - 'apps/dashboard/package-lock.json'
-      - 'apps/dashboard/package.json'
+      - 'apps/desktop/package.json'
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       pr_number:
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   # ── Auto-fix on main ───────────────────────────────────────────────
-  # Fires when a push to main touches package.json or package-lock.json
-  # in ui-tui/ or apps/dashboard/. Runs fix-lockfiles and pushes the hash
-  # update commit directly to main so Nix builds never stay broken.
+  # Fires when a push to main touches package.json or package-lock.json.
+  # Runs fix-lockfiles and pushes the hash update commit directly to main
+  # so Nix builds never stay broken.
   #
   # Safety invariants:
   #   1. The fix commit only touches nix/*.nix files, which are NOT in
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ jobs:
             # our computed hashes are stale. Abort and let the next triggered
             # run recompute from the correct package-lock state.
             pkg_changed="$(git diff --name-only "$BASE_SHA"..origin/main -- \
-              'ui-tui/package-lock.json' 'ui-tui/package.json' \
-              'apps/dashboard/package-lock.json' 'apps/dashboard/package.json' || true)"
+              'package-lock.json' 'package.json' \
+              'ui-tui/package.json' 'apps/desktop/package.json' || true)"
             if [ -n "$pkg_changed" ]; then
               echo "::warning::Package files changed since hash computation — aborting; a fresh run will recompute"
               exit 0

.github/workflows/nix.yml

@@ -37,23 +37,16 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Check flake
         id: flake
-        if: runner.os == 'Linux'
         continue-on-error: true
         run: nix flake check --print-build-logs
 
-      - name: Build package
-        id: build
-        if: runner.os == 'Linux'
-        continue-on-error: true
-        run: nix build --print-build-logs
-
-      # When the real Nix build fails, run a targeted diagnostic to see if
+      # When the flake check fails, run a targeted diagnostic to see if
       # the failure is specifically a stale npm lockfile hash in one of the
       # known npm subpackages (tui / web).  This avoids surfacing a generic
       # "build failed" message when the fix is a single known command.
       - name: Diagnose npm lockfile hashes
         id: hash_check
-        if: (steps.flake.outcome == 'failure' || steps.build.outcome == 'failure') && runner.os == 'Linux'
+        if: steps.flake.outcome == 'failure' && runner.os == 'Linux'
         continue-on-error: true
         env:
           LINK_SHA: ${{ steps.sha.outputs.full }}
@@ -88,30 +81,25 @@ jobs:
             - Or [run the Nix Lockfile Fix workflow](${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/workflows/nix-lockfile-fix.yml) manually (pass PR `#${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}`)
             - Or locally: `nix run .#fix-lockfiles` and commit the diff
 
-      # Clear the sticky comment when either the build passed outright (no
+      # Clear the sticky comment when either the flake check passed outright (no
       # hash check needed) or the hash check explicitly returned stale=false
-      # (build failed for a non-hash reason).
+      # (check failed for a non-hash reason).
       - name: Clear sticky PR comment (resolved)
         if: |
           github.event_name == 'pull_request' &&
-          runner.os == 'Linux' &&
           (steps.hash_check.outputs.stale == 'false' ||
-           (steps.flake.outcome == 'success' && steps.build.outcome == 'success'))
+           steps.flake.outcome == 'success')
         uses: marocchino/sticky-pull-request-comment@52423e01640425a022ef5fd42c6fb5f633a02728  # v2.9.1
         with:
           header: nix-lockfile-check
           delete: true
 
-      - name: Final fail if build or flake failed
-        if: steps.flake.outcome == 'failure' || steps.build.outcome == 'failure'
+      - name: Final fail if flake check failed
+        if: steps.flake.outcome == 'failure'
         run: |
           if [ "${{ steps.hash_check.outputs.stale }}" == "true" ]; then
             echo "::error::Nix build failed due to stale npm lockfile hash. Run: nix run .#fix-lockfiles"
           else
-            echo "::error::Nix build/flake check failed. See logs above."
+            echo "::error::Nix flake check failed. See logs above."
           fi
           exit 1
-
-      - name: Evaluate flake (macOS)
-        if: runner.os == 'macOS'
-        run: nix flake show --json > /dev/null

.github/workflows/osv-scanner.yml

@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ on:
       - 'package.json'
       - 'package-lock.json'
       - 'ui-tui/package.json'
-      - 'ui-tui/package-lock.json'
       - 'website/package.json'
       - 'website/package-lock.json'
       - '.github/workflows/osv-scanner.yml'
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ on:
       - 'pyproject.toml'
       - 'package.json'
       - 'package-lock.json'
-      - 'ui-tui/package-lock.json'
       - 'website/package-lock.json'
   schedule:
     # Weekly scan against main — catches CVEs published after merge for
@@ -62,6 +60,6 @@ jobs:
       # the three sources of truth and skip vendored / test / worktree dirs.
       scan-args: |-
         --lockfile=uv.lock
-        --lockfile=ui-tui/package-lock.json
+        --lockfile=package-lock.json
         --lockfile=website/package-lock.json
       fail-on-vuln: false

.github/workflows/tests.yml

@@ -171,6 +171,11 @@ jobs:
           source .venv/bin/activate
           uv pip install -e ".[all,dev]"
 
+      - name: Packaged-wheel i18n smoke test
+        run: |
+          source .venv/bin/activate
+          python -m pytest -m integration tests/test_wheel_locales_e2e.py -v
+
       - name: Run e2e tests
         run: |
           source .venv/bin/activate

.gitignore

@@ -110,3 +110,9 @@ docs/superpowers/*
 # Tool Search live-test harness output — non-deterministic model transcripts,
 # regenerated by scripts/tool_search_livetest.py. Never an artifact of the repo.
 scripts/out/
+
+# Per-release changelog drafts. These exist only transiently during a release
+# cut (passed to `gh release create --notes-file`); the GitHub Release itself
+# stores the published notes. They are not a build artifact and must never be
+# committed to the repo root. See the hermes-release skill.
+RELEASE_v*.md

AGENTS.md

@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ hermes-agent/
 │   ├── hermes-achievements/  # Gamified achievement tracking
 │   ├── observability/    # Metrics / traces / logs plugin
 │   ├── image_gen/        # Image-generation providers
-│   └── <others>/         # disk-cleanup, example-dashboard, google_meet, platforms,
-│                         #   spotify, strike-freedom-cockpit, ...
+│   └── <others>/         # disk-cleanup, google_meet, platforms, spotify,
+│                         #   strike-freedom-cockpit, ...
 ├── optional-skills/      # Heavier/niche skills shipped but NOT active by default
 ├── skills/               # Built-in skills bundled with the repo
 ├── ui-tui/               # Ink (React) terminal UI — `hermes --tui`
@@ -283,6 +283,21 @@ The dashboard embeds the real `hermes --tui` — **not** a rewrite.  See `hermes
 
 **Structured React UI around the TUI is allowed when it is not a second chat surface.** Sidebar widgets, inspectors, summaries, status panels, and similar supporting views (e.g. `ChatSidebar`, `ModelPickerDialog`, `ToolCall`) are fine when they complement the embedded TUI rather than replacing the transcript / composer / terminal. Keep their state independent of the PTY child's session and surface their failures non-destructively so the terminal pane keeps working unimpaired.
 
+### Electron Desktop Chat App (`apps/desktop/`)
+
+A **separate** chat surface from both the classic CLI and the dashboard's embedded TUI. It is an Electron + React + nanostore renderer (`@assistant-ui/react`) that talks to a `tui_gateway` backend over JSON-RPC (`requestGateway(method, params)`). It does NOT embed `hermes --tui` — it has its own composer, transcript, and slash-command pipeline. Route desktop bugs to the `hermes-desktop-app-work` skill, not `hermes-dashboard-work`.
+
+**Slash commands in the desktop app are curated client-side, then dispatched to the backend.** The pipeline:
+
+- **Backend already provides everything.** `tui_gateway/server.py` `commands.catalog` (empty-query list) and `complete.slash` (typed-query completions) both include built-in commands, user `quick_commands`, AND skill-derived commands (`scan_skill_commands()` / `get_skill_commands()`). The desktop app does not need a new RPC to see skills.
+- **The renderer curates via `apps/desktop/src/lib/desktop-slash-commands.ts`.** This is the load-bearing file. It holds `DESKTOP_COMMANDS` (the ~19 built-ins shown in the palette) plus block-lists for terminal-only / messaging-only / picker-owned / settings-owned / advanced commands that should NOT clutter the desktop popover.
+  - `isDesktopSlashCommand(name)` — gates **execution**. Returns true for built-ins AND for any non-built-in (skill / quick command), so typed extension commands run.
+  - `isDesktopSlashSuggestion(name)` — gates **discovery/completion**. Used by BOTH completion paths in `app/chat/composer/hooks/use-slash-completions.ts` (empty-query catalog filter + typed-query `complete.slash` filter) and by `filterDesktopCommandsCatalog`.
+  - `isDesktopSlashExtensionCommand(name)` — true when the command is NOT a known Hermes built-in (i.e. a skill or user quick command). Both suggestion and catalog-filter paths allow extensions through so skill commands surface in the palette. (Added when fixing "skill commands missing from the desktop slash palette" — the curated allow-list was silently dropping every skill/quick command from completions even though they executed fine when typed.)
+- **Dispatch** lives in `app/session/hooks/use-prompt-actions.ts` (`runSlash`): built-ins that the desktop owns (`/skin`, `/help`, `/new`, …) are handled locally or via `commands.catalog`; everything else goes to `slash.exec`, falling back to `command.dispatch` (which the gateway resolves into skill / alias / exec directives). A skill command resolves to `{type: "skill", message}` and is submitted as a normal prompt.
+
+**Rule:** the desktop slash palette's curation is about hiding noise (terminal-only / messaging-only built-ins), NOT about hiding user-activated extensions. Skill commands and `quick_commands` are extensions the backend surfaces — they belong in completions. If you tighten `desktop-slash-commands.ts`, keep `isDesktopSlashExtensionCommand` flowing into both the suggestion and catalog-filter paths. Tests: `apps/desktop/src/lib/desktop-slash-commands.test.ts` (run via the repo-root `vitest`, since `apps/desktop` resolves deps from the root workspace install).
+
 ---
 
 ## Adding New Tools

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ This isn't a quality bar — it's a coupling-and-maintenance decision. Memory pr
 
 | Requirement | Notes |
 |-------------|-------|
-| **Git** | With `--recurse-submodules` support, and the `git-lfs` extension installed |
+| **Git** | With the `git-lfs` extension installed |
 | **Python 3.11+** | uv will install it if missing |
 | **uv** | Fast Python package manager ([install](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)) |
 | **Node.js 20+** | Optional — needed for browser tools and WhatsApp bridge (matches root `package.json` engines) |
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ This isn't a quality bar — it's a coupling-and-maintenance decision. Memory pr
 ### Clone and install
 
 ```bash
-git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent.git
+git clone https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent.git
 cd hermes-agent
 
 # Create venv with Python 3.11

Dockerfile

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ ENV PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/hermes/.playwright
 # hermes process, the dashboard, and per-profile gateways.
 RUN apt-get update && \
     apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
-    ca-certificates curl iputils-ping python3 python-is-python3 ripgrep ffmpeg gcc python3-dev libffi-dev procps git openssh-client docker-cli xz-utils && \
+    ca-certificates curl iputils-ping python3 python-is-python3 ripgrep ffmpeg gcc python3-dev python3-venv libffi-dev libolm-dev procps git openssh-client docker-cli xz-utils && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 # ---------- s6-overlay install ----------
@@ -73,7 +73,17 @@ RUN set -eu; \
     tar -C / -Jxpf /tmp/s6-overlay-noarch.tar.xz; \
     tar -C / -Jxpf /tmp/s6-overlay-arch.tar.xz; \
     tar -C / -Jxpf /tmp/s6-overlay-symlinks-noarch.tar.xz; \
-    rm /tmp/s6-overlay-*.tar.xz /tmp/s6-overlay.sha256
+    rm /tmp/s6-overlay-*.tar.xz /tmp/s6-overlay.sha256; \
+    # #34192: backward-compat shim for orchestration templates that still\
+    # reference the legacy /usr/bin/tini entrypoint (e.g. Hostinger's\
+    # 'Hermes WebUI' catalog). The image has moved to s6-overlay /init\
+    # as PID 1 (see ENTRYPOINT below + the migration comment at the top\
+    # of this file), but external wrappers pinned to /usr/bin/tini will\
+    # crash with 'tini: No such file or directory' on startup. The shim\
+    # symlinks /usr/bin/tini -> /init so legacy wrappers exec the right\
+    # PID-1 reaper without behavior change for users on the current\
+    # ENTRYPOINT. Safe to drop once the affected catalogs are updated.\
+    ln -sf /init /usr/bin/tini
 
 # Non-root user for runtime; UID can be overridden via HERMES_UID at runtime
 RUN useradd -u 10000 -m -d /opt/data hermes
@@ -103,8 +113,8 @@ WORKDIR /opt/hermes
 # ui-tui/package.json.  Copying the tree up front lets npm resolve the
 # workspace to real content instead of stopping at a bare package.json.
 COPY package.json package-lock.json ./
-COPY web/package.json web/package-lock.json web/
-COPY ui-tui/package.json ui-tui/package-lock.json ui-tui/
+COPY web/package.json web/
+COPY ui-tui/package.json ui-tui/
 COPY ui-tui/packages/hermes-ink/ ui-tui/packages/hermes-ink/
 
 # `npm_config_install_links=false` forces npm to install `file:` deps as
@@ -121,8 +131,6 @@ ENV npm_config_install_links=false
 
 RUN npm install --prefer-offline --no-audit && \
     npx playwright install --with-deps chromium --only-shell && \
-    (cd web && npm install --prefer-offline --no-audit) && \
-    (cd ui-tui && npm install --prefer-offline --no-audit) && \
     npm cache clean --force
 
 # ---------- Layer-cached Python dependency install ----------
@@ -149,10 +157,17 @@ RUN npm install --prefer-offline --no-audit && \
 # so Docker users can use these providers without requiring runtime
 # lazy-install access to PyPI (often blocked in containerized envs).
 #
+# The hindsight memory provider's client (hindsight-client) is baked in
+# for the same reason: it lazy-installs into /opt/hermes/.venv at first
+# use, which lives inside the (immutable) image layer rather than the
+# mounted /opt/data volume, so it is lost on every container recreate /
+# image update and recall/retain then fails with
+# `ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'hindsight_client'` (#38128).
+#
 # The editable link is created after the source copy below.
 COPY pyproject.toml uv.lock ./
 RUN touch ./README.md
-RUN uv sync --frozen --no-install-project --extra all --extra messaging --extra anthropic --extra bedrock --extra azure-identity
+RUN uv sync --frozen --no-install-project --extra all --extra messaging --extra anthropic --extra bedrock --extra azure-identity --extra hindsight
 
 # ---------- Source code ----------
 # .dockerignore excludes node_modules, so the installs above survive.
@@ -170,13 +185,16 @@ RUN cd web && npm run build && \
 # hermes_cli/main.py succeeds (see #18800). /opt/hermes/web is build-time
 # only (HERMES_WEB_DIST points at hermes_cli/web_dist) and is intentionally
 # not chowned here.
+# /opt/hermes/gateway is runtime-writable: Python may create __pycache__ and
+# gateway state artifacts beneath the package after services drop privileges,
+# especially when the hermes UID is remapped at boot (#27221).
 # The .venv MUST remain hermes-writable so lazy_deps.py can install
 # remaining optional platform packages and future pin bumps at first use.
 # Without this, `uv pip install` fails with EACCES and adapters silently
 # fail to load.  See tools/lazy_deps.py.
 USER root
 RUN chmod -R a+rX /opt/hermes && \
-    chown -R hermes:hermes /opt/hermes/.venv /opt/hermes/ui-tui /opt/hermes/node_modules
+    chown -R hermes:hermes /opt/hermes/.venv /opt/hermes/ui-tui /opt/hermes/gateway /opt/hermes/node_modules
 # Start as root so the s6-overlay stage2 hook can usermod/groupmod and chown
 # the data volume. Each supervised service then drops to the hermes user via
 # `s6-setuidgid hermes` in its run script. If HERMES_UID is unset, services
@@ -235,6 +253,23 @@ COPY --chmod=0755 docker/cont-init.d/02-reconcile-profiles /etc/cont-init.d/02-r
 
 # ---------- Runtime ----------
 ENV HERMES_WEB_DIST=/opt/hermes/hermes_cli/web_dist
+# Point the TUI launcher at the prebuilt bundle baked at build time (Layer 8:
+# `ui-tui && npm run build`). This makes _make_tui_argv take the prebuilt-bundle
+# fast path (`node --expose-gc /opt/hermes/ui-tui/dist/entry.js`) and skip the
+# _tui_need_npm_install / runtime `npm install` branch entirely — exactly the
+# nix/packaged-release path the launcher was designed for.
+#
+# Why this is required (not just an optimization): the root package-lock.json
+# describes the WHOLE monorepo workspace set (root + web + ui-tui + apps/*),
+# but the image only installs root/web/ui-tui (apps/* — the desktop app — is
+# never `npm install`ed here). So the actualized node_modules permanently
+# disagrees with the canonical lock, _tui_need_npm_install() returns True on
+# every launch, and the runtime `npm install` it triggers (a) can never
+# converge against the partial monorepo and (b) races itself across concurrent
+# embedded-chat (/api/pty) connections → ENOTEMPTY → the chat tab dies with a
+# 502 / "[session ended]". Pointing at the prebuilt bundle sidesteps the whole
+# check. (A separate launcher hardening is tracked independently.)
+ENV HERMES_TUI_DIR=/opt/hermes/ui-tui
 ENV HERMES_HOME=/opt/data
 
 # `docker exec` privilege-drop shim. When operators run

MANIFEST.in

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 graft skills
 graft optional-skills
+graft locales
 # Bundled plugin manifests (plugin.yaml / plugin.yml). Without these the
 # PluginManager scan (hermes_cli/plugins.py) finds zero plugins on installs
 # built from the sdist (e.g. Homebrew, downstream packagers). package-data

README.md

@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ One command from a fresh install:
 hermes setup --portal
 ```
 
-That logs you in via OAuth, sets Nous as your provider, and turns on the Tool Gateway. Check what's wired up any time with `hermes portal status`. Full details on the [Tool Gateway docs page](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/tool-gateway).
+That logs you in via OAuth, sets Nous as your provider, and turns on the Tool Gateway. Check what's wired up any time with `hermes portal info`. Full details on the [Tool Gateway docs page](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/tool-gateway).
 
 You can still bring your own keys per-tool whenever you want — the gateway is per-backend, not all-or-nothing.
 

README.zh-CN.md

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Hermes 始终允许你使用任意服务商，这点不会改变。但如果你
 hermes setup --portal
 ```
 
-它会通过 OAuth 登录、把 Nous 设为推理服务商，并启用 Tool Gateway。随时用 `hermes portal status` 查看路由状态。完整说明见 [Tool Gateway 文档](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/tool-gateway)。
+它会通过 OAuth 登录、把 Nous 设为推理服务商，并启用 Tool Gateway。随时用 `hermes portal info` 查看路由状态。完整说明见 [Tool Gateway 文档](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/tool-gateway)。
 
 你随时可以按工具单独切回自己的 API Key — Gateway 是按工具粒度生效的，不是一刀切。
 

RELEASE_v0.10.0.md

@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.10.0 (v2026.4.16)
-
-**Release Date:** April 16, 2026
-
-> The Tool Gateway release — paid Nous Portal subscribers can now use web search, image generation, text-to-speech, and browser automation through their existing subscription with zero additional API keys.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Nous Tool Gateway** — Paid [Nous Portal](https://portal.nousresearch.com) subscribers now get automatic access to **web search** (Firecrawl), **image generation** (FAL / FLUX 2 Pro), **text-to-speech** (OpenAI TTS), and **browser automation** (Browser Use) through their existing subscription. No separate API keys needed — just run `hermes model`, select Nous Portal, and pick which tools to enable. Per-tool opt-in via `use_gateway` config, full integration with `hermes tools` and `hermes status`, and the runtime correctly prefers the gateway even when direct API keys exist. Replaces the old hidden `HERMES_ENABLE_NOUS_MANAGED_TOOLS` env var with clean subscription-based detection. ([#11206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11206), based on work by @jquesnelle; docs: [#11208](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11208))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Bug Fixes & Improvements
-
-This release includes 180+ commits with numerous bug fixes, platform improvements, and reliability enhancements across the agent core, gateway, CLI, and tool system. Full details will be published in the v0.11.0 changelog.
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-- **@jquesnelle** (emozilla) — Original Tool Gateway implementation ([#10799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10799)), salvaged and shipped in this release
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.4.13...v2026.4.16](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.4.13...v2026.4.16)

RELEASE_v0.11.0.md

@@ -1,453 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.11.0 (v2026.4.23)
-
-**Release Date:** April 23, 2026
-**Since v0.9.0:** 1,556 commits · 761 merged PRs · 1,314 files changed · 224,174 insertions · 29 community contributors (290 including co-authors)
-
-> The Interface release — a full React/Ink rewrite of the interactive CLI, a pluggable transport architecture underneath every provider, native AWS Bedrock support, five new inference paths, a 17th messaging platform (QQBot), a dramatically expanded plugin surface, and GPT-5.5 via Codex OAuth.
-
-This release also folds in all the highlights deferred from v0.10.0 (which shipped only the Nous Tool Gateway) — so it covers roughly two weeks of work across the whole stack.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **New Ink-based TUI** — `hermes --tui` is now a full React/Ink rewrite of the interactive CLI, with a Python JSON-RPC backend (`tui_gateway`). Sticky composer, live streaming with OSC-52 clipboard support, stable picker keys, status bar with per-turn stopwatch and git branch, `/clear` confirm, light-theme preset, and a subagent spawn observability overlay. ~310 commits to `ui-tui/` + `tui_gateway/`. (@OutThisLife + Teknium)
-
-- **Transport ABC + Native AWS Bedrock** — Format conversion and HTTP transport were extracted from `run_agent.py` into a pluggable `agent/transports/` layer. `AnthropicTransport`, `ChatCompletionsTransport`, `ResponsesApiTransport`, and `BedrockTransport` each own their own format conversion and API shape. Native AWS Bedrock support via the Converse API ships on top of the new abstraction. ([#10549](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10549), [#13347](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13347), [#13366](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13366), [#13430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13430), [#13805](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13805), [#13814](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13814) — @kshitijk4poor + Teknium)
-
-- **Five new inference paths** — Native NVIDIA NIM ([#11774](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11774)), Arcee AI ([#9276](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9276)), Step Plan ([#13893](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13893)), Google Gemini CLI OAuth ([#11270](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11270)), and Vercel ai-gateway with pricing + dynamic discovery ([#13223](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13223) — @jerilynzheng). Plus Gemini routed through the native AI Studio API for better performance ([#12674](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12674)).
-
-- **GPT-5.5 over Codex OAuth** — OpenAI's new GPT-5.5 reasoning model is now available through your ChatGPT Codex OAuth, with live model discovery wired into the model picker so new OpenAI releases show up without catalog updates. ([#14720](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14720))
-
-- **QQBot — 17th supported platform** — Native QQBot adapter via QQ Official API v2, with QR scan-to-configure setup wizard, streaming cursor, emoji reactions, and DM/group policy gating that matches WeCom/Weixin parity. ([#9364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9364), [#11831](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11831))
-
-- **Plugin surface expanded** — Plugins can now register slash commands (`register_command`), dispatch tools directly (`dispatch_tool`), block tool execution from hooks (`pre_tool_call` can veto), rewrite tool results (`transform_tool_result`), transform terminal output (`transform_terminal_output`), ship image_gen backends, and add custom dashboard tabs. The bundled disk-cleanup plugin is opt-in by default as a reference implementation. ([#9377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9377), [#10626](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10626), [#10763](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10763), [#10951](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10951), [#12929](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12929), [#12944](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12944), [#12972](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12972), [#13799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13799), [#14175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14175))
-
-- **`/steer` — mid-run agent nudges** — `/steer <prompt>` injects a note that the running agent sees after its next tool call, without interrupting the turn or breaking prompt cache. For when you want to course-correct an agent in-flight. ([#12116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12116))
-
-- **Shell hooks** — Wire any shell script as a Hermes lifecycle hook (pre_tool_call, post_tool_call, on_session_start, etc.) without writing a Python plugin. ([#13296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13296))
-
-- **Webhook direct-delivery mode** — Webhook subscriptions can now forward payloads straight to a platform chat without going through the agent — zero-LLM push notifications for alerting, uptime checks, and event streams. ([#12473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12473))
-
-- **Smarter delegation** — Subagents now have an explicit `orchestrator` role that can spawn their own workers, with configurable `max_spawn_depth` (default flat). Concurrent sibling subagents share filesystem state through a file-coordination layer so they don't clobber each other's edits. ([#13691](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13691), [#13718](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13718))
-
-- **Auxiliary models — configurable UI + main-model-first** — `hermes model` has a dedicated "Configure auxiliary models" screen for per-task overrides (compression, vision, session_search, title_generation). `auto` routing now defaults to the main model for side tasks across all users (previously aggregator users were silently routed to a cheap provider-side default). ([#11891](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11891), [#11900](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11900))
-
-- **Dashboard plugin system + live theme switching** — The web dashboard is now extensible. Third-party plugins can add custom tabs, widgets, and views without forking. Paired with a live-switching theme system — themes now control colors, fonts, layout, and density — so users can hot-swap the dashboard look without a reload. Same theming discipline the CLI has, now on the web. ([#10951](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10951), [#10687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10687), [#14725](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14725))
-
-- **Dashboard polish** — i18n (English + Chinese), react-router sidebar layout, mobile-responsive, Vercel deployment, real per-session API call tracking, and one-click update + gateway restart buttons. ([#9228](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9228), [#9370](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9370), [#9453](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9453), [#10686](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10686), [#13526](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13526), [#14004](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14004) — @austinpickett + @DeployFaith + Teknium)
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Transport Layer (NEW)
-- **Transport ABC** abstracts format conversion and HTTP transport from `run_agent.py` into `agent/transports/` ([#13347](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13347))
-- **AnthropicTransport** — Anthropic Messages API path ([#13366](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13366), @kshitijk4poor)
-- **ChatCompletionsTransport** — default path for OpenAI-compatible providers ([#13805](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13805))
-- **ResponsesApiTransport** — OpenAI Responses API + Codex build_kwargs wiring ([#13430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13430), @kshitijk4poor)
-- **BedrockTransport** — AWS Bedrock Converse API transport ([#13814](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13814))
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-- **Native AWS Bedrock provider** via Converse API ([#10549](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10549))
-- **NVIDIA NIM native provider** (salvage of #11703) ([#11774](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11774))
-- **Arcee AI direct provider** ([#9276](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9276))
-- **Step Plan provider** (salvage #6005) ([#13893](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13893), @kshitijk4poor)
-- **Google Gemini CLI OAuth** inference provider ([#11270](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11270))
-- **Vercel ai-gateway** with pricing, attribution, and dynamic discovery ([#13223](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13223), @jerilynzheng)
-- **GPT-5.5 over Codex OAuth** with live model discovery in the picker ([#14720](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14720))
-- **Gemini routed through native AI Studio API** ([#12674](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12674))
-- **xAI Grok upgraded to Responses API** ([#10783](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10783))
-- **Ollama improvements** — Cloud provider support, GLM continuation, `think=false` control, surrogate sanitization, `/v1` hint ([#10782](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10782))
-- **Kimi K2.6** across OpenRouter, Nous Portal, native Kimi, and HuggingFace ([#13148](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13148), [#13152](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13152), [#13169](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13169))
-- **Kimi K2.5** promoted to first position in all model suggestion lists ([#11745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11745), @kshitijk4poor)
-- **Xiaomi MiMo v2.5-pro + v2.5** on OpenRouter, Nous Portal, and native ([#14184](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14184), [#14635](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14635), @kshitijk4poor)
-- **GLM-5V-Turbo** for coding plan ([#9907](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9907))
-- **Claude Opus 4.7** in Nous Portal catalog ([#11398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11398))
-- **OpenRouter elephant-alpha** in curated lists ([#9378](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9378))
-- **OpenCode-Go** — Kimi K2.6 and Qwen3.5/3.6 Plus in curated catalog ([#13429](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13429))
-- **minimax/minimax-m2.5:free** in OpenRouter catalog ([#13836](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13836))
-- **`/model` merges models.dev entries** for lesser-loved providers ([#14221](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14221))
-- **Per-provider + per-model `request_timeout_seconds`** config ([#12652](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12652))
-- **Configurable API retry count** via `agent.api_max_retries` ([#14730](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14730))
-- **ctx_size context length key** for Lemonade server (salvage #8536) ([#14215](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14215))
-- **Custom provider display name prompt** ([#9420](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9420))
-- **Recommendation badges** on tool provider selection ([#9929](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9929))
-- Fix: correct GPT-5 family context lengths in fallback defaults ([#9309](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9309))
-- Fix: clamp `minimal` reasoning effort to `low` on Responses API ([#9429](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9429))
-- Fix: strip reasoning item IDs from Responses API input when `store=False` ([#10217](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10217))
-- Fix: OpenViking correct account default + commit session on `/new` and compress ([#10463](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10463))
-- Fix: Kimi `/coding` thinking block survival + empty reasoning_content + block ordering (multiple PRs)
-- Fix: don't send Anthropic thinking to api.kimi.com/coding ([#13826](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13826))
-- Fix: send `max_tokens`, `reasoning_effort`, and `thinking` for Kimi/Moonshot
-- Fix: stream reasoning content through OpenAI-compatible providers that emit it
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **`/steer <prompt>`** — mid-run agent nudges after next tool call ([#12116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12116))
-- **Orchestrator role + configurable spawn depth** for `delegate_task` (default flat) ([#13691](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13691))
-- **Cross-agent file state coordination** for concurrent subagents ([#13718](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13718))
-- **Compressor smart collapse, dedup, anti-thrashing**, template upgrade, hardening ([#10088](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10088))
-- **Compression summaries respect the conversation's language** ([#12556](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12556))
-- **Compression model falls back to main model** on permanent 503/404 ([#10093](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10093))
-- **Auto-continue interrupted agent work** after gateway restart ([#9934](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9934))
-- **Activity heartbeats** prevent false gateway inactivity timeouts ([#10501](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10501))
-- **Auxiliary models UI** — dedicated screen for per-task overrides ([#11891](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11891))
-- **Auxiliary auto routing defaults to main model** for all users ([#11900](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11900))
-- **PLATFORM_HINTS for Matrix, Mattermost, Feishu** ([#14428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14428), @alt-glitch)
-- Fix: reset retry counters after compression; stop poisoning conversation history ([#10055](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10055))
-- Fix: break compression-exhaustion infinite loop and auto-reset session ([#10063](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10063))
-- Fix: stale agent timeout, uv venv detection, empty response after tools ([#10065](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10065))
-- Fix: prevent premature loop exit when weak models return empty after substantive tool calls ([#10472](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10472))
-- Fix: preserve pre-start terminal interrupts ([#10504](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10504))
-- Fix: improve interrupt responsiveness during concurrent tool execution ([#10935](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10935))
-- Fix: word-wrap spinner, interruptable agent join, and delegate_task interrupt ([#10940](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10940))
-- Fix: `/stop` no longer resets the session ([#9224](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9224))
-- Fix: honor interrupts during MCP tool waits ([#9382](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9382), @helix4u)
-- Fix: break stuck session resume loops after repeated restarts ([#9941](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9941))
-- Fix: empty response nudge crash + placeholder leak to cron targets ([#11021](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11021))
-- Fix: streaming cursor sanitization to prevent message truncation (multiple PRs)
-- Fix: resolve `context_length` for plugin context engines ([#9238](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9238))
-
-### Session & Memory
-- **Auto-prune old sessions + VACUUM state.db** at startup ([#13861](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13861))
-- **Honcho overhaul** — context injection, 5-tool surface, cost safety, session isolation ([#10619](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10619))
-- **Hindsight richer session-scoped retain metadata** (salvage of #6290) ([#13987](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13987))
-- Fix: deduplicate memory provider tools to prevent 400 on strict providers ([#10511](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10511))
-- Fix: discover user-installed memory providers from `$HERMES_HOME/plugins/` ([#10529](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10529))
-- Fix: add `on_memory_write` bridge to sequential tool execution path ([#10507](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10507))
-- Fix: preserve `session_id` across `previous_response_id` chains in `/v1/responses` ([#10059](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10059))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ New Ink-based TUI
-
-A full React/Ink rewrite of the interactive CLI — invoked via `hermes --tui` or `HERMES_TUI=1`. Shipped across ~310 commits to `ui-tui/` and `tui_gateway/`.
-
-### TUI Foundations
-- New TUI based on Ink + Python JSON-RPC backend
-- Prettier + ESLint + vitest tooling for `ui-tui/`
-- Entry split between `src/entry.tsx` (TTY gate) and `src/app.tsx` (state machine)
-- Persistent `_SlashWorker` subprocess for slash command dispatch
-
-### UX & Features
-- **Stable picker keys, /clear confirm, light-theme preset** ([#12312](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12312), @OutThisLife)
-- **Git branch in status bar** cwd label ([#12305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12305), @OutThisLife)
-- **Per-turn elapsed stopwatch in FaceTicker + done-in sys line** ([#13105](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13105), @OutThisLife)
-- **Subagent spawn observability overlay** ([#14045](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14045), @OutThisLife)
-- **Per-prompt elapsed stopwatch in status bar** ([#12948](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12948))
-- Sticky composer that freezes during scroll
-- OSC-52 clipboard support for copy across SSH sessions
-- Virtualized history rendering for performance
-- Slash command autocomplete via `complete.slash` RPC
-- Path autocomplete via `complete.path` RPC
-- Dozens of resize/ghosting/sticky-prompt fixes landed through the week
-
-### Structural Refactors
-- Decomposed `app.tsx` into `app/event-handler`, `app/slash-handler`, `app/stores`, `app/hooks` ([#14640](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14640) and surrounding)
-- Component split: `branding.tsx`, `markdown.tsx`, `prompts.tsx`, `sessionPicker.tsx`, `messageLine.tsx`, `thinking.tsx`, `maskedPrompt.tsx`
-- Hook split: `useCompletion`, `useInputHistory`, `useQueue`, `useVirtualHistory`
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### New Platforms
-- **QQBot (17th platform)** — QQ Official API v2 adapter with QR setup, streaming, package split ([#9364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9364), [#11831](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11831))
-
-### Telegram
-- **Dedicated `TELEGRAM_PROXY` env var + config.yaml proxy support** (closes #9414, #6530, #9074, #7786) ([#10681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10681))
-- **`ignored_threads` config** for Telegram groups ([#9530](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9530))
-- **Config option to disable link previews** (closes #8728) ([#10610](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10610))
-- **Auto-wrap markdown tables** in code blocks ([#11794](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11794))
-- Fix: prevent duplicate replies when stream task is cancelled ([#9319](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9319))
-- Fix: prevent streaming cursor (▉) from appearing as standalone messages ([#9538](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9538))
-- Fix: retry transient tool sends + cold-boot budget ([#10947](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10947))
-- Fix: Markdown special char escaping in `send_exec_approval`
-- Fix: parentheses in URLs during MarkdownV2 link conversion
-- Fix: Unicode dash normalization in model switch (closes iOS smart-punctuation issue)
-- Many platform hint / streaming / session-key fixes
-
-### Discord
-- **Forum channel support** (salvage of #10145 + media + polish) ([#11920](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11920))
-- **`DISCORD_ALLOWED_ROLES`** for role-based access control ([#11608](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11608))
-- **Config option to disable slash commands** (salvage #13130) ([#14315](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14315))
-- **Native `send_animation`** for inline GIF playback ([#10283](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10283))
-- **`send_message` Discord media attachments** ([#10246](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10246))
-- **`/skill` command group** with category subcommands ([#9909](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9909))
-- **Extract reply text from message references** ([#9781](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9781))
-
-### Feishu
-- **Intelligent reply on document comments** with 3-tier access control ([#11898](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11898))
-- **Show processing state via reactions** on user messages ([#12927](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12927))
-- **Preserve @mention context for agent consumption** (salvage #13874) ([#14167](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14167))
-
-### DingTalk
-- **`require_mention` + `allowed_users` gating** (parity with Slack/Telegram/Discord) ([#11564](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11564))
-- **QR-code device-flow authorization** for setup wizard ([#11574](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11574))
-- **AI Cards streaming, emoji reactions, and media handling** (salvage of #10985) ([#11910](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11910))
-
-### WhatsApp
-- **`send_voice`** — native audio message delivery ([#13002](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13002))
-- **`dm_policy` and `group_policy`** parity with WeCom/Weixin/QQ adapters ([#13151](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13151))
-
-### WeCom / Weixin
-- **WeCom QR-scan bot creation + interactive setup wizard** (salvage #13923) ([#13961](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13961))
-
-### Signal
-- **Media delivery support** via `send_message` ([#13178](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13178))
-
-### Slack
-- **Per-thread sessions for DMs by default** ([#10987](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10987))
-
-### BlueBubbles (iMessage)
-- Group chat session separation, webhook registration & auth fixes ([#9806](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9806))
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Gateway proxy mode** — forward messages to a remote API server ([#9787](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9787))
-- **Per-channel ephemeral prompts** (Discord, Telegram, Slack, Mattermost) ([#10564](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10564))
-- **Surface plugin slash commands** natively on all platforms + decision-capable command hook ([#14175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14175))
-- **Support document/archive extensions in MEDIA: tag extraction** (salvage #8255) ([#14307](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14307))
-- **Recognize `.pdf` in MEDIA: tag extraction** ([#13683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13683))
-- **`--all` flag for `gateway start` and `restart`** ([#10043](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10043))
-- **Notify active sessions on gateway shutdown** + update health check ([#9850](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9850))
-- **Block agent from self-destructing the gateway** via terminal (closes #6666) ([#9895](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9895))
-- Fix: suppress duplicate replies on interrupt and streaming flood control ([#10235](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10235))
-- Fix: close temporary agents after one-off tasks ([#11028](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11028), @kshitijk4poor)
-- Fix: busy-session ack when user messages during active agent run ([#10068](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10068))
-- Fix: route watch-pattern notifications to the originating session ([#10460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10460))
-- Fix: preserve notify context in executor threads ([#10921](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10921), @kshitijk4poor)
-- Fix: avoid duplicate replies after interrupted long tasks ([#11018](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11018))
-- Fix: unlink stale PID + lock files on cleanup
-- Fix: force-unlink stale PID file after `--replace` takeover
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### Plugin Surface (major expansion)
-- **`register_command()`** — plugins can now add slash commands ([#10626](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10626))
-- **`dispatch_tool()`** — plugins can invoke tools from their code ([#10763](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10763))
-- **`pre_tool_call` blocking** — plugins can veto tool execution ([#9377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9377))
-- **`transform_tool_result`** — plugins rewrite tool results generically ([#12972](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12972))
-- **`transform_terminal_output`** — plugins rewrite terminal tool output ([#12929](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12929))
-- **Namespaced skill registration** for plugin skill bundles ([#9786](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9786))
-- **Opt-in-by-default + bundled disk-cleanup plugin** (salvage #12212) ([#12944](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12944))
-- **Pluggable `image_gen` backends + OpenAI provider** ([#13799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13799))
-- **`openai-codex` image_gen plugin** (gpt-image-2 via Codex OAuth) ([#14317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14317))
-- **Shell hooks** — wire shell scripts as hook callbacks ([#13296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13296))
-
-### Browser
-- **`browser_cdp` raw DevTools Protocol passthrough** ([#12369](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12369))
-- Camofox hardening + connection stability across the window
-
-### Execute Code
-- **Project/strict execution modes** (default: project) ([#11971](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11971))
-
-### Image Generation
-- **Multi-model FAL support** with picker in `hermes tools` ([#11265](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11265))
-- **Recraft V3 → V4 Pro, Nano Banana → Pro upgrades** ([#11406](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11406))
-- **GPT Image 2** in FAL catalog ([#13677](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13677))
-- **xAI image generation provider** (grok-imagine-image) ([#14765](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14765))
-
-### TTS / STT / Voice
-- **Google Gemini TTS provider** ([#11229](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11229))
-- **xAI Grok STT provider** ([#14473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14473))
-- **xAI TTS** (shipped with Responses API upgrade) ([#10783](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10783))
-- **KittenTTS local provider** (salvage of #2109) ([#13395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13395))
-- **CLI record beep toggle** ([#13247](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13247), @helix4u)
-
-### Webhook / Cron
-- **Webhook direct-delivery mode** — zero-LLM push notifications ([#12473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12473))
-- **Cron `wakeAgent` gate** — scripts can skip the agent entirely ([#12373](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12373))
-- **Cron per-job `enabled_toolsets`** — cap token overhead + cost per job ([#14767](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14767))
-
-### Delegate
-- **Orchestrator role** + configurable spawn depth (default flat) ([#13691](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13691))
-- **Cross-agent file state coordination** ([#13718](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13718))
-
-### File / Patch
-- **`patch` — "did you mean?" feedback** when patch fails to match ([#13435](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13435))
-
-### API Server
-- **Stream `/v1/responses` SSE tool events** (salvage #9779) ([#10049](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10049))
-- **Inline image inputs** on `/v1/chat/completions` and `/v1/responses` ([#12969](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12969))
-
-### Docker / Podman
-- **Entry-level Podman support** — `find_docker()` + rootless entrypoint ([#10066](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10066))
-- **Add docker-cli to Docker image** (salvage #10096) ([#14232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14232))
-- **File-sync back to host on teardown** (salvage of #8189 + hardening) ([#11291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11291))
-
-### MCP
-- 12 MCP improvements across the window (status, timeout handling, tool-call forwarding, etc.)
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skill System
-- **Namespaced skill registration** for plugin bundles ([#9786](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9786))
-- **`hermes skills reset`** to un-stick bundled skills ([#11468](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11468))
-- **Skills guard opt-in** — `config.skills.guard_agent_created` (default off) ([#14557](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14557))
-- **Bundled skill scripts runnable out of the box** ([#13384](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13384))
-- **`xitter` replaced with `xurl`** — the official X API CLI ([#12303](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12303))
-- **MiniMax-AI/cli as default skill tap** (salvage #7501) ([#14493](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14493))
-- **Fuzzy `@` file completions + mtime sorting** ([#9467](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9467))
-
-### New Skills
-- **concept-diagrams** (salvage of #11045, @v1k22) ([#11363](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11363))
-- **architecture-diagram** (Cocoon AI port) ([#9906](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9906))
-- **pixel-art** with hardware palettes and video animation ([#12663](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12663), [#12725](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12725))
-- **baoyu-comic** ([#13257](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13257), @JimLiu)
-- **baoyu-infographic** — 21 layouts × 21 styles (salvage #9901) ([#12254](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12254))
-- **page-agent** — embed Alibaba's in-page GUI agent in your webapp ([#13976](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13976))
-- **fitness-nutrition** optional skill + optional env var support ([#9355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9355))
-- **drug-discovery** — ChEMBL, PubChem, OpenFDA, ADMET ([#9443](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9443))
-- **touchdesigner-mcp** (salvage of #10081) ([#12298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12298))
-- **adversarial-ux-test** optional skill (salvage of #2494, @omnissiah-comelse) ([#13425](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13425))
-- **maps** — added `guest_house`, `camp_site`, and dual-key bakery lookup ([#13398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13398))
-- **llm-wiki** — port provenance markers, source hashing, and quality signals ([#13700](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13700))
-
----
-
-## 📊 Web Dashboard
-
-- **i18n (English + Chinese) language switcher** ([#9453](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9453))
-- **Live-switching theme system** ([#10687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10687))
-- **Dashboard plugin system** — extend the web UI with custom tabs ([#10951](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10951))
-- **react-router, sidebar layout, sticky header, dropdown component** ([#9370](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9370), @austinpickett)
-- **Responsive for mobile** ([#9228](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9228), @DeployFaith)
-- **Vercel deployment** ([#10686](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10686), [#11061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11061), @austinpickett)
-- **Context window config support** ([#9357](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9357))
-- **HTTP health probe for cross-container gateway detection** ([#9894](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9894))
-- **Update + restart gateway buttons** ([#13526](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13526), @austinpickett)
-- **Real API call count per session** (salvages #10140) ([#14004](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14004))
-
----
-
-## 🖱️ CLI & User Experience
-
-- **Dynamic shell completion for bash, zsh, and fish** ([#9785](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9785))
-- **Light-mode skins + skin-aware completion menus** ([#9461](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9461))
-- **Numbered keyboard shortcuts** on approval and clarify prompts ([#13416](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13416))
-- **Markdown stripping, compact multiline previews, external editor** ([#12934](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/12934))
-- **`--ignore-user-config` and `--ignore-rules` flags** (port codex#18646) ([#14277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14277))
-- **Account limits section in `/usage`** ([#13428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/13428))
-- **Doctor: Command Installation check** for `hermes` bin symlink ([#10112](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10112))
-- **ESC cancels secret/sudo prompts**, clearer skip messaging ([#9902](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9902))
-- Fix: agent-facing text uses `display_hermes_home()` instead of hardcoded `~/.hermes` ([#10285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10285))
-- Fix: enforce `config.yaml` as sole CWD source + deprecate `.env` CWD vars + add `hermes memory reset` ([#11029](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11029))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-- **Global toggle to allow private/internal URL resolution** ([#14166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14166))
-- **Block agent from self-destructing the gateway** via terminal (closes #6666) ([#9895](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9895))
-- **Telegram callback authorization** on update prompts ([#10536](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10536))
-- **SECURITY.md** added ([#10532](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10532), @I3eg1nner)
-- **Warn about legacy hermes.service units** during `hermes update` ([#11918](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/11918))
-- **Complete ASCII-locale UnicodeEncodeError recovery** for `api_messages`/`reasoning_content` (closes #6843) ([#10537](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10537))
-- **Prevent stale `os.environ` leak** after `clear_session_vars` ([#10527](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10527))
-- **Prevent agent hang when backgrounding processes** via terminal tool ([#10584](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10584))
-- Many smaller session-resume, interrupt, streaming, and memory-race fixes throughout the window
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-The `fix:` category in this window covers 482 PRs. Highlights:
-
-- Streaming cursor artifacts filtered from Matrix, Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord (multiple PRs)
-- `<think>` and `<thought>` blocks filtered from gateway stream consumers ([#9408](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9408))
-- Gateway display.streaming root-config override regression ([#9799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9799))
-- Context `session_search` coerces limit to int (prevents TypeError) ([#10522](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10522))
-- Memory tool stays available when `fcntl` is unavailable (Windows) ([#9783](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9783))
-- Trajectory compressor credentials load from `HERMES_HOME/.env` ([#9632](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9632), @Dusk1e)
-- `@_context_completions` no longer crashes on `@` mention ([#9683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9683), @kshitijk4poor)
-- Group session `user_id` no longer treated as `thread_id` in shutdown notifications ([#10546](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10546))
-- Telegram `platform_hint` — markdown is supported (closes #8261) ([#10612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10612))
-- Doctor checks for Kimi China credentials fixed
-- Streaming: don't suppress final response when commentary message is sent ([#10540](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10540))
-- Rapid Telegram follow-ups no longer get cut off
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing & CI
-
-- **Contributor attribution CI check** on PRs ([#9376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9376))
-- Hermetic test parity (`scripts/run_tests.sh`) held across this window
-- Test count stabilized post-Transport refactor; CI matrix held green through the transport rollout
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- Atropos + wandb links in user guide
-- ACP / VS Code / Zed / JetBrains integration docs refresh
-- Webhook subscription docs updated for direct-delivery mode
-- Plugin author guide expanded for new hooks (`register_command`, `dispatch_tool`, `transform_tool_result`)
-- Transport layer developer guide added
-- Website removed Discussions link from README
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** (Teknium)
-
-### Top Community Contributors (by merged PR count)
-- **@kshitijk4poor** — 49 PRs · Transport refactor (AnthropicTransport, ResponsesApiTransport), Step Plan provider, Xiaomi MiMo v2.5 support, numerous gateway fixes, promoted Kimi K2.5, @ mention crash fix
-- **@OutThisLife** (Brooklyn) — 31 PRs · TUI polish, git branch in status bar, per-turn stopwatch, stable picker keys, `/clear` confirm, light-theme preset, subagent spawn observability overlay
-- **@helix4u** — 11 PRs · Voice CLI record beep, MCP tool interrupt handling, assorted stability fixes
-- **@austinpickett** — 8 PRs · Dashboard react-router + sidebar + sticky header + dropdown, Vercel deployment, update + restart buttons
-- **@alt-glitch** — 8 PRs · PLATFORM_HINTS for Matrix/Mattermost/Feishu, Matrix fixes
-- **@ethernet8023** — 3 PRs
-- **@benbarclay** — 3 PRs
-- **@Aslaaen** — 2 PRs
-
-### Also contributing
-@jerilynzheng (ai-gateway pricing), @JimLiu (baoyu-comic skill), @Dusk1e (trajectory compressor credentials), @DeployFaith (mobile-responsive dashboard), @LeonSGP43, @v1k22 (concept-diagrams), @omnissiah-comelse (adversarial-ux-test), @coekfung (Telegram MarkdownV2 expandable blockquotes), @liftaris (TUI provider resolution), @arihantsethia (skill analytics dashboard), @topcheer + @xing8star (QQBot foundation), @kovyrin, @I3eg1nner (SECURITY.md), @PeterBerthelsen, @lengxii, @priveperfumes, @sjz-ks, @cuyua9, @Disaster-Terminator, @leozeli, @LehaoLin, @trevthefoolish, @loongfay, @MrNiceRicee, @WideLee, @bluefishs, @malaiwah, @bobashopcashier, @dsocolobsky, @iamagenius00, @IAvecilla, @aniruddhaadak80, @Es1la, @asheriif, @walli, @jquesnelle (original Tool Gateway work).
-
-### All Contributors (alphabetical)
-
-@0xyg3n, @10ishq, @A-afflatus, @Abnertheforeman, @admin28980, @adybag14-cyber, @akhater, @alexzhu0,
-@AllardQuek, @alt-glitch, @aniruddhaadak80, @anna-oake, @anniesurla, @anthhub, @areu01or00, @arihantsethia,
-@arthurbr11, @asheriif, @Aslaaen, @Asunfly, @austinpickett, @AviArora02-commits, @AxDSan, @azhengbot, @Bartok9,
-@benbarclay, @bennytimz, @bernylinville, @bingo906, @binhnt92, @bkadish, @bluefishs, @bobashopcashier,
-@brantzh6, @BrennerSpear, @brianclemens, @briandevans, @brooklynnicholson, @bugkill3r, @buray, @burtenshaw,
-@cdanis, @cgarwood82, @ChimingLiu, @chongweiliu, @christopherwoodall, @coekfung, @cola-runner, @corazzione,
-@counterposition, @cresslank, @cuyua9, @cypres0099, @danieldoderlein, @davetist, @davidvv, @DeployFaith,
-@Dev-Mriganka, @devorun, @dieutx, @Disaster-Terminator, @dodo-reach, @draix, @DrStrangerUJN, @dsocolobsky,
-@Dusk1e, @dyxushuai, @elkimek, @elmatadorgh, @emozilla, @entropidelic, @Erosika, @erosika, @Es1la, @etcircle,
-@etherman-os, @ethernet8023, @fancydirty, @farion1231, @fatinghenji, @Fatty911, @fengtianyu88, @Feranmi10,
-@flobo3, @francip, @fuleinist, @g-guthrie, @GenKoKo, @gianfrancopiana, @gnanam1990, @GuyCui, @haileymarshall,
-@haimu0x, @handsdiff, @hansnow, @hedgeho9X, @helix4u, @hengm3467, @HenkDz, @heykb, @hharry11, @HiddenPuppy,
-@honghua, @houko, @houziershi, @hsy5571616, @huangke19, @hxp-plus, @Hypn0sis, @I3eg1nner, @iacker,
-@iamagenius00, @IAvecilla, @iborazzi, @Ifkellx, @ifrederico, @imink, @isaachuangGMICLOUD, @ismell0992-afk,
-@j0sephz, @Jaaneek, @jackjin1997, @JackTheGit, @jaffarkeikei, @jerilynzheng, @JiaDe-Wu, @Jiawen-lee, @JimLiu,
-@jinzheng8115, @jneeee, @jplew, @jquesnelle, @Julientalbot, @Junass1, @jvcl, @kagura-agent, @keifergu,
-@kevinskysunny, @keyuyuan, @konsisumer, @kovyrin, @kshitijk4poor, @leeyang1990, @LehaoLin, @lengxii,
-@LeonSGP43, @leozeli, @li0near, @liftaris, @Lind3ey, @Linux2010, @liujinkun2025, @LLQWQ, @Llugaes, @lmoncany,
-@longsizhuo, @lrawnsley, @Lubrsy706, @lumenradley, @luyao618, @lvnilesh, @LVT382009, @m0n5t3r, @Magaav,
-@MagicRay1217, @malaiwah, @manuelschipper, @Marvae, @MassiveMassimo, @mavrickdeveloper, @maxchernin, @memosr,
-@meng93, @mengjian-github, @MestreY0d4-Uninter, @Mibayy, @MikeFac, @mikewaters, @milkoor, @minorgod,
-@MrNiceRicee, @ms-alan, @mvanhorn, @n-WN, @N0nb0at, @Nan93, @NIDNASSER-Abdelmajid, @nish3451, @niyoh120,
-@nocoo, @nosleepcassette, @NousResearch, @ogzerber, @omnissiah-comelse, @Only-Code-A, @opriz, @OwenYWT, @pedh,
-@pefontana, @PeterBerthelsen, @phpoh, @pinion05, @plgonzalezrx8, @pradeep7127, @priveperfumes,
-@projectadmin-dev, @PStarH, @rnijhara, @Roy-oss1, @roytian1217, @RucchiZ, @Ruzzgar, @RyanLee-Dev, @Salt-555,
-@Sanjays2402, @sgaofen, @sharziki, @shenuu, @shin4, @SHL0MS, @shushuzn, @sicnuyudidi, @simon-gtcl,
-@simon-marcus, @sirEven, @Sisyphus, @sjz-ks, @snreynolds, @Societus, @Somme4096, @sontianye, @sprmn24,
-@StefanIsMe, @stephenschoettler, @Swift42, @taeng0204, @taeuk178, @tannerfokkens-maker, @TaroballzChen,
-@ten-ltw, @teyrebaz33, @Tianworld, @topcheer, @Tranquil-Flow, @trevthefoolish, @TroyMitchell911, @UNLINEARITY,
-@v1k22, @vivganes, @vominh1919, @vrinek, @VTRiot, @WadydX, @walli, @wenhao7, @WhiteWorld, @WideLee, @wujhsu,
-@WuTianyi123, @Wysie, @xandersbell, @xiaoqiang243, @xiayh0107, @xinpengdr, @Xowiek, @ycbai, @yeyitech, @ygd58,
-@youngDoo, @yudaiyan, @Yukipukii1, @yule975, @yyq4193, @yzx9, @ZaynJarvis, @zhang9w0v5, @zhanggttry,
-@zhangxicen, @zhongyueming1121, @zhouxiaoya12, @zons-zhaozhy
-
-Also: @maelrx, @Marco Rutsch, @MaxsolcuCrypto, @Mind-Dragon, @Paul Bergeron, @say8hi, @whitehatjr1001.
-
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.4.13...v2026.4.23](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.4.13...v2026.4.23)

RELEASE_v0.12.0.md

@@ -1,505 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.12.0 (v2026.4.30)
-
-**Release Date:** April 30, 2026
-**Since v0.11.0:** 1,096 commits · 550 merged PRs · 1,270 files changed · 217,776 insertions · 213 community contributors (including co-authors)
-
-> The Curator release — Hermes Agent now maintains itself. An autonomous background Curator grades, prunes, and consolidates your skill library on its own schedule. The self-improvement loop that reviews what to save got a substantial upgrade. Four new inference providers, a 18th messaging platform, a 19th via Teams plugin, native Spotify + Google Meet integrations, ComfyUI and TouchDesigner-MCP moved from optional to bundled-by-default, and a ~57% cut to visible TUI cold start.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Autonomous Curator** — `hermes curator` runs as a background agent on the gateway's cron ticker (7-day cycle default). It grades your skill library, consolidates related skills, prunes dead ones, and writes per-run reports to `logs/curator/run.json` + `REPORT.md`. Archived skills are classified consolidated-vs-pruned via model + heuristic. Defense-in-depth gates protect bundled/hub skills from mutation. Unified under `auxiliary.curator` — pick the curator's model in `hermes model`, manage it from the dashboard. `hermes curator status` ranks skills by usage (most-used / least-used). ([#17277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17277), [#17307](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17307), [#17941](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17941), [#17868](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17868), [#18033](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18033))
-
-- **Self-improvement loop — substantially upgraded** — The background review fork (the core of Hermes' self-improvement: after each turn it decides what memories/skills to save or update) is now class-first (rubric-based rather than free-form), active-update biased (prefers the skill the agent just loaded), handles `references/`/`templates/` sub-files, and properly inherits the parent's live runtime (provider, model, credentials actually propagate). Restricted to memory + skills toolsets so it can't sprawl. Memory providers shut down cleanly. Prior-turn tool messages excluded from the summary so the fork sees a clean context. ([#16026](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16026), [#17213](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17213), [#16099](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16099), [#16569](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16569), [#16204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16204), [#15057](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15057))
-
-- **Skill integrations — major expansion** — **ComfyUI v5** with official CLI + REST + hardware-gated local install, moved from optional to **built-in by default** ([#17610](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17610), [#17631](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17631), [#17734](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17734)). **TouchDesigner-MCP** bundled by default, expanded with GLSL, post-FX, audio, geometry, and 9 new reference docs ([#16753](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16753), [#16624](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16624), [#16768](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16768) — @kshitijk4poor + @SHL0MS). **Humanizer** skill ports a text-cleaner that strips AI-isms ([#16787](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16787)). **claude-design** HTML artifact skill + design-md (Google DESIGN.md spec) + airtable salvage + `skill_manage` edits in `external_dirs` + direct-URL skill install + `/reload-skills` slash command. ([#16358](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16358), [#14876](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14876), [#16291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16291), [#17512](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17512), [#16323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16323), [#17744](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17744))
-
-- **LM Studio — first-class provider** — upgraded from a custom-endpoint alias to a full-blown native provider: dedicated auth, `hermes doctor` checks, reasoning transport, live `/models` listing. (Salvage of @kshitijk4poor's #17061.) ([#17102](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17102))
-
-- **Four more new inference providers** — **GMI Cloud** (first-class, salvage of #11955 — @isaachuangGMICLOUD), **Azure AI Foundry** with auto-detection, **MiniMax OAuth** with PKCE browser flow (salvage #15203), **Tencent Tokenhub** (salvage of #16860). ([#16663](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16663), [#15845](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15845), [#17524](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17524), [#16960](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16960))
-
-- **Pluggable gateway platforms + Microsoft Teams** — the gateway is now a plugin host. Drop-in messaging adapters live outside the core, and Microsoft Teams is the first plugin-shipped platform. (Salvage of #17664.) ([#17751](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17751), [#17828](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17828))
-
-- **Tencent 元宝 (Yuanbao) — 18th messaging platform** — native gateway adapter with text + media delivery. ([#16298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16298), [#17424](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17424))
-
-- **Spotify — native tools + bundled skill + wizard** — 7 tools (play, search, queue, playlists, devices) behind PKCE OAuth, interactive setup wizard, bundled skill, surfacing in `hermes tools`, cron usage documented. ([#15121](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15121), [#15130](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15130), [#15154](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15154), [#15180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15180))
-
-- **Google Meet plugin** — join calls, transcribe, speak, follow up. Realtime OpenAI transport + Node bot server, full pipeline bundled as a plugin. ([#16364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16364))
-
-- **`hermes -z` one-shot mode + `hermes update --check`** — non-interactive `hermes -z <prompt>` with `--model`/`--provider`/`HERMES_INFERENCE_MODEL`. `hermes update --check` preflight. Opt-in pre-update HERMES_HOME backup. ([#15702](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15702), [#15704](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15704), [#15841](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15841), [#16539](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16539), [#16566](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16566))
-
-- **Models dashboard tab + in-browser model config** — rich per-model analytics, switch main + auxiliary models from the dashboard. ([#17745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17745), [#17802](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17802))
-
-- **Remote model catalog manifest** — OpenRouter + Nous Portal model catalogs are now pulled from a remote manifest so new models show up without a release. ([#16033](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16033))
-
-- **Native multimodal image routing** — images now route based on the model's actual vision capability rather than provider defaults. ([#16506](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16506))
-
-- **Gateway media parity** — native multi-image sending across Telegram, Discord, Slack, Mattermost, Email, and Signal; centralized audio routing with FLAC support + Telegram document fallback. ([#17909](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17909), [#17833](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17833))
-
-- **TUI catches up to (and past) the classic CLI** — LaTeX rendering (@austinpickett), `/reload` .env hot-reload, pluggable busy-indicator styles (@OutThisLife, #13610), opt-in auto-resume of last session, expanded light-terminal auto-detection, session delete from `/resume` picker with `d`, modified mouse-wheel line scroll, and a `/mouse` toggle that kills ConPTY's phantom mouse injection (@kevin-ho). ([#17175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17175), [#17286](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17286), [#17150](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17150), [#17130](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17130), [#17113](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17113), [#17668](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17668), [#17669](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17669), [#15488](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15488))
-
-- **Observability + achievements plugins** — bundled Langfuse observability plugin (salvage #16845) + bundled hermes-achievements plugin that scans full session history. ([#16917](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16917), [#17754](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17754))
-
-- **TTS provider registry + Piper local TTS** — pluggable `tts.providers.<name>` registry; Piper ships as a native local TTS provider. (Closes #8508.) ([#17843](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17843), [#17885](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17885))
-
-- **Vercel Sandbox backend** — Vercel sandboxes as an execute_code/terminal backend (@kshitijk4poor). ([#17445](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17445))
-
-- **Secret redaction off by default** — default flipped to off. Prevents the long-standing patch-corruption incidents where fake secret-shaped substrings mangled tool outputs. Opt in via `redaction.enabled: true` when you need it. ([#16794](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16794))
-
-- **Cold-start performance** — visible TUI cold start cut **~57%** via lazy agent init (@OutThisLife), lazy imports of OpenAI / Anthropic / Firecrawl / account_usage, mtime-cached `load_config()`, memoized `get_tool_definitions()` with TTL-cached `check_fn` results, precompiled dangerous-command patterns. ([#17190](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17190), [#17046](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17046), [#17041](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17041), [#17098](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17098), [#17206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17206))
-
-- **Configurable prompt cache TTL** — `prompt_caching.cache_ttl` (5m default, 1h opt-in — cost savings for bursty sessions that keep cache warm). Salvage of #12659. ([#15065](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15065))
-
----
-
-## 🧠 Autonomous Curator & Self-Improvement Loop
-
-### Curator — autonomous skill maintenance
-- **`hermes curator` as a background agent** — runs on the gateway's cron ticker, 7-day cycle by default, umbrella-first prompt, inherits parent config, unbounded iterations ([#17277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17277) — issue #7816)
-- **Per-run reports** — `logs/curator/run.json` + `REPORT.md` per cycle ([#17307](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17307))
-- **Consolidated vs pruned classification** — archived skills split with model + heuristic ([#17941](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17941))
-- **`hermes curator status`** — ranks skills by usage, shows most-used and least-used ([#18033](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18033))
-- **Unified under `auxiliary.curator`** — pick the model in `hermes model`, configure from the dashboard ([#17868](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17868))
-- **Documentation** — dedicated curator feature page on the docs site ([#17563](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17563))
-- Fix: seed defaults on update, create `logs/curator/` directory, defer fire import ([#17927](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17927))
-- Fix: scan nested archive subdirs in `restore_skill` (@0xDevNinja) ([#17951](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17951))
-- Fix: use actual skill activity in curator status (@y0shua1ee) ([#17953](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17953))
-- Fix: `skill_manage` refuses writes on pinned skills; pinning now blocks curator writes ([#17562](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17562), [#17578](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17578))
-- Fix: `bump_use()` wired into skill invocation + preload + skill_view (salvage #17782) ([#17932](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17932))
-
-### Self-improvement loop (background review fork)
-- **Class-first skill-review prompt** — rubric-based grading rather than free-form "should this update" ([#16026](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16026))
-- **Active-update bias** — prefers updating skills the agent just loaded, handles `references/` + `templates/` sub-files ([#17213](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17213))
-- **Fork inherits parent's live runtime** — provider, model, credentials actually propagate now ([#16099](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16099))
-- **Scoped toolsets** — review fork restricted to memory + skills (no shell, no web) ([#16569](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16569))
-- **Clean shutdown** — background review memory providers exit properly (salvage #15289) ([#16204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16204))
-- **Clean context** — prior-history tool messages excluded from review summary (salvage #14967) ([#15057](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15057))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skill integrations — newly bundled or promoted
-- **ComfyUI v5** — official CLI + REST + hardware-gated local install; **moved from optional to built-in** ([#17610](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17610), [#17631](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17631), [#17734](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17734), [#17612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17612))
-- **TouchDesigner-MCP** — **bundled by default** ([#16753](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16753) — @kshitijk4poor), expanded with GLSL, post-FX, audio, geometry references ([#16624](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16624)), 9 new reference docs ([#16768](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16768) — @SHL0MS)
-- **Humanizer** — strips AI-isms from text ([#16787](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16787))
-- **claude-design** — HTML artifact skill with disambiguation from other design skills ([#16358](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16358))
-- **design-md** — Google's DESIGN.md spec skill ([#14876](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14876))
-- **airtable** — salvaged skill + skill API keys wired into `.env` (#15838) ([#16291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16291))
-- **pretext** — creative browser demos with @chenglou/pretext ([#17259](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17259))
-- **spike** + **sketch** — throwaway experiments + HTML mockups, adapted from gsd-build ([#17421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17421))
-
-### Skills UX
-- **Install skills from a direct HTTP(S) URL** — `hermes skills install <url>` ([#16323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16323))
-- **`/reload-skills`** slash command (salvage #17670) ([#17744](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17744))
-- **`hermes skills list`** shows enabled/disabled status ([#16129](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16129))
-- **`skill_manage` refuses writes on pinned skills** ([#17562](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17562))
-- **`skill_manage` edits external_dirs skills in place** (salvage #9966) ([#17512](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17512), [#17289](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17289))
-- Fix: inline-shell rendering in `skill_view` ([#15376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15376))
-- Fix: exclude `.archive/` from skill index walk (salvage #17639) ([#17931](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17931))
-- Fix: dedicated docs page per bundled + optional skill ([#14929](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14929))
-- Fix: `google-workspace` shared HERMES_HOME helper + ship deps as optional extra ([#15405](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15405))
-- Fix: auto-wrap ASCII-art code blocks in generated skill pages ([#16497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16497))
-- Point agent at `hermes-agent` skill + docs site for Hermes questions ([#16535](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16535))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-
-#### New providers
-- **GMI Cloud** — first-class API-key provider on par with Arcee/Kilocode/Xiaomi (salvage of #11955 — @isaachuangGMICLOUD) ([#16663](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16663))
-- **Azure AI Foundry** — auto-detection, full wiring ([#15845](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15845))
-- **LM Studio** — upgraded from custom-endpoint alias to first-class provider: dedicated auth, doctor checks, reasoning transport, live `/models` (salvage of #17061 — @kshitijk4poor) ([#17102](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17102))
-- **MiniMax OAuth** — PKCE browser flow with full OAuth integration (salvage #15203) ([#17524](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17524))
-- **Tencent Tokenhub** — new provider (salvage of #16860) ([#16960](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16960))
-
-#### Model catalog
-- **Remote model catalog manifest** — OpenRouter + Nous Portal catalogs pulled from remote manifest so new models show up without a release ([#16033](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16033))
-- `openai/gpt-5.5` and `gpt-5.5-pro` added to OpenRouter + Nous Portal ([#15343](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15343))
-- `deepseek-v4-pro` and `deepseek-v4-flash` added ([#14934](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14934))
-- `qwen3.6-plus` added to Alibaba-supported models ([#16896](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16896))
-- Gemini free-tier keys blocked at setup with 429 guidance surfacing ([#15100](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15100))
-
-#### Model configuration
-- **Configurable `prompt_caching.cache_ttl`** — 5m default, 1h opt-in (salvage #12659) ([#15065](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15065))
-- `/fast` whitelist broadened to all OpenAI + Anthropic models ([#16883](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16883))
-- `auxiliary.extra_body.reasoning` translates into Codex Responses API ([#17004](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17004))
-- `hermes fallback` command for managing fallback providers ([#16052](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16052))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **Native multimodal image routing** — based on model vision capability, not provider defaults ([#16506](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16506))
-- **Delegate `child_timeout_seconds` default bumped to 600s** ([#14809](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14809))
-- **Diagnostic dump when subagent times out with 0 API calls** ([#15105](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15105))
-- **Gateway busts cached agent on compression/context_length config edits** ([#17008](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17008))
-- **Opt-in runtime-metadata footer on final replies** ([#17026](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17026))
-- `/reload-mcp` awareness — rebuild cached agents + prompt-cache cost confirmation ([#17729](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17729))
-- Fix: repair CamelCase + `_tool` suffix tool-call emissions ([#15124](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15124))
-- Fix: retry on `json.JSONDecodeError` instead of treating as local validation error ([#15107](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15107))
-- Fix: handle unescaped control chars in `tool_call.arguments` ([#15356](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15356))
-- Fix: ordering fix in `_copy_reasoning_content_for_api` — cross-provider reasoning isolation (@Zjianru) ([#15749](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15749))
-- Fix: inject empty `reasoning_content` for DeepSeek/Kimi `tool_calls` unconditionally (@Zjianru) ([#15762](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15762))
-- Fix: persist streamed `reasoning_content` on assistant turns (#16844) ([#16892](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16892))
-- Fix: cancel coroutine on timeout so worker thread exits; full traceback on tool failure ([#17428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17428))
-- Fix: isolate `get_tool_definitions` quiet_mode cache + dedup LCM injection (#17335) ([#17889](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17889))
-- Fix: serialize concurrent `hermes_tools` RPC calls from `execute_code` (#17770) ([#17894](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17894), [#17902](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17902))
-- Fix: rename `[SYSTEM:` → `[IMPORTANT:` in all user-injected markers (dodges Azure content filter) ([#16114](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16114))
-
-### Compression
-- **Retry summary on main model for unknown errors before giving up** ([#16774](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16774))
-- **Notify users when configured aux model fails even if main-model fallback recovers** ([#16775](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16775))
-- `/compress` wrapped in `_busy_command` to block input during compression ([#15388](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15388))
-- Fix: reserve system + tools headroom when aux binds threshold ([#15631](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15631))
-- Fix: use text-char sum for multimodal token estimation in `_find_tail_cut_by_tokens` ([#16369](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16369))
-
-### Session, Memory & State
-- **Trigram FTS5 index for CJK search, replace LIKE fallback** (@alt-glitch) ([#16651](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16651))
-- **Index `tool_name` + `tool_calls` in FTS5, with repair + migration** (salvages #16866) ([#16914](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16914))
-- **Checkpoints: auto-prune orphan and stale shadow repos at startup** ([#16303](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16303))
-- **Memory providers notified on mid-process session_id rotation** (#6672) ([#17409](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17409))
-- Fix: quote underscored terms in FTS5 query sanitization ([#16915](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16915))
-- Fix: resolve viking_read 500/412 on file URIs + pseudo-summary URIs (salvage #5886) ([#17869](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17869))
-- Fix: skip external-provider sync on interrupted turns ([#15395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15395))
-- Fix: close embedded Hindsight async client cleanly (salvage #14605) ([#16209](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16209))
-- Fix: pass session transcript to `shutdown_memory_provider` on gateway + CLI (#15165) ([#16571](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16571))
-- Fix: write-origin metadata seam ([#15346](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15346))
-- Fix: preserve symlinks during atomic file writes ([#16980](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16980))
-- Refactor: remove `flush_memories` entirely ([#15696](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15696))
-
-### Auxiliary models
-- Fix: surface auxiliary failures in UI (previously silent) ([#15324](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15324))
-- Fix: surface title-gen auxiliary failures instead of silently dropping ([#16371](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16371))
-- Fix: generalize unsupported-parameter detector and harden `max_tokens` retry ([#15633](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15633))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### New Platforms
-- **Microsoft Teams (19th platform)** — as a plugin, + xdist collision guard ([#17828](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17828))
-- **Yuanbao (Tencent 元宝, 18th platform)** — native adapter with text + media delivery ([#16298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16298), [#17424](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17424), [#16880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16880))
-
-### Pluggable Gateway Platforms
-- **Drop-in messaging adapters** — the gateway is now a plugin host for platforms (salvage of #17664) ([#17751](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17751))
-
-### Telegram
-- **Chat allowlists for groups and forums** (@web3blind) ([#15027](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15027))
-- **Send fresh finals for stale preview streams** (port openclaw#72038) ([#16261](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16261))
-- **Render markdown tables as row-group bullets + prompt hint** ([#16997](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16997))
-- Document fallback in centralized audio routing ([#17833](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17833))
-- Native multi-image sending ([#17909](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17909))
-
-### Discord
-- **Opt-in toolsets + ID injection + tool split + Feishu wiring** (salvage #15457, #15458) ([#15610](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15610), [#15613](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15613))
-- Fix: coerce `limit` parameter to int before `min()` call ([#16319](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16319))
-
-### Slack
-- **Register every gateway command as a native slash (Discord/Telegram parity)** ([#16164](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16164))
-- **`strict_mention` config** — prevents thread auto-engagement ([#16193](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16193))
-- **`channel_skill_bindings`** — bind specific skills to specific Slack channels ([#16283](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16283))
-
-### Signal
-- **Native formatting** — markdown → bodyRanges, reply quotes, reactions ([#17417](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17417))
-- Native multi-image sending ([#17909](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17909))
-
-### Feishu / Mattermost / Email / Signal
-- All participate in **native multi-image sending** ([#17909](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17909))
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Centralized audio routing + FLAC support + Telegram doc fallback** ([#17833](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17833))
-- **Native multi-image sending** across Telegram, Discord, Slack, Mattermost, Email, Signal ([#17909](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17909))
-- **Make hygiene hard message limit configurable** ([#17000](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17000))
-- **Opt-in runtime-metadata footer on final replies** ([#17026](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17026))
-- **`pre_gateway_dispatch` hook** — plugins can intercept before dispatch ([#15050](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15050))
-- **`pre_approval_request` / `post_approval_response` hooks** ([#16776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16776))
-- Fix: timeouts — guard `load_config()` call against runtime exceptions ([#16318](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16318))
-- Fix: support passing handler tools via registry ([#15613](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15613))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### Plugin-first architecture
-- **Pluggable gateway platforms** — platforms can ship as plugins ([#17751](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17751))
-- **Microsoft Teams as first plugin-shipped platform** ([#17828](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17828))
-- **`pre_gateway_dispatch` hook** ([#15050](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15050))
-- **`pre_approval_request` + `post_approval_response` hooks** ([#16776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16776))
-- **`duration_ms` on `post_tool_call`** (inspired by Claude Code 2.1.119) ([#15429](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15429))
-- **Bundled plugins**: Spotify ([#15174](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15174)), Google Meet ([#16364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16364)), Langfuse observability ([#16917](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16917)), hermes-achievements ([#17754](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17754))
-- **Page-scoped plugin slots for built-in dashboard pages** ([#15658](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15658))
-- **Declarative plugin installation for NixOS module** (@alt-glitch) ([#15953](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15953))
-
-### Browser
-- **CDP supervisor** — dialog detection + response + cross-origin iframe eval ([#14540](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14540))
-- **Auto-spawn local Chromium for LAN/localhost URLs** when cloud provider is configured ([#16136](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16136))
-
-### Execute code / Terminal
-- **Vercel Sandbox backend** for `execute_code` / terminal (@kshitijk4poor) ([#17445](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17445))
-- **Collapse subagent `task_id`s to shared container** ([#16177](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16177))
-- **Docker: run container as host user** to avoid root-owned bind mounts (@benbarclay) ([#17305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17305))
-- Fix: safely quote `~/` subpaths in wrapped `cd` commands ([#15394](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15394))
-- Fix: close file descriptor in `LocalEnvironment._update_cwd` ([#17300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17300))
-- Fix: SSH — prevent tar from overwriting remote home dir permissions ([#17898](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17898), [#17867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17867))
-
-### Image generation
-- See Provider section for updates; no new image providers this window.
-
-### TTS / Voice
-- **Pluggable TTS provider registry** under `tts.providers.<name>` ([#17843](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17843))
-- **Piper** as native local TTS provider (closes #8508) ([#17885](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17885))
-- **Voice mode CLI parity in the TUI** — VAD loop + TTS + crash forensics ([#14810](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14810))
-- Fix: vision — use HERMES_HOME-based cache dir instead of cwd ([#17719](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17719))
-
-### Cron
-- **Honor `hermes tools` config for the cron platform** ([#14798](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14798))
-- **Per-job `workdir`** — project-aware cron runs ([#15110](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15110))
-- **`context_from` field** — chain cron job outputs ([#15606](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15606))
-- Fix: promote `croniter` to a core dependency ([#17577](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17577))
-
-### Web search
-- **Expose `limit` for `web_search`** ([#16934](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16934))
-
-### Maps
-- Fix: include seconds in timezone UTC offset output ([#16300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16300))
-
-### Approvals
-- **Hardline blocklist for unrecoverable commands** ([#15878](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15878))
-- Perf: precompile DANGEROUS_PATTERNS and HARDLINE_PATTERNS ([#17206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17206))
-
-### ACP
-- **Advertise and forward image prompts** ([#18030](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18030))
-
-### API Server
-- **POST `/v1/runs/{run_id}/stop`** (salvage of #15656) ([#15842](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15842))
-- **Expose run status for external UIs** (#17085) ([#17458](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17458))
-
-### Nix
-- **Declarative plugin installation for NixOS module** (@alt-glitch) ([#15953](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15953))
-- Fix: use `--rebuild` in fix-lockfiles to bypass cached FOD store paths ([#15444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15444))
-- Fix: `extraPackages` now actually works via per-user profile ([#17047](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17047))
-- Fix: refresh web/ npm-deps hash to unblock main builds ([#17174](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17174))
-- Fix: replace magic-nix-cache with Cachix ([#17928](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17928))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ TUI
-
-### New features
-- **LaTeX rendering** (@austinpickett) ([#17175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17175))
-- **`/reload` .env hot-reload** — ported from the classic CLI ([#17286](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17286))
-- **Pluggable busy-indicator styles** (@OutThisLife, #13610) ([#17150](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17150))
-- **Opt-in auto-resume of the most recent session** (@OutThisLife) ([#17130](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17130))
-- **Expanded light-terminal auto-detection** — `HERMES_TUI_THEME` + background hex (@OutThisLife) ([#17113](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17113))
-- **Delete sessions from `/resume` picker with `d`** (@OutThisLife) ([#17668](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17668))
-- **Line-by-line scroll on modified mouse wheel** (@OutThisLife) ([#17669](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17669))
-- **Delete queued message while editing with ctrl-x / cancel with esc** (@OutThisLife) ([#16707](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16707))
-- **Per-section visibility for the details accordion** (@OutThisLife) ([#14968](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14968))
-- **Voice mode CLI parity** — VAD loop + TTS + crash forensics ([#14810](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14810))
-- **Contextual first-touch hints ported to TUI** — `/busy`, `/verbose` ([#16054](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16054))
-- **Mini help menu on `?` in the input field** (@ethernet8023) ([#18043](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18043))
-
-### Fixes
-- Fix: proactive mouse disable on ConPTY + `/mouse` toggle command (@kevin-ho, WSL2 ghost-mouse fix) ([#15488](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15488))
-- Fix: restore skills search RPC ([#15870](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15870))
-- Perf: cache text measurements across yoga flex re-passes ([#14818](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14818))
-- Perf: stabilize long-session scrolling ([#15926](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15926))
-- Perf: lazily seed virtual history heights ([#16523](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16523))
-- Perf: cut visible cold start ~57% with lazy agent init ([#17190](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17190))
-
----
-
-## 🖱️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### New commands
-- **`hermes -z <prompt>`** — non-interactive one-shot mode ([#15702](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15702))
-- **`hermes -z` with `--model` / `--provider` / `HERMES_INFERENCE_MODEL`** ([#15704](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15704))
-- **`hermes update --check`** preflight flag ([#15841](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15841))
-- **`hermes fallback`** command for managing fallback providers ([#16052](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16052))
-- **`/busy`** slash command for busy input mode ([#15382](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15382))
-- **`/busy` input mode 'steer'** as a third option ([#16279](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16279))
-- **`/btw` as alias for `/background`** ([#16053](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16053))
-- **`/reload-skills`** slash command (salvage #17670) ([#17744](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17744))
-- **Surface `/queue`, `/bg`, `/steer` in agent-running placeholder** ([#16118](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16118))
-
-### Setup / onboarding
-- **Auto-reconfigure on existing installs** ([#15879](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15879))
-- **Contextual first-touch hints for `/busy` and `/verbose`** ([#16046](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16046))
-- **Cost-saving tips from the April 30 tip-of-the-day** ([#17841](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17841))
-- **Hyperlink startup banner title to the latest GitHub Release** ([#14945](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14945))
-
-### Update / backup
-- **Snapshot pairing data before `git pull`** ([#16383](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16383))
-- **Auto-backup HERMES_HOME before `hermes update`** (opt-in, off by default) ([#16539](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16539), [#16566](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16566))
-- **Exclude `checkpoints/` from backups** ([#16572](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16572))
-- **Exclude SQLite WAL/SHM/journal sidecars from backups** ([#16576](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16576))
-- **Installer FHS layout for root installs on Linux** ([#15608](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15608))
-- Fix: kill stale dashboards instead of warning ([#17832](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17832))
-- Fix: show correct update status on nix-built hermes ([#17550](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17550))
-
-### Slash-command housekeeping
-- Refactor: drop `/provider`, `/plan` handler, and clean up slash registry ([#15047](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15047))
-- Refactor: drop `persist_session` plumbing + fix broken `/btw` mid-turn bypass ([#16075](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16075))
-
-### OpenClaw migration (for folks coming from OpenClaw)
-- **Hardened OpenClaw import** — plan-first apply, redaction, pre-migration backup ([#16911](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16911))
-- Fix: case-preserving brand rewrite + one-time `~/.openclaw` residue banner ([#16327](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16327))
-- Fix: resolve `openclaw` workspace files from `agents.defaults.workspace` ([#16879](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16879))
-- Fix: resolve model aliases against real OpenClaw catalog schema (salvage #16778) ([#16977](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16977))
-
----
-
-## 📊 Web Dashboard
-
-- **Models tab** — rich per-model analytics ([#17745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17745))
-- **Configure main + auxiliary models from the Models page** ([#17802](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17802))
-- **Dashboard Chat tab — xterm.js + JSON-RPC sidecar** (supersedes #12710 + #13379, @OutThisLife) ([#14890](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14890))
-- **Dashboard layout refresh** (@austinpickett) ([#14899](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14899))
-- **`--stop` and `--status` flags** on the dashboard CLI ([#17840](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17840))
-- **Page-scoped plugin slots for built-in pages** ([#15658](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15658))
-- Fix: replace all buttons for design system buttons ([#17007](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17007))
-
----
-
-## ⚡ Performance
-
-- **TUI visible cold start cut ~57%** via lazy agent init ([#17190](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17190))
-- **Lazy-import OpenAI, Anthropic, Firecrawl, account_usage** ([#17046](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17046))
-- **mtime-cache `load_config()` and `read_raw_config()`** ([#17041](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17041))
-- **Memoize `get_tool_definitions()` + TTL-cache `check_fn` results** ([#17098](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17098))
-- **Precompile DANGEROUS_PATTERNS and HARDLINE_PATTERNS** ([#17206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17206))
-- **Cache Ink text measurements across yoga flex re-passes** ([#14818](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14818))
-- **Stabilize long-session scrolling** ([#15926](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15926))
-- **Lazily seed virtual history heights** ([#16523](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16523))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-- **Secret redaction off by default** — stops corrupting patches / API payloads with fake-key substitutions. Opt in via `redaction.enabled: true` ([#16794](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16794))
-- **`[SYSTEM:` → `[IMPORTANT:`** in all user-injected markers (Azure content filter dodge) ([#16114](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16114))
-- **Hardline blocklist for unrecoverable commands** ([#15878](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15878))
-- **Canonical `mask_secret` helper; fix status.py DIM drift** ([#17207](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17207))
-- **Sweep expired paste.rs uploads on a real timer** ([#16431](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16431))
-- **Preserve symlinks during atomic file writes** ([#16980](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16980))
-- **Probe `/dev/tty` by opening it, not bare existence** ([#17024](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17024))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-This window includes 360 `fix:` PRs. Selected highlights from across the stack:
-
-- **Background review fork inherits parent's live runtime** — provider/model/creds now propagate correctly ([#16099](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16099))
-- **Hindsight configurable `HINDSIGHT_TIMEOUT` env var** ([#15077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15077))
-- **Tools: normalize numeric entries + clear stale `no_mcp` in `_save_platform_tools`** ([#15607](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15607))
-- **MCP: rewrite `definitions` refs to `$defs` in input schemas** — closes provider-side 400s
-- **Azure content filter compatibility** — renamed `[SYSTEM:` markers so Azure's content filter stops flagging them ([#16114](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16114))
-- **Vision cache uses HERMES_HOME instead of cwd** ([#17719](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17719))
-- **FTS5 search** — tool_name + tool_calls indexing with repair + migration ([#16914](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16914))
-- **Streaming reasoning persists on assistant turns** ([#16892](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16892))
-- **execute_code concurrent RPC serialization** (#17770) ([#17894](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17894), [#17902](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17902))
-- **Background reviewer scoped to memory + skills toolsets** — no more accidental web/shell escapes ([#16569](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16569))
-- **Compression recovery** — retry on main before giving up; notify user when aux fails ([#16774](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16774), [#16775](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16775))
-- **`croniter` promoted to a core dependency** ([#17577](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17577))
-- **Discord tool `limit` parameter coerced to int** before `min()` call ([#16319](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16319))
-- **Yuanbao messaging platform entrance fix** ([#16880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16880))
-- **ACP advertise and forward image prompts** ([#18030](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18030))
-- **DeepSeek / Kimi reasoning content isolation** across cross-provider histories (@Zjianru) ([#15749](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15749), [#15762](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15762))
-- **Preserve reasoning_content replay on DeepSeek v4 + Kimi/Moonshot thinking** ([#18045](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18045))
-
-The vast majority of the 360 fixes landed in the streaming/compression/tool-calling paths across all providers — DeepSeek, Kimi, Moonshot, GLM, Qwen, MiniMax, Gemini, Anthropic, OpenAI — alongside TUI polish (resize, scroll, sticky-prompt) and gateway platform-specific edge cases.
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing & CI
-
-- Hermetic test parity (`scripts/run_tests.sh`) held across this window
-- **Microsoft Teams xdist collision guard** — prevents worker collisions when Teams platform tests run in parallel ([#17828](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17828))
-- Chore: remove unused imports and dead locals (ruff F401, F841) ([#17010](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17010))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- **Curator feature page** added to docs site ([#17563](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17563))
-- **Document pin also blocking `skill_manage` writes** ([#17578](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17578))
-- **Direct-URL skill install documented** across features, reference, guide, and `hermes-agent` skill ([#16355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16355))
-- **Hooks tutorial — build a BOOT.md startup checklist** (replaces the removed built-in hook) ([#17202](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17202))
-- **ComfyUI docs: ask local vs cloud FIRST before hardware check** ([#17612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17612))
-- **Obliteratus skill: link YouTube video guide in SKILL.md** ([#15808](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15808))
-- Per-skill docs pages generated for bundled + optional skills; ASCII art code blocks auto-wrapped ([#14929](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14929), [#16497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16497))
-
----
-
-## ⚖️ Removed / Reverted
-
-- **Kanban multi-profile collaboration board** — landed in #16081, reverted in ([#16098](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16098)) while the design is reworked
-- **computer-use cua-driver** — 3 preparatory PRs landed then were reverted in ([#16927](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16927))
-- **BOOT.md built-in hook** removed ([#17093](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17093)); the hooks tutorial ([#17202](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17202)) shows how to build the same workflow yourself with a shell hook
-- **`/provider` + `/plan` slash commands dropped** ([#15047](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15047))
-- **`flush_memories` removed entirely** ([#15696](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15696))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** (Teknium)
-
-### Top Community Contributors (by merged PR count since v0.11.0)
-
-- **@OutThisLife** (Brooklyn) — 52 PRs · TUI — light-terminal detection + pluggable busy styles + auto-resume + session-delete from /resume + mouse-wheel scrolling + xterm.js dashboard Chat tab + cold-start cut + accordion polish
-- **@kshitijk4poor** — 12 PRs · LM Studio first-class provider (salvage), Vercel Sandbox backend, GMI Cloud salvage, bundled-by-default touchdesigner-mcp, many tool-call / reasoning fixes
-- **@helix4u** — 10 PRs · MCP schema robustness, assorted stability fixes
-- **@alt-glitch** — 8 PRs · trigram FTS5 CJK search, declarative Nix plugin install, matrix/feishu hints and fixes
-- **@ethernet8023** — 4 PRs
-- **@austinpickett** — 4 PRs · LaTeX rendering in TUI, dashboard layout refresh
-- **@benbarclay** — 3 PRs · Docker run-as-host-user so bind mounts don't get root-owned
-- **@vominh1919** — 2 PRs
-- **@stephenschoettler** — 2 PRs
-- **@kevin-ho** — ConPTY mouse-injection fix (#15488)
-- **@Zjianru** — cross-provider reasoning_content isolation + DeepSeek/Kimi empty-reasoning injection (#15749, #15762)
-- **@web3blind** — Telegram chat allowlists for groups and forums (#15027)
-- **@SHL0MS** — 9 new TouchDesigner-MCP reference docs (#16768)
-- **@0xDevNinja** — curator `restore_skill` nested-archive fix (#17951)
-- **@y0shua1ee** — curator `use` activity fix (#17953)
-
-### Also contributing
-Salvaged or co-authored work from **@isaachuangGMICLOUD** (GMI Cloud), earlier upstream PRs from the original author of each salvage chain, and a long tail of one-shot fixes, documentation nudges, and skill contributions from the community.
-
-### All Contributors (alphabetical, excluding @teknium1)
-
-@0xbyt4, @0xharryriddle, @0xDevNinja, @0z1-ghb, @5park1e, @A-FdL-Prog, @aj-nt, @akhater, @alblez, @alexg0bot,
-@alexzhu0, @AllardQuek, @alt-glitch, @amanning3390, @amanuel2, @AndreKurait, @andrewhosf, @Andy283, @andyylin,
-@angel12, @AntAISecurityLab, @ash, @austinpickett, @badgerbees, @BadTechBandit, @Bartok9, @beenherebefore,
-@beesrsj2500, @BeliefanX, @benbarclay, @benjaminsehl, @BlackishGreen33, @bloodcarter, @BlueBirdBack,
-@briandevans, @brooklynnicholson, @bsgdigital, @buray, @bwjoke, @camaragon, @cdanis, @cgarwood82,
-@charles-brooks, @chen1749144759, @chengoak, @ching-kaching, @Contentment003111, @crayfish-ai, @CruxExperts,
-@cyclingwithelephants, @dandaka, @danklynn, @ddupont808, @dhabibi, @difujia, @dimitrovi, @dlkakbs,
-@dontcallmejames, @EKKOLearnAI, @emozilla, @ericnicolaides, @Erosika, @ethernet8023, @exiao, @Feranmi10,
-@flobo3, @foxion37, @georgeglessner, @georgex8001, @ghostmfr, @H-Ali13381, @HangGlidersRule, @harryplusplus,
-@haru398801, @heathley, @hejuntt1014, @hekaru-agent, @helix4u, @Heltman, @HenkDz, @heyitsaamir, @hharry11,
-@hhhonzik, @hhuang91, @HiddenPuppy, @htsh, @iamagenius00, @in-liberty420, @innocarpe, @irispillars, @iRonin,
-@isaachuangGMICLOUD, @Ito-69, @j3ffffff, @jackjin1997, @jakubkrcmar, @Jason2031, @JayGwod, @jerome-benoit,
-@johnncenae, @Kailigithub, @keiravoss94, @kevin-ho, @knockyai, @konsisumer, @kshitijk4poor, @kunlabs, @l0hde,
-@Leihb, @leoneparise, @LeonSGP43, @liizfq, @liuhao1024, @loongzhao, @lsdsjy, @luyao618, @ma-pony, @Magaav,
-@MagicRay1217, @math0r-be, @MattMaximo, @maxims-oss, @MaxyMoos, @maymuneth, @mcndjxlefnd, @memosr,
-@MestreY0d4-Uninter, @mewwts, @Mirac1eSky, @MorAlekss, @mrhwick, @mrunmayee17, @mssteuer, @Nanako0129,
-@nazirulhafiy, @Nerijusas, @Nicecsh, @nicoloboschi, @nightq, @ningfangbin, @octo-patch, @Octopus,
-@OutThisLife, @Paperclip, @pein892, @perlowja, @prasadus92, @qike-ms, @qiyin-code, @Readon, @ReginaldasR,
-@revaraver, @rfilgueiras, @rmoen, @romanornr, @rugvedS07, @rylena, @samrusani, @Sanjays2402, @sasha-id,
-@Satoshi-agi, @scheidti, @scotttrinh, @season179, @SeeYangZhi, @sgaofen, @shamork, @shannonsands, @SHL0MS,
-@simbam99, @Societus, @socrates1024, @Sonoyunchu, @sprmn24, @stephenschoettler, @tangyuanjc, @TechPrototyper,
-@tekgnosis-net, @ThomassJonax, @tmimmanuel, @tochukwuada, @Tosko4, @Tranquil-Flow, @twozle, @txbxxx,
-@UgwujaGeorge, @Versun, @vlwkaos, @voidborne-d, @vominh1919, @Wang-tianhao, @Wangshengyang2004, @web3blind,
-@westers, @Wysie, @xandersbell, @xiahu88988, @XieNBi, @xinbenlv, @xnbi, @y0shua1ee, @yatesjalex, @yes999zc,
-@yeyitech, @Yoimex, @YueLich, @Yukipukii1, @zhiyanliu, @zicochaos, @Zjianru, @zkl2333, @zons-zhaozhy,
-@ztexydt-cqh.
-
-Also: @Siddharth Balyan, @YuShu.
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.4.23...v2026.4.30](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.4.23...v2026.4.30)

RELEASE_v0.13.0.md

@@ -1,641 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.13.0 (v2026.5.7)
-
-**Release Date:** May 7, 2026
-**Since v0.12.0:** 864 commits · 588 merged PRs · 829 files changed · 128,366 insertions · 282 issues closed (13 P0, 36 P1) · 295 community contributors (including co-authors)
-
-> The Tenacity Release — Hermes Agent now finishes what it starts. Kanban ships as a durable multi-agent board (heartbeat, reclaim, zombie detection, auto-block on incomplete exit, per-task retries, hallucination recovery). `/goal` keeps the agent locked on a target across turns (Ralph loop). Checkpoints v2 rewrites state persistence with real pruning. Gateway auto-resumes interrupted sessions after restart. Cron grows a `no_agent` watchdog mode. A security wave closes 8 P0s — redaction is now ON by default, Discord role-allowlists are guild-scoped, WhatsApp rejects strangers by default, and TOCTOU windows close across auth.json and MCP OAuth. Google Chat becomes the 20th platform. Providers become a pluggable surface. Seven i18n locales ship.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Multi-agent Kanban — delegate to an AI team that actually finishes** — Spin up a durable board, drop tasks on it, and let multiple Hermes workers pick them up, hand off, and close them out. Heartbeats, reclaim, zombie detection, retry budgets, and a hallucination gate keep the team honest. One install, many kanbans. ([#17805](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17805), [#19653](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19653), [#20232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20232), [#20332](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20332), [#21330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21330), [#21183](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21183), [#21214](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21214))
-
-- **`/goal` — the agent doesn't forget what you asked it to do** — Lock the agent onto a target and it stays on task across turns. The Ralph loop as a first-class primitive. ([#18262](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18262), [#18275](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18275), [#21287](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21287))
-
-- **Show it a video** — new `video_analyze` tool for native video understanding on Gemini and compatible multimodal models. (@alt-glitch) ([#19301](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19301))
-
-- **Clone a voice** — xAI Custom Voices lands as a TTS provider with voice cloning support. (@alt-glitch) ([#18776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18776))
-
-- **Hermes speaks your language** — static gateway + CLI messages translate to 7 locales: Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, and Turkish. Docs site gains a Chinese (zh-Hans) locale. ([#20231](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20231), [#20329](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20329), [#20467](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20467), [#20474](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20474), [#20430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20430), [#20431](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20431))
-
-- **Google Chat — the 20th messaging platform** — plus a generic platform-plugin hooks surface so third-party adapters drop in without touching core (IRC and Teams migrated). ([#21306](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21306), [#21331](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21331))
-
-- **Sessions survive restarts** — gateway bounces mid-agent, `/update` restarts, source-file reloads — conversations auto-resume when the gateway comes back. ([#21192](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21192))
-
-- **Security wave — 8 P0 closures** — redaction ON by default, Discord role-allowlists guild-scoped (CVSS 8.1 cross-guild DM bypass closed), WhatsApp rejects strangers by default, TOCTOU windows closed across `auth.json` and MCP OAuth, browser enforces cloud-metadata SSRF floor, cron prompt-injection scans assembled skill content, `hermes debug share` redacts at upload. ([#21193](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21193), [#21241](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21241), [#21291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21291), [#21176](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21176), [#21194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21194), [#21228](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21228), [#21350](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21350), [#19318](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19318))
-
-- **Checkpoints v2** — state persistence rewritten. Real pruning, disk guardrails, no more orphan shadow repos. ([#20709](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20709))
-
-- **The agent lints its own writes** — post-write delta lint on `write_file` + `patch`. Python, JSON, YAML, TOML. Syntax errors surface immediately instead of shipping downstream. ([#20191](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20191))
-
-- **`no_agent` cron mode — script-only watchdog** — cron jobs can now skip the agent entirely and just run a script. Empty stdout is silent, non-empty gets delivered verbatim. ([#19709](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19709))
-
-- **Platform allowlists everywhere** — `allowed_channels` / `allowed_chats` / `allowed_rooms` config across Slack, Telegram, Mattermost, Matrix, and DingTalk. ([#21251](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21251))
-
-- **Providers are now plugins** — `ProviderProfile` ABC + `plugins/model-providers/`. Drop in third-party providers without touching core. ([#20324](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20324))
-
-- **API server — long-term memory per session** — `X-Hermes-Session-Key` header gives memory providers a stable session identifier. ([#20199](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20199))
-
-- **MCP levels up** — SSE transport with OAuth forwarding, stale-pipe retries, image results surface as MEDIA tags instead of getting dropped, keepalive on long-lived lifecycle waits. ([#21227](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21227), [#21323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21323), [#21289](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21289), [#21328](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21328), [#20209](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20209))
-
-- **Curator grows subcommands** — `hermes curator archive`, `prune`, `list-archived`. Manual `hermes curator run` is synchronous now — you see results without polling. ([#20200](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20200), [#21236](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21236), [#21216](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21216))
-
-- **ACP — `/steer` and `/queue`** — direct the in-flight agent or queue follow-ups from Zed, VS Code, or JetBrains. Plus atomic session persistence and reasoning-metadata preservation across restarts. (@HenkDz) ([#18114](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18114), [#20279](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20279), [#20296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20296), [#20433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20433))
-
-- **TUI glow-up** — `/model` picker matches `hermes model` with inline auth (@austinpickett), collapsible startup banner sections (@kshitijk4poor), context-compression counter in the status bar. ([#18117](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18117), [#20625](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20625), [#21218](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21218))
-
-- **Dashboard grows up** — Plugins page (manage, enable/disable, auth status) (@austinpickett), Profiles management page (@vincez-hms-coder), sortable analytics tables, reverse-proxy support via `X-Forwarded-Prefix`, new `default-large` 18px theme. ([#18095](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18095), [#16419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16419), [#18192](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18192), [#21296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21296), [#20820](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20820))
-
-- **SearXNG + split web tools** — SearXNG ships as a native search-only backend; web tools now let you pick different backends per capability (search vs extract vs browse). (@kshitijk4poor) ([#20823](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20823), [#20061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20061), [#20841](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20841))
-
-- **OpenRouter response caching** — explicit cache control for models that expose it. (@kshitijk4poor) ([#19132](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19132))
-
-- **`[[as_document]]` — skill media-routing directive** — skills can force the gateway to deliver output as a document on platforms that support it. ([#21210](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21210))
-
-- **`transform_llm_output` plugin hook** — new lifecycle hook that lets plugins reshape or filter LLM output before it hits the conversation. Useful for context-window reducers and content filters. ([#21235](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21235))
-
-- **Nous OAuth persists across profiles** — shared token store: sign in once, every profile inherits the session. ([#19712](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19712))
-
-- **QQBot — native approval keyboards** — feature parity with Telegram / Discord approval UX. Chunked upload, quoted attachments. ([#21342](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21342), [#21353](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21353))
-
-- **6 new optional skills** — Shopify (Admin + Storefront GraphQL), here.now, shop-app personal shopping assistant, Anthropic financial-services bundle, kanban-video-orchestrator (@SHL0MS), searxng-search (@kshitijk4poor). ([#18116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18116), [#18170](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18170), [#20702](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20702), [#21180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21180), [#19281](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19281), [#20841](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20841))
-
-- **New models** — `deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro`, `x-ai/grok-4.3`, `openrouter/owl-alpha` (free), `tencent/hy3-preview` (@Contentment003111), Arcee Trinity Large Thinking temperature + compression overrides. ([#20495](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20495), [#20497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20497), [#18071](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18071), [#21077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21077), [#20473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20473))
-
-- **100 fresh CLI startup tips** — the random tip banner gets 100 new entries covering cron, kanban, curator, plugins, and lesser-known flags. ([#20168](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20168))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Multi-Agent Kanban (Durable)
-
-### New — durable multi-profile collaboration board
-- **`feat(kanban): durable multi-profile collaboration board`** — post-revert reimplementation, multi-profile by design ([#17805](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17805))
-- **Multi-project boards** — one install, many kanbans ([#19653](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19653), [#19679](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19679))
-- **Share board, workspaces, and worker logs across profiles** ([#19378](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19378))
-- **Hallucination gate + recovery UX for worker-created-card claims** (closes #20017) ([#20232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20232))
-- **Generic diagnostics engine for task distress signals** ([#20332](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20332))
-- **Per-task `max_retries` override** (supersedes #20972) ([#21330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21330))
-- **Multiline textarea for inline-create title** (salvage of #20970) ([#21243](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21243))
-
-### Kanban Dashboard
-- **Workspace kind + path inputs in inline create form** ([#19679](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19679))
-- **Per-platform home-channel notification toggles** ([#19864](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19864))
-- **Sharper home-channel toggle contrast + drop → running action** ([#19916](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19916))
-- Fix: reject direct status transition to 'running' via dashboard API (salvage of #19554) ([#19705](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19705))
-- Fix: dashboard board pin authoritative over server current file (#20879) ([#21230](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21230))
-- Fix: treat dashboard event-stream cancellation as normal shutdown (#20790) ([#21222](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21222))
-- Fix: filter dashboard board by selected tenant (#19817) ([#21349](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21349))
-- Fix: code/pre styling theme-immune across all themes (#21086) ([#21247](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21247))
-- Fix: reset `<code>` background inside dashboard board ([#20687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20687))
-- Fix: preserve dashboard completion summaries + add kanban edit (salvages #20016) ([#20195](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20195))
-- Fix: avoid fragile failure-column renames (salvage #20848) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#20855](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20855))
-
-### Worker lifecycle + reliability
-- **Heartbeat + reclaim + zombie + retry-cap fixes** (#21147, #21141, #21169, #20881) ([#21183](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21183))
-- **Auto-block workers that exit without completing + shutdown race** (#20894) ([#21214](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21214))
-- **Detect darwin zombie workers** (salvages #20023) ([#20188](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20188))
-- **Unify failure counter across spawn/timeout/crash outcomes** ([#20410](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20410))
-- **Enforce worker task-ownership on destructive tool calls** ([#19713](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19713))
-- **Drop worker identity claim from KANBAN_GUIDANCE** ([#19427](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19427))
-- Fix: skip dispatch for tasks assigned to non-profile lanes (salvages #20105, #20134) ([#20165](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20165))
-- Fix: include default profile in on-disk assignee enumeration (salvages #20123) ([#20170](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20170))
-- Fix: ignore stale current board pointers (salvages #20063) ([#20183](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20183))
-- Fix: profile discovery ignores HERMES_HOME in custom-root deployments (@jackey8616) ([#19020](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19020))
-- Fix: allow orchestrator profiles to see kanban tools via toolsets config ([#19606](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19606))
-
-### Batch salvages
-- Tier-1 batch — metadata test, max_spawn config, run-id lifecycle guard (salvages #19522 #19556 #19829) ([#20440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20440))
-- Tier-2 batch — doctor, started_at, parent-guard, latest_summary, selects, linked-children ([#20448](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20448))
-
-### Documentation
-- Backfill multi-board refs in reference docs ([#19704](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19704))
-- Document `/kanban` slash command ([#19584](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19584))
-- Document recommended handoff evidence metadata (salvage #19512) ([#20415](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20415))
-- Fix orchestrator + worker skill setup instructions (@helix4u) ([#20958](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20958), [#20960](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20960))
-
----
-
-## 🎯 Persistent Goals, Checkpoints & Session Durability
-
-### `/goal` — persistent cross-turn goals (Ralph loop)
-- **`feat: /goal — persistent cross-turn goals`** ([#18262](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18262))
-- **Docs page — Persistent Goals (/goal)** ([#18275](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18275))
-- Fix: honor configured goal turn budget (salvage #19423) ([#21287](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21287))
-
-### Checkpoints v2
-- **Single-store rewrite with real pruning + disk guardrails** ([#20709](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20709))
-
-### Session durability
-- **Auto-resume interrupted sessions after gateway restart** (salvage #20888) ([#21192](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21192))
-- **Preserve pending update prompts across restarts** ([#20160](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20160))
-- **Preserve home-channel thread targets across restart notifications** (salvage #18440) ([#19271](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19271))
-- **Preserve thread routing from cached live session sources** ([#21206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21206))
-- **Preserve assistant metadata when branching sessions** ([#18222](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18222))
-- **Preserve thread routing for /update progress and prompts** ([#18193](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18193))
-- **Preserve document type when merging queued events** ([#18215](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18215))
-
----
-
-## 🛡️ Security & Reliability
-
-### Security hardening (8 P0 closures)
-- **Enable secret redaction by default** (#17691, #20785) ([#21193](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21193))
-- **Discord — scope `DISCORD_ALLOWED_ROLES` to originating guild** (#12136, CVSS 8.1) ([#21241](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21241))
-- **WhatsApp — reject strangers by default, never respond in self-chat** (#8389) ([#21291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21291))
-- **MCP OAuth — close TOCTOU window when saving credentials** ([#21176](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21176))
-- **`hermes_cli/auth.py` — close TOCTOU window in credential writers** ([#21194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21194))
-- **Browser — enforce cloud-metadata SSRF floor in hybrid routing** (#16234) ([#21228](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21228))
-- **`hermes debug share` — redact log content at upload time** (@GodsBoy) ([#19318](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19318))
-- **Cron — scan assembled prompt including skill content for prompt injection** (#3968) ([#21350](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21350))
-- **Restore .env/auth.json/state.db with 0600 perms** ([#19699](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19699))
-- **SRI integrity for dashboard plugin scripts** (salvage #19389) ([#21277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21277))
-- **Bind Meet node server to localhost, restrict token file to owner read** ([#19597](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19597))
-- **Extend sensitive-write target to cover shell RC and credential files** ([#19282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19282))
-- **Harden YOLO mode env parsing against quoted-bool strings** ([#18214](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18214))
-- **OSV-Scanner CI + Dependabot for github-actions only** ([#20037](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20037))
-
-### Reliability — critical bug closures
-- **CLI crash on startup — `Invalid key 'c-S-c'`** (P0, prompt_toolkit doesn't support Shift modifier) ([#19895](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19895), [#19919](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19919))
-- **CLOSE_WAIT fd leak audit** — httpx keepalive + WhatsApp aiohttp leak + Feishu hygiene (#18451) ([#18766](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18766))
-- **Gateway creates AIAgent with empty OpenRouter API key when OPENROUTER_API_KEY is missing** (#20982) — fallback providers correctly honored
-- **Background review + curator protected from overwriting bundled/hub skills** (#20273) ([#20194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20194))
-- **TUI compression continuation — ghost sessions with incomplete metadata** (#20001)
-- **`hermes mcp add` silently launches chat instead of registering MCP server** (#19785) ([#21204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21204))
-- **Background review agent runtime propagation** — provider/model/credentials now actually inherit from parent
-- **Inbound document host paths translated to container paths for Docker backend** (salvage #19048) ([#21184](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21184))
-- **Matrix gateway race between auto-redaction and message delivery with high-speed models** (#19075)
-- **`/new` during active agent session never sends response on Telegram** (#18912)
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### New platform
-- **Google Chat — 20th platform** + generic `env_enablement_fn` / `cron_deliver_env_var` platform-plugin hooks (IRC + Teams migrated) ([#21306](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21306), [#21331](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21331))
-
-### Cross-platform
-- **`allowed_{channels,chats,rooms}` whitelist** — Slack (salvage #7401), Telegram, Mattermost, Matrix, DingTalk ([#21251](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21251))
-- **Per-platform `gateway_restart_notification` flag** ([#20892](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20892))
-- **`busy_ack_enabled` config — suppress ack messages** ([#18194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18194))
-- **Auto-delete slash-command system notices after TTL** ([#18266](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18266))
-- **Opt-in cleanup of temporary progress bubbles** ([#21186](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21186))
-- **`[[as_document]]` directive — skill media routing** (salvage #19069) ([#21210](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21210))
-- **`hermes gateway list` — cross-profile status** (salvage #19129) ([#21225](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21225))
-- **Auto-resume interrupted sessions after restart** (salvage #20888) ([#21192](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21192))
-- **Atomic restart markers + Windows runtime-lock offset** (#17842) ([#18179](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18179))
-- Fix: `config.yaml` wins over `.env` for agent/display/timezone settings ([#18764](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18764))
-- Fix: auto-restart when source files change out from under us (#17648) ([#18409](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18409))
-- Fix: use git HEAD SHA for stale-code check, not file mtimes ([#19740](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19740))
-- Fix: shutdown + restart hygiene — drain timeout, false-fatal, success log ([#18761](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18761))
-- Fix: preserve max_turns after env reload (salvage #19183) ([#21240](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21240))
-- Fix: exclude ancestor PIDs from gateway process scan ([#19586](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19586))
-- Fix: move quick-command alias dispatch before built-ins ([#19588](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19588))
-- Fix: show other profiles in 'gateway status' to prevent confusion ([#19582](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19582))
-- Fix: include external_dirs skills in Telegram/Discord slash commands (salvage #8790) ([#18741](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18741))
-- Fix: match disabled/optional skills by frontmatter slug, not dir name ([#18753](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18753))
-- Fix: read /status token totals from SessionDB (#17158) ([#18206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18206))
-- Fix: snapshot callback generation after agent binds it, not before ([#18219](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18219))
-- Fix: re-inject topic-bound skill after /new or /reset ([#18205](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18205))
-- Fix: isolate pending native image paths by session ([#18202](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18202))
-- Fix: clear queued reload skills notes on new/resume/branch ([#19431](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19431))
-- Fix: hide required-arg commands from Telegram menu ([#19400](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19400))
-- Fix: bridge top-level `require_mention` to Telegram config ([#19429](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19429))
-- Fix: suppress duplicate voice transcripts ([#19428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19428))
-- Fix: show friendly error when service is not installed ([#19707](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19707))
-- Fix: read context_length from custom_providers in session info header ([#19708](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19708))
-- Fix: preserve WSL interop PATH in systemd units ([#19867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19867))
-- Fix: handle planned service stops (salvage #19876) ([#19936](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19936))
-- Fix: keep DoH-confirmed Telegram IPs that match system DNS (salvage #17043) ([#20175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20175))
-- Fix: load `reply_to_mode` from config.yaml for Discord + Telegram (salvage #17117) ([#20171](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20171))
-- Fix: tolerate malformed HERMES_HUMAN_DELAY_* env vars (salvage #16933) ([#20217](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20217))
-- Fix: deterministic thread eviction preserves newest entries (salvage #13639) ([#20285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20285))
-- Fix: don't dead-end setup wizard when only system-scope unit is installed ([#20905](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20905))
-- Fix: wait for systemd restart readiness + harden Discord slash-command sync ([#20949](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20949))
-- Fix: avoid duplicated Responses history (salvage #18995) ([#21185](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21185))
-- Fix: surface bootstrap failures to stderr (salvage #21157) ([#21278](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21278))
-- Fix: log agent task failures instead of silently losing usage data (salvage #21159) ([#21274](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21274))
-- Fix: log runtime-status write failures with rate-limiting (salvage #21158) ([#21285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21285))
-- Fix: reset-failed before every fallback restart so the gateway can't get stranded ([#21371](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21371))
-- Fix: Telegram — preserve `thread_id=1` for forum General typing indicator ([#21390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21390))
-- Fix: batch critical fixes — session resume, /new race, HA WebSocket scheme (@kshitijk4poor) ([#19182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19182))
-
-### Telegram
-- **DM user-managed multi-session topics** (salvage of #19185) ([#19206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19206))
-
-### Discord
-- **Message deletion action** (salvage #19052) ([#21197](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21197))
-- Fix: allow `free_response_channels` to override `DISCORD_IGNORE_NO_MENTION` ([#19629](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19629))
-
-### Slack
-- Fix: ephemeral slash-command ack, private notice delivery, format_message fixes (@kshitijk4poor) ([#18198](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18198))
-
-### WhatsApp
-- Fix: load WhatsApp home channel from env overrides ([#18190](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18190))
-
-### Feishu
-- **Operator-configurable bot admission and mention policy** ([#18208](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18208))
-- Fix: force text mode for markdown tables (salvage of #13723 by @WuTianyi123) ([#20275](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20275))
-
-### Matrix + Email
-- Fix: `/sethome` on Matrix and Email now persists across restarts ([#18272](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18272))
-
-### Teams
-- **Docs + feat: sidebar + threading with group-chat fallback** ([#20042](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20042))
-
-### Weixin
-- Fix: deduplicate Weixin messages by content fingerprint ([#19742](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19742))
-
-### QQBot
-- **Port SDK improvements in-tree — chunked upload, approval keyboards, quoted attachments** ([#21342](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21342))
-- **Wire native tool-approval UX via inline keyboards** ([#21353](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21353))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-
-#### Pluggable providers
-- **ProviderProfile ABC + `plugins/model-providers/`** — inference providers are now a pluggable surface (salvage of #14424) ([#20324](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20324))
-- **`list_picker_providers`** — credential-filtered picker (salvage #13561) ([#20298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20298))
-- **Remove `/provider` alias for `/model`** ([#20358](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20358))
-- **Shared Hermes dotenv loader across CLI + plugins** (salvage #13660) ([#20281](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20281))
-- **Nous OAuth persisted across profiles via shared token store** ([#19712](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19712))
-
-#### New models
-- `deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro` added to OpenRouter + Nous Portal ([#20495](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20495))
-- `x-ai/grok-4.3` added to OpenRouter + Nous Portal ([#20497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20497))
-- `openrouter/owl-alpha` (free tier) added to curated OpenRouter list ([#18071](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18071))
-- `tencent/hy3-preview` paid route on OpenRouter (@Contentment003111) ([#21077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21077))
-- Arcee Trinity Large Thinking — temperature + compression overrides ([#20473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20473))
-- Rename `x-ai/grok-4.20-beta` to `x-ai/grok-4.20` ([#19640](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19640))
-- Demote Vercel AI Gateway to bottom of provider picker ([#18112](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18112))
-
-#### Provider configuration
-- **OpenRouter — response caching support** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#19132](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19132))
-- **`image_gen.model` from config.yaml honored** (salvage #19376) ([#21273](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21273))
-- Fix: honor runtime default model during delegate provider resolution (@johnncenae) ([#17587](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17587))
-- Fix: avoid Bedrock credential probe in provider picker (@helix4u) ([#18998](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18998))
-- Fix: drop stale env-var override of persisted provider for cron ([#19627](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19627))
-- Fix: auxiliary curator api_key/base_url into runtime resolution ([#19421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19421))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **`video_analyze` — native video understanding tool** (@alt-glitch) ([#19301](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19301))
-- **Show context compression count in status bar** (CLI + TUI) ([#21218](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21218))
-- **Isolate `get_tool_definitions` quiet_mode cache + dedup LCM injection** (#17335) ([#17889](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17889))
-- Fix: warning-first tool-call loop guardrails ([#18227](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18227))
-- Fix: break permanent empty-response loop from orphan tool-tail ([#21385](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21385))
-- Fix: propagate ContextVars to concurrent tool worker threads (salvage #16660) ([#18123](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18123))
-- Fix: surface self-improvement review summaries across CLI, TUI, and gateway ([#18073](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18073))
-- Fix: serialize concurrent `hermes_tools` RPC calls from `execute_code` ([#17894](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17894), [#17902](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17902))
-- Fix: include system prompt + tool schemas in token estimates for compression ([#18265](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18265))
-
-### Compression
-- Fix: skip non-string tool content in dedup pass to prevent AttributeError ([#19398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19398))
-- Fix: reset `_summary_failure_cooldown_until` on session reset ([#19622](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19622))
-- Fix: trigger fallback on timeout errors alongside model-unavailable errors ([#19665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19665))
-- Fix: `_prune_old_tool_results` boundary direction ([#19725](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19725))
-- Fix: soften summary prompt for content filters (salvage #19456) ([#21302](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21302))
-
-### Delegate
-- Fix: inherit parent fallback_chain in `_build_child_agent` ([#19601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19601))
-- Fix: guard `_load_config()` against `delegation: null` in config.yaml ([#19662](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19662))
-- Fix: inherit parent api_key when `delegation.base_url` set without `delegation.api_key` ([#19741](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19741))
-- Fix: expand composite toolsets before intersection (salvage #19455) ([#21300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21300))
-- Fix: correct ACP docs — Claude Code CLI has no --acp flag (salvage #19058) ([#21201](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21201))
-
-### Session & Memory
-- **Hindsight — probe API for `update_mode='append'` to dedupe across processes** (@nicoloboschi) ([#20222](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20222))
-
-### Curator
-- **`hermes curator archive` and `prune` subcommands** ([#20200](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20200))
-- **`hermes curator list-archived`** (#20651) ([#21236](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21236))
-- **Synchronous manual `hermes curator run`** (#20555) ([#21216](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21216))
-- Fix: preserve `last_report_path` in state ([#18169](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18169))
-- Fix: rewrite cron job skill refs after consolidation ([#18253](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18253))
-- Fix: defer first run + `--dry-run` preview (#18373) ([#18389](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18389))
-- Fix: authoritative `absorbed_into` on delete + restore cron skill links on rollback (#18671) ([#18731](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18731))
-- Fix: prevent false-positive consolidation from substring matching ([#19573](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19573))
-- Fix: only mark agent-created for background-review sediment ([#19621](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19621))
-- Fix: protect hub skills by frontmatter name ([#20194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20194))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### File tools
-- **Post-write delta lint on `write_file` + `patch`** — in-proc linters for Python, JSON, YAML, TOML ([#20191](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20191))
-
-### Cron
-- **`no_agent` mode — script-only cron jobs (watchdog pattern)** ([#19709](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19709))
-- **`context_from` chaining docs** (salvage #15724) ([#20394](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20394))
-- Fix: treat non-dict origin as missing instead of crashing tick ([#19283](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19283))
-- Fix: bump skill usage when cron jobs load skills ([#19433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19433))
-- Fix: recover null `next_run_at` jobs ([#19576](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19576))
-- Fix: skip AI call when prerun script produces no output ([#19628](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19628))
-- Fix: expand config.yaml refs during job execution ([#19872](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19872))
-- Fix: serialize `get_due_jobs` writes to prevent parallel state corruption ([#19874](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19874))
-- Fix: initialize MCP servers before constructing the cron AIAgent ([#21354](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21354))
-
-### MCP
-- **SSE transport support** (salvage #19135) ([#21227](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21227))
-- **Forward OAuth auth + bump `sse_read_timeout` on SSE transport** ([#21323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21323))
-- **Retry stale pipe transport failures as session-expired** ([#21289](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21289))
-- **Surface image tool results as MEDIA tags instead of dropping them** ([#21328](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21328))
-- **Periodic keepalive to `_wait_for_lifecycle_event`** (salvage #17016) ([#20209](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20209))
-- Fix: reconnect on terminated sessions ([#19380](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19380))
-- Fix: decouple AnyUrl import from mcp dependency ([#19695](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19695))
-- Fix: `mcp add --command` gets distinct argparse dest ([#21204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21204))
-- Fix: clear stale thread interrupt before MCP discovery ([#21276](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21276))
-- Fix: report configured timeout in MCP call errors ([#21281](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21281))
-- Fix: include exception type in error messages when str(exc) is empty (salvage #19425) ([#21292](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21292))
-- Fix: re-raise CancelledError explicitly in `MCPServerTask.run` ([#21318](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21318))
-- Fix: coerce numeric tool args defensively in `mcp_serve` ([#21329](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21329))
-- Fix: gate utility stubs on server-advertised capabilities ([#21347](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21347))
-
-### Browser
-- Fix: allow explicit CDP override without local agent-browser ([#19670](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19670))
-- Fix: inject `--no-sandbox` for root + AppArmor userns restrictions ([#19747](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19747))
-- Fix: tighten Lightpanda fallback edge cases (@kshitijk4poor) ([#20672](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20672))
-
-### Web tools
-- **Per-capability backend selection — search/extract split** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#20061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20061))
-- **SearXNG native search-only backend** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#20823](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20823))
-
-### Approval / Tool gating
-- Fix: wake blocked gateway approvals on session cleanup ([#18171](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18171))
-- Fix: harden YOLO mode env parsing against quoted-bool strings ([#18214](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18214))
-- Fix: extend sensitive write target to cover shell RC and credential files ([#19282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19282))
-
----
-
-## 🔌 Plugin System
-
-- **`transform_llm_output` plugin hook** (salvage of #20813) ([#21235](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21235))
-- **Document `env_enablement_fn` + `cron_deliver_env_var` platform-plugin hooks** ([#21331](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21331))
-- **Pluggable surfaces coverage — model-provider guide, full plugin map, opt-in fix** ([#20749](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20749))
-- **Plugin-authoring gaps — image-gen provider guide + publishing a skill tap** ([#20800](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20800))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### New optional skills
-- **Shopify** — Admin + Storefront GraphQL optional skill ([#18116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18116))
-- **here.now** — optional skill ([#18170](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18170))
-- **shop-app** — personal shopping assistant (optional) ([#20702](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20702))
-- **Anthropic financial-services bundle** — ported as optional finance skills ([#21180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21180))
-- **kanban-video-orchestrator** — creative optional skill (@SHL0MS) ([#19281](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19281))
-- **searxng-search** — optional skill + Web Search + Extract docs page (@kshitijk4poor) ([#20841](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20841), [#20844](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20844))
-
-### Skill UX
-- **Linear skill — add Documents support + Python helper script** ([#20752](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20752))
-- **Modernize Obsidian skill to use file tools** (salvage #19332) ([#20413](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20413))
-- **Default custom tool creation to plugins** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#19755](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19755))
-- **skill_commands cache — rescan on platform scope changes** (salvage #14570 by @LeonSGP43) ([#18739](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18739))
-- **Skills — additional rescan paths in skill_commands cache** (salvage #19042) ([#21181](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21181))
-- Fix: regression tests for non-dict metadata in `extract_skill_conditions` ([#18213](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18213))
-- Docs: explain restoring bundled skills (salvage #19254) ([#20404](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20404))
-- Docs: document `hermes skills reset` subcommand (salvage #11544) ([#20395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20395))
-- Docs: himalaya v1.2.0 `folder.aliases` syntax ([#19882](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19882))
-- Point agent at `hermes-agent` skill + docs site sync ([#20390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20390))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### CLI
-- **`/new` accepts optional session name argument** (salvage of #19555) ([#19637](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19637))
-- **100 new CLI startup tips** ([#20168](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20168))
-- **`display.language` — static message translation** (zh/ja/de/es) ([#20231](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20231))
-- **French (fr) locale** (@Foolafroos) ([#20329](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20329))
-- **Ukrainian (uk) locale** ([#20467](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20467))
-- **Turkish (tr) locale** ([#20474](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20474))
-- Fix: recover classic CLI output after resize (@helix4u) ([#20444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20444))
-- Fix: complete absolute paths as paths (@helix4u) ([#19930](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19930))
-- Fix: resolve lazy session creation regressions (#18370 fallout) (@alt-glitch) ([#20363](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20363))
-- Fix: local backend CLI always uses launch directory (@alt-glitch) ([#19334](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19334))
-- Refactor: drop dead c-S-c key binding (follow-up to #19895) ([#19919](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19919))
-
-### TUI (Ink)
-- **`/model` picker overhaul to match `hermes model` with inline auth** (@austinpickett) ([#18117](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18117))
-- **Collapsible sections in startup banner** — skills, system prompt, MCP (@kshitijk4poor) ([#20625](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20625))
-- **Show context compression count in status bar** ([#21218](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21218))
-- Perf: reduce overlay render churn with focused selectors (@OutThisLife) ([#20393](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20393))
-- Fix: restore voice push-to-talk parity (salvage of #16189 by @Montbra) (@OutThisLife) ([#20897](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20897))
-- Fix: kanban button (@austinpickett) ([#18358](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18358))
-
-### Dashboard
-- **Plugins page — manage, enable/disable, auth status** (@austinpickett) ([#18095](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18095))
-- **Profiles management page** (@vincez-hms-coder) ([#16419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16419))
-- **Interactive column sorting in analytics tables** ([#18192](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18192))
-- **`default-large` built-in theme with 18px base size** ([#20820](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20820))
-- **Support serving under URL prefix via `X-Forwarded-Prefix`** (salvage #19450) ([#21296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21296))
-- **Launch dashboard as side-process via `HERMES_DASHBOARD=1` in Docker** (@benbarclay) ([#19540](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19540))
-- Fix: dashboard theme layout shift (@AllardQuek) ([#17232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17232))
-- Fix: gateway model picker current context (@helix4u) ([#20513](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20513))
-
-### Update + setup
-- **`hermes update --yes/-y` to skip interactive prompts** ([#18261](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18261))
-- **Restart manual profile gateways after update** ([#18178](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18178))
-
-### Profiles
-- **`--no-skills` flag for empty profile creation** ([#20986](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20986))
-
----
-
-## 🎵 Voice, Image & Media
-
-- **xAI Custom Voices — voice cloning** (@alt-glitch) ([#18776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18776))
-- **Achievements — share card render on unlocked badges** ([#19657](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19657))
-- **Refresh systemd unit on gateway boot (not just start/restart)** (@alt-glitch) ([#19684](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19684))
-
----
-
-## 🔗 API Server & Remote Access
-
-- **`X-Hermes-Session-Key` header for long-term memory scoping** (closes #20060) ([#20199](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20199))
-
----
-
-## 🧰 ACP Adapter (VS Code / Zed / JetBrains)
-
-- **`/steer` and `/queue` slash commands** (@HenkDz) ([#18114](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18114))
-- Fix: translate Windows cwd for WSL sessions (salvage #18128) ([#18233](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18233))
-- Fix: run `/steer` as a regular prompt on idle sessions ([#18258](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18258))
-- Fix: route Zed thoughts to reasoning + polish tool/context rendering ([#19139](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19139))
-- Fix: atomic session persistence via `replace_messages` (salvage #13675) ([#20279](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20279))
-- Fix: preserve assistant reasoning metadata in session persistence (salvage #13575) ([#20296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20296))
-- Docs: update VS Code setup for ACP Client extension (salvage #12495) ([#20433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20433))
-
----
-
-## 🐳 Docker
-
-- **Launch dashboard as side-process via `HERMES_DASHBOARD=1`** (@benbarclay) ([#19540](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19540))
-- **Refuse root gateway runs in official image** (salvage #19215) ([#21250](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21250))
-- **Chown runtime `node_modules` trees to hermes user** (salvage #19303) ([#21267](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21267))
-- Fix: exclude compose/profile runtime state from build context ([#19626](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19626))
-- CI: don't cancel overlapping builds, guard `:latest` (@ethernet8023) ([#20890](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20890))
-- Test: align Dockerfile contract tests with simplified TUI flow (salvage #19024) ([#21174](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21174))
-- Docs: connect to local inference servers (vLLM, Ollama) (salvage #12335) ([#20407](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20407))
-- Docs: document `API_SERVER_*` env vars (salvage #11758) ([#20409](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20409))
-- Docs: clarify Docker terminal backend is a single persistent container ([#20003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20003))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-### Agent
-- Fix: recover lazy session creation regressions (#18370 fallout) (@alt-glitch) ([#20363](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20363))
-- Fix: propagate ContextVars to concurrent tool worker threads (salvage #16660) ([#18123](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18123))
-- Fix: warning-first tool-call loop guardrails ([#18227](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18227))
-- Fix: surface self-improvement review summaries across CLI, TUI, and gateway ([#18073](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18073))
-
-### Gateway streaming
-- Fix: harden StreamingConfig bool and numeric coercion (@simbam99) ([#16463](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/16463))
-
-### Model
-- Fix: avoid Bedrock credential probe in provider picker (@helix4u) ([#18998](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18998))
-
-### Doctor
-- Fix: check global agent-browser when local install not found ([#19671](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19671))
-- Test: kimi-coding-cn provider validation regression ([#19734](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19734))
-
-### Update
-- Fix: patch `isatty` on real streams to fix xdist-flaky `--yes` tests (salvage #19026) ([#21175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21175))
-- Fix: teach restart-mocks about the post-update survivor sweep (salvage #19031) ([#21177](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21177))
-
-### Auth
-- Fix: acp preserve assistant reasoning metadata ([#20296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20296))
-
-### Redact
-- Fix: add `code_file` param to skip false-positive ENV/JSON patterns ([#19715](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19715))
-
-### Email
-- Fix: quoted-relative file-drop paths + Date header on tool email path ([#19646](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19646))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- **ACP — accept prompt persistence kwargs in MCP E2E mocks** (@stephenschoettler) ([#18047](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18047))
-- **Toolsets — include kanban in expected post-#17805 toolset assertions** (@briandevans) ([#18122](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18122))
-- **Agent — cover max-iterations summary message sanitization** ([#19580](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19580))
-- **run_agent — `-inf` and `nan` regression coverage for `_coerce_number`** ([#19703](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19703))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-### Major docs additions
-- **`llms.txt` + `llms-full.txt` — agent-friendly ingestion** ([#18276](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18276))
-- **User Stories and Use Cases collage page** ([#18282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18282))
-- **Persistent Goals (/goal) feature page** ([#18275](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18275))
-- **Windows (WSL2) guide expansion** — filesystem, networking, services, pitfalls ([#20748](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20748))
-- **Chinese (zh-CN) README translation** (salvage #13508) ([#20431](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20431))
-- **zh-Hans Docusaurus locale** + Tool Gateway / image-gen / WSL quickstart translations (salvage #11728) ([#20430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20430))
-- **Tool Gateway docs restructure** — lead with what it does, config moved to bottom ([#20827](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20827))
-- **Quickstart — Onchain AI Garage Hermes tutorials playlist** ([#20192](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20192))
-- **Open WebUI bootstrap script** (salvage #9566) ([#20427](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20427))
-- **Local Ollama setup guide** (salvage #5842) ([#20426](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20426))
-- **Google Gemini guide** (salvage #17450) ([#20401](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20401))
-- **Custom model aliases for /model command** ([#20475](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20475))
-- **Together/Groq/Perplexity cookbook via `custom_providers`** (salvage #15214) ([#20400](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20400))
-- **Doubao speech integration examples** (TTS + STT) (salvage #18065) ([#20418](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20418))
-- **WSL-to-Windows Chrome MCP bridge** (salvage #8313) ([#20428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20428))
-- **Hermes skills docs sync** — slash commands + durable-systems section ([#20390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20390))
-- **AGENTS.md — curator/cron/delegation/toolsets + fix plugin tree** ([#20226](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20226))
-- **Bedrock quickstart entry + fallback comment + deployment link** (salvage #11093) ([#20397](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20397))
-
-### Docs polish
-- Collapse exploding skills tree to a single Skills node ([#18259](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18259))
-- Clarify `session_search` auxiliary model docs ([#19593](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19593))
-- Open WebUI Quick Setup gap fill ([#19654](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19654))
-- Default custom tool creation to plugins (@kshitijk4poor) ([#19755](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19755))
-- Clarify Telegram group chat troubleshooting (salvage #18672) ([#20416](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20416))
-- Codex OAuth auth prerequisite clarification (salvage #18688) ([#20417](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20417))
-- Discord Server Members Intent + SSRC-mapping drift + /voice join slash Choice (salvage #11350) ([#20411](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20411))
-- Document `ctx.dispatch_tool()` (salvage #10955) ([#20391](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20391))
-- Document `hermes webhook subscribe --deliver-only` (salvage #12612) ([#20392](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20392))
-- Document `hermes import` reference (salvage #14711) ([#20396](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20396))
-- Document per-provider TTS `max_text_length` caps (salvage #13825) ([#20389](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20389))
-- Clarify supported prompt customization surfaces (salvage #19987) ([#20383](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20383))
-- Correct `web_extract` summarizer timeout comment (salvage #20051) ([#20381](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20381))
-- Fix fallback provider config paths (salvage #20033) ([#20382](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20382))
-- Fix misleading RL install-extras claim (salvage #19080) ([#21213](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21213))
-- Clarify API server tool execution locality (salvage #19117) ([#21223](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21223))
-- Prefer `.venv` to match AGENTS.md and scripts/run_tests.sh (@xxxigm) ([#21334](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21334))
-- Align tool discovery + test runner with AGENTS.md (@xxxigm) ([#20791](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20791))
-- Align terminal-backend count and naming across docs and code (salvage #19044) ([#20402](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20402))
-- Refresh stale platform counts (salvage #19053) ([#20403](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20403))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** — salvage, triage, review, feature work, and release management
-
-### Top Community Contributors
-
-- **@kshitijk4poor** (21 PRs) — SearXNG native search backend, per-capability backend selection, collapsible TUI startup banner, Slack ephemeral ack + format fixes, Lightpanda fallback hardening, searxng-search optional skill + Web Search + Extract docs, default custom tool creation to plugins, kanban failure-column fix
-- **@alt-glitch** (13 PRs) — video_analyze tool, xAI Custom Voices (voice cloning), local-backend CLI launch-directory fix, lazy-session creation regression recovery, systemd unit refresh on gateway boot
-- **@OutThisLife** (9 PRs) — TUI perf — overlay render churn reduction, voice push-to-talk parity restoration (salvaging @Montbra)
-- **@helix4u** (6 PRs) — Classic CLI output recovery after resize, absolute-path TUI completion, gateway model picker current-context fix, Bedrock credential probe avoidance, kanban docs fixes
-- **@ethernet8023** (3 PRs) — Docker CI — don't cancel overlapping builds, :latest guard
-- **@benbarclay** (3 PRs) — Docker — launch dashboard as side-process via HERMES_DASHBOARD=1
-- **@austinpickett** (3 PRs) — Dashboard Plugins page, TUI /model picker overhaul with inline auth, kanban button fix
-- **@sprmn24** (2 PRs) — Contributor (2 PRs)
-- **@asheriif** (2 PRs) — Contributor (2 PRs)
-- **@xxxigm** (2 PRs) — Contributing docs — .venv preference and test runner alignment with AGENTS.md
-- **@stephenschoettler** (1 PR) — ACP — MCP E2E mock kwargs
-- **@vincez-hms-coder** (1 PR) — Dashboard — Profiles management page
-- **@cdanis** (1 PR) — Contributor
-- **@briandevans** (1 PR) — Toolsets test — kanban assertions post-#17805
-- **@heyitsaamir** (1 PR) — Contributor
-
-### All Contributors
-
-Thanks to everyone who contributed to v0.13.0 — commits, co-authored work, and salvaged PRs. 295 contributors in one week.
-
-@0oAstro, @0xDevNinja, @0xharryriddle, @0xKingBack, @0xsir0000, @0xyg3n, @0z1-ghb, @abhinav11082001-stack,
-@acc001k, @acesjohnny, @adamludwin, @adybag14-cyber, @agentlinker, @agilejava, @ai-ag2026, @AJV20,
-@alanxchen85, @albert748, @AllardQuek, @alt-glitch, @altmazza0-star, @ambition0802, @amitgaur, @amroessam,
-@andrewhosf, @Asce66, @asheriif, @ashermorse, @asimons81, @Aslaaen, @Asunfly, @atongrun, @austinpickett,
-@banditburai, @barteqpl, @Bartok9, @Beandon13, @beardthelion, @beibi9966, @benbarclay, @binhnt92, @bjianhang,
-@BlackJulySnow, @bobashopcashier, @bogerman1, @Bongulielmi, @Brecht-H, @briandevans, @brooklynnicholson,
-@c3115644151, @camaragon, @CashWilliams, @CCClelo, @cdanis, @CES4751, @cg2aigc, @changchun989, @ChanlerDev,
-@CharlieKerfoot, @chengoak, @chenyunbo411, @chinadbo, @CIRWEL, @cixuuz, @cmcgrabby-hue, @colorcross,
-@Contentment003111, @CoreyNoDream, @counterposition, @curiouscleo, @DaniuXie, @deep-name, @dengtaoyuan450-a11y,
-@discodirector, @donramon77, @dpaluy, @ee-blog, @ehz0ah, @el-analista, @elmatadorgh, @EmelyanenkoK,
-@Emidomenge, @emozilla, @Es1la, @EthanGuo-coder, @etherman-os, @ethernet8023, @EvilDrag0n, @exxmen, @Fearvox,
-@Feranmi10, @firefly, @flobo3, @fmercurio, @Foolafroos, @formulahendry, @franksong2702, @ggnnggez, @GinWU05,
-@giwaov, @glesperance, @gnanirahulnutakki, @GodsBoy, @Gosuj, @Grey0202, @guillaumemeyer, @Gutslabs, @h0tp-ftw,
-@haidao1919, @halmisen, @happy5318, @hedirman, @helix4u, @hendrixfreire, @HenkDz, @hex-clawd, @heyitsaamir,
-@hharry11, @Hinotoi-agent, @holynn-q, @hrkzogw, @Hypn0sis, @Hypnus-Yuan, @ideathinklab01-source, @IMHaoyan,
-@Interstellar-code, @ishardo, @jacdevos, @jackey8616, @JanCong, @jasonoutland, @jatingodnani, @JayGwod,
-@jethac, @JezzaHehn, @JiaDe-Wu, @jjjojoj, @jkausel-ai, @John-tip, @johnncenae, @jrusso1020, @jslizar,
-@JTroyerOvermatch, @julysir, @Junass1, @JustinUssuri, @Kailigithub, @keepcalmqqf, @kiala9, @konsisumer,
-@kowenhaoai, @Krionex, @kshitijk4poor, @kyan12, @leavrcn, @leon7609, @LeonSGP43, @leprincep35700, @lhysdl,
-@likejudy, @lisanhu, @liu-collab, @liuguangyong93, @liuhao1024, @LucianoSP, @luoyuctl, @luyao618, @M3RCUR2Y,
-@maciekczech, @Magicray1217, @magicray1217, @MaHaoHao-ch, @malaiwah, @manateelazycat, @masonjames, @megastary,
-@memosr, @MichaelWDanko, @mikeyobrien, @millerc79, @Mind-Dragon, @mioimotoai-lgtm, @misery-hl, @molvikar,
-@momowind, @Montbra, @MottledShadow, @mrbob-git, @mrcharlesiv, @mrcoferland, @ms-alan, @mwnickerson,
-@nazirulhafiy, @nftpoetrist, @nicoloboschi, @nightq, @nikolay-bratanov, @NikolayGusev-astra, @nocturnum91,
-@noOne-list, @nouseman666, @novax635, @npmisantosh, @nudiltoys-cmyk, @olisikh, @oluwadareab12, @Oxidane-bot,
-@pama0227, @pander, @pasevin, @paul-tian, @pdonizete, @perlowja, @pingchesu, @PratikRai0101, @priveperfumes,
-@probepark, @QifengKuang, @quocanh261997, @qWaitCrypto, @qxxaa, @r266-tech, @rames-jusso, @revaraver,
-@Ricardo-M-L, @rob-maron, @Roy-oss1, @rxdxxxx, @SandroHub013, @Sanjays2402, @Sertug17, @shashwatgokhe,
-@shellybotmoyer, @SHL0MS, @SimbaKingjoe, @simbam99, @simplenamebox-ops, @socrates1024, @sonic-netizen,
-@sprmn24, @steezkelly, @stephen0110, @stephenschoettler, @stevenchanin, @stevenchouai, @stormhierta,
-@subtract0, @suncokret12, @swithek, @taeng0204, @TakeshiSawaguchi, @tangyuanjc, @TheEpTic, @thelumiereguy,
-@Tkander1715, @tmdgusya, @Tranquil-Flow, @TruaShamu, @UgwujaGeorge, @valda, @vincez-hms-coder, @VinVC,
-@vominh1919, @wabrent, @WadydX, @wanazhar, @WanderWang, @warabe1122, @web-dev0521, @WideLee, @willy-scr,
-@wmagev, @WuTianyi123, @wxst, @wysie, @Wysie, @xsfX20, @xxxigm, @xyiy001, @YanzhongSu, @ygd58, @Yoimex,
-@yuehei, @Yukipukii1, @yuqianma, @YX234, @zeejaytan, @zhanggttry, @zhao0112, @zng8418, @zons-zhaozhy, @Zyproth
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.4.30...v2026.5.7](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.4.30...v2026.5.7)

RELEASE_v0.14.0.md

@@ -1,477 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.14.0 (v2026.5.16)
-
-**Release Date:** May 16, 2026
-**Since v0.13.0:** 808 commits · 633 merged PRs · 1393 files changed · 165,061 insertions · 545 issues closed (12 P0, 50 P1) · 215 community contributors (including co-authors)
-
-> The Foundation Release — Hermes Agent installs and runs anywhere now. Native Windows ships in early beta with a full PowerShell installer story, a `pip install hermes-agent` wheel lands on PyPI, lazy-deps reshape what `pip install hermes-agent` actually pulls down, the supply-chain checker scans every install/upgrade for unsafe versions, and a new OpenAI-compatible local proxy lets Codex / Aider / Cline talk to OAuth-only providers (Claude Pro, ChatGPT Pro, SuperGrok). The cold-start wave shaves ~19 seconds off `hermes` launch, browser-tool CDP calls run 180x faster, and `hermes tools` All-Platforms drops from 14s to under 1.5s. Two new messaging platforms (LINE and SimpleX Chat) and a Microsoft Graph foundation (Teams pipeline + webhook adapter) land alongside `/handoff` that finally transfers sessions live, `vision_analyze` passing pixels through to vision-capable models, `x_search` as a first-class tool, LSP semantic diagnostics on every `write_file` / `patch`, a unified pluggable `video_generate`, a `computer_use` cua-driver backend, cross-session 1-hour Claude prompt caching, a per-turn file-mutation verifier, plus 9 new optional skills. 50+ P1 closures, 12 P0 closures.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Native Windows support (early beta)** — full PowerShell installer, native subprocess/PTY paths, taskkill-based process management, MinGit auto-install, Microsoft Store python stub detection, foreground Ctrl+C preservation, taskkill+ps2 fallback, npm prefix handling, and ~40 follow-up Windows-only fixes across CLI / gateway / TUI / curator / tools. Hermes finally runs natively on `cmd.exe` and PowerShell, no WSL required. ([#21561](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21561), [#22130](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22130), [#22752](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22752), [#26618](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26618), and many more)
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-- **`pip install hermes-agent && hermes`** — Hermes Agent is now a real PyPI package. One command, no clone, no git, no shell installer. Wheel includes the Ink TUI bundle and shell launcher. (salvage of [#26350](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26350)) ([#26593](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26593))
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-- **Cold-start performance wave — ~19s off `hermes` launch** — skills cache, lazy Feishu import, no Nous HTTP at startup, plus PEP-562 lazy adapter imports (QQ, Yuanbao, Teams, Google Chat), deferred `fal_client` / `google-cloud` / `httpx` loads, models.dev disk-cache-first lookup, parallel doctor API checks, eager-skip plugin discovery on built-in subcommands, `hermes tools` All-Platforms drops from 14s to <1.5s, welcome banner skipped on `chat -q`. ([#22138](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22138), [#22120](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22120), [#22681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22681), [#22790](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22790), [#22808](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22808), [#22831](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22831), [#22859](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22859), [#22904](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22904), [#22766](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22766), [#25341](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25341))
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-- **180x faster `browser_console` evaluations** — routed through the supervisor's persistent CDP WebSocket instead of spawning a fresh DevTools session per call. Real-world page interactions feel instant. ([#23226](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23226))
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-- **Supply-chain advisory checker + lazy-deps framework + tiered install fallback** — every `pip install` / `hermes update` scans dependencies against an advisory list, lazy-deps replace heavy import-time loads with first-use installs, and the installer falls back through extras tiers when a wheel rejects on the target platform. ([#24220](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24220))
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-- **OpenAI-compatible local proxy** — `hermes proxy` exposes any OAuth-authed provider (Claude Pro, ChatGPT Pro, SuperGrok) as an OpenAI-compatible endpoint that Codex / Aider / Cline / VS Code Continue can hit. Your subscription, your tools. ([#25969](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25969))
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-- **Cross-session 1-hour Claude prompt cache** — Anthropic / OpenRouter / Nous Portal now share a 1h prefix cache across sessions for Claude models. Fast resume, fast `/new`, lower cost on repeat work. ([#23828](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23828))
-
-- **Two new messaging platforms — LINE + SimpleX Chat** — LINE Messaging API lands as a first-class platform, SimpleX Chat salvages #2558 onto the modern adapter spec. Hermes is now on 22 platforms. ([#23197](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23197), [#26232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26232))
-
-- **Microsoft Graph foundation — Teams pipeline + webhook adapter** — `msgraph` auth/client foundation, webhook listener platform, Teams pipeline plugin runtime, and Teams outbound delivery via the existing adapter — Hermes can now read and post to Teams. (salvages of #21408–#21411) ([#21922](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21922), [#21969](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21969), [#22007](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22007), [#22024](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22024))
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-- **`/handoff` actually transfers the session live** — the agent's active session moves to a different model / persona / profile mid-conversation, with messages, tool history, and context preserved. ([#23395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23395))
-
-- **`x_search` — first-class X (Twitter) search tool** — gated tool with OAuth-or-API-key auth, no skill needed to query the timeline. ([#26763](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26763))
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-- **`vision_analyze` returns pixels to vision-capable models** — when the active model can see, `vision_analyze` now hands the image straight through instead of falling back to a text description. ([#22955](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22955))
-
-- **LSP semantic diagnostics on every write** — `write_file` and `patch` now run real language-server diagnostics on the post-edit file (delta-only) and surface real errors before they ship downstream. ([#24168](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24168), [#25978](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25978))
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-- **Per-turn file-mutation verifier footer** — after every turn that wrote files, the agent gets a verifier footer summarizing what actually changed on disk — catches silent overwrites and "wrote it but it didn't land" bugs. ([#24498](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24498))
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-- **Unified `video_generate` with pluggable provider backends** — single tool, any backend. Drop in a new video provider as a plugin, no core changes. ([#25126](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25126))
-
-- **`computer_use` cua-driver backend** — proper focus-safe ops, non-Anthropic provider support, refresh on `hermes update`. Computer-use is no longer locked to a single SDK. (re-salvage of #16936) ([#21967](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21967), [#24063](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24063))
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-- **xAI Grok OAuth provider — SuperGrok via subscription** — sign in with your xAI account, talk to Grok models from Hermes. ([#26534](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26534))
-
-- **Clarify with buttons — native inline keyboards on Telegram + Discord** — the `clarify` tool renders multi-choice prompts as platform-native buttons instead of typed responses. ([#24199](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24199), [#25485](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25485))
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-- **Discord channel history backfill (default on)** — Hermes reads recent channel history when joining a thread so it actually knows what's been said. ([#25984](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25984))
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-- **Watchers skill — RSS / HTTP JSON / GitHub polling via cron `no_agent` mode** — skill recipes that wire change-detection sources directly into cron's script-only watchdog mode. ([#21881](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21881))
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-- **Zed ACP Registry integration + uvx distribution** — Hermes is in the Zed registry, installable via `uvx` (no npm). Plus `hermes acp --setup-browser` bootstraps browser tools for registry installs. (salvage of [#25908](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25908)) ([#26079](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26079), [#26120](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26120), [#26234](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26234))
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-- **OpenRouter Pareto Code router** — wire a new OpenRouter router with `min_coding_score` knob. Pick the cheapest model that meets your quality bar. ([#22838](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22838))
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-- **Optional codex app-server runtime for OpenAI/Codex models** — drives the OpenAI Codex CLI under the hood for OpenAI/Codex paths, with session reuse, wedge retirement, and OAuth refresh classification. ([#24182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24182), [#25769](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25769))
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-- **`hermes-skills/huggingface` as a trusted default tap** — community skills index from huggingface.co/skills is available by default in the Skills Hub. ([#26219](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26219))
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-- **9 new optional skills** — Hyperliquid (perp/spot trading via SDK + REST) (@kshitijk4poor & Hermes), Yahoo Finance market data, api-testing (REST/GraphQL debug), unified EVM multi-chain skill (folds #25291 + #2010 + base/), darwinian-evolver, osint-investigation (closes #355), pinggy-tunnel, watchers (RSS/HTTP/GitHub via cron), Notion overhaul for the Developer Platform (May 2026). ([#23582](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23582), [#23583](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23583), [#23590](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23590), [#25299](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25299), [#26760](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26760), [#26729](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26729), [#26765](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26765), [#21881](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21881), [#26612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26612))
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-- **API server exposes run approval events** — long-running runs surface approval requests over the API stream, no more silent stalls. (salvage of [#20311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20311)) ([#21899](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21899))
-
-- **`/subgoal` — user-added criteria appended to active `/goal`** — layer extra success criteria onto a running goal loop. The judge sees them in the prompt, no behavior change when subgoals are empty. ([#25449](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25449))
-
-- **Plugins can run any LLM call via `ctx.llm`** — plugins get a first-class hook to make their own LLM requests through the active provider/credentials, no manual wiring. Plus `tool_override` flag for replacing built-in tools. ([#23194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23194), [#26759](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26759))
-
-- **Brave Search (free tier) + DuckDuckGo (DDGS) as web-search providers** — two new free search backends alongside Tavily / SearXNG / Exa. ([#21337](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21337))
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-- **Sudo brute-force block + sudo-stdin/askpass DANGEROUS classification** — closes the `sudo -S` brute-force avenue; approval gates classify stdin-fed and askpass-stripped sudo invocations as dangerous. (salvages of #22194 + #21128) ([#23736](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23736))
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-- **Provider rename — Alibaba Cloud → Qwen Cloud, picker reorder** — matches what the world calls it. Existing config keys still work. ([#24835](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24835))
-
-
----
-
-## 🪟 Windows — Native Support (Early Beta)
-
-### Bootstrap & installer
-- **Native Windows support (early beta)** — first-class native Windows path across CLI / gateway / TUI / tools ([#21561](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21561))
-- **PyPI wheel packaging — `pip install hermes-agent && hermes`** (salvage of #26350) ([#26593](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26593))
-- **Recognise Shift+Enter as a newline key** + Windows docs (salvage #21545) ([#22130](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22130))
-- **Preserve Ctrl+C for Windows foreground runs** (@helix4u) ([#22752](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22752))
-- **Stop spamming cwd-missing + tirith-spawn warnings on every terminal call** ([#26618](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26618))
-- **Use `--extra all` not `--all-extras`; drop lazy-covered extras from `[all]`** ([#24515](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24515))
-
-### Windows-specific fixes (40+ across cli / tools / gateway / curator / TUI)
-A long tail of native-Windows fixes shipped alongside the beta — taskkill-based subprocess management, MinGit auto-install, Microsoft Store python stub detection, npm prefix handling, native PTY paths, signal handling differences, foreground process management, ANSI sequence handling, path normalization, file-locking semantics, and many more. Full list in commit log under `fix(windows)` / `feat(windows)` / `windows`.
-
----
-
-## 🚀 Performance Wave
-
-### Cold start
-- **Cut ~19s from `hermes` cold start** — skills cache + lazy Feishu + no Nous HTTP at startup ([#22138](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22138))
-- **Skip eager plugin discovery on known built-in subcommands** ([#22120](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22120))
-- **Cache Nous auth + .env loads** — `hermes tools` All Platforms from 14s to <1.5s ([#25341](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25341))
-- **Skip welcome banner on `chat -q` single-query mode** ([#22904](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22904))
-- **Defer heavy google-cloud imports in google_chat to first adapter use** ([#22681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22681))
-- **Defer QQAdapter and YuanbaoAdapter imports via PEP 562** ([#22790](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22790))
-- **Defer httpx import in teams to first webhook call** ([#22831](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22831))
-- **Defer fal_client import to first generation request** ([#22859](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22859))
-- **models.dev cache-first lookup, skip network when disk cache is fresh** ([#22808](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22808))
-- **Parallelize API connectivity checks in `hermes doctor` and disable IMDS** ([#22766](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22766))
-
-### Runtime
-- **180x faster `browser_console` evaluations** — route through supervisor's persistent CDP WebSocket ([#23226](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23226))
-- **Tune Telegram cadence + adaptive fast-path for short replies** (salvage of #10388) ([#23587](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23587))
-- **Accumulate length-continuation prefix via list+join** ([#26237](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26237))
-
-### Prompt caching
-- **Cross-session 1h prefix cache for Claude on Anthropic / OpenRouter / Nous Portal** ([#23828](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23828))
-- **Hit prefix cache in background review fork** (salvage #17276 + #25427) ([#25434](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25434))
-
----
-
-## 📦 Installation & Distribution
-
-### PyPI + supply-chain
-- **PyPI wheel packaging — `pip install hermes-agent && hermes`** (salvage of #26350) ([#26593](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26593))
-- **Supply-chain advisory checker + lazy-install framework + tiered install fallback** ([#24220](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24220))
-- **Use `--extra all` not `--all-extras`; drop lazy-covered extras from `[all]`** ([#24515](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24515))
-- **Skip browser download when system chromium exists** (@helix4u) ([#25317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25317))
-
-### Nix
-- **`extraDependencyGroups` for sealed venv extras** (@alt-glitch) ([#21817](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21817))
-- **Refresh npm lockfile hashes** — keeps Nix flake builds reproducible
-
-### Docker
-- **Bootstrap auth.json from env on first boot** ([#21880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21880))
-- **Drop manual @hermes/ink build, rely on esbuild bundle** — slimmer image
-
-### ACP / Zed
-- **Zed ACP Registry integration** (salvage of #25908) ([#26079](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26079))
-- **Switch to uvx distribution, drop npm launcher** ([#26120](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26120))
-- **`hermes acp --setup-browser` bootstraps browser tools for registry installs** ([#26234](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26234))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Sessions & handoff
-- **`/handoff` actually transfers the session live** ([#23395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23395))
-- **Expose `HERMES_SESSION_ID` env var to agent tools** (@alt-glitch) ([#23847](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23847))
-
-### Goals (Ralph loop)
-- **`/subgoal` — user-added criteria appended to active `/goal`** ([#25449](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25449))
-- **`/goal` checklist + /subgoal user controls** ([#23456](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23456)) — rolled back in window ([#23813](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23813)); /subgoal returned in simpler form via #25449
-
-### Compression
-- **Make `protect_first_n` configurable** ([#25447](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25447))
-
-### Verification
-- **Per-turn file-mutation verifier footer** ([#24498](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24498))
-
-### Stream retry
-- **Log inner cause, upstream headers, bytes/elapsed on every drop** ([#23005](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23005))
-
----
-
-## 🤖 Models & Providers
-
-### New providers
-- **xAI Grok OAuth (SuperGrok Subscription) provider** ([#26534](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26534))
-- **NovitaAI provider** (salvage #7219) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#25507](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25507))
-- **NVIDIA NIM billing origin header** (salvage #25211) ([#26585](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26585))
-
-### Provider work
-- **OpenRouter Pareto Code router with `min_coding_score` knob** ([#22838](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22838))
-- **Optional codex app-server runtime for OpenAI/Codex models** ([#24182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24182))
-- **Codex-runtime: retire wedged sessions + post-tool watchdog + OAuth refresh classify** ([#25769](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25769))
-- **Codex-runtime: skip unavailable plugins during migration** ([#25437](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25437))
-- **Codex-runtime: de-dup `[plugins.X]` tables and stop leaking HERMES_HOME into config.toml** (#26250) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#26260](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26260))
-- **Pass `reasoning.effort` to xAI Responses API** ([#22807](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22807))
-- **Custom provider: prompt and persist explicit `api_mode`** ([#25068](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25068))
-- **Rename Alibaba Cloud → Qwen Cloud, reorder picker** ([#24835](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24835))
-- **Restore gpt-5.3-codex-spark for ChatGPT Pro** (salvage #18286 + #19530, fixes #16172) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22991](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22991))
-- **Inject tool-use enforcement for GLM models** ([#24715](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24715))
-- **Use Nous Portal as model metadata authority** (@rob-maron) ([#24502](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24502))
-- **Unified `client=hermes-client-v<version>` tag on every Portal request** ([#24779](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24779))
-- **Prevent stale Ollama credentials after provider switch** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#21703](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21703))
-- **Auxiliary client: rotate pooled auth after quota failures** (salvage #22779) ([#22792](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22792))
-- **Auxiliary client: skip providers without credentials immediately** (#25395) ([#25487](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25487))
-- **Auth: send Nous refresh token via header** (@shannonsands) ([#21578](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21578))
-- **MiniMax: harden OAuth dashboard and runtime** ([#24165](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24165))
-
-### OpenAI-compatible proxy
-- **Local OpenAI-compatible proxy for OAuth providers** — Codex / Aider / Cline can hit Claude Pro, ChatGPT Pro, SuperGrok ([#25969](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25969))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### New platforms
-- **LINE Messaging API platform plugin** ([#23197](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23197))
-- **SimpleX Chat platform plugin** (salvages #2558) ([#26232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26232))
-
-### Microsoft Graph foundation
-- **msgraph: add auth and client foundation** (salvage of #21408) ([#21922](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21922))
-- **msgraph: add webhook listener platform** (salvage of #21409) ([#21969](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21969))
-- **teams-pipeline: add plugin runtime and operator cli** (salvage of #21410) ([#22007](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22007))
-- **teams: add pipeline outbound delivery via existing adapter** (salvage of #21411) ([#22024](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22024))
-
-### Cross-platform
-- **Per-platform admin/user split for slash commands** (salvage of #4443) ([#23373](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23373))
-- **Forensics on signal handling — non-blocking diag, per-phase timing, stale-unit warning** ([#23285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23285))
-- **Keep gateway running when platforms fail; add per-platform circuit breaker + `/platform`** ([#26600](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26600))
-- **Wire `clarify` tool with inline keyboard buttons on Telegram** ([#24199](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24199))
-- **Add `chat_id` to `hook_ctx` for message source tracking** ([#24710](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24710))
-
-### Telegram
-- **Native draft streaming via `sendMessageDraft` (Bot API 9.5+)** (salvage of #3412) ([#23512](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23512))
-- **Stream Telegram edits safely** — salvage of #22264 (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22518](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22518))
-- **Telegram notification mode** (salvage #22772) ([#22793](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22793))
-- **Telegram guest mention mode** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22759](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22759))
-- **Split-and-deliver oversized edits instead of silent truncation** (salvage of #19537) ([#23576](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23576))
-- **Preserve DM topic routing via reply fallback** (salvage #22053) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22410](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22410))
-- **Pass `source.thread_id` explicitly on auto-reset notice** (carve-out of #7404) ([#23440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23440))
-
-### Discord
-- **Render clarify choices as buttons** ([#25485](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25485))
-- **Channel history backfill — default on, broadened scope** ([#25984](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25984))
-- **`thread_require_mention` for multi-bot threads** (salvage #25313) ([#25445](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25445))
-
-### Slack
-- **Support `!cmd` as alternate prefix for slash commands in threads** ([#25355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25355))
-
-### WhatsApp
-- **Surface quoted reply metadata from Baileys** (#25398) ([#25489](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25489))
-
-### Feishu / Google Chat / others
-- **Feishu: native update prompt cards** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22448](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22448))
-- **Google Chat: repair setup prompt imports** (@helix4u) ([#22038](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22038))
-- **Google Chat: honor relay-declared sender_type** (salvage of #22107) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22432](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22432))
-- **LINE: use `build_source` instead of nonexistent `create_source`** ([#24717](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24717))
-- **Add `weixin, and more` to gateway docs** (salvage of #21063 by @wuwuzhijing)
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & TUI
-
-### CLI
-- **Show YOLO mode warning in banner and status bar** ([#26238](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26238))
-- **Confirm prompt for destructive slash commands** (#4069) ([#22687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22687))
-- **`docker_extra_args` + `display.timestamps`** ([#23599](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23599))
-- **Delegate tool: show user's actual concurrency / spawn-depth limits in description** ([#22694](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22694))
-
-### TUI
-- **`/sessions` slash command for browsing and resuming previous sessions** (@austinpickett) ([#20805](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20805))
-- **Segment turns with rule above non-first user msgs; trim ticker dead space** (@OutThisLife) ([#21846](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21846))
-- **Support attaching to an existing gateway** (@OutThisLife) ([#21978](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21978))
-- **Resolve markdown links to readable page titles** (@OutThisLife) ([#24013](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24013))
-- **Width-aware markdown table rendering with vertical fallback** (@alt-glitch) ([#26195](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26195))
-- **Keep Ink displayCursor in sync with fast-echo writes so cursor stops drifting** (@OutThisLife) ([#26717](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26717))
-- **Allow transcript scroll + Esc during approval/clarify/confirm prompts** (@OutThisLife) ([#26414](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26414))
-- **Preserve session when switching personality** (@austinpickett) ([#20942](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20942))
-- **Skip native safety net on OSC52-capable terminals** (@benbarclay) ([#20954](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20954))
-
-### Dashboard / GUI
-- **Route embedded TUI through dashboard gateway** (@OutThisLife) ([#21979](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21979))
-- **Hide token/cost analytics behind config flag (default off)** ([#25438](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25438))
-- **Fix Langfuse observability — trace I/O, tool outputs, placeholder credentials** (closes #22342, #22763) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#26320](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26320))
-- **MiniMax 'Login' button launched Claude OAuth** (salvage #22849) ([#24058](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24058))
-- **Update cron modals** (@austinpickett) ([#25985](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25985))
-- **Analytics: prevent silent token loss and add Claude 4.5–4.7 pricing** (@austinpickett) ([#21455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21455))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tools & Capabilities
-
-### Vision & video
-- **`vision_analyze` returns pixels to vision-capable models** ([#22955](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22955))
-- **Unified `video_generate` with pluggable provider backends** ([#25126](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25126))
-- **`image_gen`: actionable setup message when no FAL backend is reachable** ([#26222](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26222))
-
-### Computer use
-- **`computer_use` cua-driver backend + focus-safe ops + non-Anthropic provider fix** (re-salvage #16936) ([#21967](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21967))
-- **Refresh cua-driver on `hermes update` + add `install --upgrade`** ([#24063](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24063))
-
-### LSP & write-time diagnostics
-- **Semantic diagnostics from real language servers in `write_file`/`patch`** ([#24168](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24168))
-- **Shift baseline diagnostics into post-edit coordinates** ([#25978](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25978))
-
-### Search & web
-- **Brave Search (free tier) and DDGS search providers** ([#21337](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21337))
-- **Bearer auth header for Tavily `/crawl` endpoint** ([#24658](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24658))
-
-### X (Twitter)
-- **Gated `x_search` tool with OAuth-or-API-key auth** ([#26763](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26763))
-
-### Browser
-- **Route `browser_console` eval through supervisor's persistent CDP WS (180x faster)** ([#23226](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23226))
-- **Support externally managed Camofox sessions** ([#24499](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24499))
-
-### MCP
-- **`supports_parallel_tool_calls` for MCP servers** (salvage of #9944) ([#26825](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26825))
-- **Codex preset for Codex CLI MCP server** (salvage #22663) ([#22679](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22679))
-- **Stop retrying initial MCP auth failures** (#25624) ([#25776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25776))
-
-### Google Workspace
-- **Drive write ops + Docs/Sheets create/append** ([#21895](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21895))
-
-### Per-turn verifier
-- **Per-turn file-mutation verifier footer** ([#24498](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24498))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Kanban (Multi-Agent)
-
-- **`specify` — auxiliary LLM fleshes out triage tasks** ([#21435](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21435))
-- **Orchestrator board tools — `kanban_list` + `kanban_unblock`** (carve-out of #20568) ([#23012](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23012))
-- **`stranded_in_ready` diagnostic for unclaimed tasks** ([#23578](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23578))
-- **Dashboard batch QOL upgrade** (salvage of #23240) ([#23550](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23550))
-- **Tooltips and docs link across dashboard** ([#21541](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21541))
-- **Dedupe notifier delivery via atomic claim + rewind on failure** (salvage #22558) ([#23401](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23401))
-- **Keep notifier subscriptions alive across retry cycles** (salvage #21398) ([#23423](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23423))
-- **Drop caller-controlled author override in `kanban_comment`** (salvage of #22109) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22435](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22435))
-- **Sanitize comment author rendering in `build_worker_context`** ([#22769](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22769))
-
----
-
-## 🧠 Plugins & Extension
-
-### Plugin surface
-- **Run any LLM call from inside a plugin via `ctx.llm`** ([#23194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23194))
-- **`tool_override` flag for replacing built-in tools** (closes #11049) ([#26759](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26759))
-- **`standalone_sender_fn` for out-of-process cron delivery** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22461](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22461))
-- **`HERMES_PLUGINS_DEBUG=1` surfaces plugin discovery logs** ([#22684](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22684))
-- **Hindsight-client as optional dependency** (@alt-glitch) ([#21818](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21818))
-
-### Profile & distribution
-- **Shareable profile distributions via git** ([#20831](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20831))
-
----
-
-## ⏰ Cron
-
-- **Routing intent — `deliver=all` fans out to every connected channel** ([#21495](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21495))
-- **Support name-based lookup for job operations** ([#26231](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26231))
-- **Blank Cron dashboard tab + partial-record crashes** (salvage #21042 + #22330) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22389](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22389))
-- **Do not seed `HERMES_SESSION_*` contextvars from cron origin** (salvage of #22356) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22382](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22382))
-- **Scan assembled prompt including skill content for prompt injection** (#3968)
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skills Hub
-- **`hermes-skills/huggingface` as a trusted default tap** (closes #2549) ([#26219](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26219))
-- **Show per-skill pages in the left sidebar** ([#26646](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26646))
-- **Richer info panels on the Skills Hub** ([#22905](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22905))
-- **Refuse `skill_view` name collisions instead of guessing** (closes #6136 @polkn)
-
-### Curator
-- **Show rename map in user-visible summary** ([#22910](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22910))
-- **Hint at `hermes curator pin` in the rename block** ([#23212](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23212))
-
-### New optional skills
-- **Hyperliquid** — perp/spot trading via SDK + REST (salvage of #1952) ([#23583](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23583))
-- **Yahoo Finance** market data ([#23590](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23590))
-- **api-testing** (REST/GraphQL debug, salvages #1800) ([#23582](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23582))
-- **Unified EVM multi-chain skill** (salvages #25291 + #2010 + folds in base/) ([#25299](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25299))
-- **darwinian-evolver** ([#26760](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26760))
-- **osint-investigation** (closes #355) ([#26729](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26729))
-- **pinggy-tunnel** ([#26765](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26765))
-- **watchers** — RSS / HTTP JSON / GitHub polling via cron no-agent ([#21881](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21881))
-- **Notion overhaul for the Developer Platform** (May 2026) ([#26612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26612))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security hardening
-- **Sudo brute-force block + sudo-stdin/askpass DANGEROUS** (salvage of #22194 + #21128) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#23736](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23736))
-- **Drop caller-controlled author override in `kanban_comment`** (salvage of #22109) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22435](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22435))
-- **Cover remaining SSRF fetch paths in skills-hub** (salvage #22804) ([#22843](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22843))
-- **Use credential_pool for custom endpoint model listing probes** (salvage #22810) ([#22842](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22842))
-- **Require dashboard auth for plugin API routes** (salvage #19541) ([#23220](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23220))
-- **Sanitize env and redact output in quick commands + remove write-only `_pending_messages`** ([#23584](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23584))
-- **Reduce unnecessary `shell=True` in subprocess calls** ([#25149](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25149))
-- **Sanitize Google Chat sender_type from relay** (salvage of #22107) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22432](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22432))
-- **Supply-chain advisory checker** ([#24220](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24220))
-- **Rewrite security policy around OS-level isolation as the boundary** (@jquesnelle) ([#20317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20317))
-- **Remove public security advisory page** ([#24253](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24253))
-
-### Reliability — notable bug closures
-- **SQLite: fall back to `journal_mode=DELETE` on NFS/SMB/FUSE** (fixes `/resume` on network mounts) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22043](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22043))
-- **Codex-runtime: retire wedged sessions + post-tool watchdog + OAuth refresh classify** ([#25769](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25769))
-- **Codex-runtime: de-dup `[plugins.X]` tables and stop leaking HERMES_HOME** (#26250) (@kshitijk4poor) ([#26260](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26260))
-- **Daytona: migrate legacy-sandbox lookup to cursor-based `list()`** ([#24587](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24587))
-- **MCP: stop retrying initial MCP auth failures** (#25624) ([#25776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25776))
-- **Gateway: enable text-intercept for multi-choice clarify fallback** (#25587) ([#25778](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25778))
-- **Gateway: keep running when platforms fail; per-platform circuit breaker + `/platform`** ([#26600](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26600))
-- **Delegate: salvage #21933 JSON-string batch + diagnostic logging** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22436](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22436))
-- **Profiles+banner: exclude infrastructure from `--clone-all` + fix stale update-check repo resolution** (@kshitijk4poor) ([#22475](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22475))
-- **ACP: inline file attachment resources** (salvage #21400 + image support) ([#21407](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21407))
-- **CI: unblock shared PR checks** (@stephenschoettler) ([#21012](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21012), [#25957](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25957))
-
-### Notable reverts in window
-- **`/goal` checklist + /subgoal feature stack** — rolled back ([#23813](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23813)); `/subgoal` returned in simpler form via [#25449](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25449)
-- **Scrollback box width clamp** (#25975) rolled back to restore full-width borders ([#26163](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26163))
-- **`fix(cli): tolerate unreadable dirs when building systemd PATH`** rolled back
-
----
-
-## 🌍 i18n
-
-- **Localize all gateway commands + web dashboard, add 8 new locales (16 total)** ([#22914](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22914))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- **Repair Voice & TTS provider table** (@nightcityblade, fixes #24101) ([#24138](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24138))
-- **Show per-skill pages in the left sidebar** ([#26646](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26646))
-- **Mention Weixin in gateway help and docstrings** (salvage of #21063 by @wuwuzhijing)
-- **Richer info panels on the Skills Hub** ([#22905](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22905))
-- Many more doc updates across providers, platforms, skills, Windows install paths, and dashboard.
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing & CI
-
-- **Unblock shared PR checks** (@stephenschoettler) ([#21012](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/21012))
-- **Stabilize shared test state after 21012** (@stephenschoettler) ([#25957](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25957))
-- A long tail of test additions for platforms, providers, plugins, and edge cases — 8 explicit `test:` PRs plus ~250 fix PRs that also added regression coverage.
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- @teknium1 — release lead, architecture, ~406 PRs merged in window
-
-### Top community contributors
-- **@kshitijk4poor** — 38 PRs · Telegram cadence/streaming/topic routing, security hardening (sudo, SSRF, kanban_comment, dashboard auth), codex-runtime hygiene, NovitaAI provider, profile/banner fixes, Feishu update cards, gateway QOL across the board
-- **@alt-glitch** — 13 PRs · Markdown-table TUI rendering, `HERMES_SESSION_ID` env var, hindsight-client optional dep, Nix `extraDependencyGroups`
-- **@OutThisLife** (Brooklyn Nicholson) — 12 PRs · TUI turn segmentation, attach-to-gateway, markdown link titles, embedded TUI via dashboard gateway, Ink cursor sync, scroll/Esc during prompts
-- **@austinpickett** — 8 PRs · `/sessions` slash command, personality switching preserves session, cron modals, dashboard analytics
-- **@helix4u** — 5 PRs · Google Chat setup, browser install skip on system chromium, Windows Ctrl+C preservation
-- **@rob-maron** — 4 PRs · Nous Portal as model metadata authority, provider polish
-- **@stephenschoettler** — 3 PRs · CI stabilization
-- **@ethernet8023** — 3 PRs · platform/gateway work
-
-### All contributors (alphabetical)
-
-@02356abc, @0xbyt4, @0xharryriddle, @1000Delta, @1RB, @29206394, @A-kamal, @aashizpoudel, @Abd0r,
-@adybag14-cyber, @AgentArcLab, @ahmedbadr3, @AhmetArif0, @alblez, @Alex-yang00, @ALIYILD, @AllynSheep,
-@alt-glitch, @am423, @amathxbt, @amethystani, @ArecaNon, @Arkmusn, @askclaw-vesper, @AsoTora, @austinpickett,
-@aydnOktay, @ayushere, @baocin, @Bartok9, @benbarclay, @BennetYrWang, @Bihruze, @binhnt92, @briandevans,
-@brooklynnicholson, @btorresgil, @buntingszn, @CalmProton, @chrisworksai, @CoinTheHat, @dandacompany, @Dangooy,
-@DanielLSM, @David-0x221Eight, @ddupont808, @dhruv-saxena, @diablozzc, @dlkakbs, @dmahan93, @dmnkhorvath,
-@domtriola, @donrhmexe, @Dusk1e, @eloklam, @emozilla, @ephron-ren, @erenkarakus, @EthanGuo-coder,
-@ethernet8023, @evgyur, @explainanalyze, @fahdad, @fr33d3m0n, @Freeman-Consulting, @freqyfreqy, @Frowtek,
-@fu576, @github-actions[bot], @gnanirahulnutakki, @GodsBoy, @guglielmofonda, @Gutslabs, @hanzckernel,
-@heathley, @hekaru-agent, @helix4u, @HenkDz, @HiddenPuppy, @hllqkb, @hrygo, @HuangYuChuh, @Hugo-SEQUIER, @HxT9,
-@iacker, @InB4DevOps, @isaachuangGMICLOUD, @iuyup, @Jaaneek, @jackey8616, @jackjin1997, @Jaggia, @jak983464779,
-@jelrod27, @jethac, @JithendraNara, @johnisag, @Julientalbot, @Jwd-gity, @kallidean, @keyuyuan, @kfa-ai,
-@kidonng, @KiraKatana, @kjames2001, @konsisumer, @Korkyzer, @kshitijk4poor, @KvnGz, @lars-hagen, @leehack,
-@leepoweii, @LeonSGP43, @li0near, @libo1106, @liquidchen, @littlewwwhite, @liuhao1024, @liyoungc, @luandiasrj,
-@luoyuctl, @luyao618, @magic524, @mbac, @McClean, @memosr, @Mibayy, @ming1523, @mizgyo, @mrshu, @ms-alan,
-@MustafaKara7, @nederev, @nicoechaniz, @nidhi-singh02, @nightcityblade, @nik1t7n, @Ninso112, @NivOO5,
-@novax635, @nv-kasikritc, @oferlaor, @oswaldb22, @outdoorsea, @oxngon, @PaTTeeL, @pearjelly, @pefontana,
-@perng, @PhilipAD, @phuongvm, @polkn, @Prasanna28Devadiga, @princepal9120, @pty819, @purzbeats, @Quarkex,
-@quocanh261997, @qWaitCrypto, @Qwinty, @rahimsais, @raymaylee, @ReqX, @rewbs, @RhombusMaximus, @rob-maron,
-@Ruzzgar, @ryptotalent, @Sanjays2402, @shannonsands, @shaun0927, @SiliconID, @silv-mt-holdings, @simpolism,
-@smwbev, @soichiyo, @sprmn24, @steezkelly, @stephenschoettler, @Sylw3ster, @szymonclawd, @teyrebaz33,
-@Tianyu199509, @Tranquil-Flow, @TreyDong, @TurgutKural, @tw2818, @tymrtn, @uzunkuyruk, @v1b3coder,
-@vanthinh6886, @VinceZcrikl, @vKongv, @vominh1919, @voteblake, @VTRiot, @wali-reheman, @wesleysimplicio,
-@wilsen0, @WorldWriter, @worlldz, @wuli666, @wuwuzhijing, @Wysie, @XiaoXiao0221, @xieNniu, @xxxigm, @yehuosi,
-@ygd58, @yifengingit, @yuga-hashimoto, @zccyman, @ZeterMordio, @Zhekinmaksim, @zhengyn0001
-
-Also: @Nagatha (Claude Opus 4.7).
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.5.7...v2026.5.16](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.5.7...v2026.5.16)

RELEASE_v0.15.0.md

@@ -1,651 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.15.0 (v2026.5.28)
-
-**Release Date:** May 28, 2026
-**Since v0.14.0:** 1,302 commits · 747 merged PRs · 1,746 files changed · 282,712 insertions · 36,699 deletions · 560+ issues closed (15 P0, 65 P1, 19 security-tagged) · 321 community contributors (including co-authors)
-
-> **The Velocity Release.** Hermes gets dramatically faster — to start, to run, to ship work, and to grow. The 16,083-line `run_agent.py` collapses to 3,821 (-76%) across 14 cohesive `agent/*` modules. Kanban grew into a real multi-agent platform across 104 PRs — orchestrator auto-decomposition, swarm topology, scheduled tasks, worktree-per-task, per-task model overrides. The cold-start perf wave keeps going: another second shaved off launch, 47% fewer per-conversation function calls, `hermes --version` flipping the head-to-head benchmark against Codex CLI. `session_search` is 4,500× faster and free now. Promptware defense lands against Brainworm-class attacks. Bitwarden Secrets Manager replaces N per-provider API keys with one bootstrap token. Skill bundles let one slash command load a whole workflow. The Ink TUI gets a multi-session orchestrator. Two new image_gen providers (Krea 2 Medium + Large, FAL ported to plugin), the Nous-approved MCP catalog with an interactive picker, an OpenHands orchestration skill, ntfy as the 23rd messaging platform, and a deep xAI integration round (Web Search plugin, xai-oauth `hermes proxy` upstream, retired-May-15 model detection + `hermes migrate xai`, natural TTS speech-tag pauses, base_url leak guard, OpenAI-style execution guidance for Grok). 15 P0 + 65 P1 closures alongside.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **The Big Refactor — `run_agent.py` is no longer 16,000 lines** — The file at the heart of Hermes — the agent conversation loop — has been reduced from 16,083 lines to 3,821 (-76%), with the extracted code redistributed across 14 cohesive modules under `agent/`. Behavior is unchanged: every extraction keeps a thin forwarder on `AIAgent`, every test patch path still works, every external caller is compatible. The reason you care: future Hermes development moves faster, plugin authors can finally grep the codebase, and the file that took 90 seconds to load in your editor opens in a blink. ([#27248](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27248))
-
-- **Kanban grew into a real multi-agent platform — 104 PRs end to end** — Triage auto-decomposes one task into a tree of sub-tasks. `hermes kanban swarm` creates a full Swarm v1 graph in one command — root, parallel workers, gated verifier, gated synthesizer, shared blackboard. Tasks support per-task model overrides (cheap models for boilerplate, expensive ones for hard sub-tasks), board-level default workdirs, per-task worktree paths and branches, scheduled start times, configurable claim TTL, retry fingerprinting, stale-task detection, respawn guards, and a drag-to-delete trash zone. Workers report through `/workers/active`, `/runs/{id}`, and `/inspect` endpoints. ([#27572](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27572), [#28443](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28443), [#28364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28364), [#28394](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28394), [#28462](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28462), [#28384](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28384), [#28467](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28467), [#28455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28455), [#28452](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28452), [#28432](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28432), [#28468](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28468), [#28420](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28420))
-
-- **Cold-start perf wave keeps going — another second saved, 47% fewer per-turn function calls** — Three new optimization rounds: defer `openai._base_client` import (-240ms / -17MB on every CLI invocation), hot-path optimizations cut 47% of per-conversation function calls (399k → 213k for 31-turn chat), defer compression-feasibility check (-170 to -290ms on every agent construction), adaptive subprocess polling (-195ms per tool call, 1+ second per turn). Termux cold start drops from 2.9s to 0.8s. `hermes --version` cold drops 63% (701ms → 258ms), flipping the head-to-head benchmark against Codex CLI from 5/11 wins to 6/11. ([#28864](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28864), [#28866](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28866), [#28957](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28957), [#29006](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29006), [#29419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29419), [#30121](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30121), [#30609](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30609), [#31968](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31968))
-
-- **`session_search` rebuilt — no LLM, no cost, 4,500× faster** — The old `session_search` was an aux-LLM-powered tool that cost ~$0.30/call and took ~30 seconds to summarize three sessions, sometimes confabulating when the right session wasn't even in the FTS5 hit list. The new shape is one tool with three modes (discovery, scroll, browse) inferred from which args are set — no `mode` parameter, no aux-LLM, no config knob, no companion skill. Discovery is ~20ms instead of ~90s; scroll is ~1ms. Searching your past sessions for context is now free and instant. ([#27590](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27590))
-
-- **Promptware defense — Brainworm-class attacks blocked at three chokepoints** — Inspired by recent Brainworm / Promptware Kill Chain research (Origin HQ, arxiv 2601.09625), Hermes now defends the context window against prompt-injection attacks that try to hijack the agent via tool output, recalled memory, or stored skills. Single source of truth (`tools/threat_patterns.py`) with ~15 new Brainworm/C2 patterns; recalled memory is scanned at load time; tool results get delimiter markers so a malicious file or remote service can't impersonate Hermes' own system content. Paired with a new `security-guidance` plugin that pattern-matches dangerous code writes. ([#32269](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32269), [#33131](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33131), [#9151](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9151))
-
-- **Bitwarden Secrets Manager — one bootstrap token replaces every per-provider API key** — Stop keeping plaintext API keys in `~/.hermes/.env`. Install Bitwarden Secrets Manager (`bws` auto-installs lazily on first use), point Hermes at it with one bootstrap token (`BWS_ACCESS_TOKEN`), and every credential you need comes from Bitwarden at startup. Rotate a key in the Bitwarden web app and the rotation actually takes effect — Bitwarden defaults to source-of-truth so its values overwrite matching env vars on startup. Flip `secrets.bitwarden.override_existing: false` to invert. EU Cloud and self-hosted Bitwarden server URLs supported. Detected credentials are now labeled with their source so you can see at a glance which keys came from Bitwarden vs. the local env. ([#30035](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30035), [#31378](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31378), [#30364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30364))
-
-- **ntfy as the 23rd messaging platform — push notifications without an account** — ntfy is the self-hostable push-notification service with no signup, no API key, just a topic URL. Hermes now adapts to it as a platform plugin (zero edits to core), so your agent can send you push notifications from any cron job, kanban task completion, or chat `send_message` — to your phone, your watch, your desktop, your homelab. (salvages [#30625](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30625) → originally [#4043](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4043)) ([#30867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30867))
-
-- **Skill bundles — `/<name>` loads multiple skills at once** — A skill bundle is a named group of skills that loads them all together with one slash command. Set up your "writing day" bundle (humanizer + ideation + obsidian + youtube-content) and `/writing-day` activates all four for the session. Skills Hub now has health checks, a freshness badge, and a watchdog cron. Three new optional skills land: `code-wiki` (Karpathy's LLM-Wiki, persistent indexed dev wiki), `openhands` (delegate to OpenHands for parallel coding agents), and `web-pentest` (OWASP-style web pentest recipes). ([#28373](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28373), [#32345](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32345), [#32240](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32240), [#32261](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32261), [#32265](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32265))
-
-- **TUI session orchestrator — multiple live sessions in one TUI window** — The Ink TUI gained an active-session switcher overlay. List, switch between, refresh, and close multiple live process-local sessions without leaving the TUI; dispatch a new session with a session-scoped model picker. Plus a wave of TUI polish — mouse-tracking DEC mode presets, scrollback preservation across branches and termux, slash-dropdown fixes, x.com link rendering, and CJK / IME input rendering improvements. (salvages [#27642](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27642)) ([#32980](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32980), [#30084](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30084))
-
-- **Two new image_gen providers — Krea 2 Medium + Large, FAL ported to plugin** — Krea joins the image_gen lineup as a built-in plugin: `Krea 2 Medium` ($0.03) and `Krea 2 Large` ($0.06), auto-discovered, selectable via `hermes tools` → Image Generation → Krea. Available through both the native Krea plugin and the FAL.ai catalog. The FAL.ai backend got pulled out of the monolithic image-generation tool into `plugins/image_gen/fal/`, completing the four-way architectural parity already established by web, browser, and video_gen — new image providers are now one file, not a fork. ([#33236](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33236), [#30380](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30380), [#33506](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33506))
-
-- **Nous-approved MCP catalog with interactive picker** — A curated catalog of Nous-vetted MCP servers, mirroring the optional-skills shape. Run `hermes mcp` and you get an interactive picker; install with one keystroke, credentials prompted at install time and written to `~/.hermes/.env`. Ships with the n8n manifest first. Closes the discovery gap that left users hunting GitHub for trusted MCP servers. ([#30870](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30870))
-
-- **OpenHands orchestration skill** — A new optional skill under `optional-skills/autonomous-ai-agents/openhands/` lets the agent delegate coding tasks to the OpenHands CLI alongside `claude-code`, `codex`, and `opencode`. OpenHands is the model-agnostic member of that family — any LiteLLM-supported provider works (OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, your own), so you can route a sub-task to the cheapest model that can finish it. Drop-in worker for kanban swarms and `/delegate` flows. (closes [#477](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/477)) ([#32261](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32261))
-
-- **Deep xAI integration round — Web Search plugin, OAuth proxy upstream, May 15 retirement detection, natural TTS, security hardening** — Six interlocking xAI improvements:
-    - **xAI Web Search** lands as a `plugins/web/xai/` provider, slots alongside Brave / Tavily / Exa / SearXNG / DDGS / Firecrawl — reuses your existing Grok OAuth or `XAI_API_KEY` credentials, no new env vars. ([#29042](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29042))
-    - **`hermes proxy` gains an xAI upstream** — your local OpenAI-compatible endpoint can now be backed by SuperGrok OAuth, no PKCE-refresh code to write in your client. ([#28356](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28356))
-    - **May 15 model retirement detection** — `grok-4`, `grok-4-fast{,-reasoning,-non-reasoning}`, `grok-3`, `grok-code-fast-1`, `grok-imagine-image-pro` etc. are detected in doctor and chat startup, with `hermes migrate xai` to one-shot config migration to the supported model. No more silent 404s after the retirement date. ([#29277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29277))
-    - **Opt-in `auto_speech_tags`** for xAI TTS — inserts light `[pause]` tags between paragraphs and sentences for more natural-sounding voice replies. Default OFF. ([#29376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29376))
-    - **`xai-oauth` `base_url` pinned to `x.ai` origin** — closes a silent credential-leak vector where `XAI_BASE_URL` could repoint OAuth-authenticated inference to an attacker-controlled host. ([#28952](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28952))
-    - **OpenAI-style execution guidance applied to Grok models** — Grok and xai-oauth now get the same family-specific execution discipline block GPT/Codex have, so the model stops claiming completion without tool calls and stops suggesting workarounds instead of using existing tools. ([#27797](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27797))
-    - Plus `x_search` degraded-results surfacing, tier-gated 403 with API-key fallback, PKCE `code_challenge` round-trip fix, dead-token quarantine on terminal refresh failure, MiniMax-style short-token refresh on per-request, and `WKE=unauthenticated` honor at both classifier sites. ([#29484](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29484), [#28351](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28351), [#27560](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27560), [#28116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28116), [#30619](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30619), [#30872](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30872))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### The Big Refactor — `run_agent.py` 16k → 3.8k
-
-- `run_agent.py` from 16,083 → 3,821 lines (-76%), extracted into 14 cohesive `agent/*` modules. `run_conversation` alone was 3,877 lines before the refactor. Every extraction keeps a thin forwarder on `AIAgent`, every test-patch path is preserved, every external caller stays compatible. ([#27248](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27248))
-
-### Agent loop & conversation
-
-- Auxiliary task layered fallback (primary → chain → main agent → graceful fail) on capacity errors (402/429/connection). (salvages [#26811](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26811) + [#26998](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26998)) ([#27625](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27625))
-- Buffer retry/fallback status; surface only on terminal failure (no more noisy "retrying..." spam in mid-run output). ([#33816](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33816))
-- Host contract for external context engines — condenses 5 prior PRs into one extension surface. ([#33750](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33750))
-- Fallback immediately on provider content-policy blocks. ([#33883](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33883))
-- Re-pad `reasoning_content` on cross-provider fallback to require-side providers. (salvage [#33784](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33784)) ([#33795](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33795))
-- Per-turn tool-outcome verifier — patch tool gets indent preservation, CRLF preservation, per-file failure escalation. ([#32273](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32273))
-- Single-knob native vision for custom-provider models. ([#29679](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29679))
-- Background review fork isolated from external memory plugins. ([#27190](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27190))
-- Background review inherits parent toolset config for `tools[]` cache parity. ([#29704](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29704))
-- Recover from providers returning list-type tool content. ([#30259](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30259))
-- Treat partial-stream stub responses as length truncation rather than clean stop. ([#30998](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30998))
-- OpenAI execution guidance applied to xAI Grok / xai-oauth. ([#27797](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27797))
-- ContextVars propagate to concurrent tool worker threads.
-- Preload `jiter` native parser. ([#33692](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33692))
-- Expose context engine tools with saved toolsets. (salvage of [#31194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31194)) ([#33719](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33719))
-
-### Sessions & memory
-
-- `session_search` rebuilt — single-shape (discovery + scroll + browse), no aux-LLM, ~20ms vs. ~90s. ([#27590](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27590))
-- Salvage [#29182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29182) — opt-in JSON snapshot writer for sessions. ([#29278](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29278))
-- Persist `platform_message_id` for recall across gateway restarts. ([#29449](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29449))
-- Inline memory-context mentions stay visible in conversation. ([#28132](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28132))
-- Recalled memory labeled informational, not authoritative. ([#28583](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28583))
-- Memory + context-engine tool injection gated on `enabled_toolsets`. ([#30177](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30177))
-- Guard against external drift in `MEMORY.md` / `USER.md`. ([#30877](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30877))
-- Honcho runtime peer mapping — correctness follow-ups + setup wizard + docs. ([#30077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30077))
-- Periodic memory logging for leak detection. (salvage of [#17667](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17667)) ([#27102](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27102))
-
-### Codex / Responses-API maturation
-
-- TTFB watchdog for stalled Codex Responses streams. ([#32042](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32042))
-- Actionable hint when stale-call detector fires on known silent-reject pattern. ([#32016](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32016), [#33133](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33133))
-- Drop SDK `responses.stream()` helper; consume events directly. ([#33042](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33042))
-- Gracefully recover from `invalid_encrypted_content`. (salvage of [#10144](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10144)) ([#33035](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33035))
-- Recover Codex Responses streams with null output. ([#32963](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32963), [#33390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33390))
-- Drop foreign-issuer reasoning and transient `rs_tmp` reasoning replay state. ([#33156](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33156), [#33146](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33146))
-- Codex 429 quota classified as rate-limit, not missing credentials. ([#33168](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33168))
-- Codex chat path falls back to credential_pool when singleton is empty. ([#33189](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33189))
-- Codex re-auth syncs credential_pool. ([#33164](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33164))
-- Omit `tools` key when no tools registered. ([#33409](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33409))
-- Parse Codex image-generation SSE directly. ([#32933](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32933))
-
----
-
-## 🎛️ Kanban — Multi-Agent Maturation Wave
-
-### Orchestration & dispatch
-
-- Orchestrator-driven auto-decomposition on triage. ([#27572](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27572))
-- Kanban swarm topology helper — `hermes kanban swarm` creates a Swarm v1 graph (root + parallel workers + gated verifier + gated synthesizer + shared blackboard). (salvages [#26791](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26791) by @Niraven) ([#28443](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28443))
-- Dispatcher wires review agents from the review column. ([#28449](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28449))
-- Stale-detection for running tasks in dispatcher. ([#28452](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28452))
-- Respawn guard blocks repeat worker storms. ([#28455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28455))
-- Respawn guard defers `blocker_auth` instead of auto-blocking. ([#28683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28683))
-- Cross-profile cron jobs surface in dashboard. ([#28457](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28457))
-- Worker visibility endpoints: `/workers/active`, `/runs/{id}`, `/inspect`. (salvages [#23761](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23761) by @Interstellar-code) ([#28432](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28432))
-
-### Task configuration & scheduling
-
-- Per-task model override. ([#28364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28364))
-- Board-level default workdir. ([#28394](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28394))
-- Configurable worktree paths and branches. ([#28462](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28462))
-- Scheduled task start times. ([#28384](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28384))
-- Scheduled status for delayed follow-ups. ([#28467](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28467))
-- Trimmed task comments. ([#28399](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28399))
-- Initial-status for human-ops cards. ([#28414](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28414))
-- `max_in_progress` config to cap concurrent running tasks. ([#28420](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28420))
-- Filter tasks by workflow fields. ([#28454](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28454))
-- `--sort` for `hermes kanban list`. ([#28427](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28427))
-- Optional `board` parameter on all MCP tools. ([#28444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28444))
-- Stamp originating ACP session_id on tasks. ([#28447](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28447))
-- `auto_promote_children` config toggle. ([#28344](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28344))
-- `archive --rm` to hard-delete archived tasks. ([#28355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28355))
-- Promote dependents when parent is archived. ([#28372](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28372))
-- Promote blocked tasks when parent dependencies complete. ([#28377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28377))
-- Demote ready children when parent is reopened. ([#28382](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28382))
-- `promote` verb for manual `todo→ready` recovery + bulk `--ids`. (salvage [#29464](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29464)) ([#31334](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31334))
-
-### Dashboard
-
-- Drag-to-delete trash zone + bulk delete. ([#28468](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28468))
-- Surface per-task `model_override` in show + tool output. ([#28442](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28442))
-- Cross-profile notification delivery via `kanban.notification_sources`. ([#28395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28395))
-- Scratch-workspace deletion warning for users. ([#30949](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30949))
-- Mobile dashboard UX polish. ([#28127](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28127))
-
-### Reliability
-
-- Worker log retention configurable. ([#27867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27867))
-- Configurable claim TTL. ([#28392](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28392))
-- Fingerprint crash errors to prevent fleet-wide retry exhaustion. ([#28380](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28380))
-- Reset failure counters on `unblock_task`. ([#28379](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28379))
-- Detect cycles in `decompose_triage_task` sibling-link pre-validation. ([#28088](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28088))
-- Surface unusable triage auxiliary model (auto-decompose aware). ([#27871](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27871))
-- Align failure diagnostics with retry limit. ([#27868](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27868))
-- Align worker terminal timeout with task runtime. ([#27864](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27864))
-- Auto-install bundled skills (kanban-worker) on init. ([#28368](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28368))
-- Make legacy task migration idempotent. ([#28397](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28397))
-- Serialize DB initialization. ([#28383](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28383))
-- Persist worker session metadata on completion. ([#28387](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28387))
-- Pass `accept-hooks` to worker chat subprocess. ([#28393](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28393))
-- Preserve worker tools with restricted toolsets. ([#28396](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28396))
-- Avoid unsafe Windows worker Hermes shim resolution. ([#28398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28398))
-- Sync slash subcommands with live parser. ([#28376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28376))
-- Show scheduled kanban tasks in dashboard. ([#28400](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28400))
-- Assign single-task kanban decompositions. ([#28401](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28401))
-- Configurable `max_tokens` for kanban specify. ([#28374](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28374))
-- Per-job profile support for cron. ([#28124](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28124))
-- Codex app-server: include every Kanban-pinned path in `writable_roots`. ([#28435](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28435))
-- Cache kanban worker guidance at session init for prompt-cache reuse. ([#28425](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28425))
-
----
-
-## ⚡ Performance
-
-- `openai._base_client` import deferred — 240ms / 17MB off every CLI cold start. ([#28864](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28864))
-- Agent-loop hot-path optimizations — 47% fewer per-conversation function calls (399k → 213k for 31-turn chat). ([#28866](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28866))
-- Compression-feasibility check deferred — 170-290ms off every agent construction. ([#28957](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28957))
-- Adaptive subprocess poll — ~195ms off every tool call, 1+ second per turn. ([#29006](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29006))
-- Termux TUI cold start speedup. ([#29419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29419))
-- Termux non-TUI cold start speedup. (salvage [#29438](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29438)) ([#30121](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30121))
-- Termux fast-path version + deferred bare-prompt agent startup. ([#30609](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30609))
-- Cut hermes `--version` wall time 63% — flips head-to-head vs Codex CLI. ([#31968](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31968))
-- Date-only timestamp + loud gateway-DB roundtrip logging — improves prompt-cache hit rate. ([#27675](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27675))
-- Cache kanban worker guidance at session init for prompt-cache reuse. ([#28425](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28425))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### Tool surface
-
-- `patch`: indent preservation, CRLF preservation, per-file failure escalation. ([#32273](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32273))
-- `terminal`: warn at call time when `background=true` runs silently. ([#31289](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31289))
-- `terminal`: nudge homebrewed CI pollers at the tool surface. ([#33142](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33142))
-- `x_search`: surface degraded results + validate dates. ([#29484](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29484))
-- `x_search`: auto-enable toolset when xAI credentials are configured. ([#27376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27376))
-- `computer_use`: route SOM/vision captures via auxiliary.vision. ([#30126](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30126))
-- `transcription`: reject symlinked audio inputs. ([#10082](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10082))
-- TTS: prevent double `[pause]` in xAI auto speech tags. ([#32237](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32237))
-- TTS: preserve native audio outside Telegram voice delivery. ([#28512](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28512))
-- TTS: opt-in xAI `auto_speech_tags` speech-tag pauses for natural voice replies. ([#29376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29376))
-- Voice: chunk oversized CLI recordings. ([#30044](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30044))
-- Voice: honor `PULSE_SERVER` / `PIPEWIRE_REMOTE` inside Docker. ([#22534](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/22534))
-
-### Browser
-
-- All cloud browser providers (Browserbase, Anchor, Camofox, Hyperbrowser, etc.) migrated to image_gen-style plugins. (salvages [#25580](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/25580)) ([#27403](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27403))
-- Auto-launch Chromium-family browser for CDP. ([#29106](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29106))
-- Docker: discover agent-browser Chromium binary at boot. ([#33184](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33184))
-
-### Image generation
-
-- **Krea** provider plugin (Krea 2 Medium + Large). ([#33236](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33236))
-- FAL backend ported to `plugins/image_gen/fal`. (salvage [#27966](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27966)) ([#30380](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30380))
-- Cache xAI ephemeral URL responses to disk. ([#31759](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31759))
-
-### Web search
-
-- **xAI Web Search** as a provider plugin. ([#29042](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29042))
-
-### MCP
-
-- **Nous-approved MCP catalog** with interactive picker. ([#30870](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30870))
-- **TLS client certificate (mTLS) support** for HTTP and SSE MCP servers. ([#33721](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33721))
-- Stdin paste-back fallback for headless OAuth flow. ([#32053](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32053))
-- `skip` at paste prompt bypasses auth without disabling server. ([#32069](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32069))
-- Registry-aware `mcp_` prefix on both ends of round-trip. ([#31700](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31700))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skills system
-
-- **Skill bundles** — `/<name>` loads multiple skills. ([#28373](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28373))
-- Skills Hub: health checks, freshness badge, and a watchdog cron. ([#32345](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32345))
-- Opt-in AST deep diagnostics on skill writes. (salvage of [#30918](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30918)) ([#31198](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31198))
-- Bundled/pinned skill protection in background-review prompts. ([#28338](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28338))
-- Show user-modified skill names in bundled skill sync summary. ([#28671](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28671))
-- Load symlinked skill slash commands. ([#27759](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27759))
-- Deduplicate Skills Hub search results by identifier, not name. ([#29490](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29490))
-
-### New skills
-
-- `openhands` — delegate-to-OpenHands orchestration skill (closes [#477](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/477)) ([#32261](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32261))
-- `code-wiki` — persistent indexed dev wiki (closes [#486](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/486)) ([#32240](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32240))
-- `web-pentest` — OWASP recipes (closes [#400](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/400)) ([#32265](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32265))
-- `baoyu-article-illustrator` ([#28287](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28287))
-
----
-
-## ☁️ Providers
-
-### xAI deep integration
-
-- **xAI Web Search** as a `plugins/web/xai/` provider plugin. ([#29042](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29042))
-- **`hermes proxy` xAI upstream** — OpenAI-compatible local proxy backed by xai-oauth. ([#28356](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28356))
-- **May 15 model retirement detection + `hermes migrate xai`** for grok-4 / grok-3 / grok-code-fast-1 / grok-imagine-image-pro. ([#29277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29277))
-- **Opt-in `auto_speech_tags`** for natural xAI TTS voice replies. ([#29376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29376))
-- **xai-oauth base_url pinned to x.ai origin** — closes silent credential-leak vector. ([#28952](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28952))
-- **OpenAI-style execution guidance** applied to Grok / xai-oauth models. ([#27797](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27797))
-- xAI: detect retired May 15 models in doctor/chat startup. ([#29277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29277))
-- xAI: resolve Grok Build context for OAuth. ([#30579](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30579))
-- xAI OAuth: tier-gated 403 with API-key fallback. ([#28351](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28351))
-- xAI OAuth: PKCE `code_challenge` echo. ([#27560](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27560))
-- xAI OAuth: quarantine dead tokens on terminal refresh failure. ([#28116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28116))
-- xAI OAuth: honor `WKE=unauthenticated` disambiguator at both classifier sites. ([#30872](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30872))
-- xAI OAuth: accept bare-code manual paste (state=None). (closes [#26923](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/26923)) ([#33880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33880))
-- xAI OAuth: fall back to manual paste on loopback timeout. ([#33231](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33231))
-- xAI proxy: handle 429 rate-limit responses in proxy retry path. ([#33743](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33743))
-
-### Other providers
-
-- **OpenAI API as a first-class provider** (distinct from Codex runtime). ([#31898](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31898))
-- **Microsoft Entra ID** auth for Azure Foundry (with 1M Anthropic-Messages beta preserved on Bearer). (salvages [#27509](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27509), [#27022](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27022)) ([#28101](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28101), [#28084](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28084))
-- **OpenRouter** sticky routing — `session_id` passed via `extra_body` so a long-running session keeps landing on the same upstream provider. (@Cybourgeoisie) ([#33939](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33939))
-- Nous: JWT token for inference; stop replaying invalid Nous refresh tokens. (@rewbs) ([#27663](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27663))
-- Nous Portal: one-shot setup, status CLI, and Nous-included markers. ([#30860](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30860))
-- Anthropic adapter: extract 7 helpers from `convert_messages_to_anthropic`. (salvage [#27784](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27784)) ([#30386](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30386))
-- Catalog: add `qwen3.7-max` to Alibaba + Alibaba-Coding-Plan model lists. ([#33129](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33129))
-- opencode-go: route `qwen3.7-max` via `anthropic_messages`. (@beardthelion) ([#32780](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32780))
-- opencode-go: expose Kimi K2 + DeepSeek reasoning controls. ([#30845](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30845))
-- Remove Vercel AI Gateway and Vercel Sandbox.
-- MiniMax OAuth: refresh short-lived access tokens per request. ([#30619](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30619))
-- Codex OAuth: quarantine terminal refresh errors. ([#28118](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28118))
-- Codex: drop dead model slugs that HTTP 400 on ChatGPT Pro. ([#33424](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33424))
-- Codex: sync `manual:device_code` pool entries on re-auth. ([#33744](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33744))
-- MiniMax OAuth: quarantine terminal refresh errors. ([#28119](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28119))
-
----
-
-## 🔑 Secrets
-
-- **Bitwarden Secrets Manager** integration with lazy `bws` install. ([#30035](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30035))
-- Bitwarden: EU Cloud + self-hosted server URL support. ([#31378](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31378))
-- Label detected credentials with their source (Bitwarden). ([#30364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30364))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### Gateway core
-
-- **Deliverable mode** — agents ship artifacts as native uploads from any platform (Slack/Discord/Telegram/Teams/Email). ([#27813](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27813))
-- `hermes send` — pipe any script's output to any messaging platform. (salvage of [#19631](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/19631)) ([#27188](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27188))
-- Debounce queued text follow-ups during active sessions. (salvage of [#31235](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31235)) ([#31341](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31341))
-- Plugin-transformed final_response delivered through streaming gate. ([#31433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31433))
-- Refresh cached agent tools on `/reload-mcp`. ([#32815](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32815))
-- Harden kanban + provider cleanup races on long-running workloads. ([#29479](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29479))
-
-### New / reorganized adapters
-
-- **ntfy** — 23rd platform, push notifications, plugin shape, zero core edits. (salvages [#30625](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30625) → [#4043](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4043)) ([#30867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30867))
-- **Discord** adapter migrated to bundled plugin. (salvage of [#24356](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24356)) ([#30591](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30591))
-- **Mattermost** adapter migrated to bundled plugin. (salvage of [#30916](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30916)) ([#31748](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31748))
-
-### Telegram
-
-- Edit status messages in place instead of appending. (based on [#30141](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30141) by @qike-ms) ([#30864](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30864))
-- Skip-STT audio path + 2GB cap via local Bot API server. ([#28541](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28541))
-- Route image documents (.png/.jpg/.webp/.gif) through vision pipeline. ([#28519](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28519))
-- Route audio file attachments away from STT pipeline. ([#28478](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28478))
-- `disable_topic_auto_rename` gateway flag. ([#28523](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28523))
-- `ignore_root_dm` config to drop messages without thread_id. ([#28536](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28536))
-- Chat-scoped auth without sender user_id. ([#28525](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28525))
-- Fail-closed auth fallback when `TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_USERS` is empty. ([#28494](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28494))
-- Roll over tool progress bubbles + scope audio_file_paths. ([#28482](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28482))
-- Avoid duplicate text after auto-TTS voice replies. ([#28509](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28509))
-- Mark final voice reply notify-worthy so Telegram delivers it audibly. ([#28504](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28504))
-
-### Discord
-
-- Recover Windows voice opus decoding. ([#33182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33182))
-- `allow_any_attachment` config to accept arbitrary file types. ([#27245](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27245))
-- Transcribe native voice notes. ([#28993](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28993))
-- Define UI view classes after lazy install. ([#28817](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28817))
-
-### Signal / Matrix / Feishu / Slack / WeCom
-
-- Signal: `require_mention` filter for group chats. ([#28574](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28574))
-- Matrix: warn on clock-skew silent message drops. ([#27330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27330))
-- Matrix E2EE installs full dep set; plugins respect `is_connected`. ([#31688](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31688))
-- Feishu: require webhook auth secret + honor config extras. ([#30746](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30746))
-- Feishu: enforce auth and chat binding for approval buttons. ([#30744](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30744))
-- Slack: socket recovery + Windows restart dedupe. ([#28873](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28873))
-- WeCom: safe-parse untrusted XML. ([#32442](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32442))
-
-### DingTalk / Webhooks / Microsoft Graph
-
-- DingTalk: transcribe native voice notes. ([#28993](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28993))
-- Webhook: enforce `INSECURE_NO_AUTH` safety rail on dynamic route reloads. ([#30863](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30863))
-- Webhook: restrict default toolset capabilities. ([#30745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30745))
-- Microsoft Graph: harden webhook auth requirements. ([#30169](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30169))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & TUI
-
-### CLI
-
-- `/update` slash command in CLI and TUI. ([#23854](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/23854))
-- Update auto-rollback when post-pull syntax check fails. ([#28669](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28669))
-- `--branch` flag for `hermes update`. (@jquesnelle) ([#29591](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29591))
-- `/exit --delete` flag to remove session on quit. (salvage of [#17665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17665)) ([#27101](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27101))
-- `▶ N` indicator in status bar for running `/background` tasks. ([#27175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27175))
-- Live background terminal-process count in status bar. ([#32061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32061))
-- Append session recap to `/status` output. (salvage of [#18587](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/18587)) ([#27176](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27176))
-- Configurable paste-collapse thresholds (TUI + CLI). (salvage [#29723](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29723)) ([#32087](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32087))
-- `/resume` accepts position numbers. ([#31709](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31709))
-- Bring tool-call display back — verbose mode, specific failure reasons, todo progress. ([#31293](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31293))
-- Validate runtime token refresh in Qwen auth status. ([#31196](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31196))
-
-### TUI
-
-- **TUI session orchestrator** — multiple live sessions in one TUI window. (salvages [#27642](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27642)) ([#32980](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32980))
-- `mouse_tracking` DEC mode presets. (salvage of [#26681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26681) by @OutThisLife) ([#30084](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30084))
-- Termux scrollback preservation + touch-friendly defaults. ([#28910](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28910))
-- Full assistant text in scrollback (no history truncation). ([#28829](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28829))
-- Preserve scrollback when branching sessions. ([#30162](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30162))
-- Preserve Python dunder identifiers in markdown. ([#28582](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28582))
-- Active profile shown in TUI prompt. ([#28581](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28581))
-- Improve Charizard completion menu contrast. ([#28346](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28346))
-- Stop slash dropdown chopping last char of `/goal`. ([#31311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31311))
-- Clipboard copy on linux/wayland. ([#29342](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29342))
-- Anchor `splitReasoning` unclosed-tag regex; stop eating last paragraph. ([#29426](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29426))
-- Surface verbose tool details. ([#30225](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30225))
-- Load Linux skills on Termux + salvage @adybag14-cyber's Termux gates. ([#30166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30166))
-- Handle images with codex app-server. ([#31220](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31220))
-- Refresh virtual transcript on viewport resize. ([#31077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31077))
-- Ignore late thinking deltas after completion. ([#31055](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31055))
-- Commit composer input bursts immediately. ([#31053](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31053))
-- Log parent gateway lifecycle exits. ([#31051](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31051))
-- Clear TTS env var on voice off + TTS indicator in status bar. ([#30987](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30987))
-- Pass `--expose-gc` as node argv instead of NODE_OPTIONS. ([#29998](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29998))
-- Align composer cursorLayout with wrap-ansi to kill multiline cursor drift. ([#27489](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27489))
-- Harden Terminal.app rendering and color paths. ([#27251](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27251))
-- Keep `/goal` verdict out of compact status row. ([#27971](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27971))
-- Clamp curses color 8 for 8-color terminals (Docker). ([#30260](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30260))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Promptware & memory hardening
-
-- **Promptware defense** — shared threat patterns + memory load-time scan + tool-result delimiters. ([#32269](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32269))
-- Expand memory content scanning patterns to parity with skills guard. ([#9151](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/9151))
-- Harden Skills Guard multi-word prompt patterns. (@YLChen-007) ([#26852](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26852))
-- Split cron scanner so skill prose stops false-positiving exfil patterns. ([#32339](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32339))
-
-### File safety
-
-- Protect Hermes control-plane files from prompt injection (`auth.json`, `config.yaml`, `webhook_subscriptions.json`, `mcp-tokens/`). (salvages @PratikRai0101's [#14157](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/14157)) ([#30397](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30397))
-- Write-deny `<root>/.env` when running under a profile. ([#29687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29687))
-- Defense-in-depth read-deny on credential stores. (salvages [#17659](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/17659) + [#8055](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8055)) ([#30721](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30721))
-- TTS `output_path` traversal + update ZIP symlink reject. (salvage [#6693](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6693) + [#15881](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15881)) ([#32056](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32056))
-- Reject symlinked audio inputs. ([#10082](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/10082))
-
-### Credential safety
-
-- Avoid persisting borrowed credential secrets — runtime env-sourced keys no longer leak into `auth.json`. ([#31416](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31416))
-- Validate Nous Portal `inference_base_url` against host allowlist. (salvages [#27612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27612)) ([#30611](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30611))
-- Harden API server key placeholder handling. ([#30738](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30738))
-- Harden Google Chat OAuth credential persistence. (@Zyrixtrex) ([#24788](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/24788))
-- xAI OAuth: pin inference `base_url` to x.ai origin. ([#28952](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28952))
-- Quarantine dead OAuth tokens on terminal refresh failure (xAI, Codex, MiniMax). ([#28116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28116), [#28118](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28118), [#28119](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28119))
-
-### Supply-chain
-
-- **On-demand supply-chain audit via OSV.dev** — `hermes audit`. ([#31460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31460))
-- `hermes update` syntax-validates critical files post-pull, auto-rollback on failure. ([#28669](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28669))
-- Quarantine `hermes.exe` vs concurrent Windows instance. ([#26677](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26677))
-
-### Other hardening
-
-- Restrict default webhook toolset capabilities. ([#30745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30745))
-- Harden Microsoft Graph webhook auth requirements. ([#30169](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30169))
-- Require source CIDR allowlisting for public msgraph webhook binds. ([#33722](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33722))
-- Require `API_SERVER_KEY` before dispatching API server work. ([#33232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33232))
-- env_passthrough: apply GHSA-rhgp-j443-p4rf filter to config.yaml path. (@roadhero) ([#27794](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27794))
-- Dashboard + WeCom: restrict markdown link schemes; safe-parse untrusted XML. ([#32442](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32442))
-- Salvage project-plugin RCE bypass fix from PR [#29311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29311) (GHSA-5qr3-c538-wm9j). ([#30837](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30837))
-- Cross-profile soft guard on file-write tools + system-prompt hint. ([#31290](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31290))
-- Reject unsafe tar members in Android psutil compatibility installer. ([#33742](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33742))
-- Reject non-regular tar members during tirith auto-install. ([#33786](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33786))
-
----
-
-## 🪟 Native Windows (Beta Continued)
-
-- Complete Windows bootstrap — `dep_ensure` + `install.ps1` + detection. (@alt-glitch) ([#27845](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27845))
-- `install.ps1`: strip BOM, `-Commit`/`-Tag` pin params, harden git ops. (@jquesnelle) ([#28169](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28169))
-- Consolidate ACP browser bootstrap into `install.{sh,ps1}`. (@alt-glitch) ([#27851](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27851))
-- `hermes update` quarantines live `hermes.exe`. ([#26677](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26677))
-- Discord voice opus decoding on Windows. ([#33182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33182))
-- Windows Docker Desktop compatible compose file. (@Sunil123135) ([#31031](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31031))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ Web Dashboard
-
-- Hardened Slack socket recovery + Windows restart dedupe. ([#28873](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28873))
-- Web dashboard: migrate checkboxes to `@nous-research/ui` + design-system polish. (@austinpickett) ([#28814](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28814))
-- Web dashboard: collapsible sidebar. (@austinpickett) ([#33421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33421))
-- Dashboard typography & contrast pass. (salvage of [#28832](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28832)) ([#30714](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30714))
-- Skills page: lazy-fetch catalog instead of bundling 34MB into JS. ([#33809](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33809))
-
----
-
-## 🐳 Docker
-
-- **s6-overlay container supervision** — abstract `ServiceManager` protocol (systemd/launchd/Windows/s6 backends), per-profile gateway supervision in-container, container-restart reconciliation, hadolint/shellcheck CI. (salvage of [#30136](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30136), @benbarclay) ([#31760](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31760))
-- Auto-redirect `gateway run` to supervised mode inside the s6 image. (@benbarclay) ([#33583](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33583))
-- Tee supervised gateway stdout to docker logs. (@benbarclay) ([#33621](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33621))
-- Drop `docker exec` to hermes uid before invoking the CLI. (@benbarclay) ([#33628](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33628))
-- Align HOME for dashboard and s6 gateway services. (@Dusk1e) ([#33481](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33481))
-- Bake build-time git SHA into image so `hermes dump` reports it. (@benbarclay) ([#33655](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33655))
-- `hermes update` prints `docker pull` guidance instead of bogus git error. (@benbarclay) ([#33659](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33659))
-- Upgrade Node to 22 LTS via multi-stage from `node:22-bookworm-slim`. (@benbarclay) ([#33060](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33060))
-- Drop `build-essential` from apt install. (@benbarclay) ([#33028](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33028))
-- Propagate env through s6 to cont-init and main CMD. ([#32412](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32412))
-- Targeted chown to preserve host file ownership in `HERMES_HOME`. ([#33033](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33033))
-- `mkdir HERMES_HOME` as root in stage2 before chown / privilege drop. ([#33078](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33078))
-- chown `ui-tui` and `node_modules` on UID remap so TUI esbuild works. ([#33045](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33045))
-- Include `anthropic`, `bedrock`, `azure-identity` extras in image. ([#30504](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30504))
-- Stop pushing per-commit SHA tags to Docker Hub. ([#29387](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29387))
-- Simplify Docker tagging — push both `:main` and `:latest` on main push. ([#33225](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33225))
-- Test slicing across GH actions jobs. (@ethernet8023) ([#30575](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30575))
-- Discover agent-browser Chromium binary at boot. ([#33184](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33184))
-
----
-
-## 🌐 API Server
-
-- **Session control API** — `/api/sessions/*` (list/create/read/patch/delete/fork) + SSE-streaming chat. (salvages [#29302](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29302) by @Codename-11 + multimodal followup by @Schwartz10) ([#33134](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33134))
-- `GET /v1/skills` and `/v1/toolsets`. ([#33016](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33016))
-- Coerce stringified booleans in stream/store/approval payloads. (salvage [#26639](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26639)) ([#27293](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27293))
-- Honor `key_env` in auth-failure fallback resolution. ([#30840](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30840))
-
----
-
-## 🎟️ ACP (VS Code / Zed / JetBrains)
-
-- Session edit auto-approval modes. (salvage of [#27034](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27034)) ([#27862](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27862))
-- Enrich Zed permission cards — command in title + `reject_always`. ([#28148](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28148))
-- Replay session history before responding to `session/load`. ([#26957](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26957), [#26943](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26943))
-- Plugin-transformed final_response delivered through streaming gate. ([#31433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31433))
-
----
-
-## 🔌 Plugin Surface
-
-- `register_tts_provider()` plugin hook. (salvage of [#30420](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30420)) ([#31745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31745))
-- `register_transcription_provider()` hook + `stt.providers` command-provider registry. (salvage of [#30493](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30493)) ([#31907](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31907))
-- `register_auxiliary_task()` in PluginContext API. (salvage [#29817](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29817)) ([#31177](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31177))
-- Bundled `security-guidance` plugin. ([#33131](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33131))
-- Discord and Mattermost migrated to bundled plugins. ([#30591](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30591), [#31748](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31748))
-- ntfy as platform plugin. ([#30867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30867))
-- Surface category-namespaced plugins in `hermes plugins list`. ([#27187](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27187))
-- Plugin discovery failures raised to WARNING level. ([#28318](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28318))
-- `hermes_plugins` included in gateway.log component filter. ([#28313](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28313))
-- Seed plugin extras before `is_connected` gate. ([#31703](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31703))
-- Dashboard: allowlist plugin assets + denylist subprocess-influencing env vars. ([#32277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32277))
-
----
-
-## 📦 Distribution & Install
-
-- Install-method stamping + Docker detection. (@alt-glitch) ([#27843](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27843))
-- Nix `#messaging` and `#full` package variants. (@alt-glitch) ([#33108](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33108))
-- Pre-load messaging gateway deps via `--extra messaging`. (salvage [#26394](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/26394)) ([#27558](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27558))
-- Avoid piping installer directly into `iex` (Windows). ([#28347](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28347))
-- Ship bundled skills in wheel. ([#28421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28421))
-- Ship dashboard plugin assets in wheel. ([#28406](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28406))
-- Make Camofox lazy-installed instead of eager. ([#27055](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27055))
-- Wire STT lazy-install into transcription_tools.py. ([#30256](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30256))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes (highlights only)
-
-- Match bare custom provider by active base URL in `hermes model`. ([#28908](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28908))
-- Route `auxiliary.vision.provider=openai` to api.openai.com, skip text-only main. ([#31452](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31452))
-- Lint: skip per-file shell linter when LSP will handle the file. ([#29054](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29054))
-- Treat empty credential pool entries as unauthenticated in `/model` picker. ([#28312](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28312))
-- Reverted within window: Firecrawl integration tag, send_message @username auto-mentions, Telegram quick-command-only menus, Telegram pin-on-turn.
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- Disarm lazy-install probe so `_HAS_FASTER_WHISPER` patches work. ([#30334](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30334))
-- Cover default board dashboard pin. ([#28361](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28361))
-- Cover `_task_dict` `task_age` fallback. ([#28365](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28365))
-- Allowlist `tmp_path` for `kanban_notify` artifact delivery tests. ([#30851](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30851), [#30852](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30852))
-- Cover null output stream terminal events in Codex. ([#33137](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33137))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- **30-day docs overhaul** — full correctness audit, every PR in the window covered, Nous Portal weave, sidebar reorg. ([#33782](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33782))
-- Dedicated Nous Portal integration page and setup guide. ([#31296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31296))
-- Providers: move Nous Portal first, Google Gemini OAuth last. ([#31287](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/31287))
-- `session_search` rewrite for single-shape tool. ([#27840](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/27840))
-- Kanban: document failure_limit, max_retries, inline create shortcuts, goals & kanban settings. ([#28357](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28357), [#28358](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28358), [#28359](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28359), [#28360](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28360), [#28362](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28362))
-- Kanban Codex lane skill. ([#28430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28430))
-- xAI OAuth: note X Premium+ also unlocks Grok OAuth. ([#29055](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/29055))
-- Docs site: Docker audio bridge notes, "Installing more tools in the container", xurl auth HOME in Docker.
-- Email: clarify gateway vs Himalaya setup. (@helix4u) ([#33634](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33634))
-- Auth docs: replace stale `hermes login` references with `hermes auth add`. ([#32859](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/32859))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- @teknium1 (lead)
-
-### Notable salvages & cherry-picks
-
-- **@benbarclay** — s6-overlay container supervision (29 commits salvaged), Node 22 LTS upgrade, build-essential cleanup, `gateway run` auto-redirect in s6, tee supervised stdout to docker logs, `hermes update` Docker guidance, build-time SHA stamping
-- **@OutThisLife** — `mouse_tracking` DEC mode presets
-- **@jquesnelle** — Windows installer hardening, `--branch` flag for `hermes update`, install.ps1 BOM strip / commit-pin
-- **@alt-glitch** — Windows `dep_ensure` bootstrap, Nix package variants (`.#messaging`, `.#full`), install-method stamping, ACP browser bootstrap consolidation
-- **@austinpickett** — `/update` slash command, dashboard checkboxes → `@nous-research/ui`, mobile dashboard polish, collapsible sidebar
-- **@ethernet8023** — CI test slicing across GH Actions jobs, TUI clipboard copy fix
-- **@kshitijk4poor** — doctor section banner + fail-and-issue helpers extraction, post-tag salvage cluster (curator-fallout, kanban SQLite hardening, install world-readable uv dirs, xAI bare-code paste)
-- **@rewbs** — Nous JWT inference switch + refresh-token replay fix
-- **@Codename-11** + **@Schwartz10** — session control API (REST + SSE + multimodal followup)
-- **@Niraven** — kanban swarm topology helper
-- **@Interstellar-code** — kanban worker visibility endpoints
-- **@adybag14-cyber** — termux cold-start optimizations (multiple PRs)
-- **@qike-ms** — Telegram in-place status edits design
-- **@sprmn24** — ntfy adapter
-- **@Jaaneek** — xAI Web Search provider plugin
-- **@yannsunn** — xAI upstream adapter for `hermes proxy`
-- **@Cybourgeoisie** — OpenRouter sticky routing via session_id
-- **@memosr** — Nous Portal base_url allowlist validation
-- **@Sunil123135** — Windows Docker Desktop compose file
-- **@Dusk1e** — Docker HOME alignment for dashboard + s6 gateway services
-- **@beardthelion** — opencode-go anthropic_messages routing
-- **@YLChen-007** — Skills Guard multi-word prompt patterns
-- **@roadhero** — env_passthrough GHSA-rhgp-j443-p4rf filter
-- **@Zyrixtrex** — Google Chat OAuth credential persistence hardening
-- **@briandevans**, **@tomqiaozc** — defense-in-depth read-deny on credential stores
-- **@PratikRai0101** — control-plane file write protection
-- **@helix4u**, **@Bartok9**, **@zccyman** — auxiliary fallback ladder components
-- **@ms-alan**, **@ticketclosed-wontfix**, **@donovan-yohan** — TUI session orchestrator + follow-ups
-- **@daimon-nous[bot]** — cron per-job profile support
-- **@bisko** — re-pad `reasoning_content` on cross-provider fallback
-
-### All Contributors
-
-@02356abc, @0xchainer, @0xDevNinja, @0xjackyang, @0xsir0000, @0z1-ghb, @8bit64k, @aaronlab, @AceWattGit,
-@ACR27, @adam91holt, @AdamPlatin123, @Ade5954, @AdityaRajeshGadgil, @adybag14-cyber, @AhmetArif0, @ai-hana-ai,
-@alaamohanad169-ship-it, @alber70g, @albert748, @alt-glitch, @aqilaziz, @argabor, @asdlem, @austinpickett,
-@avifenesh, @awizemann, @B0Tch1, @Bartok9, @BaxBit, @Beandon13, @beardthelion, @benbarclay, @bensargotest-sys,
-@binhnt92, @bird, @bisko, @BlackishGreen33, @booker1207, @bradhallett, @briandevans, @Brixyy, @brndnsvr,
-@BROCCOLO1D, @btorresgil, @burjorjee, @carltonawong, @Carry00, @chaconne67, @chdlc, @chromalinx, @ChyuWei,
-@CipherFrame, @cmullins70, @CNSeniorious000, @codeblackhole1024, @Codename-11, @colin-chang, @counterposition,
-@cresslank, @CryptoByz, @cyb0rgk1tty, @Cybourgeoisie, @daizhonggeng, @darvsum, @davidcampbelldc, @deas,
-@dgians, @dillweed, @DoGMaTiiC, @donovan-yohan, @draplater, @Drexuxux, @dskwe, @dsr-restyn, @Dusk1e,
-@dusterbloom, @duyua9, @egilewski, @el-analista, @eliteworkstation94-ai, @eloklam, @EloquentBrush0x, @emonty,
-@emozilla, @erhnysr, @erikengervall, @Erosika, @ether-btc, @ethernet8023, @EvilHumphrey, @fabiosiqueira,
-@falasi, @falconexe, @fardoche6, @felix-windsor, @Fewmanism, @ffr31mr, @flamiinngo, @flanny7, @flooryyyy,
-@fonhal, @francip, @fujinice, @gianfrancopiana, @glennc, @Glucksberg, @godlin-gh, @Grogger, @guillaumemeyer,
-@Gutslabs, @H-Ali13381, @hanzckernel, @haran2001, @hawknewton, @hayka-pacha, @hehehe0803, @helix4u, @HenkDz,
-@Hermes, @hermesagent26, @Hinotoi-agent, @hongchen1993, @honor2030, @houenyang-momo, @ht1072, @hueilau,
-@iamfoz, @ilonagaja509-glitch, @InB4DevOps, @indigokarasu, @Interstellar-code, @iqdoctor, @iRonin, @Jaaneek,
-@JabberELF, @jacevys, @jackey8616, @jackjin1997, @jdelmerico, @jfuenmayor, @Jiahui-Gu, @JimLiu, @joe102084,
-@JohnC1009, @jonpol01, @Jpalmer95, @Julientalbot, @justemu, @justincc, @jvinals, @karthikeyann, @kasunvinod,
-@kchuang1015, @kenyonxu, @khungate, @kiranvk-2011, @kjames2001, @konsisumer, @kpadilha, @kriscolab,
-@krislidimo, @kronexoi, @kshitijk4poor, @kunci115, @Kylejeong2, @kylekahraman, @LaPhilosophie, @leeseoki0,
-@lemassykoi, @Lempkey, @LeonJS, @LeonSGP43, @lidge-jun, @LifeJiggy, @liuhao1024, @LizerAIDev, @loicnico96,
-@loongfay, @m0n3r0, @malaiwah, @matthewlai, @mavrickdeveloper, @maxmilian, @McClean-Edison, @memosr,
-@Mind-Dragon, @momowind, @MoonJuhan, @MoonRay305, @moortekweb-art, @MorAlekss, @ms-alan, @Nami4D,
-@nehaaprasaad, @nekwo, @nftpoetrist, @NickLarcombe, @nidhi-singh02, @Niraven, @nnnet, @noctilust, @novax635,
-@nthrow, @nv-kasikritc, @nycomar, @OCWC22, @oemtalks, @OmX, @ooovenenoso, @orcool, @oseftg, @outsourc-e,
-@OutThisLife, @Paperclip, @PaTTeeL, @pepelax, @phoenixshen, @Pluviobyte, @pnascimento9596, @pochi-gio, @pr7426,
-@PratikRai0101, @Prithvi1994, @psionic73, @ptichalouf, @Que0x, @QuenVix, @quocanh261997, @qWaitCrypto, @Qwinty,
-@r266-tech, @rak135, @rdasilva1016-ui, @rewbs, @roadhero, @rodrigoeqnit, @RonHillDev, @roycepersonalassistant,
-@rudi193-cmd, @RyanRana, @sadiksaifi, @samahn0601, @samggggflynn, @SamuelZ12, @sanghyuk-seo-nexcube,
-@Saurav0989, @savanne-kham, @Schrotti77, @Schwartz10, @SerenityTn, @sgtworkman, @sharziki, @shaun0927,
-@shellybotmoyer, @shunsuke-hikiyama, @SimbaKingjoe, @SimoKiihamaki, @sir-ad, @Slimydog21, @slowtokki0409,
-@Soju06, @someaka, @soynchux, @sprmn24, @Stark-X, @steezkelly, @stepanov1975, @stephenschoettler,
-@stevehq26-bot, @steveonjava, @Strontvod, @subtract0, @Sunil123135, @superearn-fisher, @Sylw3ster, @tchanee,
-@that-ambuj, @thedavidmurray, @TheOnlyMika, @therahul-yo, @thewillhuang, @ticketclosed-wontfix, @Timur00Kh,
-@tomqiaozc, @Tosko4, @Tranquil-Flow, @tw2818, @uzunkuyruk, @vaddisrinivas, @vanthinh6886, @vgocoder,
-@victorGPT, @vynxevainglory-ai, @waefrebeorn, @walli, @wangpuv, @wanwan2qq, @wesleysimplicio, @worlldz,
-@wpengpeng168, @WuKongAI-CMU, @wuli666, @Wysie, @wysie, @xxxigm, @yannsunn, @YanzhongSu, @YarrowQiao, @ygd58,
-@YLChen-007, @yoniebans, @yu-xin-c, @YuanHanzhong, @zapabob, @zccyman, @ziliangpeng, @zwolniony, @Zyrixtrex
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.5.16...v2026.5.28](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.5.16...v2026.5.28)

RELEASE_v0.15.1.md

@@ -1,110 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.15.1 (v2026.5.29)
-
-**Release Date:** May 29, 2026
-**Since v0.15.0:** 28 commits · 21 merged PRs · hotfix release · 9 contributors
-
-> **The Patch Release.** A same-day hotfix for v0.15.0. Headline fix: the dashboard infinite-reload loop that hit anyone running v0.15.0 in loopback mode (Docker, hosted Hermes, fresh installs). A handful of other v0.15.0 follow-ups go along for the ride — kanban worker SIGTERM, `/model` picker unification, `/yolo` session bypass, the full 19,932-entry skills.sh catalog, `.md` media delivery restoration, gateway probe-stepdown safety, web-URL redaction passthrough, kanban worker vision on referenced images, hindsight observation-default. Docker users get an explicit `--insecure` opt-in env var (no more bind-host inference), MCP server bare-command PATH resolution, and arm64 PR-build cache fixes.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Dashboard 401 reload loop fixed** — In loopback mode the dashboard's identity probe (`/api/auth/me`) returns 401 by design, but v0.15.0's stale-token reload guard treated every 401 as a rotated session token and full-page-reloaded to pick up a fresh one. Every successful sibling call cleared the one-shot reload guard, so the page reload-looped forever (Firefox: "Navigated to /sessions" storm; Chrome: React re-render storm). Fix adds an `allowUnauthorized` opt-out to `fetchJSON` that skips only the loopback stale-token reload — 401 still throws so `AuthWidget` swallows it, gated-mode `login_url` redirects are unaffected. Closes [#34206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/34206), [#34202](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/34202). ([#30698](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30698) — @austinpickett)
-
-- **Docker dashboard `--insecure` is now an explicit env opt-in, never derived from bind host** — Previously the Docker entrypoint inferred `--insecure` when the dashboard bound to a non-loopback host. That conflated "I want LAN access" with "I want to disable the same-origin guard." The fix splits them: bind host is bind host, and disabling the dashboard's loopback auth requires an explicit `HERMES_DASHBOARD_INSECURE=1`. Existing setups that genuinely wanted insecure binding must now set the env var. ([#34188](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34188), [#34204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34204) — @benbarclay)
-
-- **MCP bare command resolution under Docker** — MCP servers configured with bare commands (`npx`, `npm`, `node`) now resolve against `/usr/local/bin` so they actually launch inside the Docker image where those binaries live. v0.15.0 left these failing silently in containers when the agent's effective PATH didn't include the Node toolchain location. ([#34186](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34186) — @benbarclay)
-
-- **Skills page sidebar / source pills restored** — A stale `useMemo` dependency in the new dashboard skills page collapsed the source pills and category sidebar to "All" only. Fixed; both surfaces now reflect the live catalog state. ([#34194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34194))
-
-- **Kanban worker can be killed again** — `SIGTERM` on a kanban worker was being absorbed by an intermediate process and the worker stayed running. Closes [#28181](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/28181). ([#34045](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34045))
-
-- **Full skills.sh catalog (858 → 19,932 entries)** — The skills hub page was pulling a partial paginated catalog. The fetch now walks the sitemap, so all 19,932 skills.sh entries surface in the picker instead of just the first 858. ([#34025](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34025))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Bug Fixes
-
-### Dashboard / Web
-
-- **`/api/auth/me` 401 no longer triggers reload loop** in loopback mode — ([#30698](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/30698) — @austinpickett)
-- **Skills page source pills + category sidebar restored** — stale `useMemo` dep ([#34194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34194))
-
-### Docker
-
-- **`--insecure` is now explicit opt-in via env var**, not derived from bind host ([#34188](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34188) — @benbarclay)
-- **Dashboard test suite repaired** to match the insecure-opt-in fix ([#34204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34204) — @benbarclay)
-- **arm64 PR builds skip the GHA cache** to avoid cache-thrash on cross-arch builders ([#33704](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33704) — @BROCCOLO1D)
-
-### MCP
-
-- **Bare `npx`/`npm`/`node` resolve against `/usr/local/bin`** for Docker compatibility ([#34186](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34186) — @benbarclay)
-
-### Kanban
-
-- **Worker SIGTERM actually terminates the process** ([#34045](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34045))
-- **Workers receive images referenced in task bodies** for vision-capable models ([#34210](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34210))
-
-### Gateway
-
-- **`.md` files deliver again** — media-delivery validation defaults to denylist-only instead of an overly-narrow allowlist ([#34022](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34022))
-- **Probe stepdown safety** — on a context-overflow without an explicit provider context limit, the agent no longer steps down to a smaller model based on an unknown ceiling (salvage of [#33673](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33673)) ([#33826](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33826))
-
-### CLI
-
-- **`/yolo` mid-session enables the per-session bypass** instead of just toggling the env var (which the running agent had already snapshotted) ([#33931](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33931) — @kshitijk4poor)
-- **`/model` and `hermes model` show the same list**, plus disk cache for picker startup ([#33867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33867))
-
-### Skills
-
-- **Full skills.sh catalog via sitemap** — 858 → 19,932 entries ([#34025](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34025))
-
-### Redaction
-
-- **Web URLs pass through unchanged** — the redactor was eating query parameters that looked credential-shaped ([#34029](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34029))
-
----
-
-## ✨ Small Features
-
-- **Hindsight default narrowed to observation-only** for `recall_types` — tool path is also narrowed ([#34079](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34079) — @nicoloboschi, follow-up [#34091](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4df62d239e38bf8c212a595721c9c01e176f6c3a) — @kshitijk4poor)
-- **Memory providers receive completed-turn message context** — salvage of [#28065](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/28065) ([#34097](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34097) — @kshitijk4poor, credit to @devwdave)
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- **`--no-supervise` / `HERMES_GATEWAY_NO_SUPERVISE` documented** in the reference docs (follow-up to [#33583](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33583)) ([#33751](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/33751) — @r266-tech)
-
----
-
-## 🛠️ Infrastructure
-
-- **Vercel deploy workflow accepts `workflow_dispatch`** so docs deploys can be manually triggered ([#34081](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34081))
-- **`@nous-research/ui` bumped to 0.18.2** (Nix `npmDepsHash` also updated to match) ([#34193](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34193) follow-ups — @austinpickett)
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- @teknium1
-
-### Community
-- @austinpickett — dashboard 401 reload-loop fix (the headline), `@nous-research/ui` bump, Nix `npmDepsHash` updates
-- @benbarclay — Docker `--insecure` opt-in, MCP bare-command resolution, dashboard test repair
-- @kshitijk4poor — `/yolo` session bypass, completed-turn memory context salvage, hindsight follow-up docs
-- @nicoloboschi — hindsight `recall_types` observation default
-- @BROCCOLO1D — arm64 PR build cache fix
-- @r266-tech — `--no-supervise` reference docs
-- @yangguangjin — probe stepdown safety (salvage of @yanghd's #33673)
-- @devwdave — completed-turn memory context (credited via salvage)
-- @andrewhosf — co-author
-
-### Issue Reporters (the 401 loop)
-- @routesmith ([#34206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/34206))
-- @beeaton ([#34202](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/34202))
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.5.28...v2026.5.29](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.5.28...v2026.5.29)

RELEASE_v0.2.0.md

@@ -1,383 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.2.0 (v2026.3.12)
-
-**Release Date:** March 12, 2026
-
-> First tagged release since v0.1.0 (the initial pre-public foundation). In just over two weeks, Hermes Agent went from a small internal project to a full-featured AI agent platform — thanks to an explosion of community contributions. This release covers **216 merged pull requests** from **63 contributors**, resolving **119 issues**.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Multi-Platform Messaging Gateway** — Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, Email (IMAP/SMTP), and Home Assistant platforms with unified session management, media attachments, and per-platform tool configuration.
-
-- **MCP (Model Context Protocol) Client** — Native MCP support with stdio and HTTP transports, reconnection, resource/prompt discovery, and sampling (server-initiated LLM requests). ([#291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/291) — @0xbyt4, [#301](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/301), [#753](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/753))
-
-- **Skills Ecosystem** — 70+ bundled and optional skills across 15+ categories with a Skills Hub for community discovery, per-platform enable/disable, conditional activation based on tool availability, and prerequisite validation. ([#743](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/743) — @teyrebaz33, [#785](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/785) — @teyrebaz33)
-
-- **Centralized Provider Router** — Unified `call_llm()`/`async_call_llm()` API replaces scattered provider logic across vision, summarization, compression, and trajectory saving. All auxiliary consumers route through a single code path with automatic credential resolution. ([#1003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1003))
-
-- **ACP Server** — VS Code, Zed, and JetBrains editor integration via the Agent Communication Protocol standard. ([#949](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/949))
-
-- **CLI Skin/Theme Engine** — Data-driven visual customization: banners, spinners, colors, branding. 7 built-in skins + custom YAML skins.
-
-- **Git Worktree Isolation** — `hermes -w` launches isolated agent sessions in git worktrees for safe parallel work on the same repo. ([#654](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/654))
-
-- **Filesystem Checkpoints & Rollback** — Automatic snapshots before destructive operations with `/rollback` to restore. ([#824](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/824))
-
-- **3,289 Tests** — From near-zero test coverage to a comprehensive test suite covering agent, gateway, tools, cron, and CLI.
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-- Centralized provider router with `resolve_provider_client()` + `call_llm()` API ([#1003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1003))
-- Nous Portal as first-class provider in setup ([#644](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/644))
-- OpenAI Codex (Responses API) with ChatGPT subscription support ([#43](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/43)) — @grp06
-- Codex OAuth vision support + multimodal content adapter
-- Validate `/model` against live API instead of hardcoded lists
-- Self-hosted Firecrawl support ([#460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/460)) — @caentzminger
-- Kimi Code API support ([#635](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/635)) — @christomitov
-- MiniMax model ID update ([#473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/473)) — @tars90percent
-- OpenRouter provider routing configuration (provider_preferences)
-- Nous credential refresh on 401 errors ([#571](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/571), [#269](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/269)) — @rewbs
-- z.ai/GLM, Kimi/Moonshot, MiniMax, Azure OpenAI as first-class providers
-- Unified `/model` and `/provider` into single view
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- Simple fallback model for provider resilience ([#740](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/740))
-- Shared iteration budget across parent + subagent delegation
-- Iteration budget pressure via tool result injection
-- Configurable subagent provider/model with full credential resolution
-- Handle 413 payload-too-large via compression instead of aborting ([#153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/153)) — @tekelala
-- Retry with rebuilt payload after compression ([#616](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/616)) — @tripledoublev
-- Auto-compress pathologically large gateway sessions ([#628](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/628))
-- Tool call repair middleware — auto-lowercase and invalid tool handler
-- Reasoning effort configuration and `/reasoning` command ([#921](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/921))
-- Detect and block file re-read/search loops after context compression ([#705](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/705)) — @0xbyt4
-
-### Session & Memory
-- Session naming with unique titles, auto-lineage, rich listing, and resume by name ([#720](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/720))
-- Interactive session browser with search filtering ([#733](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/733))
-- Display previous messages when resuming a session ([#734](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/734))
-- Honcho AI-native cross-session user modeling ([#38](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/38)) — @erosika
-- Proactive async memory flush on session expiry
-- Smart context length probing with persistent caching + banner display
-- `/resume` command for switching to named sessions in gateway
-- Session reset policy for messaging platforms
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### Telegram
-- Native file attachments: send_document + send_video
-- Document file processing for PDF, text, and Office files — @tekelala
-- Forum topic session isolation ([#766](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/766)) — @spanishflu-est1918
-- Browser screenshot sharing via MEDIA: protocol ([#657](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/657))
-- Location support for find-nearby skill
-- TTS voice message accumulation fix ([#176](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/176)) — @Bartok9
-- Improved error handling and logging ([#763](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/763)) — @aydnOktay
-- Italic regex newline fix + 43 format tests ([#204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/204)) — @0xbyt4
-
-### Discord
-- Channel topic included in session context ([#248](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/248)) — @Bartok9
-- DISCORD_ALLOW_BOTS config for bot message filtering ([#758](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/758))
-- Document and video support ([#784](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/784))
-- Improved error handling and logging ([#761](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/761)) — @aydnOktay
-
-### Slack
-- App_mention 404 fix + document/video support ([#784](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/784))
-- Structured logging replacing print statements — @aydnOktay
-
-### WhatsApp
-- Native media sending — images, videos, documents ([#292](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/292)) — @satelerd
-- Multi-user session isolation ([#75](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/75)) — @satelerd
-- Cross-platform port cleanup replacing Linux-only fuser ([#433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/433)) — @Farukest
-- DM interrupt key mismatch fix ([#350](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/350)) — @Farukest
-
-### Signal
-- Full Signal messenger gateway via signal-cli-rest-api ([#405](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/405))
-- Media URL support in message events ([#871](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/871))
-
-### Email (IMAP/SMTP)
-- New email gateway platform — @0xbyt4
-
-### Home Assistant
-- REST tools + WebSocket gateway integration ([#184](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/184)) — @0xbyt4
-- Service discovery and enhanced setup
-- Toolset mapping fix ([#538](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/538)) — @Himess
-
-### Gateway Core
-- Expose subagent tool calls and thinking to users ([#186](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/186)) — @cutepawss
-- Configurable background process watcher notifications ([#840](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/840))
-- `edit_message()` for Telegram/Discord/Slack with fallback
-- `/compress`, `/usage`, `/update` slash commands
-- Eliminated 3x SQLite message duplication in gateway sessions ([#873](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/873))
-- Stabilize system prompt across gateway turns for cache hits ([#754](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/754))
-- MCP server shutdown on gateway exit ([#796](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/796)) — @0xbyt4
-- Pass session_db to AIAgent, fixing session_search error ([#108](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/108)) — @Bartok9
-- Persist transcript changes in /retry, /undo; fix /reset attribute ([#217](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/217)) — @Farukest
-- UTF-8 encoding fix preventing Windows crashes ([#369](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/369)) — @ch3ronsa
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### Interactive CLI
-- Data-driven skin/theme engine — 7 built-in skins (default, ares, mono, slate, poseidon, sisyphus, charizard) + custom YAML skins
-- `/personality` command with custom personality + disable support ([#773](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/773)) — @teyrebaz33
-- User-defined quick commands that bypass the agent loop ([#746](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/746)) — @teyrebaz33
-- `/reasoning` command for effort level and display toggle ([#921](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/921))
-- `/verbose` slash command to toggle debug at runtime ([#94](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/94)) — @cesareth
-- `/insights` command — usage analytics, cost estimation & activity patterns ([#552](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/552))
-- `/background` command for managing background processes
-- `/help` formatting with command categories
-- Bell-on-complete — terminal bell when agent finishes ([#738](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/738))
-- Up/down arrow history navigation
-- Clipboard image paste (Alt+V / Ctrl+V)
-- Loading indicators for slow slash commands ([#882](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/882))
-- Spinner flickering fix under patch_stdout ([#91](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/91)) — @0xbyt4
-- `--quiet/-Q` flag for programmatic single-query mode
-- `--fuck-it-ship-it` flag to bypass all approval prompts ([#724](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/724)) — @dmahan93
-- Tools summary flag ([#767](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/767)) — @luisv-1
-- Terminal blinking fix on SSH ([#284](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/284)) — @ygd58
-- Multi-line paste detection fix ([#84](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/84)) — @0xbyt4
-
-### Setup & Configuration
-- Modular setup wizard with section subcommands and tool-first UX
-- Container resource configuration prompts
-- Backend validation for required binaries
-- Config migration system (currently v7)
-- API keys properly routed to .env instead of config.yaml ([#469](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/469)) — @ygd58
-- Atomic write for .env to prevent API key loss on crash ([#954](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/954))
-- `hermes tools` — per-platform tool enable/disable with curses UI
-- `hermes doctor` for health checks across all configured providers
-- `hermes update` with auto-restart for gateway service
-- Show update-available notice in CLI banner
-- Multiple named custom providers
-- Shell config detection improvement for PATH setup ([#317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/317)) — @mehmetkr-31
-- Consistent HERMES_HOME and .env path resolution ([#51](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/51), [#48](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/48)) — @deankerr
-- Docker backend fix on macOS + subagent auth for Nous Portal ([#46](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/46)) — @rsavitt
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### MCP (Model Context Protocol)
-- Native MCP client with stdio + HTTP transports ([#291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/291) — @0xbyt4, [#301](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/301))
-- Sampling support — server-initiated LLM requests ([#753](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/753))
-- Resource and prompt discovery
-- Automatic reconnection and security hardening
-- Banner integration, `/reload-mcp` command
-- `hermes tools` UI integration
-
-### Browser
-- Local browser backend — zero-cost headless Chromium (no Browserbase needed)
-- Console/errors tool, annotated screenshots, auto-recording, dogfood QA skill ([#745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/745))
-- Screenshot sharing via MEDIA: on all messaging platforms ([#657](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/657))
-
-### Terminal & Execution
-- `execute_code` sandbox with json_parse, shell_quote, retry helpers
-- Docker: custom volume mounts ([#158](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/158)) — @Indelwin
-- Daytona cloud sandbox backend ([#451](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/451)) — @rovle
-- SSH backend fix ([#59](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/59)) — @deankerr
-- Shell noise filtering and login shell execution for environment consistency
-- Head+tail truncation for execute_code stdout overflow
-- Configurable background process notification modes
-
-### File Operations
-- Filesystem checkpoints and `/rollback` command ([#824](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/824))
-- Structured tool result hints (next-action guidance) for patch and search_files ([#722](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/722))
-- Docker volumes passed to sandbox container config ([#687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/687)) — @manuelschipper
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skills System
-- Per-platform skill enable/disable ([#743](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/743)) — @teyrebaz33
-- Conditional skill activation based on tool availability ([#785](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/785)) — @teyrebaz33
-- Skill prerequisites — hide skills with unmet dependencies ([#659](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/659)) — @kshitijk4poor
-- Optional skills — shipped but not activated by default
-- `hermes skills browse` — paginated hub browsing
-- Skills sub-category organization
-- Platform-conditional skill loading
-- Atomic skill file writes ([#551](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/551)) — @aydnOktay
-- Skills sync data loss prevention ([#563](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/563)) — @0xbyt4
-- Dynamic skill slash commands for CLI and gateway
-
-### New Skills (selected)
-- **ASCII Art** — pyfiglet (571 fonts), cowsay, image-to-ascii ([#209](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/209)) — @0xbyt4
-- **ASCII Video** — Full production pipeline ([#854](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/854)) — @SHL0MS
-- **DuckDuckGo Search** — Firecrawl fallback ([#267](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/267)) — @gamedevCloudy; DDGS API expansion ([#598](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/598)) — @areu01or00
-- **Solana Blockchain** — Wallet balances, USD pricing, token names ([#212](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/212)) — @gizdusum
-- **AgentMail** — Agent-owned email inboxes ([#330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/330)) — @teyrebaz33
-- **Polymarket** — Prediction market data (read-only) ([#629](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/629))
-- **OpenClaw Migration** — Official migration tool ([#570](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/570)) — @unmodeled-tyler
-- **Domain Intelligence** — Passive recon: subdomains, SSL, WHOIS, DNS ([#136](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/136)) — @FurkanL0
-- **Superpowers** — Software development skills ([#137](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/137)) — @kaos35
-- **Hermes-Atropos** — RL environment development skill ([#815](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/815))
-- Plus: arXiv search, OCR/documents, Excalidraw diagrams, YouTube transcripts, GIF search, Pokémon player, Minecraft modpack server, OpenHue (Philips Hue), Google Workspace, Notion, PowerPoint, Obsidian, find-nearby, and 40+ MLOps skills
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security Hardening
-- Path traversal fix in skill_view — prevented reading arbitrary files ([#220](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/220)) — @Farukest
-- Shell injection prevention in sudo password piping ([#65](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/65)) — @leonsgithub
-- Dangerous command detection: multiline bypass fix ([#233](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/233)) — @Farukest; tee/process substitution patterns ([#280](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/280)) — @dogiladeveloper
-- Symlink boundary check fix in skills_guard ([#386](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/386)) — @Farukest
-- Symlink bypass fix in write deny list on macOS ([#61](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/61)) — @0xbyt4
-- Multi-word prompt injection bypass prevention ([#192](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/192)) — @0xbyt4
-- Cron prompt injection scanner bypass fix ([#63](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/63)) — @0xbyt4
-- Enforce 0600/0700 file permissions on sensitive files ([#757](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/757))
-- .env file permissions restricted to owner-only ([#529](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/529)) — @Himess
-- `--force` flag properly blocked from overriding dangerous verdicts ([#388](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/388)) — @Farukest
-- FTS5 query sanitization + DB connection leak fix ([#565](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/565)) — @0xbyt4
-- Expand secret redaction patterns + config toggle to disable
-- In-memory permanent allowlist to prevent data leak ([#600](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/600)) — @alireza78a
-
-### Atomic Writes (data loss prevention)
-- sessions.json ([#611](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/611)) — @alireza78a
-- Cron jobs ([#146](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/146)) — @alireza78a
-- .env config ([#954](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/954))
-- Process checkpoints ([#298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/298)) — @aydnOktay
-- Batch runner ([#297](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/297)) — @aydnOktay
-- Skill files ([#551](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/551)) — @aydnOktay
-
-### Reliability
-- Guard all print() against OSError for systemd/headless environments ([#963](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/963))
-- Reset all retry counters at start of run_conversation ([#607](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/607)) — @0xbyt4
-- Return deny on approval callback timeout instead of None ([#603](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/603)) — @0xbyt4
-- Fix None message content crashes across codebase ([#277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/277))
-- Fix context overrun crash with local LLM backends ([#403](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/403)) — @ch3ronsa
-- Prevent `_flush_sentinel` from leaking to external APIs ([#227](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/227)) — @Farukest
-- Prevent conversation_history mutation in callers ([#229](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/229)) — @Farukest
-- Fix systemd restart loop ([#614](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/614)) — @voidborne-d
-- Close file handles and sockets to prevent fd leaks ([#568](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/568) — @alireza78a, [#296](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/296) — @alireza78a, [#709](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/709) — @memosr)
-- Prevent data loss in clipboard PNG conversion ([#602](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/602)) — @0xbyt4
-- Eliminate shell noise from terminal output ([#293](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/293)) — @0xbyt4
-- Timezone-aware now() for prompt, cron, and execute_code ([#309](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/309)) — @areu01or00
-
-### Windows Compatibility
-- Guard POSIX-only process functions ([#219](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/219)) — @Farukest
-- Windows native support via Git Bash + ZIP-based update fallback
-- pywinpty for PTY support ([#457](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/457)) — @shitcoinsherpa
-- Explicit UTF-8 encoding on all config/data file I/O ([#458](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/458)) — @shitcoinsherpa
-- Windows-compatible path handling ([#354](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/354), [#390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/390)) — @Farukest
-- Regex-based search output parsing for drive-letter paths ([#533](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/533)) — @Himess
-- Auth store file lock for Windows ([#455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/455)) — @shitcoinsherpa
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-- Fix DeepSeek V3 tool call parser silently dropping multi-line JSON arguments ([#444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/444)) — @PercyDikec
-- Fix gateway transcript losing 1 message per turn due to offset mismatch ([#395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/395)) — @PercyDikec
-- Fix /retry command silently discarding the agent's final response ([#441](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/441)) — @PercyDikec
-- Fix max-iterations retry returning empty string after think-block stripping ([#438](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/438)) — @PercyDikec
-- Fix max-iterations retry using hardcoded max_tokens ([#436](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/436)) — @Farukest
-- Fix Codex status dict key mismatch ([#448](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/448)) and visibility filter ([#446](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/446)) — @PercyDikec
-- Strip \<think\> blocks from final user-facing responses ([#174](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/174)) — @Bartok9
-- Fix \<think\> block regex stripping visible content when model discusses tags literally ([#786](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/786))
-- Fix Mistral 422 errors from leftover finish_reason in assistant messages ([#253](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/253)) — @Sertug17
-- Fix OPENROUTER_API_KEY resolution order across all code paths ([#295](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/295)) — @0xbyt4
-- Fix OPENAI_BASE_URL API key priority ([#420](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/420)) — @manuelschipper
-- Fix Anthropic "prompt is too long" 400 error not detected as context length error ([#813](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/813))
-- Fix SQLite session transcript accumulating duplicate messages — 3-4x token inflation ([#860](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/860))
-- Fix setup wizard skipping API key prompts on first install ([#748](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/748))
-- Fix setup wizard showing OpenRouter model list for Nous Portal ([#575](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/575)) — @PercyDikec
-- Fix provider selection not persisting when switching via hermes model ([#881](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/881))
-- Fix Docker backend failing when docker not in PATH on macOS ([#889](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/889))
-- Fix ClawHub Skills Hub adapter for API endpoint changes ([#286](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/286)) — @BP602
-- Fix Honcho auto-enable when API key is present ([#243](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/243)) — @Bartok9
-- Fix duplicate 'skills' subparser crash on Python 3.11+ ([#898](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/898))
-- Fix memory tool entry parsing when content contains section sign ([#162](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/162)) — @aydnOktay
-- Fix piped install silently aborting when interactive prompts fail ([#72](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/72)) — @cutepawss
-- Fix false positives in recursive delete detection ([#68](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/68)) — @cutepawss
-- Fix Ruff lint warnings across codebase ([#608](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/608)) — @JackTheGit
-- Fix Anthropic native base URL fail-fast ([#173](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/173)) — @adavyas
-- Fix install.sh creating ~/.hermes before moving Node.js directory ([#53](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/53)) — @JoshuaMart
-- Fix SystemExit traceback during atexit cleanup on Ctrl+C ([#55](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/55)) — @bierlingm
-- Restore missing MIT license file ([#620](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/620)) — @stablegenius49
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- **3,289 tests** across agent, gateway, tools, cron, and CLI
-- Parallelized test suite with pytest-xdist ([#802](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/802)) — @OutThisLife
-- Unit tests batch 1: 8 core modules ([#60](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/60)) — @0xbyt4
-- Unit tests batch 2: 8 more modules ([#62](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/62)) — @0xbyt4
-- Unit tests batch 3: 8 untested modules ([#191](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/191)) — @0xbyt4
-- Unit tests batch 4: 5 security/logic-critical modules ([#193](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/193)) — @0xbyt4
-- AIAgent (run_agent.py) unit tests ([#67](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/67)) — @0xbyt4
-- Trajectory compressor tests ([#203](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/203)) — @0xbyt4
-- Clarify tool tests ([#121](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/121)) — @Bartok9
-- Telegram format tests — 43 tests for italic/bold/code rendering ([#204](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/204)) — @0xbyt4
-- Vision tools type hints + 42 tests ([#792](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/792))
-- Compressor tool-call boundary regression tests ([#648](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/648)) — @intertwine
-- Test structure reorganization ([#34](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/34)) — @0xbyt4
-- Shell noise elimination + fix 36 test failures ([#293](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/293)) — @0xbyt4
-
----
-
-## 🔬 RL & Evaluation Environments
-
-- WebResearchEnv — Multi-step web research RL environment ([#434](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/434)) — @jackx707
-- Modal sandbox concurrency limits to avoid deadlocks ([#621](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/621)) — @voteblake
-- Hermes-atropos-environments bundled skill ([#815](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/815))
-- Local vLLM instance support for evaluation — @dmahan93
-- YC-Bench long-horizon agent benchmark environment
-- OpenThoughts-TBLite evaluation environment and scripts
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- Full documentation website (Docusaurus) with 37+ pages
-- Comprehensive platform setup guides for Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, Email
-- AGENTS.md — development guide for AI coding assistants
-- CONTRIBUTING.md ([#117](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/117)) — @Bartok9
-- Slash commands reference ([#142](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/142)) — @Bartok9
-- Comprehensive AGENTS.md accuracy audit ([#732](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/732))
-- Skin/theme system documentation
-- MCP documentation and examples
-- Docs accuracy audit — 35+ corrections
-- Documentation typo fixes ([#825](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/825), [#439](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/439)) — @JackTheGit
-- CLI config precedence and terminology standardization ([#166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/166), [#167](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/167), [#168](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/168)) — @Jr-kenny
-- Telegram token regex documentation ([#713](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/713)) — @VolodymyrBg
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-Thank you to the 63 contributors who made this release possible! In just over two weeks, the Hermes Agent community came together to ship an extraordinary amount of work.
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** — 43 PRs: Project lead, core architecture, provider router, sessions, skills, CLI, documentation
-
-### Top Community Contributors
-- **@0xbyt4** — 40 PRs: MCP client, Home Assistant, security fixes (symlink, prompt injection, cron), extensive test coverage (6 batches), ascii-art skill, shell noise elimination, skills sync, Telegram formatting, and dozens more
-- **@Farukest** — 16 PRs: Security hardening (path traversal, dangerous command detection, symlink boundary), Windows compatibility (POSIX guards, path handling), WhatsApp fixes, max-iterations retry, gateway fixes
-- **@aydnOktay** — 11 PRs: Atomic writes (process checkpoints, batch runner, skill files), error handling improvements across Telegram, Discord, code execution, transcription, TTS, and skills
-- **@Bartok9** — 9 PRs: CONTRIBUTING.md, slash commands reference, Discord channel topics, think-block stripping, TTS fix, Honcho fix, session count fix, clarify tests
-- **@PercyDikec** — 7 PRs: DeepSeek V3 parser fix, /retry response discard, gateway transcript offset, Codex status/visibility, max-iterations retry, setup wizard fix
-- **@teyrebaz33** — 5 PRs: Skills enable/disable system, quick commands, personality customization, conditional skill activation
-- **@alireza78a** — 5 PRs: Atomic writes (cron, sessions), fd leak prevention, security allowlist, code execution socket cleanup
-- **@shitcoinsherpa** — 3 PRs: Windows support (pywinpty, UTF-8 encoding, auth store lock)
-- **@Himess** — 3 PRs: Cron/HomeAssistant/Daytona fix, Windows drive-letter parsing, .env permissions
-- **@satelerd** — 2 PRs: WhatsApp native media, multi-user session isolation
-- **@rovle** — 1 PR: Daytona cloud sandbox backend (4 commits)
-- **@erosika** — 1 PR: Honcho AI-native memory integration
-- **@dmahan93** — 1 PR: --fuck-it-ship-it flag + RL environment work
-- **@SHL0MS** — 1 PR: ASCII video skill
-
-### All Contributors
-@0xbyt4, @BP602, @Bartok9, @Farukest, @FurkanL0, @Himess, @Indelwin, @JackTheGit, @JoshuaMart, @Jr-kenny, @OutThisLife, @PercyDikec, @SHL0MS, @Sertug17, @VencentSoliman, @VolodymyrBg, @adavyas, @alireza78a, @areu01or00, @aydnOktay, @batuhankocyigit, @bierlingm, @caentzminger, @cesareth, @ch3ronsa, @christomitov, @cutepawss, @deankerr, @dmahan93, @dogiladeveloper, @dragonkhoi, @erosika, @gamedevCloudy, @gizdusum, @grp06, @intertwine, @jackx707, @jdblackstar, @johnh4098, @kaos35, @kshitijk4poor, @leonsgithub, @luisv-1, @manuelschipper, @mehmetkr-31, @memosr, @PeterFile, @rewbs, @rovle, @rsavitt, @satelerd, @spanishflu-est1918, @stablegenius49, @tars90percent, @tekelala, @teknium1, @teyrebaz33, @tripledoublev, @unmodeled-tyler, @voidborne-d, @voteblake, @ygd58
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v0.1.0...v2026.3.12](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v0.1.0...v2026.3.12)

RELEASE_v0.3.0.md

@@ -1,377 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.3.0 (v2026.3.17)
-
-**Release Date:** March 17, 2026
-
-> The streaming, plugins, and provider release — unified real-time token delivery, first-class plugin architecture, rebuilt provider system with Vercel AI Gateway, native Anthropic provider, smart approvals, live Chrome CDP browser connect, ACP IDE integration, Honcho memory, voice mode, persistent shell, and 50+ bug fixes across every platform.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Unified Streaming Infrastructure** — Real-time token-by-token delivery in CLI and all gateway platforms. Responses stream as they're generated instead of arriving as a block. ([#1538](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1538))
-
-- **First-Class Plugin Architecture** — Drop Python files into `~/.hermes/plugins/` to extend Hermes with custom tools, commands, and hooks. No forking required. ([#1544](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1544), [#1555](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1555))
-
-- **Native Anthropic Provider** — Direct Anthropic API calls with Claude Code credential auto-discovery, OAuth PKCE flows, and native prompt caching. No OpenRouter middleman needed. ([#1097](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1097))
-
-- **Smart Approvals + /stop Command** — Codex-inspired approval system that learns which commands are safe and remembers your preferences. `/stop` kills the current agent run immediately. ([#1543](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1543))
-
-- **Honcho Memory Integration** — Async memory writes, configurable recall modes, session title integration, and multi-user isolation in gateway mode. By @erosika. ([#736](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/736))
-
-- **Voice Mode** — Push-to-talk in CLI, voice notes in Telegram/Discord, Discord voice channel support, and local Whisper transcription via faster-whisper. ([#1299](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1299), [#1185](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1185), [#1429](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1429))
-
-- **Concurrent Tool Execution** — Multiple independent tool calls now run in parallel via ThreadPoolExecutor, significantly reducing latency for multi-tool turns. ([#1152](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1152))
-
-- **PII Redaction** — When `privacy.redact_pii` is enabled, personally identifiable information is automatically scrubbed before sending context to LLM providers. ([#1542](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1542))
-
-- **`/browser connect` via CDP** — Attach browser tools to a live Chrome instance through Chrome DevTools Protocol. Debug, inspect, and interact with pages you already have open. ([#1549](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1549))
-
-- **Vercel AI Gateway Provider** — Route Hermes through Vercel's AI Gateway for access to their model catalog and infrastructure. ([#1628](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1628))
-
-- **Centralized Provider Router** — Rebuilt provider system with `call_llm` API, unified `/model` command, auto-detect provider on model switch, and direct endpoint overrides for auxiliary/delegation clients. ([#1003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1003), [#1506](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1506), [#1375](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1375))
-
-- **ACP Server (IDE Integration)** — VS Code, Zed, and JetBrains can now connect to Hermes as an agent backend, with full slash command support. ([#1254](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1254), [#1532](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1532))
-
-- **Persistent Shell Mode** — Local and SSH terminal backends can maintain shell state across tool calls — cd, env vars, and aliases persist. By @alt-glitch. ([#1067](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1067), [#1483](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1483))
-
-- **Agentic On-Policy Distillation (OPD)** — New RL training environment for distilling agent policies, expanding the Atropos training ecosystem. ([#1149](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1149))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-- **Centralized provider router** with `call_llm` API and unified `/model` command — switch models and providers seamlessly ([#1003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1003))
-- **Vercel AI Gateway** provider support ([#1628](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1628))
-- **Auto-detect provider** when switching models via `/model` ([#1506](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1506))
-- **Direct endpoint overrides** for auxiliary and delegation clients — point vision/subagent calls at specific endpoints ([#1375](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1375))
-- **Native Anthropic auxiliary vision** — use Claude's native vision API instead of routing through OpenAI-compatible endpoints ([#1377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1377))
-- Anthropic OAuth flow improvements — auto-run `claude setup-token`, reauthentication, PKCE state persistence, identity fingerprinting ([#1132](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1132), [#1360](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1360), [#1396](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1396), [#1597](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1597))
-- Fix adaptive thinking without `budget_tokens` for Claude 4.6 models — by @ASRagab ([#1128](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1128))
-- Fix Anthropic cache markers through adapter — by @brandtcormorant ([#1216](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1216))
-- Retry Anthropic 429/529 errors and surface details to users — by @0xbyt4 ([#1585](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1585))
-- Fix Anthropic adapter max_tokens, fallback crash, proxy base_url — by @0xbyt4 ([#1121](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1121))
-- Fix DeepSeek V3 parser dropping multiple parallel tool calls — by @mr-emmett-one ([#1365](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1365), [#1300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1300))
-- Accept unlisted models with warning instead of rejecting ([#1047](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1047), [#1102](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1102))
-- Skip reasoning params for unsupported OpenRouter models ([#1485](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1485))
-- MiniMax Anthropic API compatibility fix ([#1623](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1623))
-- Custom endpoint `/models` verification and `/v1` base URL suggestion ([#1480](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1480))
-- Resolve delegation providers from `custom_providers` config ([#1328](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1328))
-- Kimi model additions and User-Agent fix ([#1039](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1039))
-- Strip `call_id`/`response_item_id` for Mistral compatibility ([#1058](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1058))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **Anthropic Context Editing API** support ([#1147](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1147))
-- Improved context compaction handoff summaries — compressor now preserves more actionable state ([#1273](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1273))
-- Sync session_id after mid-run context compression ([#1160](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1160))
-- Session hygiene threshold tuned to 50% for more proactive compression ([#1096](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1096), [#1161](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1161))
-- Include session ID in system prompt via `--pass-session-id` flag ([#1040](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1040))
-- Prevent closed OpenAI client reuse across retries ([#1391](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1391))
-- Sanitize chat payloads and provider precedence ([#1253](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1253))
-- Handle dict tool call arguments from Codex and local backends ([#1393](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1393), [#1440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1440))
-
-### Memory & Sessions
-- **Improve memory prioritization** — user preferences and corrections weighted above procedural knowledge ([#1548](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1548))
-- Tighter memory and session recall guidance in system prompts ([#1329](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1329))
-- Persist CLI token counts to session DB for `/insights` ([#1498](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1498))
-- Keep Honcho recall out of the cached system prefix ([#1201](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1201))
-- Correct `seed_ai_identity` to use `session.add_messages()` ([#1475](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1475))
-- Isolate Honcho session routing for multi-user gateway ([#1500](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1500))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **System gateway service mode** — run as a system-level systemd service, not just user-level ([#1371](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1371))
-- **Gateway install scope prompts** — choose user vs system scope during setup ([#1374](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1374))
-- **Reasoning hot reload** — change reasoning settings without restarting the gateway ([#1275](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1275))
-- Default group sessions to per-user isolation — no more shared state across users in group chats ([#1495](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1495), [#1417](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1417))
-- Harden gateway restart recovery ([#1310](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1310))
-- Cancel active runs during shutdown ([#1427](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1427))
-- SSL certificate auto-detection for NixOS and non-standard systems ([#1494](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1494))
-- Auto-detect D-Bus session bus for `systemctl --user` on headless servers ([#1601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1601))
-- Auto-enable systemd linger during gateway install on headless servers ([#1334](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1334))
-- Fall back to module entrypoint when `hermes` is not on PATH ([#1355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1355))
-- Fix dual gateways on macOS launchd after `hermes update` ([#1567](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1567))
-- Remove recursive ExecStop from systemd units ([#1530](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1530))
-- Prevent logging handler accumulation in gateway mode ([#1251](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1251))
-- Restart on retryable startup failures — by @jplew ([#1517](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1517))
-- Backfill model on gateway sessions after agent runs ([#1306](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1306))
-- PID-based gateway kill and deferred config write ([#1499](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1499))
-
-### Telegram
-- Buffer media groups to prevent self-interruption from photo bursts ([#1341](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1341), [#1422](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1422))
-- Retry on transient TLS failures during connect and send ([#1535](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1535))
-- Harden polling conflict handling ([#1339](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1339))
-- Escape chunk indicators and inline code in MarkdownV2 ([#1478](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1478), [#1626](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1626))
-- Check updater/app state before disconnect ([#1389](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1389))
-
-### Discord
-- `/thread` command with `auto_thread` config and media metadata fixes ([#1178](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1178))
-- Auto-thread on @mention, skip mention text in bot threads ([#1438](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1438))
-- Retry without reply reference for system messages ([#1385](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1385))
-- Preserve native document and video attachment support ([#1392](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1392))
-- Defer discord adapter annotations to avoid optional import crashes ([#1314](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1314))
-
-### Slack
-- Thread handling overhaul — progress messages, responses, and session isolation all respect threads ([#1103](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1103))
-- Formatting, reactions, user resolution, and command improvements ([#1106](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1106))
-- Fix MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH 3900 → 39000 ([#1117](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1117))
-- File upload fallback preserves thread context — by @0xbyt4 ([#1122](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1122))
-- Improve setup guidance ([#1387](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1387))
-
-### Email
-- Fix IMAP UID tracking and SMTP TLS verification ([#1305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1305))
-- Add `skip_attachments` option via config.yaml ([#1536](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1536))
-
-### Home Assistant
-- Event filtering closed by default ([#1169](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1169))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### Interactive CLI
-- **Persistent CLI status bar** — always-visible model, provider, and token counts ([#1522](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1522))
-- **File path autocomplete** in the input prompt ([#1545](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1545))
-- **`/plan` command** — generate implementation plans from specs ([#1372](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1372), [#1381](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1381))
-- **Major `/rollback` improvements** — richer checkpoint history, clearer UX ([#1505](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1505))
-- **Preload CLI skills on launch** — skills are ready before the first prompt ([#1359](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1359))
-- **Centralized slash command registry** — all commands defined once, consumed everywhere ([#1603](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1603))
-- `/bg` alias for `/background` ([#1590](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1590))
-- Prefix matching for slash commands — `/mod` resolves to `/model` ([#1320](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1320))
-- `/new`, `/reset`, `/clear` now start genuinely fresh sessions ([#1237](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1237))
-- Accept session ID prefixes for session actions ([#1425](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1425))
-- TUI prompt and accent output now respect active skin ([#1282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1282))
-- Centralize tool emoji metadata in registry + skin integration ([#1484](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1484))
-- "View full command" option added to dangerous command approval — by @teknium1 based on design by community ([#887](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/887))
-- Non-blocking startup update check and banner deduplication ([#1386](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1386))
-- `/reasoning` command output ordering and inline think extraction fixes ([#1031](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1031))
-- Verbose mode shows full untruncated output ([#1472](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1472))
-- Fix `/status` to report live state and tokens ([#1476](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1476))
-- Seed a default global SOUL.md ([#1311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1311))
-
-### Setup & Configuration
-- **OpenClaw migration** during first-time setup — by @kshitijk4poor ([#981](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/981))
-- `hermes claw migrate` command + migration docs ([#1059](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1059))
-- Smart vision setup that respects the user's chosen provider ([#1323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1323))
-- Handle headless setup flows end-to-end ([#1274](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1274))
-- Prefer curses over `simple_term_menu` in setup.py ([#1487](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1487))
-- Show effective model and provider in `/status` ([#1284](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1284))
-- Config set examples use placeholder syntax ([#1322](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1322))
-- Reload .env over stale shell overrides ([#1434](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1434))
-- Fix is_coding_plan NameError crash — by @0xbyt4 ([#1123](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1123))
-- Add missing packages to setuptools config — by @alt-glitch ([#912](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/912))
-- Installer: clarify why sudo is needed at every prompt ([#1602](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1602))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### Terminal & Execution
-- **Persistent shell mode** for local and SSH backends — maintain shell state across tool calls — by @alt-glitch ([#1067](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1067), [#1483](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1483))
-- **Tirith pre-exec command scanning** — security layer that analyzes commands before execution ([#1256](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1256))
-- Strip Hermes provider env vars from all subprocess environments ([#1157](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1157), [#1172](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1172), [#1399](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1399), [#1419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1419)) — initial fix by @eren-karakus0
-- SSH preflight check ([#1486](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1486))
-- Docker backend: make cwd workspace mount explicit opt-in ([#1534](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1534))
-- Add project root to PYTHONPATH in execute_code sandbox ([#1383](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1383))
-- Eliminate execute_code progress spam on gateway platforms ([#1098](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1098))
-- Clearer docker backend preflight errors ([#1276](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1276))
-
-### Browser
-- **`/browser connect`** — attach browser tools to a live Chrome instance via CDP ([#1549](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1549))
-- Improve browser cleanup, local browser PATH setup, and screenshot recovery ([#1333](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1333))
-
-### MCP
-- **Selective tool loading** with utility policies — filter which MCP tools are available ([#1302](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1302))
-- Auto-reload MCP tools when `mcp_servers` config changes without restart ([#1474](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1474))
-- Resolve npx stdio connection failures ([#1291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1291))
-- Preserve MCP toolsets when saving platform tool config ([#1421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1421))
-
-### Vision
-- Unify vision backend gating ([#1367](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1367))
-- Surface actual error reason instead of generic message ([#1338](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1338))
-- Make Claude image handling work end-to-end ([#1408](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1408))
-
-### Cron
-- **Compress cron management into one tool** — single `cronjob` tool replaces multiple commands ([#1343](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1343))
-- Suppress duplicate cron sends to auto-delivery targets ([#1357](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1357))
-- Persist cron sessions to SQLite ([#1255](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1255))
-- Per-job runtime overrides (provider, model, base_url) ([#1398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1398))
-- Atomic write in `save_job_output` to prevent data loss on crash ([#1173](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1173))
-- Preserve thread context for `deliver=origin` ([#1437](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1437))
-
-### Patch Tool
-- Avoid corrupting pipe chars in V4A patch apply ([#1286](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1286))
-- Permissive `block_anchor` thresholds and unicode normalization ([#1539](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1539))
-
-### Delegation
-- Add observability metadata to subagent results (model, tokens, duration, tool trace) ([#1175](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1175))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skills System
-- **Integrate skills.sh** as a hub source alongside ClawHub ([#1303](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1303))
-- Secure skill env setup on load ([#1153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1153))
-- Honor policy table for dangerous verdicts ([#1330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1330))
-- Harden ClawHub skill search exact matches ([#1400](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1400))
-- Fix ClawHub skill install — use `/download` ZIP endpoint ([#1060](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1060))
-- Avoid mislabeling local skills as builtin — by @arceus77-7 ([#862](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/862))
-
-### New Skills
-- **Linear** project management ([#1230](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1230))
-- **X/Twitter** via x-cli ([#1285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1285))
-- **Telephony** — Twilio, SMS, and AI calls ([#1289](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1289))
-- **1Password** — by @arceus77-7 ([#883](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/883), [#1179](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1179))
-- **NeuroSkill BCI** integration ([#1135](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1135))
-- **Blender MCP** for 3D modeling ([#1531](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1531))
-- **OSS Security Forensics** ([#1482](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1482))
-- **Parallel CLI** research skill ([#1301](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1301))
-- **OpenCode** CLI skill ([#1174](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1174))
-- **ASCII Video** skill refactored — by @SHL0MS ([#1213](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1213), [#1598](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1598))
-
----
-
-## 🎙️ Voice Mode
-
-- Voice mode foundation — push-to-talk CLI, Telegram/Discord voice notes ([#1299](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1299))
-- Free local Whisper transcription via faster-whisper ([#1185](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1185))
-- Discord voice channel reliability fixes ([#1429](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1429))
-- Restore local STT fallback for gateway voice notes ([#1490](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1490))
-- Honor `stt.enabled: false` across gateway transcription ([#1394](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1394))
-- Fix bogus incapability message on Telegram voice notes (Issue [#1033](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1033))
-
----
-
-## 🔌 ACP (IDE Integration)
-
-- Restore ACP server implementation ([#1254](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1254))
-- Support slash commands in ACP adapter ([#1532](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1532))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 RL Training
-
-- **Agentic On-Policy Distillation (OPD)** environment — new RL training environment for agent policy distillation ([#1149](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1149))
-- Make tinker-atropos RL training fully optional ([#1062](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1062))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security Hardening
-- **Tirith pre-exec command scanning** — static analysis of terminal commands before execution ([#1256](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1256))
-- **PII redaction** when `privacy.redact_pii` is enabled ([#1542](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1542))
-- Strip Hermes provider/gateway/tool env vars from all subprocess environments ([#1157](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1157), [#1172](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1172), [#1399](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1399), [#1419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1419))
-- Docker cwd workspace mount now explicit opt-in — never auto-mount host directories ([#1534](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1534))
-- Escape parens and braces in fork bomb regex pattern ([#1397](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1397))
-- Harden `.worktreeinclude` path containment ([#1388](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1388))
-- Use description as `pattern_key` to prevent approval collisions ([#1395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1395))
-
-### Reliability
-- Guard init-time stdio writes ([#1271](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1271))
-- Session log writes reuse shared atomic JSON helper ([#1280](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1280))
-- Atomic temp cleanup protected on interrupts ([#1401](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1401))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-- **`/status` always showing 0 tokens** — now reports live state (Issue [#1465](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1465), [#1476](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1476))
-- **Custom model endpoints not working** — restored config-saved endpoint resolution (Issue [#1460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1460), [#1373](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1373))
-- **MCP tools not visible until restart** — auto-reload on config change (Issue [#1036](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1036), [#1474](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1474))
-- **`hermes tools` removing MCP tools** — preserve MCP toolsets when saving (Issue [#1247](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1247), [#1421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1421))
-- **Terminal subprocesses inheriting `OPENAI_BASE_URL`** breaking external tools (Issue [#1002](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1002), [#1399](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1399))
-- **Background process lost on gateway restart** — improved recovery (Issue [#1144](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1144))
-- **Cron jobs not persisting state** — now stored in SQLite (Issue [#1416](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1416), [#1255](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1255))
-- **Cronjob `deliver: origin` not preserving thread context** (Issue [#1219](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1219), [#1437](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1437))
-- **Gateway systemd service failing to auto-restart** when browser processes orphaned (Issue [#1617](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1617))
-- **`/background` completion report cut off in Telegram** (Issue [#1443](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1443))
-- **Model switching not taking effect** (Issue [#1244](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1244), [#1183](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1183))
-- **`hermes doctor` reporting cronjob as unavailable** (Issue [#878](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/878), [#1180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1180))
-- **WhatsApp bridge messages not received** from mobile (Issue [#1142](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1142))
-- **Setup wizard hanging on headless SSH** (Issue [#905](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/905), [#1274](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1274))
-- **Log handler accumulation** degrading gateway performance (Issue [#990](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/990), [#1251](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1251))
-- **Gateway NULL model in DB** (Issue [#987](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/987), [#1306](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1306))
-- **Strict endpoints rejecting replayed tool_calls** (Issue [#893](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/893))
-- **Remaining hardcoded `~/.hermes` paths** — all now respect `HERMES_HOME` (Issue [#892](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/892), [#1233](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1233))
-- **Delegate tool not working with custom inference providers** (Issue [#1011](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1011), [#1328](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1328))
-- **Skills Guard blocking official skills** (Issue [#1006](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1006), [#1330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1330))
-- **Setup writing provider before model selection** (Issue [#1182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1182))
-- **`GatewayConfig.get()` AttributeError** crashing all message handling (Issue [#1158](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1158), [#1287](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1287))
-- **`/update` hard-failing with "command not found"** (Issue [#1049](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1049))
-- **Image analysis failing silently** (Issue [#1034](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1034), [#1338](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1338))
-- **API `BadRequestError` from `'dict'` object has no attribute `'strip'`** (Issue [#1071](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1071))
-- **Slash commands requiring exact full name** — now uses prefix matching (Issue [#928](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/928), [#1320](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1320))
-- **Gateway stops responding when terminal is closed on headless** (Issue [#1005](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1005))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- Cover empty cached Anthropic tool-call turns ([#1222](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1222))
-- Fix stale CI assumptions in parser and quick-command coverage ([#1236](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1236))
-- Fix gateway async tests without implicit event loop ([#1278](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1278))
-- Make gateway async tests xdist-safe ([#1281](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1281))
-- Cross-timezone naive timestamp regression for cron ([#1319](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1319))
-- Isolate codex provider tests from local env ([#1335](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1335))
-- Lock retry replacement semantics ([#1379](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1379))
-- Improve error logging in session search tool — by @aydnOktay ([#1533](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1533))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- Comprehensive SOUL.md guide ([#1315](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1315))
-- Voice mode documentation ([#1316](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1316), [#1362](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1362))
-- Provider contribution guide ([#1361](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1361))
-- ACP and internal systems implementation guides ([#1259](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1259))
-- Expand Docusaurus coverage across CLI, tools, skills, and skins ([#1232](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1232))
-- Terminal backend and Windows troubleshooting ([#1297](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1297))
-- Skills hub reference section ([#1317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1317))
-- Checkpoint, /rollback, and git worktrees guide ([#1493](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1493), [#1524](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1524))
-- CLI status bar and /usage reference ([#1523](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1523))
-- Fallback providers + /background command docs ([#1430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1430))
-- Gateway service scopes docs ([#1378](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1378))
-- Slack thread reply behavior docs ([#1407](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1407))
-- Redesigned landing page with Nous blue palette — by @austinpickett ([#974](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/974))
-- Fix several documentation typos — by @JackTheGit ([#953](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/953))
-- Stabilize website diagrams ([#1405](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1405))
-- CLI vs messaging quick reference in README ([#1491](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1491))
-- Add search to Docusaurus ([#1053](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1053))
-- Home Assistant integration docs ([#1170](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1170))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** — 220+ PRs spanning every area of the codebase
-
-### Top Community Contributors
-
-- **@0xbyt4** (4 PRs) — Anthropic adapter fixes (max_tokens, fallback crash, 429/529 retry), Slack file upload thread context, setup NameError fix
-- **@erosika** (1 PR) — Honcho memory integration: async writes, memory modes, session title integration
-- **@SHL0MS** (2 PRs) — ASCII video skill design patterns and refactoring
-- **@alt-glitch** (2 PRs) — Persistent shell mode for local/SSH backends, setuptools packaging fix
-- **@arceus77-7** (2 PRs) — 1Password skill, fix skills list mislabeling
-- **@kshitijk4poor** (1 PR) — OpenClaw migration during setup wizard
-- **@ASRagab** (1 PR) — Fix adaptive thinking for Claude 4.6 models
-- **@eren-karakus0** (1 PR) — Strip Hermes provider env vars from subprocess environment
-- **@mr-emmett-one** (1 PR) — Fix DeepSeek V3 parser multi-tool call support
-- **@jplew** (1 PR) — Gateway restart on retryable startup failures
-- **@brandtcormorant** (1 PR) — Fix Anthropic cache control for empty text blocks
-- **@aydnOktay** (1 PR) — Improve error logging in session search tool
-- **@austinpickett** (1 PR) — Landing page redesign with Nous blue palette
-- **@JackTheGit** (1 PR) — Documentation typo fixes
-
-### All Contributors
-
-@0xbyt4, @alt-glitch, @arceus77-7, @ASRagab, @austinpickett, @aydnOktay, @brandtcormorant, @eren-karakus0, @erosika, @JackTheGit, @jplew, @kshitijk4poor, @mr-emmett-one, @SHL0MS, @teknium1
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.3.12...v2026.3.17](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.3.12...v2026.3.17)

RELEASE_v0.4.0.md

@@ -1,400 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.4.0 (v2026.3.23)
-
-**Release Date:** March 23, 2026
-
-> The platform expansion release — OpenAI-compatible API server, 6 new messaging adapters, 4 new inference providers, MCP server management with OAuth 2.1, @ context references, gateway prompt caching, streaming enabled by default, and a sweeping reliability pass with 200+ bug fixes.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **OpenAI-compatible API server** — Expose Hermes as an `/v1/chat/completions` endpoint with a new `/api/jobs` REST API for cron job management, hardened with input limits, field whitelists, SQLite-backed response persistence, and CORS origin protection ([#1756](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1756), [#2450](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2450), [#2456](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2456), [#2451](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2451), [#2472](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2472))
-
-- **6 new messaging platform adapters** — Signal, DingTalk, SMS (Twilio), Mattermost, Matrix, and Webhook adapters join Telegram, Discord, and WhatsApp. Gateway auto-reconnects failed platforms with exponential backoff ([#2206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2206), [#1685](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1685), [#1688](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1688), [#1683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1683), [#2166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2166), [#2584](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2584))
-
-- **@ context references** — Claude Code-style `@file` and `@url` context injection with tab completions in the CLI ([#2343](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2343), [#2482](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2482))
-
-- **4 new inference providers** — GitHub Copilot (OAuth + token validation), Alibaba Cloud / DashScope, Kilo Code, and OpenCode Zen/Go ([#1924](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1924), [#1879](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1879) by @mchzimm, [#1673](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1673), [#1666](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1666), [#1650](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1650))
-
-- **MCP server management CLI** — `hermes mcp` commands for installing, configuring, and authenticating MCP servers with full OAuth 2.1 PKCE flow ([#2465](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2465))
-
-- **Gateway prompt caching** — Cache AIAgent instances per session, preserving Anthropic prompt cache across turns for dramatic cost reduction on long conversations ([#2282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2282), [#2284](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2284), [#2361](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2361))
-
-- **Context compression overhaul** — Structured summaries with iterative updates, token-budget tail protection, configurable summary endpoint, and fallback model support ([#2323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2323), [#1727](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1727), [#2224](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2224))
-
-- **Streaming enabled by default** — CLI streaming on by default with proper spinner/tool progress display during streaming mode, plus extensive linebreak and concatenation fixes ([#2340](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2340), [#2161](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2161), [#2258](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2258))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### New Commands & Interactions
-- **@ context completions** — Tab-completable `@file`/`@url` references that inject file content or web pages into the conversation ([#2482](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2482), [#2343](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2343))
-- **`/statusbar`** — Toggle a persistent config bar showing model + provider info in the prompt ([#2240](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2240), [#1917](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1917))
-- **`/queue`** — Queue prompts for the agent without interrupting the current run ([#2191](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2191), [#2469](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2469))
-- **`/permission`** — Switch approval mode dynamically during a session ([#2207](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2207))
-- **`/browser`** — Interactive browser sessions from the CLI ([#2273](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2273), [#1814](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1814))
-- **`/cost`** — Live pricing and usage tracking in gateway mode ([#2180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2180))
-- **`/approve` and `/deny`** — Replaced bare text approval in gateway with explicit commands ([#2002](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2002))
-
-### Streaming & Display
-- Streaming enabled by default in CLI ([#2340](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2340))
-- Show spinners and tool progress during streaming mode ([#2161](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2161))
-- Show reasoning/thinking blocks when `show_reasoning` enabled ([#2118](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2118))
-- Context pressure warnings for CLI and gateway ([#2159](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2159))
-- Fix: streaming chunks concatenated without whitespace ([#2258](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2258))
-- Fix: iteration boundary linebreak prevents stream concatenation ([#2413](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2413))
-- Fix: defer streaming linebreak to prevent blank line stacking ([#2473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2473))
-- Fix: suppress spinner animation in non-TTY environments ([#2216](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2216))
-- Fix: display provider and endpoint in API error messages ([#2266](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2266))
-- Fix: resolve garbled ANSI escape codes in status printouts ([#2448](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2448))
-- Fix: update gold ANSI color to true-color format ([#2246](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2246))
-- Fix: normalize toolset labels and use skin colors in banner ([#1912](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1912))
-
-### CLI Polish
-- Fix: prevent 'Press ENTER to continue...' on exit ([#2555](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2555))
-- Fix: flush stdout during agent loop to prevent macOS display freeze ([#1654](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1654))
-- Fix: show human-readable error when `hermes setup` hits permissions error ([#2196](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2196))
-- Fix: `/stop` command crash + UnboundLocalError in streaming media delivery ([#2463](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2463))
-- Fix: allow custom/local endpoints without API key ([#2556](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2556))
-- Fix: Kitty keyboard protocol Shift+Enter for Ghostty/WezTerm (attempted + reverted due to prompt_toolkit crash) ([#2345](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2345), [#2349](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2349))
-
-### Configuration
-- **`${ENV_VAR}` substitution** in config.yaml ([#2684](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2684))
-- **Real-time config reload** — config.yaml changes apply without restart ([#2210](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2210))
-- **`custom_models.yaml`** for user-managed model additions ([#2214](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2214))
-- **Priority-based context file selection** + CLAUDE.md support ([#2301](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2301))
-- **Merge nested YAML sections** instead of replacing on config update ([#2213](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2213))
-- Fix: config.yaml provider key overrides env var silently ([#2272](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2272))
-- Fix: log warning instead of silently swallowing config.yaml errors ([#2683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2683))
-- Fix: disabled toolsets re-enable themselves after `hermes tools` ([#2268](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2268))
-- Fix: platform default toolsets silently override tool deselection ([#2624](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2624))
-- Fix: honor bare YAML `approvals.mode: off` ([#2620](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2620))
-- Fix: `hermes update` use `.[all]` extras with fallback ([#1728](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1728))
-- Fix: `hermes update` prompt before resetting working tree on stash conflicts ([#2390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2390))
-- Fix: use git pull --rebase in update/install to avoid divergent branch error ([#2274](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2274))
-- Fix: add zprofile fallback and create zshrc on fresh macOS installs ([#2320](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2320))
-- Fix: remove `ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL` env var to avoid collisions ([#1675](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1675))
-- Fix: don't ask IMAP password if already in keyring or env ([#2212](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2212))
-- Fix: OpenCode Zen/Go show OpenRouter models instead of their own ([#2277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2277))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### New Providers
-- **GitHub Copilot** — Full OAuth auth, API routing, token validation, and 400k context. ([#1924](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1924), [#1896](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1896), [#1879](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1879) by @mchzimm, [#2507](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2507))
-- **Alibaba Cloud / DashScope** — Full integration with DashScope v1 runtime, model dot preservation, and 401 auth fixes ([#1673](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1673), [#2332](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2332), [#2459](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2459))
-- **Kilo Code** — First-class inference provider ([#1666](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1666))
-- **OpenCode Zen and OpenCode Go** — New provider backends ([#1650](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1650), [#2393](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2393) by @0xbyt4)
-- **NeuTTS** — Local TTS provider backend with built-in setup flow, replacing the old optional skill ([#1657](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1657), [#1664](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1664))
-
-### Provider Improvements
-- **Eager fallback** to backup model on rate-limit errors ([#1730](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1730))
-- **Endpoint metadata** for custom model context and pricing; query local servers for actual context window size ([#1906](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1906), [#2091](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2091) by @dusterbloom)
-- **Context length detection overhaul** — models.dev integration, provider-aware resolution, fuzzy matching for custom endpoints, `/v1/props` for llama.cpp ([#2158](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2158), [#2051](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2051), [#2403](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2403))
-- **Model catalog updates** — gpt-5.4-mini, gpt-5.4-nano, healer-alpha, haiku-4.5, minimax-m2.7, claude 4.6 at 1M context ([#1913](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1913), [#1915](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1915), [#1900](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1900), [#2155](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2155), [#2474](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2474))
-- **Custom endpoint improvements** — `model.base_url` in config.yaml, `api_mode` override for responses API, allow endpoints without API key, fail fast on missing keys ([#2330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2330), [#1651](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1651), [#2556](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2556), [#2445](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2445), [#1994](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1994), [#1998](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1998))
-- Inject model and provider into system prompt ([#1929](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1929))
-- Tie `api_mode` to provider config instead of env var ([#1656](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1656))
-- Fix: prevent Anthropic token leaking to third-party `anthropic_messages` providers ([#2389](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2389))
-- Fix: prevent Anthropic fallback from inheriting non-Anthropic `base_url` ([#2388](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2388))
-- Fix: `auxiliary_is_nous` flag never resets — leaked Nous tags to other providers ([#1713](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1713))
-- Fix: Anthropic `tool_choice 'none'` still allowed tool calls ([#1714](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1714))
-- Fix: Mistral parser nested JSON fallback extraction ([#2335](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2335))
-- Fix: MiniMax 401 auth resolved by defaulting to `anthropic_messages` ([#2103](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2103))
-- Fix: case-insensitive model family matching ([#2350](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2350))
-- Fix: ignore placeholder provider keys in activation checks ([#2358](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2358))
-- Fix: Preserve Ollama model:tag colons in context length detection ([#2149](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2149))
-- Fix: recognize Claude Code OAuth credentials in startup gate ([#1663](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1663))
-- Fix: detect Claude Code version dynamically for OAuth user-agent ([#1670](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1670))
-- Fix: OAuth flag stale after refresh/fallback ([#1890](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1890))
-- Fix: auxiliary client skips expired Codex JWT ([#2397](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2397))
-
-### Agent Loop
-- **Gateway prompt caching** — Cache AIAgent per session, keep assistant turns, fix session restore ([#2282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2282), [#2284](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2284), [#2361](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2361))
-- **Context compression overhaul** — Structured summaries, iterative updates, token-budget tail protection, configurable `summary_base_url` ([#2323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2323), [#1727](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1727), [#2224](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2224))
-- **Pre-call sanitization and post-call tool guardrails** ([#1732](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1732))
-- **Auto-recover** from provider-rejected `tool_choice` by retrying without ([#2174](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2174))
-- **Background memory/skill review** replaces inline nudges ([#2235](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2235))
-- **SOUL.md as primary agent identity** instead of hardcoded default ([#1922](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1922))
-- Fix: prevent silent tool result loss during context compression ([#1993](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1993))
-- Fix: handle empty/null function arguments in tool call recovery ([#2163](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2163))
-- Fix: handle API refusal responses gracefully instead of crashing ([#2156](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2156))
-- Fix: prevent stuck agent loop on malformed tool calls ([#2114](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2114))
-- Fix: return JSON parse error to model instead of dispatching with empty args ([#2342](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2342))
-- Fix: consecutive assistant message merge drops content on mixed types ([#1703](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1703))
-- Fix: message role alternation violations in JSON recovery and error handler ([#1722](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1722))
-- Fix: `compression_attempts` resets each iteration — allowed unlimited compressions ([#1723](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1723))
-- Fix: `length_continue_retries` never resets — later truncations got fewer retries ([#1717](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1717))
-- Fix: compressor summary role violated consecutive-role constraint ([#1720](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1720), [#1743](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1743))
-- Fix: remove hardcoded `gemini-3-flash-preview` as default summary model ([#2464](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2464))
-- Fix: correctly handle empty tool results ([#2201](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2201))
-- Fix: crash on None entry in `tool_calls` list ([#2209](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2209) by @0xbyt4, [#2316](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2316))
-- Fix: per-thread persistent event loops in worker threads ([#2214](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2214) by @jquesnelle)
-- Fix: prevent 'event loop already running' when async tools run in parallel ([#2207](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2207))
-- Fix: strip ANSI at the source — clean terminal output before it reaches the model ([#2115](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2115))
-- Fix: skip top-level `cache_control` on role:tool for OpenRouter ([#2391](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2391))
-- Fix: delegate tool — save parent tool names before child construction mutates global ([#2083](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2083) by @ygd58, [#1894](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1894))
-- Fix: only strip last assistant message if empty string ([#2326](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2326))
-
-### Session & Memory
-- **Session search** and management slash commands ([#2198](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2198))
-- **Auto session titles** and `.hermes.md` project config ([#1712](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1712))
-- Fix: concurrent memory writes silently drop entries — added file locking ([#1726](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1726))
-- Fix: search all sources by default in `session_search` ([#1892](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1892))
-- Fix: handle hyphenated FTS5 queries and preserve quoted literals ([#1776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1776))
-- Fix: skip corrupt lines in `load_transcript` instead of crashing ([#1744](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1744))
-- Fix: normalize session keys to prevent case-sensitive duplicates ([#2157](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2157))
-- Fix: prevent `session_search` crash when no sessions exist ([#2194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2194))
-- Fix: reset token counters on new session for accurate usage display ([#2101](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2101) by @InB4DevOps)
-- Fix: prevent stale memory overwrites by flush agent ([#2687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2687))
-- Fix: remove synthetic error message injection, fix session resume after repeated failures ([#2303](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2303))
-- Fix: quiet mode with `--resume` now passes conversation_history ([#2357](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2357))
-- Fix: unify resume logic in batch mode ([#2331](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2331))
-
-### Honcho Memory
-- Honcho config fixes and @ context reference integration ([#2343](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2343))
-- Self-hosted / Docker configuration documentation ([#2475](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2475))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### New Platform Adapters
-- **Signal Messenger** — Full adapter with attachment handling, group message filtering, and Note to Self echo-back protection ([#2206](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2206), [#2400](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2400), [#2297](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2297), [#2156](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2156))
-- **DingTalk** — Adapter with gateway wiring and setup docs ([#1685](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1685), [#1690](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1690), [#1692](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1692))
-- **SMS (Twilio)** ([#1688](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1688))
-- **Mattermost** — With @-mention-only channel filter ([#1683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1683), [#2443](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2443))
-- **Matrix** — With vision support and image caching ([#1683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1683), [#2520](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2520))
-- **Webhook** — Platform adapter for external event triggers ([#2166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2166))
-- **OpenAI-compatible API server** — `/v1/chat/completions` endpoint with `/api/jobs` cron management ([#1756](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1756), [#2450](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2450), [#2456](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2456))
-
-### Telegram Improvements
-- MarkdownV2 support — strikethrough, spoiler, blockquotes, escape parentheses/braces/backslashes/backticks ([#2199](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2199), [#2200](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2200) by @llbn, [#2386](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2386))
-- Auto-detect HTML tags and use `parse_mode=HTML` ([#1709](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1709))
-- Telegram group vision support + thread-based sessions ([#2153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2153))
-- Auto-reconnect polling after network interruption ([#2517](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2517))
-- Aggregate split text messages before dispatching ([#1674](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1674))
-- Fix: streaming config bridge, not-modified, flood control ([#1782](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1782), [#1783](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1783))
-- Fix: edited_message event crashes ([#2074](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2074))
-- Fix: retry 409 polling conflicts before giving up ([#2312](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2312))
-- Fix: topic delivery via `platform:chat_id:thread_id` format ([#2455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2455))
-
-### Discord Improvements
-- Document caching and text-file injection ([#2503](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2503))
-- Persistent typing indicator for DMs ([#2468](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2468))
-- Discord DM vision — inline images + attachment analysis ([#2186](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2186))
-- Persist thread participation across gateway restarts ([#1661](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1661))
-- Fix: gateway crash on non-ASCII guild names ([#2302](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2302))
-- Fix: thread permission errors ([#2073](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2073))
-- Fix: slash event routing in threads ([#2460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2460))
-- Fix: remove bugged followup messages + `/ask` command ([#1836](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1836))
-- Fix: graceful WebSocket reconnection ([#2127](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2127))
-- Fix: voice channel TTS when streaming enabled ([#2322](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2322))
-
-### WhatsApp & Other Adapters
-- WhatsApp: outbound `send_message` routing ([#1769](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1769) by @sai-samarth), LID format self-chat ([#1667](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1667)), `reply_prefix` config fix ([#1923](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1923)), restart on bridge child exit ([#2334](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2334)), image/bridge improvements ([#2181](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2181))
-- Matrix: correct `reply_to_message_id` parameter ([#1895](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1895)), bare media types fix ([#1736](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1736))
-- Mattermost: MIME types for media attachments ([#2329](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2329))
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Auto-reconnect** failed platforms with exponential backoff ([#2584](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2584))
-- **Notify users when session auto-resets** ([#2519](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2519))
-- **Reply-to message context** for out-of-session replies ([#1662](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1662))
-- **Ignore unauthorized DMs** config option ([#1919](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1919))
-- Fix: `/reset` in thread-mode resets global session instead of thread ([#2254](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2254))
-- Fix: deliver MEDIA: files after streaming responses ([#2382](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2382))
-- Fix: cap interrupt recursion depth to prevent resource exhaustion ([#1659](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1659))
-- Fix: detect stopped processes and release stale locks on `--replace` ([#2406](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2406), [#1908](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1908))
-- Fix: PID-based wait with force-kill for gateway restart ([#1902](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1902))
-- Fix: prevent `--replace` mode from killing the caller process ([#2185](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2185))
-- Fix: `/model` shows active fallback model instead of config default ([#1660](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1660))
-- Fix: `/title` command fails when session doesn't exist in SQLite yet ([#2379](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2379) by @ten-jampa)
-- Fix: process `/queue`'d messages after agent completion ([#2469](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2469))
-- Fix: strip orphaned `tool_results` + let `/reset` bypass running agent ([#2180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2180))
-- Fix: prevent agents from starting gateway outside systemd management ([#2617](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2617))
-- Fix: prevent systemd restart storm on gateway connection failure ([#2327](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2327))
-- Fix: include resolved node path in systemd unit ([#1767](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1767) by @sai-samarth)
-- Fix: send error details to user in gateway outer exception handler ([#1966](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1966))
-- Fix: improve error handling for 429 usage limits and 500 context overflow ([#1839](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1839))
-- Fix: add all missing platform allowlist env vars to startup warning check ([#2628](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2628))
-- Fix: media delivery fails for file paths containing spaces ([#2621](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2621))
-- Fix: duplicate session-key collision in multi-platform gateway ([#2171](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2171))
-- Fix: Matrix and Mattermost never report as connected ([#1711](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1711))
-- Fix: PII redaction config never read — missing yaml import ([#1701](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1701))
-- Fix: NameError on skill slash commands ([#1697](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1697))
-- Fix: persist watcher metadata in checkpoint for crash recovery ([#1706](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1706))
-- Fix: pass `message_thread_id` in send_image_file, send_document, send_video ([#2339](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2339))
-- Fix: media-group aggregation on rapid successive photo messages ([#2160](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2160))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### MCP Enhancements
-- **MCP server management CLI** + OAuth 2.1 PKCE auth ([#2465](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2465))
-- **Expose MCP servers as standalone toolsets** ([#1907](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1907))
-- **Interactive MCP tool configuration** in `hermes tools` ([#1694](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1694))
-- Fix: MCP-OAuth port mismatch, path traversal, and shared handler state ([#2552](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2552))
-- Fix: preserve MCP tool registrations across session resets ([#2124](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2124))
-- Fix: concurrent file access crash + duplicate MCP registration ([#2154](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2154))
-- Fix: normalise MCP schemas + expand session list columns ([#2102](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2102))
-- Fix: `tool_choice` `mcp_` prefix handling ([#1775](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1775))
-
-### Web Tool Backends
-- **Tavily** as web search/extract/crawl backend ([#1731](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1731))
-- **Parallel** as alternative web search/extract backend ([#1696](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1696))
-- **Configurable web backend** — Firecrawl/BeautifulSoup/Playwright selection ([#2256](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2256))
-- Fix: whitespace-only env vars bypass web backend detection ([#2341](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2341))
-
-### New Tools
-- **IMAP email** reading and sending ([#2173](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2173))
-- **STT (speech-to-text)** tool using Whisper API ([#2072](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2072))
-- **Route-aware pricing estimates** ([#1695](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1695))
-
-### Tool Improvements
-- TTS: `base_url` support for OpenAI TTS provider ([#2064](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2064) by @hanai)
-- Vision: configurable timeout, tilde expansion in file paths, DM vision with multi-image and base64 fallback ([#2480](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2480), [#2585](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2585), [#2211](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2211))
-- Browser: race condition fix in session creation ([#1721](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1721)), TypeError on unexpected LLM params ([#1735](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1735))
-- File tools: strip ANSI escape codes from write_file and patch content ([#2532](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2532)), include pagination args in repeated search key ([#1824](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1824) by @cutepawss), improve fuzzy matching accuracy + position calculation refactor ([#2096](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2096), [#1681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1681))
-- Code execution: resource leak and double socket close fix ([#2381](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2381))
-- Delegate: thread safety for concurrent subagent delegation ([#1672](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1672)), preserve parent agent's tool list after delegation ([#1778](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1778))
-- Fix: make concurrent tool batching path-aware for file mutations ([#1914](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1914))
-- Fix: chunk long messages in `send_message_tool` before platform dispatch ([#1646](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1646))
-- Fix: add missing 'messaging' toolset ([#1718](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1718))
-- Fix: prevent unavailable tool names from leaking into model schemas ([#2072](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2072))
-- Fix: pass visited set by reference to prevent diamond dependency duplication ([#2311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2311))
-- Fix: Daytona sandbox lookup migrated from `find_one` to `get/list` ([#2063](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2063) by @rovle)
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skills System Improvements
-- **Agent-created skills** — Caution-level findings allowed, dangerous skills ask instead of block ([#1840](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1840), [#2446](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2446))
-- **`--yes` flag** to bypass confirmation in `/skills install` and uninstall ([#1647](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1647))
-- **Disabled skills respected** across banner, system prompt, and slash commands ([#1897](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1897))
-- Fix: skills custom_tools import crash + sandbox file_tools integration ([#2239](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2239))
-- Fix: agent-created skills with pip requirements crash on install ([#2145](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2145))
-- Fix: race condition in `Skills.__init__` when `hub.yaml` missing ([#2242](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2242))
-- Fix: validate skill metadata before install and block duplicates ([#2241](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2241))
-- Fix: skills hub inspect/resolve — 4 bugs in inspect, redirects, discovery, tap list ([#2447](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2447))
-- Fix: agent-created skills keep working after session reset ([#2121](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2121))
-
-### New Skills
-- **OCR-and-documents** — PDF/DOCX/XLS/PPTX/image OCR with optional GPU ([#2236](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2236), [#2461](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2461))
-- **Huggingface-hub** bundled skill ([#1921](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1921))
-- **Sherlock OSINT** username search ([#1671](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1671))
-- **Meme-generation** — Image generator with Pillow ([#2344](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2344))
-- **Bioinformatics** gateway skill — index to 400+ bio skills ([#2387](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2387))
-- **Inference.sh** skill (terminal-based) ([#1686](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1686))
-- **Base blockchain** optional skill ([#1643](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1643))
-- **3D-model-viewer** optional skill ([#2226](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2226))
-- **FastMCP** optional skill ([#2113](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2113))
-- **Hermes-agent-setup** skill ([#1905](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1905))
-
----
-
-## 🔌 Plugin System Enhancements
-
-- **TUI extension hooks** — Build custom CLIs on top of Hermes ([#2333](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2333))
-- **`hermes plugins install/remove/list`** commands ([#2337](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2337))
-- **Slash command registration** for plugins ([#2359](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2359))
-- **`session:end` lifecycle event** hook ([#1725](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1725))
-- Fix: require opt-in for project plugin discovery ([#2215](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2215))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security
-- **SSRF protection** for vision_tools and web_tools ([#2679](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2679))
-- **Shell injection prevention** in `_expand_path` via `~user` path suffix ([#2685](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2685))
-- **Block untrusted browser-origin** API server access ([#2451](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2451))
-- **Block sandbox backend creds** from subprocess env ([#1658](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1658))
-- **Block @ references** from reading secrets outside workspace ([#2601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2601) by @Gutslabs)
-- **Malicious code pattern pre-exec scanner** for terminal_tool ([#2245](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2245))
-- **Harden terminal safety** and sandbox file writes ([#1653](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1653))
-- **PKCE verifier leak** fix + OAuth refresh Content-Type ([#1775](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1775))
-- **Eliminate SQL string formatting** in `execute()` calls ([#2061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2061) by @dusterbloom)
-- **Harden jobs API** — input limits, field whitelist, startup check ([#2456](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2456))
-
-### Reliability
-- Thread locks on 4 SessionDB methods ([#1704](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1704))
-- File locking for concurrent memory writes ([#1726](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1726))
-- Handle OpenRouter errors gracefully ([#2112](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2112))
-- Guard print() calls against OSError ([#1668](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1668))
-- Safely handle non-string inputs in redacting formatter ([#2392](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2392), [#1700](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1700))
-- ACP: preserve session provider on model switch, persist sessions to disk ([#2380](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2380), [#2071](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2071))
-- API server: persist ResponseStore to SQLite across restarts ([#2472](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2472))
-- Fix: `fetch_nous_models` always TypeError from positional args ([#1699](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1699))
-- Fix: resolve merge conflict markers in cli.py breaking startup ([#2347](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2347))
-- Fix: `minisweagent_path.py` missing from wheel ([#2098](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2098) by @JiwaniZakir)
-
-### Cron System
-- **`[SILENT]` response** — cron agents can suppress delivery ([#1833](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1833))
-- **Scale missed-job grace window** with schedule frequency ([#2449](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2449))
-- **Recover recent one-shot jobs** ([#1918](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1918))
-- Fix: normalize `repeat<=0` to None — jobs deleted after first run when LLM passes -1 ([#2612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2612) by @Mibayy)
-- Fix: Matrix added to scheduler delivery platform_map ([#2167](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2167) by @buntingszn)
-- Fix: naive ISO timestamps without timezone — jobs fire at wrong time ([#1729](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1729))
-- Fix: `get_due_jobs` reads `jobs.json` twice — race condition ([#1716](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1716))
-- Fix: silent jobs return empty response for delivery skip ([#2442](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2442))
-- Fix: stop injecting cron outputs into gateway session history ([#2313](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2313))
-- Fix: close abandoned coroutine when `asyncio.run()` raises RuntimeError ([#2317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2317))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- Resolve all consistently failing tests ([#2488](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2488))
-- Replace `FakePath` with `monkeypatch` for Python 3.12 compat ([#2444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2444))
-- Align Hermes setup and full-suite expectations ([#1710](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1710))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- Comprehensive docs update for recent features ([#1693](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1693), [#2183](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2183))
-- Alibaba Cloud and DingTalk setup guides ([#1687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1687), [#1692](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1692))
-- Detailed skills documentation ([#2244](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2244))
-- Honcho self-hosted / Docker configuration ([#2475](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2475))
-- Context length detection FAQ and quickstart references ([#2179](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2179))
-- Fix docs inconsistencies across reference and user guides ([#1995](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1995))
-- Fix MCP install commands — use uv, not bare pip ([#1909](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1909))
-- Replace ASCII diagrams with Mermaid/lists ([#2402](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2402))
-- Gemini OAuth provider implementation plan ([#2467](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2467))
-- Discord Server Members Intent marked as required ([#2330](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2330))
-- Fix MDX build error in api-server.md ([#1787](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1787))
-- Align venv path to match installer ([#2114](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2114))
-- New skills added to hub index ([#2281](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2281))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** (Teknium) — 280 PRs
-
-### Community Contributors
-- **@mchzimm** (to_the_max) — GitHub Copilot provider integration ([#1879](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1879))
-- **@jquesnelle** (Jeffrey Quesnelle) — Per-thread persistent event loops fix ([#2214](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2214))
-- **@llbn** (lbn) — Telegram MarkdownV2 strikethrough, spoiler, blockquotes, and escape fixes ([#2199](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2199), [#2200](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2200))
-- **@dusterbloom** — SQL injection prevention + local server context window querying ([#2061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2061), [#2091](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2091))
-- **@0xbyt4** — Anthropic tool_calls None guard + OpenCode-Go provider config fix ([#2209](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2209), [#2393](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2393))
-- **@sai-samarth** (Saisamarth) — WhatsApp send_message routing + systemd node path ([#1769](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1769), [#1767](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1767))
-- **@Gutslabs** (Guts) — Block @ references from reading secrets ([#2601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2601))
-- **@Mibayy** (Mibay) — Cron job repeat normalization ([#2612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2612))
-- **@ten-jampa** (Tenzin Jampa) — Gateway /title command fix ([#2379](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2379))
-- **@cutepawss** (lila) — File tools search pagination fix ([#1824](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/1824))
-- **@hanai** (Hanai) — OpenAI TTS base_url support ([#2064](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2064))
-- **@rovle** (Lovre Pešut) — Daytona sandbox API migration ([#2063](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2063))
-- **@buntingszn** (bunting szn) — Matrix cron delivery support ([#2167](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2167))
-- **@InB4DevOps** — Token counter reset on new session ([#2101](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2101))
-- **@JiwaniZakir** (Zakir Jiwani) — Missing file in wheel fix ([#2098](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2098))
-- **@ygd58** (buray) — Delegate tool parent tool names fix ([#2083](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2083))
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.3.17...v2026.3.23](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.3.17...v2026.3.23)

RELEASE_v0.5.0.md

@@ -1,348 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.5.0 (v2026.3.28)
-
-**Release Date:** March 28, 2026
-
-> The hardening release — Hugging Face provider, /model command overhaul, Telegram Private Chat Topics, native Modal SDK, plugin lifecycle hooks, tool-use enforcement for GPT models, Nix flake, 50+ security and reliability fixes, and a comprehensive supply chain audit.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Nous Portal now supports 400+ models** — The Nous Research inference portal has expanded dramatically, giving Hermes Agent users access to over 400 models through a single provider endpoint
-
-- **Hugging Face as a first-class inference provider** — Full integration with HF Inference API including curated agentic model picker that maps to OpenRouter analogues, live `/models` endpoint probe, and setup wizard flow ([#3419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3419), [#3440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3440))
-
-- **Telegram Private Chat Topics** — Project-based conversations with functional skill binding per topic, enabling isolated workflows within a single Telegram chat ([#3163](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3163))
-
-- **Native Modal SDK backend** — Replaced swe-rex dependency with native Modal SDK (`Sandbox.create.aio` + `exec.aio`), eliminating tunnels and simplifying the Modal terminal backend ([#3538](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3538))
-
-- **Plugin lifecycle hooks activated** — `pre_llm_call`, `post_llm_call`, `on_session_start`, and `on_session_end` hooks now fire in the agent loop and CLI/gateway, completing the plugin hook system ([#3542](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3542))
-
-- **Improved OpenAI Model Reliability** — Added `GPT_TOOL_USE_GUIDANCE` to prevent GPT models from describing intended actions instead of making tool calls, plus automatic stripping of stale budget warnings from conversation history that caused models to avoid tools across turns ([#3528](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3528))
-
-- **Nix flake** — Full uv2nix build, NixOS module with persistent container mode, auto-generated config keys from Python source, and suffix PATHs for agent-friendliness ([#20](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20), [#3274](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3274), [#3061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3061)) by @alt-glitch
-
-- **Supply chain hardening** — Removed compromised `litellm` dependency, pinned all dependency version ranges, regenerated `uv.lock` with hashes, added CI workflow scanning PRs for supply chain attack patterns, and bumped deps to fix CVEs ([#2796](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2796), [#2810](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2810), [#2812](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2812), [#2816](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2816), [#3073](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3073))
-
-- **Anthropic output limits fix** — Replaced hardcoded 16K `max_tokens` with per-model native output limits (128K for Opus 4.6, 64K for Sonnet 4.6), fixing "Response truncated" and thinking-budget exhaustion on direct Anthropic API ([#3426](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3426), [#3444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3444))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### New Provider: Hugging Face
-- First-class Hugging Face Inference API integration with auth, setup wizard, and model picker ([#3419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3419))
-- Curated model list mapping OpenRouter agentic defaults to HF equivalents — providers with 8+ curated models skip live `/models` probe for speed ([#3440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3440))
-- Added glm-5-turbo to Z.AI provider model list ([#3095](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3095))
-
-### Provider & Model Improvements
-- `/model` command overhaul — extracted shared `switch_model()` pipeline for CLI and gateway, custom endpoint support, provider-aware routing ([#2795](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2795), [#2799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2799))
-- Removed `/model` slash command from CLI and gateway in favor of `hermes model` subcommand ([#3080](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3080))
-- Preserve `custom` provider instead of silently remapping to `openrouter` ([#2792](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2792))
-- Read root-level `provider` and `base_url` from config.yaml into model config ([#3112](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3112))
-- Align Nous Portal model slugs with OpenRouter naming ([#3253](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3253))
-- Fix Alibaba provider default endpoint and model list ([#3484](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3484))
-- Allow MiniMax users to override `/v1` → `/anthropic` auto-correction ([#3553](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3553))
-- Migrate OAuth token refresh to `platform.claude.com` with fallback ([#3246](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3246))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **Improved OpenAI model reliability** — `GPT_TOOL_USE_GUIDANCE` prevents GPT models from describing actions instead of calling tools + automatic budget warning stripping from history ([#3528](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3528))
-- **Surface lifecycle events** — All retry, fallback, and compression events now surface to the user as formatted messages ([#3153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3153))
-- **Anthropic output limits** — Per-model native output limits instead of hardcoded 16K `max_tokens` ([#3426](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3426))
-- **Thinking-budget exhaustion detection** — Skip useless continuation retries when model uses all output tokens on reasoning ([#3444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3444))
-- Always prefer streaming for API calls to prevent hung subagents ([#3120](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3120))
-- Restore safe non-streaming fallback after stream failures ([#3020](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3020))
-- Give subagents independent iteration budgets ([#3004](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3004))
-- Update `api_key` in `_try_activate_fallback` for subagent auth ([#3103](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3103))
-- Graceful return on max retries instead of crashing thread ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Count compression restarts toward retry limit ([#3070](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3070))
-- Include tool tokens in preflight estimate, guard context probe persistence ([#3164](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3164))
-- Update context compressor limits after fallback activation ([#3305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3305))
-- Validate empty user messages to prevent Anthropic API 400 errors ([#3322](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3322))
-- GLM reasoning-only and max-length handling ([#3010](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3010))
-- Increase API timeout default from 900s to 1800s for slow-thinking models ([#3431](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3431))
-- Send `max_tokens` for Claude/OpenRouter + retry SSE connection errors ([#3497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3497))
-- Prevent AsyncOpenAI/httpx cross-loop deadlock in gateway mode ([#2701](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2701)) by @ctlst
-
-### Streaming & Reasoning
-- **Persist reasoning across gateway session turns** with new schema v6 columns (`reasoning`, `reasoning_details`, `codex_reasoning_items`) ([#2974](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2974))
-- Detect and kill stale SSE connections ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Fix stale stream detector race causing spurious `RemoteProtocolError` ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Skip duplicate callback for `<think>`-extracted reasoning during streaming ([#3116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3116))
-- Preserve reasoning fields in `rewrite_transcript` ([#3311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3311))
-- Preserve Gemini thought signatures in streamed tool calls ([#2997](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2997))
-- Ensure first delta is fired during reasoning updates ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-
-### Session & Memory
-- **Session search recent sessions mode** — Omit query to browse recent sessions with titles, previews, and timestamps ([#2533](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2533))
-- **Session config surfacing** on `/new`, `/reset`, and auto-reset ([#3321](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3321))
-- **Third-party session isolation** — `--source` flag for isolating sessions by origin ([#3255](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3255))
-- Add `/resume` CLI handler, session log truncation guard, `reopen_session` API ([#3315](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3315))
-- Clear compressor summary and turn counter on `/clear` and `/new` ([#3102](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3102))
-- Surface silent SessionDB failures that cause session data loss ([#2999](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2999))
-- Session search fallback preview on summarization failure ([#3478](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3478))
-- Prevent stale memory overwrites by flush agent ([#2687](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2687))
-
-### Context Compression
-- Replace dead `summary_target_tokens` with ratio-based scaling ([#2554](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2554))
-- Expose `compression.target_ratio`, `protect_last_n`, and `threshold` in `DEFAULT_CONFIG` ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Restore sane defaults and cap summary at 12K tokens ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Preserve transcript on `/compress` and hygiene compression ([#3556](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3556))
-- Update context pressure warnings and token estimates after compaction ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-
-### Architecture & Dependencies
-- **Remove mini-swe-agent dependency** — Inline Docker and Modal backends directly ([#2804](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2804))
-- **Replace swe-rex with native Modal SDK** for Modal backend ([#3538](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3538))
-- **Plugin lifecycle hooks** — `pre_llm_call`, `post_llm_call`, `on_session_start`, `on_session_end` now fire in the agent loop ([#3542](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3542))
-- Fix plugin toolsets invisible in `hermes tools` and standalone processes ([#3457](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3457))
-- Consolidate `get_hermes_home()` and `parse_reasoning_effort()` ([#3062](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3062))
-- Remove unused Hermes-native PKCE OAuth flow ([#3107](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3107))
-- Remove ~100 unused imports across 55 files ([#3016](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3016))
-- Fix 154 f-strings, simplify getattr/URL patterns, remove dead code ([#3119](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3119))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### Telegram
-- **Private Chat Topics** — Project-based conversations with functional skill binding per topic, enabling isolated workflows within a single Telegram chat ([#3163](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3163))
-- **Auto-discover fallback IPs via DNS-over-HTTPS** when `api.telegram.org` is unreachable ([#3376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3376))
-- **Configurable reply threading mode** ([#2907](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2907))
-- Fall back to no `thread_id` on "Message thread not found" BadRequest ([#3390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3390))
-- Self-reschedule reconnect when `start_polling` fails after 502 ([#3268](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3268))
-
-### Discord
-- Stop phantom typing indicator after agent turn completes ([#3003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3003))
-
-### Slack
-- Send tool call progress messages to correct Slack thread ([#3063](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3063))
-- Scope progress thread fallback to Slack only ([#3488](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3488))
-
-### WhatsApp
-- Download documents, audio, and video media from messages ([#2978](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2978))
-
-### Matrix
-- Add missing Matrix entry in `PLATFORMS` dict ([#3473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3473))
-- Harden e2ee access-token handling ([#3562](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3562))
-- Add backoff for `SyncError` in sync loop ([#3280](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3280))
-
-### Signal
-- Track SSE keepalive comments as connection activity ([#3316](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3316))
-
-### Email
-- Prevent unbounded growth of `_seen_uids` in EmailAdapter ([#3490](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3490))
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Config-gated `/verbose` command** for messaging platforms — toggle tool output verbosity from chat ([#3262](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3262))
-- **Background review notifications** delivered to user chat ([#3293](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3293))
-- **Retry transient send failures** and notify user on exhaustion ([#3288](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3288))
-- Recover from hung agents — `/stop` hard-kills session lock ([#3104](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3104))
-- Thread-safe `SessionStore` — protect `_entries` with `threading.Lock` ([#3052](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3052))
-- Fix gateway token double-counting with cached agents — use absolute set instead of increment ([#3306](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3306), [#3317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3317))
-- Fingerprint full auth token in agent cache signature ([#3247](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3247))
-- Silence background agent terminal output ([#3297](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3297))
-- Include per-platform `ALLOW_ALL` and `SIGNAL_GROUP` in startup allowlist check ([#3313](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3313))
-- Include user-local bin paths in systemd unit PATH ([#3527](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3527))
-- Track background task references in `GatewayRunner` ([#3254](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3254))
-- Add request timeouts to HA, Email, Mattermost, SMS adapters ([#3258](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3258))
-- Add media download retry to Mattermost, Slack, and base cache ([#3323](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3323))
-- Detect virtualenv path instead of hardcoding `venv/` ([#2797](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2797))
-- Use `TERMINAL_CWD` for context file discovery, not process cwd ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Stop loading hermes repo AGENTS.md into gateway sessions (~10k wasted tokens) ([#2891](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2891))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### Interactive CLI
-- **Configurable busy input mode** + fix `/queue` always working ([#3298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3298))
-- **Preserve user input on multiline paste** ([#3065](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3065))
-- **Tool generation callback** — streaming "preparing terminal…" updates during tool argument generation ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Show tool progress for substantive tools, not just "preparing" ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Buffer reasoning preview chunks and fix duplicate display ([#3013](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3013))
-- Prevent reasoning box from rendering 3x during tool-calling loops ([#3405](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3405))
-- Eliminate "Event loop is closed" / "Press ENTER to continue" during idle — three-layer fix with `neuter_async_httpx_del()`, custom exception handler, and stale client cleanup ([#3398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3398))
-- Fix status bar shows 26K instead of 260K for token counts with trailing zeros ([#3024](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3024))
-- Fix status bar duplicates and degrades during long sessions ([#3291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3291))
-- Refresh TUI before background task output to prevent status bar overlap ([#3048](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3048))
-- Suppress KawaiiSpinner animation under `patch_stdout` ([#2994](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2994))
-- Skip KawaiiSpinner when TUI handles tool progress ([#2973](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2973))
-- Guard `isatty()` against closed streams via `_is_tty` property ([#3056](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3056))
-- Ensure single closure of streaming boxes during tool generation ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Cap context pressure percentage at 100% in display ([#3480](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3480))
-- Clean up HTML error messages in CLI display ([#3069](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3069))
-- Show HTTP status code and 400 body in API error output ([#3096](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3096))
-- Extract useful info from HTML error pages, dump debug on max retries ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Prevent TypeError on startup when `base_url` is None ([#3068](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3068))
-- Prevent update crash in non-TTY environments ([#3094](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3094))
-- Handle EOFError in sessions delete/prune confirmation prompts ([#3101](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3101))
-- Catch KeyboardInterrupt during `flush_memories` on exit and in exit cleanup handlers ([#3025](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3025), [#3257](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3257))
-- Guard `.strip()` against None values from YAML config ([#3552](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3552))
-- Guard `config.get()` against YAML null values to prevent AttributeError ([#3377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3377))
-- Store asyncio task references to prevent GC mid-execution ([#3267](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3267))
-
-### Setup & Configuration
-- Use explicit key mapping for returning-user menu dispatch instead of positional index ([#3083](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3083))
-- Use `sys.executable` for pip in update commands to fix PEP 668 ([#3099](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3099))
-- Harden `hermes update` against diverged history, non-main branches, and gateway edge cases ([#3492](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3492))
-- OpenClaw migration overwrites defaults and setup wizard skips imported sections — fixed ([#3282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3282))
-- Stop recursive AGENTS.md walk, load top-level only ([#3110](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3110))
-- Add macOS Homebrew paths to browser and terminal PATH resolution ([#2713](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2713))
-- YAML boolean handling for `tool_progress` config ([#3300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3300))
-- Reset default SOUL.md to baseline identity text ([#3159](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3159))
-- Reject relative cwd paths for container terminal backends ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Add explicit `hermes-api-server` toolset for API server platform ([#3304](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3304))
-- Reorder setup wizard providers — OpenRouter first ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### API Server
-- **Idempotency-Key support**, body size limit, and OpenAI error envelope ([#2903](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2903))
-- Allow Idempotency-Key in CORS headers ([#3530](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3530))
-- Cancel orphaned agent + true interrupt on SSE disconnect ([#3427](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3427))
-- Fix streaming breaks when agent makes tool calls ([#2985](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2985))
-
-### Terminal & File Operations
-- Handle addition-only hunks in V4A patch parser ([#3325](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3325))
-- Exponential backoff for persistent shell polling ([#2996](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2996))
-- Add timeout to subprocess calls in `context_references` ([#3469](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3469))
-
-### Browser & Vision
-- Handle 402 insufficient credits error in vision tool ([#2802](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2802))
-- Fix `browser_vision` ignores `auxiliary.vision.timeout` config ([#2901](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2901))
-- Make browser command timeout configurable via config.yaml ([#2801](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2801))
-
-### MCP
-- MCP toolset resolution for runtime and config ([#3252](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3252))
-- Add MCP tool name collision protection ([#3077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3077))
-
-### Auxiliary LLM
-- Guard aux LLM calls against None content + reasoning fallback + retry ([#3449](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3449))
-- Catch ImportError from `build_anthropic_client` in vision auto-detection ([#3312](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3312))
-
-### Other Tools
-- Add request timeouts to `send_message_tool` HTTP calls ([#3162](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3162)) by @memosr
-- Auto-repair `jobs.json` with invalid control characters ([#3537](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3537))
-- Enable fine-grained tool streaming for Claude/OpenRouter ([#3497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3497))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skills System
-- **Env var passthrough** for skills and user config — skills can declare environment variables to pass through ([#2807](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2807))
-- Cache skills prompt with shared `skill_utils` module for faster TTFT ([#3421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3421))
-- Avoid redundant file re-read for skill conditions ([#2992](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2992))
-- Use Git Trees API to prevent silent subdirectory loss during install ([#2995](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2995))
-- Fix skills-sh install for deeply nested repo structures ([#2980](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2980))
-- Handle null metadata in skill frontmatter ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Preserve trust for skills-sh identifiers + reduce resolution churn ([#3251](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3251))
-- Agent-created skills were incorrectly treated as untrusted community content — fixed ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-
-### New Skills
-- **G0DM0D3 godmode jailbreaking skill** + docs ([#3157](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3157))
-- **Docker management skill** added to optional-skills ([#3060](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3060))
-- **OpenClaw migration v2** — 17 new modules, terminal recap for migrating from OpenClaw to Hermes ([#2906](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2906))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security Hardening
-- **SSRF protection** added to `browser_navigate` ([#3058](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3058))
-- **SSRF protection** added to `vision_tools` and `web_tools` (hardened) ([#2679](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2679))
-- **Restrict subagent toolsets** to parent's enabled set ([#3269](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3269))
-- **Prevent zip-slip path traversal** in self-update ([#3250](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3250))
-- **Prevent shell injection** in `_expand_path` via `~user` path suffix ([#2685](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2685))
-- **Normalize input** before dangerous command detection ([#3260](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3260))
-- Make tirith block verdicts approvable instead of hard-blocking ([#3428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3428))
-- Remove compromised `litellm`/`typer`/`platformdirs` from deps ([#2796](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2796))
-- Pin all dependency version ranges ([#2810](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2810))
-- Regenerate `uv.lock` with hashes, use lockfile in setup ([#2812](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2812))
-- Bump dependencies to fix CVEs + regenerate `uv.lock` ([#3073](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3073))
-- Supply chain audit CI workflow for PR scanning ([#2816](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2816))
-
-### Reliability
-- **SQLite WAL write-lock contention** causing 15-20s TUI freeze — fixed ([#3385](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3385))
-- **SQLite concurrency hardening** + session transcript integrity ([#3249](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3249))
-- Prevent recurring cron job re-fire on gateway crash/restart loop ([#3396](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3396))
-- Mark cron session as ended after job completes ([#2998](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2998))
-
----
-
-## ⚡ Performance
-
-- **TTFT startup optimizations** — salvaged easy-win startup improvements ([#3395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3395))
-- Cache skills prompt with shared `skill_utils` module ([#3421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3421))
-- Avoid redundant file re-read for skill conditions in prompt builder ([#2992](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2992))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-- Fix gateway token double-counting with cached agents ([#3306](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3306), [#3317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3317))
-- Fix "Event loop is closed" / "Press ENTER to continue" during idle sessions ([#3398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3398))
-- Fix reasoning box rendering 3x during tool-calling loops ([#3405](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3405))
-- Fix status bar shows 26K instead of 260K for token counts ([#3024](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3024))
-- Fix `/queue` always working regardless of config ([#3298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3298))
-- Fix phantom Discord typing indicator after agent turn ([#3003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3003))
-- Fix Slack progress messages appearing in wrong thread ([#3063](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3063))
-- Fix WhatsApp media downloads (documents, audio, video) ([#2978](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2978))
-- Fix Telegram "Message thread not found" killing progress messages ([#3390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3390))
-- Fix OpenClaw migration overwriting defaults ([#3282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3282))
-- Fix returning-user setup menu dispatching wrong section ([#3083](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3083))
-- Fix `hermes update` PEP 668 "externally-managed-environment" error ([#3099](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3099))
-- Fix subagents hitting `max_iterations` prematurely via shared budget ([#3004](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3004))
-- Fix YAML boolean handling for `tool_progress` config ([#3300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3300))
-- Fix `config.get()` crashes on YAML null values ([#3377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3377))
-- Fix `.strip()` crash on None values from YAML config ([#3552](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3552))
-- Fix hung agents on gateway — `/stop` now hard-kills session lock ([#3104](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3104))
-- Fix `_custom` provider silently remapped to `openrouter` ([#2792](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2792))
-- Fix Matrix missing from `PLATFORMS` dict ([#3473](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3473))
-- Fix Email adapter unbounded `_seen_uids` growth ([#3490](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3490))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- Pin `agent-client-protocol` < 0.9 to handle breaking upstream release ([#3320](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3320))
-- Catch anthropic ImportError in vision auto-detection tests ([#3312](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3312))
-- Update retry-exhaust test for new graceful return behavior ([#3320](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3320))
-- Add regression tests for null metadata frontmatter ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- Update all docs for `/model` command overhaul and custom provider support ([#2800](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2800))
-- Fix stale and incorrect documentation across 18 files ([#2805](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2805))
-- Document 9 previously undocumented features ([#2814](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2814))
-- Add missing skills, CLI commands, and messaging env vars to docs ([#2809](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2809))
-- Fix api-server response storage documentation — SQLite, not in-memory ([#2819](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2819))
-- Quote pip install extras to fix zsh glob errors ([#2815](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2815))
-- Unify hooks documentation — add plugin hooks to hooks page, add `session:end` event ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Clarify two-mode behavior in `session_search` schema description ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-- Fix Discord Public Bot setting for Discord-provided invite link ([#3519](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3519)) by @mehmoodosman
-- Revise v0.4.0 changelog — fix feature attribution, reorder sections ([untagged commit](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** — 157 PRs covering the full scope of this release
-
-### Community Contributors
-- **@alt-glitch** (Siddharth Balyan) — 2 PRs: Nix flake with uv2nix build, NixOS module, and persistent container mode ([#20](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/20)); auto-generated config keys and suffix PATHs for Nix builds ([#3061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3061), [#3274](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3274))
-- **@ctlst** — 1 PR: Prevent AsyncOpenAI/httpx cross-loop deadlock in gateway mode ([#2701](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/2701))
-- **@memosr** (memosr.eth) — 1 PR: Add request timeouts to `send_message_tool` HTTP calls ([#3162](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3162))
-- **@mehmoodosman** (Osman Mehmood) — 1 PR: Fix Discord docs for Public Bot setting ([#3519](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3519))
-
-### All Contributors
-@alt-glitch, @ctlst, @mehmoodosman, @memosr, @teknium1
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.3.23...v2026.3.28](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.3.23...v2026.3.28)

RELEASE_v0.6.0.md

@@ -1,249 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.6.0 (v2026.3.30)
-
-**Release Date:** March 30, 2026
-
-> The multi-instance release — Profiles for running isolated agent instances, MCP server mode, Docker container, fallback provider chains, two new messaging platforms (Feishu/Lark and WeCom), Telegram webhook mode, Slack multi-workspace OAuth, 95 PRs and 16 resolved issues in 2 days.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Profiles — Multi-Instance Hermes** — Run multiple isolated Hermes instances from the same installation. Each profile gets its own config, memory, sessions, skills, and gateway service. Create with `hermes profile create`, switch with `hermes -p <name>`, export/import for sharing. Full token-lock isolation prevents two profiles from using the same bot credential. ([#3681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3681))
-
-- **MCP Server Mode** — Expose Hermes conversations and sessions to any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, etc.) via `hermes mcp serve`. Browse conversations, read messages, search across sessions, and manage attachments — all through the Model Context Protocol. Supports both stdio and Streamable HTTP transports. ([#3795](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3795))
-
-- **Docker Container** — Official Dockerfile for running Hermes Agent in a container. Supports both CLI and gateway modes with volume-mounted config. ([#3668](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3668), closes [#850](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/850))
-
-- **Ordered Fallback Provider Chain** — Configure multiple inference providers with automatic failover. When your primary provider returns errors or is unreachable, Hermes automatically tries the next provider in the chain. Configure via `fallback_providers` in config.yaml. ([#3813](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3813), closes [#1734](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1734))
-
-- **Feishu/Lark Platform Support** — Full gateway adapter for Feishu (飞书) and Lark with event subscriptions, message cards, group chat, image/file attachments, and interactive card callbacks. ([#3799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3799), [#3817](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3817), closes [#1788](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1788))
-
-- **WeCom (Enterprise WeChat) Platform Support** — New gateway adapter for WeCom (企业微信) with text/image/voice messages, group chats, and callback verification. ([#3847](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3847))
-
-- **Slack Multi-Workspace OAuth** — Connect a single Hermes gateway to multiple Slack workspaces via OAuth token file. Each workspace gets its own bot token, resolved dynamically per incoming event. ([#3903](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3903))
-
-- **Telegram Webhook Mode & Group Controls** — Run the Telegram adapter in webhook mode as an alternative to polling — faster response times and better for production deployments behind a reverse proxy. New group mention gating controls when the bot responds: always, only when @mentioned, or via regex triggers. ([#3880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3880), [#3870](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3870))
-
-- **Exa Search Backend** — Add Exa as an alternative web search and content extraction backend alongside Firecrawl and DuckDuckGo. Set `EXA_API_KEY` and configure as preferred backend. ([#3648](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3648))
-
-- **Skills & Credentials on Remote Backends** — Mount skill directories and credential files into Modal and Docker containers, so remote terminal sessions have access to the same skills and secrets as local execution. ([#3890](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3890), [#3671](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3671), closes [#3665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3665), [#3433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3433))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-- **Ordered fallback provider chain** — automatic failover across multiple configured providers ([#3813](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3813))
-- **Fix api_mode on provider switch** — switching providers via `hermes model` now correctly clears stale `api_mode` instead of hardcoding `chat_completions`, fixing 404s for providers with Anthropic-compatible endpoints ([#3726](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3726), [#3857](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3857), closes [#3685](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3685))
-- **Stop silent OpenRouter fallback** — when no provider is configured, Hermes now raises a clear error instead of silently routing to OpenRouter ([#3807](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3807), [#3862](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3862))
-- **Gemini 3.1 preview models** — added to OpenRouter and Nous Portal catalogs ([#3803](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3803), closes [#3753](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3753))
-- **Gemini direct API context length** — full context length resolution for direct Google AI endpoints ([#3876](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3876))
-- **gpt-5.4-mini** added to Codex fallback catalog ([#3855](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3855))
-- **Curated model lists preferred** over live API probe when the probe returns fewer models ([#3856](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3856), [#3867](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3867))
-- **User-friendly 429 rate limit messages** with Retry-After countdown ([#3809](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3809))
-- **Auxiliary client placeholder key** for local servers without auth requirements ([#3842](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3842))
-- **INFO-level logging** for auxiliary provider resolution ([#3866](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3866))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **Subagent status reporting** — reports `completed` status when summary exists instead of generic failure ([#3829](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3829))
-- **Session log file updated during compression** — prevents stale file references after context compression ([#3835](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3835))
-- **Omit empty tools param** — sends no `tools` parameter when empty instead of `None`, fixing compatibility with strict providers ([#3820](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3820))
-
-### Profiles & Multi-Instance
-- **Profiles system** — `hermes profile create/list/switch/delete/export/import/rename`. Each profile gets isolated HERMES_HOME, gateway service, CLI wrapper. Token locks prevent credential collisions. Tab completion for profile names. ([#3681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3681))
-- **Profile-aware display paths** — all user-facing `~/.hermes` paths replaced with `display_hermes_home()` to show the correct profile directory ([#3623](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3623))
-- **Lazy display_hermes_home imports** — prevents `ImportError` during `hermes update` when modules cache stale bytecode ([#3776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3776))
-- **HERMES_HOME for protected paths** — `.env` write-deny path now respects HERMES_HOME instead of hardcoded `~/.hermes` ([#3840](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3840))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### New Platforms
-- **Feishu/Lark** — Full adapter with event subscriptions, message cards, group chat, image/file attachments, interactive card callbacks ([#3799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3799), [#3817](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3817))
-- **WeCom (Enterprise WeChat)** — Text/image/voice messages, group chats, callback verification ([#3847](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3847))
-
-### Telegram
-- **Webhook mode** — run as webhook endpoint instead of polling for production deployments ([#3880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3880))
-- **Group mention gating & regex triggers** — configurable bot response behavior in groups: always, @mention-only, or regex-matched ([#3870](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3870))
-- **Gracefully handle deleted reply targets** — no more crashes when the message being replied to was deleted ([#3858](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3858), closes [#3229](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3229))
-
-### Discord
-- **Message processing reactions** — adds a reaction emoji while processing and removes it when done, giving visual feedback in channels ([#3871](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3871))
-- **DISCORD_IGNORE_NO_MENTION** — skip messages that @mention other users/bots but not Hermes ([#3640](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3640))
-- **Clean up deferred "thinking..."** — properly removes the "thinking..." indicator after slash commands complete ([#3674](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3674), closes [#3595](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3595))
-
-### Slack
-- **Multi-workspace OAuth** — connect to multiple Slack workspaces from a single gateway via OAuth token file ([#3903](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3903))
-
-### WhatsApp
-- **Persistent aiohttp session** — reuse HTTP sessions across requests instead of creating new ones per message ([#3818](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3818))
-- **LID↔phone alias resolution** — correctly match Linked ID and phone number formats in allowlists ([#3830](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3830))
-- **Skip reply prefix in bot mode** — cleaner message formatting when running as a WhatsApp bot ([#3931](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3931))
-
-### Matrix
-- **Native voice messages via MSC3245** — send voice messages as proper Matrix voice events instead of file attachments ([#3877](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3877))
-
-### Mattermost
-- **Configurable mention behavior** — respond to messages without requiring @mention ([#3664](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3664))
-
-### Signal
-- **URL-encode phone numbers** and correct attachment RPC parameter — fixes delivery failures with certain phone number formats ([#3670](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3670)) — @kshitijk4poor
-
-### Email
-- **Close SMTP/IMAP connections on failure** — prevents connection leaks during error scenarios ([#3804](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3804))
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Atomic config writes** — use atomic file writes for config.yaml to prevent data loss during crashes ([#3800](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3800))
-- **Home channel env overrides** — apply environment variable overrides for home channels consistently ([#3796](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3796), [#3808](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3808))
-- **Replace print() with logger** — BasePlatformAdapter now uses proper logging instead of print statements ([#3669](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3669))
-- **Cron delivery labels** — resolve human-friendly delivery labels via channel directory ([#3860](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3860), closes [#1945](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1945))
-- **Cron [SILENT] tightening** — prevent agents from prefixing reports with [SILENT] to suppress delivery ([#3901](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3901))
-- **Background task media delivery** and vision download timeout fixes ([#3919](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3919))
-- **Boot-md hook** — example built-in hook to run a BOOT.md file on gateway startup ([#3733](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3733))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### Interactive CLI
-- **Configurable tool preview length** — show full file paths by default instead of truncating at 40 chars ([#3841](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3841))
-- **Tool token context display** — `hermes tools` checklist now shows estimated token cost per toolset ([#3805](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3805))
-- **/bg spinner TUI fix** — route background task spinner through the TUI widget to prevent status bar collision ([#3643](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3643))
-- **Prevent status bar wrapping** into duplicate rows ([#3883](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3883)) — @kshitijk4poor
-- **Handle closed stdout ValueError** in safe print paths — fixes crashes when stdout is closed during gateway thread shutdown ([#3843](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3843), closes [#3534](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3534))
-- **Remove input() from /tools disable** — eliminates freeze in terminal when disabling tools ([#3918](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3918))
-- **TTY guard for interactive CLI commands** — prevent CPU spin when launched without a terminal ([#3933](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3933))
-- **Argparse entrypoint** — use argparse in the top-level launcher for cleaner error handling ([#3874](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3874))
-- **Lazy-initialized tools show yellow** in banner instead of red, reducing false alarm about "missing" tools ([#3822](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3822))
-- **Honcho tools shown in banner** when configured ([#3810](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3810))
-
-### Setup & Configuration
-- **Auto-install matrix-nio** during `hermes setup` when Matrix is selected ([#3802](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3802), [#3873](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3873))
-- **Session export stdout support** — export sessions to stdout with `-` for piping ([#3641](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3641), closes [#3609](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3609))
-- **Configurable approval timeouts** — set how long dangerous command approval prompts wait before auto-denying ([#3886](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3886), closes [#3765](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3765))
-- **Clear __pycache__ during update** — prevents stale bytecode ImportError after `hermes update` ([#3819](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3819))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### MCP
-- **MCP Server Mode** — `hermes mcp serve` exposes conversations, sessions, and attachments to MCP clients via stdio or Streamable HTTP ([#3795](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3795))
-- **Dynamic tool discovery** — respond to `notifications/tools/list_changed` events to pick up new tools from MCP servers without reconnecting ([#3812](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3812))
-- **Non-deprecated HTTP transport** — switched from `sse_client` to `streamable_http_client` ([#3646](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3646))
-
-### Web Tools
-- **Exa search backend** — alternative to Firecrawl and DuckDuckGo for web search and extraction ([#3648](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3648))
-
-### Browser
-- **Guard against None LLM responses** in browser snapshot and vision tools ([#3642](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3642))
-
-### Terminal & Remote Backends
-- **Mount skill directories** into Modal and Docker containers ([#3890](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3890))
-- **Mount credential files** into remote backends with mtime+size caching ([#3671](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3671))
-- **Preserve partial output** when commands time out instead of losing everything ([#3868](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3868))
-- **Stop marking persisted env vars as missing** on remote backends ([#3650](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3650))
-
-### Audio
-- **.aac format support** in transcription tool ([#3865](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3865), closes [#1963](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1963))
-- **Audio download retry** — retry logic for `cache_audio_from_url` matching the existing image download pattern ([#3401](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3401)) — @binhnt92
-
-### Vision
-- **Reject non-image files** and enforce website-only policy for vision analysis ([#3845](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3845))
-
-### Tool Schema
-- **Ensure name field** always present in tool definitions, fixing `KeyError: 'name'` crashes ([#3811](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3811), closes [#3729](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3729))
-
-### ACP (Editor Integration)
-- **Complete session management surface** for VS Code/Zed/JetBrains clients — proper task lifecycle, cancel support, session persistence ([#3675](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3675))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills & Plugins
-
-### Skills System
-- **External skill directories** — configure additional skill directories via `skills.external_dirs` in config.yaml ([#3678](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3678))
-- **Category path traversal blocked** — prevents `../` attacks in skill category names ([#3844](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3844))
-- **parallel-cli moved to optional-skills** — reduces default skill footprint ([#3673](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3673)) — @kshitijk4poor
-
-### New Skills
-- **memento-flashcards** — spaced repetition flashcard system ([#3827](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3827))
-- **songwriting-and-ai-music** — songwriting craft and AI music generation prompts ([#3834](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3834))
-- **SiYuan Note** — integration with SiYuan note-taking app ([#3742](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3742))
-- **Scrapling** — web scraping skill using Scrapling library ([#3742](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3742))
-- **one-three-one-rule** — communication framework skill ([#3797](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3797))
-
-### Plugin System
-- **Plugin enable/disable commands** — `hermes plugins enable/disable <name>` for managing plugin state without removing them ([#3747](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3747))
-- **Plugin message injection** — plugins can now inject messages into the conversation stream on behalf of the user via `ctx.inject_message()` ([#3778](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3778)) — @winglian
-- **Honcho self-hosted support** — allow local Honcho instances without requiring an API key ([#3644](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3644))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security Hardening
-- **Hardened dangerous command detection** — expanded pattern matching for risky shell commands and added file tool path guards for sensitive locations (`/etc/`, `/boot/`, docker.sock) ([#3872](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3872))
-- **Sensitive path write checks** in approval system — catch writes to system config files through file tools, not just terminal ([#3859](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3859))
-- **Secret redaction expansion** — now covers ElevenLabs, Tavily, and Exa API keys ([#3920](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3920))
-- **Vision file rejection** — reject non-image files passed to vision analysis to prevent information disclosure ([#3845](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3845))
-- **Category path traversal blocking** — prevent directory traversal in skill category names ([#3844](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3844))
-
-### Reliability
-- **Atomic config.yaml writes** — prevent data loss during gateway crashes ([#3800](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3800))
-- **Clear __pycache__ on update** — prevent stale bytecode from causing ImportError after updates ([#3819](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3819))
-- **Lazy imports for update safety** — prevent ImportError chains during `hermes update` when modules reference new functions ([#3776](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3776))
-- **Restore terminalbench2 from patch corruption** — recovered file damaged by patch tool's secret redaction ([#3801](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3801))
-- **Terminal timeout preserves partial output** — no more lost command output on timeout ([#3868](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3868))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-- **OpenClaw migration model config overwrite** — migration no longer overwrites model config dict with a string ([#3924](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3924)) — @0xbyt4
-- **OpenClaw migration expanded** — covers full data footprint including sessions, cron, memory ([#3869](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3869))
-- **Telegram deleted reply targets** — gracefully handle replies to deleted messages instead of crashing ([#3858](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3858))
-- **Discord "thinking..." persistence** — properly cleans up deferred response indicators ([#3674](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3674))
-- **WhatsApp LID↔phone aliases** — fixes allowlist matching failures with Linked ID format ([#3830](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3830))
-- **Signal URL-encoded phone numbers** — fixes delivery failures with certain formats ([#3670](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3670))
-- **Email connection leaks** — properly close SMTP/IMAP connections on error ([#3804](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3804))
-- **_safe_print ValueError** — no more gateway thread crashes on closed stdout ([#3843](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3843))
-- **Tool schema KeyError 'name'** — ensure name field always present in tool definitions ([#3811](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3811))
-- **api_mode stale on provider switch** — correctly clear when switching providers via `hermes model` ([#3857](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3857))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- Resolved 10+ CI failures across hooks, tiktoken, plugins, and skill tests ([#3848](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3848), [#3721](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3721), [#3936](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3936))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- **Comprehensive OpenClaw migration guide** — step-by-step guide for migrating from OpenClaw/Claw3D to Hermes Agent ([#3864](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3864), [#3900](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3900))
-- **Credential file passthrough docs** — document how to forward credential files and env vars to remote backends ([#3677](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3677))
-- **DuckDuckGo requirements clarified** — note runtime dependency on duckduckgo-search package ([#3680](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3680))
-- **Skills catalog updated** — added red-teaming category and optional skills listing ([#3745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3745))
-- **Feishu docs MDX fix** — escape angle-bracket URLs that break Docusaurus build ([#3902](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3902))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** — 90 PRs across all subsystems
-
-### Community Contributors
-- **@kshitijk4poor** — 3 PRs: Signal phone number fix ([#3670](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3670)), parallel-cli to optional-skills ([#3673](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3673)), status bar wrapping fix ([#3883](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3883))
-- **@winglian** — 1 PR: Plugin message injection interface ([#3778](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3778))
-- **@binhnt92** — 1 PR: Audio download retry logic ([#3401](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3401))
-- **@0xbyt4** — 1 PR: OpenClaw migration model config fix ([#3924](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3924))
-
-### Issues Resolved from Community
-@Material-Scientist ([#850](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/850)), @hanxu98121 ([#1734](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1734)), @penwyp ([#1788](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1788)), @dan-and ([#1945](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1945)), @AdrianScott ([#1963](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/1963)), @clawdbot47 ([#3229](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3229)), @alanfwilliams ([#3404](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3404)), @kentimsit ([#3433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3433)), @hayka-pacha ([#3534](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3534)), @primmer ([#3595](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3595)), @dagelf ([#3609](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3609)), @HenkDz ([#3685](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3685)), @tmdgusya ([#3729](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3729)), @TypQxQ ([#3753](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3753)), @acsezen ([#3765](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3765))
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.3.28...v2026.3.30](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.3.28...v2026.3.30)

RELEASE_v0.7.0.md

@@ -1,290 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.7.0 (v2026.4.3)
-
-**Release Date:** April 3, 2026
-
-> The resilience release — pluggable memory providers, credential pool rotation, Camofox anti-detection browser, inline diff previews, gateway hardening across race conditions and approval routing, and deep security fixes across 168 PRs and 46 resolved issues.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Pluggable Memory Provider Interface** — Memory is now an extensible plugin system. Third-party memory backends (Honcho, vector stores, custom DBs) implement a simple provider ABC and register via the plugin system. Built-in memory is the default provider. Honcho integration restored to full parity as the reference plugin with profile-scoped host/peer resolution. ([#4623](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4623), [#4616](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4616), [#4355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4355))
-
-- **Same-Provider Credential Pools** — Configure multiple API keys for the same provider with automatic rotation. Thread-safe `least_used` strategy distributes load across keys, and 401 failures trigger automatic rotation to the next credential. Set up via the setup wizard or `credential_pool` config. ([#4188](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4188), [#4300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4300), [#4361](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4361))
-
-- **Camofox Anti-Detection Browser Backend** — New local browser backend using Camoufox for stealth browsing. Persistent sessions with VNC URL discovery for visual debugging, configurable SSRF bypass for local backends, auto-install via `hermes tools`. ([#4008](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4008), [#4419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4419), [#4292](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4292))
-
-- **Inline Diff Previews** — File write and patch operations now show inline diffs in the tool activity feed, giving you visual confirmation of what changed before the agent moves on. ([#4411](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4411), [#4423](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4423))
-
-- **API Server Session Continuity & Tool Streaming** — The API server (Open WebUI integration) now streams tool progress events in real-time and supports `X-Hermes-Session-Id` headers for persistent sessions across requests. Sessions persist to the shared SessionDB. ([#4092](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4092), [#4478](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4478), [#4802](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4802))
-
-- **ACP: Client-Provided MCP Servers** — Editor integrations (VS Code, Zed, JetBrains) can now register their own MCP servers, which Hermes picks up as additional agent tools. Your editor's MCP ecosystem flows directly into the agent. ([#4705](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4705))
-
-- **Gateway Hardening** — Major stability pass across race conditions, photo media delivery, flood control, stuck sessions, approval routing, and compression death spirals. The gateway is substantially more reliable in production. ([#4727](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4727), [#4750](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4750), [#4798](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4798), [#4557](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4557))
-
-- **Security: Secret Exfiltration Blocking** — Browser URLs and LLM responses are now scanned for secret patterns, blocking exfiltration attempts via URL encoding, base64, or prompt injection. Credential directory protections expanded to `.docker`, `.azure`, `.config/gh`. Execute_code sandbox output is redacted. ([#4483](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4483), [#4360](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4360), [#4305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4305), [#4327](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4327))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-- **Same-provider credential pools** — configure multiple API keys with automatic `least_used` rotation and 401 failover ([#4188](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4188), [#4300](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4300))
-- **Credential pool preserved through smart routing** — pool state survives fallback provider switches and defers eager fallback on 429 ([#4361](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4361))
-- **Per-turn primary runtime restoration** — after fallback provider use, the agent automatically restores the primary provider on the next turn with transport recovery ([#4624](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4624))
-- **`developer` role for GPT-5 and Codex models** — uses OpenAI's recommended system message role for newer models ([#4498](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4498))
-- **Google model operational guidance** — Gemini and Gemma models get provider-specific prompting guidance ([#4641](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4641))
-- **Anthropic long-context tier 429 handling** — automatically reduces context to 200k when hitting tier limits ([#4747](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4747))
-- **URL-based auth for third-party Anthropic endpoints** + CI test fixes ([#4148](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4148))
-- **Bearer auth for MiniMax Anthropic endpoints** ([#4028](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4028))
-- **Fireworks context length detection** ([#4158](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4158))
-- **Standard DashScope international endpoint** for Alibaba provider ([#4133](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4133), closes [#3912](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3912))
-- **Custom providers context_length** honored in hygiene compression ([#4085](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4085))
-- **Non-sk-ant keys** treated as regular API keys, not OAuth tokens ([#4093](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4093))
-- **Claude-sonnet-4.6** added to OpenRouter and Nous model lists ([#4157](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4157))
-- **Qwen 3.6 Plus Preview** added to model lists ([#4376](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4376))
-- **MiniMax M2.7** added to hermes model picker and OpenCode ([#4208](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4208))
-- **Auto-detect models from server probe** in custom endpoint setup ([#4218](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4218))
-- **Config.yaml single source of truth** for endpoint URLs — no more env var vs config.yaml conflicts ([#4165](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4165))
-- **Setup wizard no longer overwrites** custom endpoint config ([#4180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4180), closes [#4172](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4172))
-- **Unified setup wizard provider selection** with `hermes model` — single code path for both flows ([#4200](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4200))
-- **Root-level provider config** no longer overrides `model.provider` ([#4329](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4329))
-- **Rate-limit pairing rejection messages** to prevent spam ([#4081](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4081))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **Preserve Anthropic thinking block signatures** across tool-use turns ([#4626](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4626))
-- **Classify think-only empty responses** before retrying — prevents infinite retry loops on models that produce thinking blocks without content ([#4645](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4645))
-- **Prevent compression death spiral** from API disconnects — stops the loop where compression triggers, fails, compresses again ([#4750](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4750), closes [#2153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2153))
-- **Persist compressed context** to gateway session after mid-run compression ([#4095](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4095))
-- **Context-exceeded error messages** now include actionable guidance ([#4155](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4155), closes [#4061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4061))
-- **Strip orphaned think/reasoning tags** from user-facing responses ([#4311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4311), closes [#4285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4285))
-- **Harden Codex responses preflight** and stream error handling ([#4313](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4313))
-- **Deterministic call_id fallbacks** instead of random UUIDs for prompt cache consistency ([#3991](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3991))
-- **Context pressure warning spam** prevented after compression ([#4012](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4012))
-- **AsyncOpenAI created lazily** in trajectory compressor to avoid closed event loop errors ([#4013](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4013))
-
-### Memory & Sessions
-- **Pluggable memory provider interface** — ABC-based plugin system for custom memory backends with profile isolation ([#4623](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4623))
-- **Honcho full integration parity** restored as reference memory provider plugin ([#4355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4355)) — @erosika
-- **Honcho profile-scoped** host and peer resolution ([#4616](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4616))
-- **Memory flush state persisted** to prevent redundant re-flushes on gateway restart ([#4481](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4481))
-- **Memory provider tools** routed through sequential execution path ([#4803](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4803))
-- **Honcho config** written to instance-local path for profile isolation ([#4037](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4037))
-- **API server sessions** persist to shared SessionDB ([#4802](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4802))
-- **Token usage persisted** for non-CLI sessions ([#4627](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4627))
-- **Quote dotted terms in FTS5 queries** — fixes session search for terms containing dots ([#4549](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4549))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Race condition fixes** — photo media loss, flood control, stuck sessions, and STT config issues resolved in one hardening pass ([#4727](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4727))
-- **Approval routing through running-agent guard** — `/approve` and `/deny` now route correctly when the agent is blocked waiting for approval instead of being swallowed as interrupts ([#4798](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4798), [#4557](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4557), closes [#4542](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4542))
-- **Resume agent after /approve** — tool result is no longer lost when executing blocked commands ([#4418](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4418))
-- **DM thread sessions seeded** with parent transcript to preserve context ([#4559](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4559))
-- **Skill-aware slash commands** — gateway dynamically registers installed skills as slash commands with paginated `/commands` list and Telegram 100-command cap ([#3934](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3934), [#4005](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4005), [#4006](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4006), [#4010](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4010), [#4023](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4023))
-- **Per-platform disabled skills** respected in Telegram menu and gateway dispatch ([#4799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4799))
-- **Remove user-facing compression warnings** — cleaner message flow ([#4139](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4139))
-- **`-v/-q` flags wired to stderr logging** for gateway service ([#4474](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4474))
-- **HERMES_HOME remapped** to target user in system service unit ([#4456](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4456))
-- **Honor default for invalid bool-like config values** ([#4029](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4029))
-- **setsid instead of systemd-run** for `/update` command to avoid systemd permission issues ([#4104](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4104), closes [#4017](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4017))
-- **'Initializing agent...'** shown on first message for better UX ([#4086](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4086))
-- **Allow running gateway service as root** for LXC/container environments ([#4732](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4732))
-
-### Telegram
-- **32-char limit on command names** with collision avoidance ([#4211](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4211))
-- **Priority order enforced** in menu — core > plugins > skills ([#4023](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4023))
-- **Capped at 50 commands** — API rejects above ~60 ([#4006](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4006))
-- **Skip empty/whitespace text** to prevent 400 errors ([#4388](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4388))
-- **E2E gateway tests** added ([#4497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4497)) — @pefontana
-
-### Discord
-- **Button-based approval UI** — register `/approve` and `/deny` slash commands with interactive button prompts ([#4800](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4800))
-- **Configurable reactions** — `discord.reactions` config option to disable message processing reactions ([#4199](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4199))
-- **Skip reactions and auto-threading** for unauthorized users ([#4387](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4387))
-
-### Slack
-- **Reply in thread** — `slack.reply_in_thread` config option for threaded responses ([#4643](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4643), closes [#2662](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2662))
-
-### WhatsApp
-- **Enforce require_mention in group chats** ([#4730](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4730))
-
-### Webhook
-- **Platform support fixes** — skip home channel prompt, disable tool progress for webhook adapters ([#4660](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4660))
-
-### Matrix
-- **E2EE decryption hardening** — request missing keys, auto-trust devices, retry buffered events ([#4083](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4083))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### New Slash Commands
-- **`/yolo`** — toggle dangerous command approvals on/off for the session ([#3990](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3990))
-- **`/btw`** — ephemeral side questions that don't affect the main conversation context ([#4161](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4161))
-- **`/profile`** — show active profile info without leaving the chat session ([#4027](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4027))
-
-### Interactive CLI
-- **Inline diff previews** for write and patch operations in the tool activity feed ([#4411](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4411), [#4423](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4423))
-- **TUI pinned to bottom** on startup — no more large blank spaces between response and input ([#4412](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4412), [#4359](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4359), closes [#4398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4398), [#4421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4421))
-- **`/history` and `/resume`** now surface recent sessions directly instead of requiring search ([#4728](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4728))
-- **Cache tokens shown** in `/insights` overview so total adds up ([#4428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4428))
-- **`--max-turns` CLI flag** for `hermes chat` to limit agent iterations ([#4314](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4314))
-- **Detect dragged file paths** instead of treating them as slash commands ([#4533](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4533)) — @rolme
-- **Allow empty strings and falsy values** in `config set` ([#4310](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4310), closes [#4277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4277))
-- **Voice mode in WSL** when PulseAudio bridge is configured ([#4317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4317))
-- **Respect `NO_COLOR` env var** and `TERM=dumb` for accessibility ([#4079](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4079), closes [#4066](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4066)) — @SHL0MS
-- **Correct shell reload instruction** for macOS/zsh users ([#4025](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4025))
-- **Zero exit code** on successful quiet mode queries ([#4613](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4613), closes [#4601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4601)) — @devorun
-- **on_session_end hook fires** on interrupted exits ([#4159](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4159))
-- **Profile list display** reads `model.default` key correctly ([#4160](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4160))
-- **Browser and TTS** shown in reconfigure menu ([#4041](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4041))
-- **Web backend priority** detection simplified ([#4036](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4036))
-
-### Setup & Configuration
-- **Allowed_users preserved** during setup and quiet unconfigured provider warnings ([#4551](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4551)) — @kshitijk4poor
-- **Save API key to model config** for custom endpoints ([#4202](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4202), closes [#4182](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4182))
-- **Claude Code credentials gated** behind explicit Hermes config in wizard trigger ([#4210](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4210))
-- **Atomic writes in save_config_value** to prevent config loss on interrupt ([#4298](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4298), [#4320](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4320))
-- **Scopes field written** to Claude Code credentials on token refresh ([#4126](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4126))
-
-### Update System
-- **Fork detection and upstream sync** in `hermes update` ([#4744](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4744))
-- **Preserve working optional extras** when one extra fails during update ([#4550](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4550))
-- **Handle conflicted git index** during hermes update ([#4735](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4735))
-- **Avoid launchd restart race** on macOS ([#4736](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4736))
-- **Missing subprocess.run() timeouts** added to doctor and status commands ([#4009](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4009))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### Browser
-- **Camofox anti-detection browser backend** — local stealth browsing with auto-install via `hermes tools` ([#4008](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4008))
-- **Persistent Camofox sessions** with VNC URL discovery for visual debugging ([#4419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4419))
-- **Skip SSRF check for local backends** (Camofox, headless Chromium) ([#4292](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4292))
-- **Configurable SSRF check** via `browser.allow_private_urls` ([#4198](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4198)) — @nils010485
-- **CAMOFOX_PORT=9377** added to Docker commands ([#4340](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4340))
-
-### File Operations
-- **Inline diff previews** on write and patch actions ([#4411](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4411), [#4423](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4423))
-- **Stale file detection** on write and patch — warns when file was modified externally since last read ([#4345](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4345))
-- **Staleness timestamp refreshed** after writes ([#4390](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4390))
-- **Size guard, dedup, and device blocking** on read_file ([#4315](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4315))
-
-### MCP
-- **Stability fix pack** — reload timeout, shutdown cleanup, event loop handler, OAuth non-blocking ([#4757](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4757), closes [#4462](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4462), [#2537](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2537))
-
-### ACP (Editor Integration)
-- **Client-provided MCP servers** registered as agent tools — editors pass their MCP servers to Hermes ([#4705](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4705))
-
-### Skills System
-- **Size limits for agent writes** and **fuzzy matching for skill patch** — prevents oversized skill writes and improves edit reliability ([#4414](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4414))
-- **Validate hub bundle paths** before install — blocks path traversal in skill bundles ([#3986](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3986))
-- **Unified hermes-agent and hermes-agent-setup** into single skill ([#4332](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4332))
-- **Skill metadata type check** in extract_skill_conditions ([#4479](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4479))
-
-### New/Updated Skills
-- **research-paper-writing** — full end-to-end research pipeline (replaced ml-paper-writing) ([#4654](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4654)) — @SHL0MS
-- **ascii-video** — text readability techniques and external layout oracle ([#4054](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4054)) — @SHL0MS
-- **youtube-transcript** updated for youtube-transcript-api v1.x ([#4455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4455)) — @el-analista
-- **Skills browse and search page** added to documentation site ([#4500](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4500)) — @IAvecilla
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security Hardening
-- **Block secret exfiltration** via browser URLs and LLM responses — scans for secret patterns in URL encoding, base64, and prompt injection vectors ([#4483](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4483))
-- **Redact secrets from execute_code sandbox output** ([#4360](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4360))
-- **Protect `.docker`, `.azure`, `.config/gh` credential directories** from read/write via file tools and terminal ([#4305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4305), [#4327](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4327)) — @memosr
-- **GitHub OAuth token patterns** added to redaction + snapshot redact flag ([#4295](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4295))
-- **Reject private and loopback IPs** in Telegram DoH fallback ([#4129](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4129))
-- **Reject path traversal** in credential file registration ([#4316](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4316))
-- **Validate tar archive member paths** on profile import — blocks zip-slip attacks ([#4318](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4318))
-- **Exclude auth.json and .env** from profile exports ([#4475](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4475))
-
-### Reliability
-- **Prevent compression death spiral** from API disconnects ([#4750](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4750), closes [#2153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2153))
-- **Handle `is_closed` as method** in OpenAI SDK — prevents false positive client closure detection ([#4416](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4416), closes [#4377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4377))
-- **Exclude matrix from [all] extras** — python-olm is upstream-broken, prevents install failures ([#4615](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4615), closes [#4178](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4178))
-- **OpenCode model routing** repaired ([#4508](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4508))
-- **Docker container image** optimized ([#4034](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4034)) — @bcross
-
-### Windows & Cross-Platform
-- **Voice mode in WSL** with PulseAudio bridge ([#4317](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4317))
-- **Homebrew packaging** preparation ([#4099](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4099))
-- **CI fork conditionals** to prevent workflow failures on forks ([#4107](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4107))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-- **Gateway approval blocked agent thread** — approval now blocks the agent thread like CLI does, preventing tool result loss ([#4557](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4557), closes [#4542](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4542))
-- **Compression death spiral** from API disconnects — detected and halted instead of looping ([#4750](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4750), closes [#2153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2153))
-- **Anthropic thinking blocks lost** across tool-use turns ([#4626](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4626))
-- **Profile model config ignored** with `-p` flag — model.model now promoted to model.default correctly ([#4160](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4160), closes [#4486](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4486))
-- **CLI blank space** between response and input area ([#4412](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4412), [#4359](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4359), closes [#4398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4398))
-- **Dragged file paths** treated as slash commands instead of file references ([#4533](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4533)) — @rolme
-- **Orphaned `</think>` tags** leaking into user-facing responses ([#4311](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4311), closes [#4285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4285))
-- **OpenAI SDK `is_closed`** is a method not property — false positive client closure ([#4416](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4416), closes [#4377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4377))
-- **MCP OAuth server** could block Hermes startup instead of degrading gracefully ([#4757](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4757), closes [#4462](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4462))
-- **MCP event loop closed** on shutdown with HTTP servers ([#4757](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4757), closes [#2537](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2537))
-- **Alibaba provider** hardcoded to wrong endpoint ([#4133](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4133), closes [#3912](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3912))
-- **Slack reply_in_thread** missing config option ([#4643](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4643), closes [#2662](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2662))
-- **Quiet mode exit code** — successful `-q` queries no longer exit nonzero ([#4613](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4613), closes [#4601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4601))
-- **Mobile sidebar** shows only close button due to backdrop-filter issue in docs site ([#4207](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4207)) — @xsmyile
-- **Config restore reverted** by stale-branch squash merge — `_config_version` fixed ([#4440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4440))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- **Telegram gateway E2E tests** — full integration test suite for the Telegram adapter ([#4497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4497)) — @pefontana
-- **11 real test failures fixed** plus sys.modules cascade poisoner resolved ([#4570](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4570))
-- **7 CI failures resolved** across hooks, plugins, and skill tests ([#3936](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/3936))
-- **Codex 401 refresh tests** updated for CI compatibility ([#4166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4166))
-- **Stale OPENAI_BASE_URL test** fixed ([#4217](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4217))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- **Comprehensive documentation audit** — 9 HIGH and 20+ MEDIUM gaps fixed across 21 files ([#4087](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4087))
-- **Site navigation restructured** — features and platforms promoted to top-level ([#4116](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4116))
-- **Tool progress streaming** documented for API server and Open WebUI ([#4138](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4138))
-- **Telegram webhook mode** documentation ([#4089](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4089))
-- **Local LLM provider guides** — comprehensive setup guides with context length warnings ([#4294](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4294))
-- **WhatsApp allowlist behavior** clarified with `WHATSAPP_ALLOW_ALL_USERS` documentation ([#4293](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4293))
-- **Slack configuration options** — new config section in Slack docs ([#4644](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4644))
-- **Terminal backends section** expanded + docs build fixes ([#4016](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4016))
-- **Adding-providers guide** updated for unified setup flow ([#4201](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4201))
-- **ACP Zed config** fixed ([#4743](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4743))
-- **Community FAQ** entries for common workflows and troubleshooting ([#4797](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4797))
-- **Skills browse and search page** on docs site ([#4500](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4500)) — @IAvecilla
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** — 135 commits across all subsystems
-
-### Top Community Contributors
-- **@kshitijk4poor** — 13 commits: preserve allowed_users during setup ([#4551](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4551)), and various fixes
-- **@erosika** — 12 commits: Honcho full integration parity restored as memory provider plugin ([#4355](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4355))
-- **@pefontana** — 9 commits: Telegram gateway E2E test suite ([#4497](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4497))
-- **@bcross** — 5 commits: Docker container image optimization ([#4034](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4034))
-- **@SHL0MS** — 4 commits: NO_COLOR/TERM=dumb support ([#4079](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4079)), ascii-video skill updates ([#4054](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4054)), research-paper-writing skill ([#4654](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4654))
-
-### All Contributors
-@0xbyt4, @arasovic, @Bartok9, @bcross, @binhnt92, @camden-lowrance, @curtitoo, @Dakota, @Dave Tist, @Dean Kerr, @devorun, @dieutx, @Dilee, @el-analista, @erosika, @Gutslabs, @IAvecilla, @Jack, @Johannnnn506, @kshitijk4poor, @Laura Batalha, @Leegenux, @Lume, @MacroAnarchy, @maymuneth, @memosr, @NexVeridian, @Nick, @nils010485, @pefontana, @Penov, @rolme, @SHL0MS, @txchen, @xsmyile
-
-### Issues Resolved from Community
-@acsezen ([#2537](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2537)), @arasovic ([#4285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4285)), @camden-lowrance ([#4462](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4462)), @devorun ([#4601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4601)), @eloklam ([#4486](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4486)), @HenkDz ([#3719](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/3719)), @hypotyposis ([#2153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2153)), @kazamak ([#4178](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4178)), @lstep ([#4366](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4366)), @Mark-Lok ([#4542](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4542)), @NoJster ([#4421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4421)), @patp ([#2662](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/2662)), @pr0n ([#4601](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4601)), @saulmc ([#4377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4377)), @SHL0MS ([#4060](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4060), [#4061](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4061), [#4066](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4066), [#4172](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4172), [#4277](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4277)), @Z-Mackintosh ([#4398](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/4398))
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.3.30...v2026.4.3](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.3.30...v2026.4.3)

RELEASE_v0.8.0.md

@@ -1,346 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.8.0 (v2026.4.8)
-
-**Release Date:** April 8, 2026
-
-> The intelligence release — background task auto-notifications, free MiMo v2 Pro on Nous Portal, live model switching across all platforms, self-optimized GPT/Codex guidance, native Google AI Studio, smart inactivity timeouts, approval buttons, MCP OAuth 2.1, and 209 merged PRs with 82 resolved issues.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Background Process Auto-Notifications (`notify_on_complete`)** — Background tasks can now automatically notify the agent when they finish. Start a long-running process (AI model training, test suites, deployments, builds) and the agent gets notified on completion — no polling needed. The agent can keep working on other things and pick up results when they land. ([#5779](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5779))
-
-- **Free Xiaomi MiMo v2 Pro on Nous Portal** — Nous Portal now supports the free-tier Xiaomi MiMo v2 Pro model for auxiliary tasks (compression, vision, summarization), with free-tier model gating and pricing display in model selection. ([#6018](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6018), [#5880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5880))
-
-- **Live Model Switching (`/model` Command)** — Switch models and providers mid-session from CLI, Telegram, Discord, Slack, or any gateway platform. Aggregator-aware resolution keeps you on OpenRouter/Nous when possible, with automatic cross-provider fallback when needed. Interactive model pickers on Telegram and Discord with inline buttons. ([#5181](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5181), [#5742](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5742))
-
-- **Self-Optimized GPT/Codex Tool-Use Guidance** — The agent diagnosed and patched 5 failure modes in GPT and Codex tool calling through automated behavioral benchmarking, dramatically improving reliability on OpenAI models. Includes execution discipline guidance and thinking-only prefill continuation for structured reasoning. ([#6120](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6120), [#5414](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5414), [#5931](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5931))
-
-- **Google AI Studio (Gemini) Native Provider** — Direct access to Gemini models through Google's AI Studio API. Includes automatic models.dev registry integration for real-time context length detection across any provider. ([#5577](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5577))
-
-- **Inactivity-Based Agent Timeouts** — Gateway and cron timeouts now track actual tool activity instead of wall-clock time. Long-running tasks that are actively working will never be killed — only truly idle agents time out. ([#5389](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5389), [#5440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5440))
-
-- **Approval Buttons on Slack & Telegram** — Dangerous command approval via native platform buttons instead of typing `/approve`. Slack gets thread context preservation; Telegram gets emoji reactions for approval status. ([#5890](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5890), [#5975](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5975))
-
-- **MCP OAuth 2.1 PKCE + OSV Malware Scanning** — Full standards-compliant OAuth for MCP server authentication, plus automatic malware scanning of MCP extension packages via the OSV vulnerability database. ([#5420](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5420), [#5305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5305))
-
-- **Centralized Logging & Config Validation** — Structured logging to `~/.hermes/logs/` (agent.log + errors.log) with the `hermes logs` command for tailing and filtering. Config structure validation catches malformed YAML at startup before it causes cryptic failures. ([#5430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5430), [#5426](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5426))
-
-- **Plugin System Expansion** — Plugins can now register CLI subcommands, receive request-scoped API hooks with correlation IDs, prompt for required env vars during install, and hook into session lifecycle events (finalize/reset). ([#5295](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5295), [#5427](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5427), [#5470](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5470), [#6129](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6129))
-
-- **Matrix Tier 1 & Platform Hardening** — Matrix gets reactions, read receipts, rich formatting, and room management. Discord adds channel controls and ignored channels. Signal gets full MEDIA: tag delivery. Mattermost gets file attachments. Comprehensive reliability fixes across all platforms. ([#5275](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5275), [#5975](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5975), [#5602](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5602))
-
-- **Security Hardening Pass** — Consolidated SSRF protections, timing attack mitigations, tar traversal prevention, credential leakage guards, cron path traversal hardening, and cross-session isolation. Terminal workdir sanitization across all backends. ([#5944](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5944), [#5613](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5613), [#5629](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5629))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-- **Native Google AI Studio (Gemini) provider** with models.dev integration for automatic context length detection ([#5577](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5577))
-- **`/model` command — full provider+model system overhaul** — live switching across CLI and all gateway platforms with aggregator-aware resolution ([#5181](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5181))
-- **Interactive model picker for Telegram and Discord** — inline button-based model selection ([#5742](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5742))
-- **Nous Portal free-tier model gating** with pricing display in model selection ([#5880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5880))
-- **Model pricing display** for OpenRouter and Nous Portal providers ([#5416](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5416))
-- **xAI (Grok) prompt caching** via `x-grok-conv-id` header ([#5604](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5604))
-- **Grok added to tool-use enforcement models** for direct xAI usage ([#5595](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5595))
-- **MiniMax TTS provider** (speech-2.8) ([#4963](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4963))
-- **Non-agentic model warning** — warns users when loading Hermes LLM models not designed for tool use ([#5378](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5378))
-- **Ollama Cloud auth, /model switch persistence**, and alias tab completion ([#5269](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5269))
-- **Preserve dots in OpenCode Go model names** (minimax-m2.7, glm-4.5, kimi-k2.5) ([#5597](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5597))
-- **MiniMax models 404 fix** — strip /v1 from Anthropic base URL for OpenCode Go ([#4918](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4918))
-- **Provider credential reset windows** honored in pooled failover ([#5188](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5188))
-- **OAuth token sync** between credential pool and credentials file ([#4981](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4981))
-- **Stale OAuth credentials** no longer block OpenRouter users on auto-detect ([#5746](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5746))
-- **Codex OAuth credential pool disconnect** + expired token import fix ([#5681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5681))
-- **Codex pool entry sync** from `~/.codex/auth.json` on exhaustion — @GratefulDave ([#5610](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5610))
-- **Auxiliary client payment fallback** — retry with next provider on 402 ([#5599](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5599))
-- **Auxiliary client resolves named custom providers** and 'main' alias ([#5978](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5978))
-- **Use mimo-v2-pro** for non-vision auxiliary tasks on Nous free tier ([#6018](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6018))
-- **Vision auto-detection** tries main provider first ([#6041](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6041))
-- **Provider re-ordering and Quick Install** — @austinpickett ([#4664](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4664))
-- **Nous OAuth access_token** no longer used as inference API key — @SHL0MS ([#5564](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5564))
-- **HERMES_PORTAL_BASE_URL env var** respected during Nous login — @benbarclay ([#5745](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5745))
-- **Env var overrides** for Nous portal/inference URLs ([#5419](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5419))
-- **Z.AI endpoint auto-detect** via probe and cache ([#5763](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5763))
-- **MiniMax context lengths, model catalog, thinking guard, aux model, and config base_url** corrections ([#6082](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6082))
-- **Community provider/model resolution fixes** — salvaged 4 community PRs + MiniMax aux URL ([#5983](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5983))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **Self-optimized GPT/Codex tool-use guidance** via automated behavioral benchmarking — agent self-diagnosed and patched 5 failure modes ([#6120](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6120))
-- **GPT/Codex execution discipline guidance** in system prompts ([#5414](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5414))
-- **Thinking-only prefill continuation** for structured reasoning responses ([#5931](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5931))
-- **Accept reasoning-only responses** without retries — set content to "(empty)" instead of infinite retry ([#5278](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5278))
-- **Jittered retry backoff** — exponential backoff with jitter for API retries ([#6048](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6048))
-- **Smart thinking block signature management** — preserve and manage Anthropic thinking signatures across turns ([#6112](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6112))
-- **Coerce tool call arguments** to match JSON Schema types — fixes models that send strings instead of numbers/booleans ([#5265](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5265))
-- **Save oversized tool results to file** instead of destructive truncation ([#5210](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5210))
-- **Sandbox-aware tool result persistence** ([#6085](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6085))
-- **Streaming fallback** improved after edit failures ([#6110](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6110))
-- **Codex empty-output gaps** covered in fallback + normalizer + auxiliary client ([#5724](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5724), [#5730](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5730), [#5734](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5734))
-- **Codex stream output backfill** from output_item.done events ([#5689](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5689))
-- **Stream consumer creates new message** after tool boundaries ([#5739](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5739))
-- **Codex validation aligned** with normalization for empty stream output ([#5940](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5940))
-- **Bridge tool-calls** in copilot-acp adapter ([#5460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5460))
-- **Filter transcript-only roles** from chat-completions payload ([#4880](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4880))
-- **Context compaction failures fixed** on temperature-restricted models — @MadKangYu ([#5608](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5608))
-- **Sanitize tool_calls for all strict APIs** (Fireworks, Mistral, etc.) — @lumethegreat ([#5183](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5183))
-
-### Memory & Sessions
-- **Supermemory memory provider** — new memory plugin with multi-container, search_mode, identity template, and env var override ([#5737](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5737), [#5933](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5933))
-- **Shared thread sessions** by default — multi-user thread support across gateway platforms ([#5391](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5391))
-- **Subagent sessions linked to parent** and hidden from session list ([#5309](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5309))
-- **Profile-scoped memory isolation** and clone support ([#4845](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4845))
-- **Thread gateway user_id to memory plugins** for per-user scoping ([#5895](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5895))
-- **Honcho plugin drift overhaul** + plugin CLI registration system ([#5295](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5295))
-- **Honcho holographic prompt and trust score** rendering preserved ([#4872](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4872))
-- **Honcho doctor fix** — use recall_mode instead of memory_mode — @techguysimon ([#5645](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5645))
-- **RetainDB** — API routes, write queue, dialectic, agent model, file tools fixes ([#5461](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5461))
-- **Hindsight memory plugin overhaul** + memory setup wizard fixes ([#5094](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5094))
-- **mem0 API v2 compat**, prefetch context fencing, secret redaction ([#5423](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5423))
-- **mem0 env vars merged** with mem0.json instead of either/or ([#4939](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4939))
-- **Clean user message** used for all memory provider operations ([#4940](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4940))
-- **Silent memory flush failure** on /new and /resume fixed — @ryanautomated ([#5640](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5640))
-- **OpenViking atexit safety net** for session commit ([#5664](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5664))
-- **OpenViking tenant-scoping headers** for multi-tenant servers ([#4936](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4936))
-- **ByteRover brv query** runs synchronously before LLM call ([#4831](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4831))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Inactivity-based agent timeout** — replaces wall-clock timeout with smart activity tracking; long-running active tasks never killed ([#5389](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5389))
-- **Approval buttons for Slack & Telegram** + Slack thread context preservation ([#5890](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5890))
-- **Live-stream /update output** + forward interactive prompts to user ([#5180](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5180))
-- **Infinite timeout support** + periodic notifications + actionable error messages ([#4959](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4959))
-- **Duplicate message prevention** — gateway dedup + partial stream guard ([#4878](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4878))
-- **Webhook delivery_info persistence** + full session id in /status ([#5942](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5942))
-- **Tool preview truncation** respects tool_preview_length in all/new progress modes ([#5937](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5937))
-- **Short preview truncation** restored for all/new tool progress modes ([#4935](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4935))
-- **Update-pending state** written atomically to prevent corruption ([#4923](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4923))
-- **Approval session key isolated** per turn ([#4884](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4884))
-- **Active-session guard bypass** for /approve, /deny, /stop, /new ([#4926](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4926), [#5765](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5765))
-- **Typing indicator paused** during approval waits ([#5893](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5893))
-- **Caption check** uses exact line-by-line match instead of substring (all platforms) ([#5939](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5939))
-- **MEDIA: tags stripped** from streamed gateway messages ([#5152](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5152))
-- **MEDIA: tags extracted** from cron delivery before sending ([#5598](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5598))
-- **Profile-aware service units** + voice transcription cleanup ([#5972](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5972))
-- **Thread-safe PairingStore** with atomic writes — @CharlieKerfoot ([#5656](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5656))
-- **Sanitize media URLs** in base platform logs — @WAXLYY ([#5631](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5631))
-- **Reduce Telegram fallback IP activation log noise** — @MadKangYu ([#5615](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5615))
-- **Cron static method wrappers** to prevent self-binding ([#5299](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5299))
-- **Stale 'hermes login' replaced** with 'hermes auth' + credential removal re-seeding fix ([#5670](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5670))
-
-### Telegram
-- **Group topics skill binding** for supergroup forum topics ([#4886](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4886))
-- **Emoji reactions** for approval status and notifications ([#5975](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5975))
-- **Duplicate message delivery prevented** on send timeout ([#5153](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5153))
-- **Command names sanitized** to strip invalid characters ([#5596](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5596))
-- **Per-platform disabled skills** respected in Telegram menu and gateway dispatch ([#4799](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4799))
-- **/approve and /deny** routed through running-agent guard ([#4798](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4798))
-
-### Discord
-- **Channel controls** — ignored_channels and no_thread_channels config options ([#5975](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5975))
-- **Skills registered as native slash commands** via shared gateway logic ([#5603](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5603))
-- **/approve, /deny, /queue, /background, /btw** registered as native slash commands ([#4800](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4800), [#5477](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5477))
-- **Unnecessary members intent** removed on startup + token lock leak fix ([#5302](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5302))
-
-### Slack
-- **Thread engagement** — auto-respond in bot-started and mentioned threads ([#5897](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5897))
-- **mrkdwn in edit_message** + thread replies without @mentions ([#5733](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5733))
-
-### Matrix
-- **Tier 1 feature parity** — reactions, read receipts, rich formatting, room management ([#5275](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5275))
-- **MATRIX_REQUIRE_MENTION and MATRIX_AUTO_THREAD** support ([#5106](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5106))
-- **Comprehensive reliability** — encrypted media, auth recovery, cron E2EE, Synapse compat ([#5271](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5271))
-- **CJK input, E2EE, and reconnect** fixes ([#5665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5665))
-
-### Signal
-- **Full MEDIA: tag delivery** — send_image_file, send_voice, and send_video implemented ([#5602](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5602))
-
-### Mattermost
-- **File attachments** — set message type to DOCUMENT when post has file attachments — @nericervin ([#5609](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5609))
-
-### Feishu
-- **Interactive card approval buttons** ([#6043](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6043))
-- **Reconnect and ACL** fixes ([#5665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5665))
-
-### Webhooks
-- **`{__raw__}` template token** and thread_id passthrough for forum topics ([#5662](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5662))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### Interactive CLI
-- **Defer response content** until reasoning block completes ([#5773](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5773))
-- **Ghost status-bar lines cleared** on terminal resize ([#4960](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4960))
-- **Normalise \r\n and \r line endings** in pasted text ([#4849](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4849))
-- **ChatConsole errors, curses scroll, skin-aware banner, git state** banner fixes ([#5974](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5974))
-- **Native Windows image paste** support ([#5917](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5917))
-- **--yolo and other flags** no longer silently dropped when placed before 'chat' subcommand ([#5145](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5145))
-
-### Setup & Configuration
-- **Config structure validation** — detect malformed YAML at startup with actionable error messages ([#5426](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5426))
-- **Centralized logging** to `~/.hermes/logs/` — agent.log (INFO+), errors.log (WARNING+) with `hermes logs` command ([#5430](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5430))
-- **Docs links added** to setup wizard sections ([#5283](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5283))
-- **Doctor diagnostics** — sync provider checks, config migration, WAL and mem0 diagnostics ([#5077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5077))
-- **Timeout debug logging** and user-facing diagnostics improved ([#5370](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5370))
-- **Reasoning effort unified** to config.yaml only ([#6118](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6118))
-- **Permanent command allowlist** loaded on startup ([#5076](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5076))
-- **`hermes auth remove`** now clears env-seeded credentials permanently ([#5285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5285))
-- **Bundled skills synced to all profiles** during update ([#5795](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5795))
-- **`hermes update` no longer kills** freshly-restarted gateway service ([#5448](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5448))
-- **Subprocess.run() timeouts** added to all gateway CLI commands ([#5424](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5424))
-- **Actionable error message** when Codex refresh token is reused — @tymrtn ([#5612](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5612))
-- **Google-workspace skill scripts** can now run directly — @xinbenlv ([#5624](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5624))
-
-### Cron System
-- **Inactivity-based cron timeout** — replaces wall-clock; active tasks run indefinitely ([#5440](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5440))
-- **Pre-run script injection** for data collection and change detection ([#5082](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5082))
-- **Delivery failure tracking** in job status ([#6042](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6042))
-- **Delivery guidance** in cron prompts — stops send_message thrashing ([#5444](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5444))
-- **MEDIA files delivered** as native platform attachments ([#5921](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5921))
-- **[SILENT] suppression** works anywhere in response — @auspic7 ([#5654](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5654))
-- **Cron path traversal** hardening ([#5147](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5147))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### Terminal & Execution
-- **Execute_code on remote backends** — code execution now works on Docker, SSH, Modal, and other remote terminal backends ([#5088](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5088))
-- **Exit code context** for common CLI tools in terminal results — helps agent understand what went wrong ([#5144](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5144))
-- **Progressive subdirectory hint discovery** — agent learns project structure as it navigates ([#5291](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5291))
-- **notify_on_complete for background processes** — get notified when long-running tasks finish ([#5779](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5779))
-- **Docker env config** — explicit container environment variables via docker_env config ([#4738](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4738))
-- **Approval metadata included** in terminal tool results ([#5141](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5141))
-- **Workdir parameter sanitized** in terminal tool across all backends ([#5629](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5629))
-- **Detached process crash recovery** state corrected ([#6101](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6101))
-- **Agent-browser paths with spaces** preserved — @Vasanthdev2004 ([#6077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6077))
-- **Portable base64 encoding** for image reading on macOS — @CharlieKerfoot ([#5657](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5657))
-
-### Browser
-- **Switch managed browser provider** from Browserbase to Browser Use — @benbarclay ([#5750](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5750))
-- **Firecrawl cloud browser** provider — @alt-glitch ([#5628](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5628))
-- **JS evaluation** via browser_console expression parameter ([#5303](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5303))
-- **Windows browser** fixes ([#5665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5665))
-
-### MCP
-- **MCP OAuth 2.1 PKCE** — full standards-compliant OAuth client support ([#5420](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5420))
-- **OSV malware check** for MCP extension packages ([#5305](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5305))
-- **Prefer structuredContent over text** + no_mcp sentinel ([#5979](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5979))
-- **Unknown toolsets warning suppressed** for MCP server names ([#5279](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5279))
-
-### Web & Files
-- **.zip document support** + auto-mount cache dirs into remote backends ([#4846](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4846))
-- **Redact query secrets** in send_message errors — @WAXLYY ([#5650](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5650))
-
-### Delegation
-- **Credential pool sharing** + workspace path hints for subagents ([#5748](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5748))
-
-### ACP (VS Code / Zed / JetBrains)
-- **Aggregate ACP improvements** — auth compat, protocol fixes, command ads, delegation, SSE events ([#5292](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5292))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-### Skills System
-- **Skill config interface** — skills can declare required config.yaml settings, prompted during setup, injected at load time ([#5635](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5635))
-- **Plugin CLI registration system** — plugins register their own CLI subcommands without touching main.py ([#5295](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5295))
-- **Request-scoped API hooks** with tool call correlation IDs for plugins ([#5427](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5427))
-- **Session lifecycle hooks** — on_session_finalize and on_session_reset for CLI + gateway ([#6129](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6129))
-- **Prompt for required env vars** during plugin install — @kshitijk4poor ([#5470](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5470))
-- **Plugin name validation** — reject names that resolve to plugins root ([#5368](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5368))
-- **pre_llm_call plugin context** moved to user message to preserve prompt cache ([#5146](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5146))
-
-### New & Updated Skills
-- **popular-web-designs** — 54 production website design systems ([#5194](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5194))
-- **p5js creative coding** — @SHL0MS ([#5600](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5600))
-- **manim-video** — mathematical and technical animations — @SHL0MS ([#4930](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4930))
-- **llm-wiki** — Karpathy's LLM Wiki skill ([#5635](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5635))
-- **gitnexus-explorer** — codebase indexing and knowledge serving ([#5208](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5208))
-- **research-paper-writing** — AI-Scientist & GPT-Researcher patterns — @SHL0MS ([#5421](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5421))
-- **blogwatcher** updated to JulienTant's fork ([#5759](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5759))
-- **claude-code skill** comprehensive rewrite v2.0 + v2.2 ([#5155](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5155), [#5158](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5158))
-- **Code verification skills** consolidated into one ([#4854](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4854))
-- **Manim CE reference docs** expanded — geometry, animations, LaTeX — @leotrs ([#5791](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5791))
-- **Manim-video references** — design thinking, updaters, paper explainer, decorations, production quality — @SHL0MS ([#5588](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5588), [#5408](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5408))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security Hardening
-- **Consolidated security** — SSRF protections, timing attack mitigations, tar traversal prevention, credential leakage guards ([#5944](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5944))
-- **Cross-session isolation** + cron path traversal hardening ([#5613](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5613))
-- **Workdir parameter sanitized** in terminal tool across all backends ([#5629](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5629))
-- **Approval 'once' session escalation** prevented + cron delivery platform validation ([#5280](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5280))
-- **Profile-scoped Google Workspace OAuth tokens** protected ([#4910](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4910))
-
-### Reliability
-- **Aggressive worktree and branch cleanup** to prevent accumulation ([#6134](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6134))
-- **O(n²) catastrophic backtracking** in redact regex fixed — 100x improvement on large outputs ([#4962](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4962))
-- **Runtime stability fixes** across core, web, delegate, and browser tools ([#4843](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4843))
-- **API server streaming fix** + conversation history support ([#5977](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5977))
-- **OpenViking API endpoint paths** and response parsing corrected ([#5078](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5078))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-- **9 community bugfixes salvaged** — gateway, cron, deps, macOS launchd in one batch ([#5288](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5288))
-- **Batch core bug fixes** — model config, session reset, alias fallback, launchctl, delegation, atomic writes ([#5630](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5630))
-- **Batch gateway/platform fixes** — matrix E2EE, CJK input, Windows browser, Feishu reconnect + ACL ([#5665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5665))
-- **Stale test skips removed**, regex backtracking, file search bug, and test flakiness ([#4969](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4969))
-- **Nix flake** — read version, regen uv.lock, add hermes_logging — @alt-glitch ([#5651](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5651))
-- **Lowercase variable redaction** regression tests ([#5185](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5185))
-
----
-
-## 🧪 Testing
-
-- **57 failing CI tests repaired** across 14 files ([#5823](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5823))
-- **Test suite re-architecture** + CI failure fixes — @alt-glitch ([#5946](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5946))
-- **Codebase-wide lint cleanup** — unused imports, dead code, and inefficient patterns ([#5821](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5821))
-- **browser_close tool removed** — auto-cleanup handles it ([#5792](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5792))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- **Comprehensive documentation audit** — fix stale info, expand thin pages, add depth ([#5393](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5393))
-- **40+ discrepancies fixed** between documentation and codebase ([#5818](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5818))
-- **13 features documented** from last week's PRs ([#5815](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5815))
-- **Guides section overhaul** — fix existing + add 3 new tutorials ([#5735](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5735))
-- **Salvaged 4 docs PRs** — docker setup, post-update validation, local LLM guide, signal-cli install ([#5727](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5727))
-- **Discord configuration reference** ([#5386](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5386))
-- **Community FAQ entries** for common workflows and troubleshooting ([#4797](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/4797))
-- **WSL2 networking guide** for local model servers ([#5616](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5616))
-- **Honcho CLI reference** + plugin CLI registration docs ([#5308](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5308))
-- **Obsidian Headless setup** for servers in llm-wiki ([#5660](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5660))
-- **Hermes Mod visual skin editor** added to skins page ([#6095](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6095))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-### Core
-- **@teknium1** — 179 PRs
-
-### Top Community Contributors
-- **@SHL0MS** (7 PRs) — p5js creative coding skill, manim-video skill + 5 reference expansions, research-paper-writing, Nous OAuth fix, manim font fix
-- **@alt-glitch** (3 PRs) — Firecrawl cloud browser provider, test re-architecture + CI fixes, Nix flake fixes
-- **@benbarclay** (2 PRs) — Browser Use managed provider switch, Nous portal base URL fix
-- **@CharlieKerfoot** (2 PRs) — macOS portable base64 encoding, thread-safe PairingStore
-- **@WAXLYY** (2 PRs) — send_message secret redaction, gateway media URL sanitization
-- **@MadKangYu** (2 PRs) — Telegram log noise reduction, context compaction fix for temperature-restricted models
-
-### All Contributors
-@alt-glitch, @austinpickett, @auspic7, @benbarclay, @CharlieKerfoot, @GratefulDave, @kshitijk4poor, @leotrs, @lumethegreat, @MadKangYu, @nericervin, @ryanautomated, @SHL0MS, @techguysimon, @tymrtn, @Vasanthdev2004, @WAXLYY, @xinbenlv
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.4.3...v2026.4.8](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.4.3...v2026.4.8)

RELEASE_v0.9.0.md

@@ -1,329 +0,0 @@
-# Hermes Agent v0.9.0 (v2026.4.13)
-
-**Release Date:** April 13, 2026
-**Since v0.8.0:** 487 commits · 269 merged PRs · 167 resolved issues · 493 files changed · 63,281 insertions · 24 contributors
-
-> The everywhere release — Hermes goes mobile with Termux/Android, adds iMessage and WeChat, ships Fast Mode for OpenAI and Anthropic, introduces background process monitoring, launches a local web dashboard for managing your agent, and delivers the deepest security hardening pass yet across 16 supported platforms.
-
----
-
-## ✨ Highlights
-
-- **Local Web Dashboard** — A new browser-based dashboard for managing your Hermes Agent locally. Configure settings, monitor sessions, browse skills, and manage your gateway — all from a clean web interface without touching config files or the terminal. The easiest way to get started with Hermes.
-
-- **Fast Mode (`/fast`)** — Priority processing for OpenAI and Anthropic models. Toggle `/fast` to route through priority queues for significantly lower latency on supported models (GPT-5.4, Codex, Claude). Expands across all OpenAI Priority Processing models and Anthropic's fast tier. ([#6875](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6875), [#6960](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6960), [#7037](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7037))
-
-- **iMessage via BlueBubbles** — Full iMessage integration through BlueBubbles, bringing Hermes to Apple's messaging ecosystem. Auto-webhook registration, setup wizard integration, and crash resilience. ([#6437](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6437), [#6460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6460), [#6494](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6494))
-
-- **WeChat (Weixin) & WeCom Callback Mode** — Native WeChat support via iLink Bot API and a new WeCom callback-mode adapter for self-built enterprise apps. Streaming cursor, media uploads, markdown link handling, and atomic state persistence. Hermes now covers the Chinese messaging ecosystem end-to-end. ([#7166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7166), [#7943](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7943))
-
-- **Termux / Android Support** — Run Hermes natively on Android via Termux. Adapted install paths, TUI optimizations for mobile screens, voice backend support, and the `/image` command work on-device. ([#6834](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6834))
-
-- **Background Process Monitoring (`watch_patterns`)** — Set patterns to watch for in background process output and get notified in real-time when they match. Monitor for errors, wait for specific events ("listening on port"), or watch build logs — all without polling. ([#7635](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7635))
-
-- **Native xAI & Xiaomi MiMo Providers** — First-class provider support for xAI (Grok) and Xiaomi MiMo, with direct API access, model catalogs, and setup wizard integration. Plus Qwen OAuth with portal request support. ([#7372](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7372), [#7855](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7855))
-
-- **Pluggable Context Engine** — Context management is now a pluggable slot via `hermes plugins`. Swap in custom context engines that control what the agent sees each turn — filtering, summarization, or domain-specific context injection. ([#7464](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7464))
-
-- **Unified Proxy Support** — SOCKS proxy, `DISCORD_PROXY`, and system proxy auto-detection across all gateway platforms. Hermes behind corporate firewalls just works. ([#6814](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6814))
-
-- **Comprehensive Security Hardening** — Path traversal protection in checkpoint manager, shell injection neutralization in sandbox writes, SSRF redirect guards in Slack image uploads, Twilio webhook signature validation (SMS RCE fix), API server auth enforcement, git argument injection prevention, and approval button authorization. ([#7933](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7933), [#7944](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7944), [#7940](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7940), [#7151](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7151), [#7156](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7156))
-
-- **`hermes backup` & `hermes import`** — Full backup and restore of your Hermes configuration, sessions, skills, and memory. Migrate between machines or create snapshots before major changes. ([#7997](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7997))
-
-- **16 Supported Platforms** — With BlueBubbles (iMessage) and WeChat joining Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, Matrix, Email, SMS, DingTalk, Feishu, WeCom, Mattermost, Home Assistant, and Webhooks, Hermes now runs on 16 messaging platforms out of the box.
-
-- **`/debug` & `hermes debug share`** — New debugging toolkit: `/debug` slash command across all platforms for quick diagnostics, plus `hermes debug share` to upload a full debug report to a pastebin for easy sharing when troubleshooting. ([#8681](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8681))
-
----
-
-## 🏗️ Core Agent & Architecture
-
-### Provider & Model Support
-- **Native xAI (Grok) provider** with direct API access and model catalog ([#7372](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7372))
-- **Xiaomi MiMo as first-class provider** — setup wizard, model catalog, empty response recovery ([#7855](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7855))
-- **Qwen OAuth provider** with portal request support ([#6282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6282))
-- **Fast Mode** — `/fast` toggle for OpenAI Priority Processing + Anthropic fast tier ([#6875](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6875), [#6960](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6960), [#7037](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7037))
-- **Structured API error classification** for smart failover decisions ([#6514](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6514))
-- **Rate limit header capture** shown in `/usage` ([#6541](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6541))
-- **API server model name** derived from profile name ([#6857](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6857))
-- **Custom providers** now included in `/model` listings and resolution ([#7088](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7088))
-- **Fallback provider activation** on repeated empty responses with user-visible status ([#7505](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7505))
-- **OpenRouter variant tags** (`:free`, `:extended`, `:fast`) preserved during model switch ([#6383](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6383))
-- **Credential exhaustion TTL** reduced from 24 hours to 1 hour ([#6504](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6504))
-- **OAuth credential lifecycle** hardening — stale pool keys, auth.json sync, Codex CLI race fixes ([#6874](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6874))
-- Empty response recovery for reasoning models (MiMo, Qwen, GLM) ([#8609](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8609))
-- MiniMax context lengths, thinking guard, endpoint corrections ([#6082](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6082), [#7126](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7126))
-- Z.AI endpoint auto-detect via probe and cache ([#5763](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/5763))
-
-### Agent Loop & Conversation
-- **Pluggable context engine slot** via `hermes plugins` ([#7464](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7464))
-- **Background process monitoring** — `watch_patterns` for real-time output alerts ([#7635](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7635))
-- **Improved context compression** — higher limits, tool tracking, degradation warnings, token-budget tail protection ([#6395](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6395), [#6453](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6453))
-- **`/compress <focus>`** — guided compression with a focus topic ([#8017](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8017))
-- **Tiered context pressure warnings** with gateway dedup ([#6411](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6411))
-- **Staged inactivity warning** before timeout escalation ([#6387](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6387))
-- **Prevent agent from stopping mid-task** — compression floor, budget overhaul, activity tracking ([#7983](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7983))
-- **Propagate child activity to parent** during `delegate_task` ([#7295](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7295))
-- **Truncated streaming tool call detection** before execution ([#6847](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6847))
-- Empty response retry (3 attempts with nudge) ([#6488](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6488))
-- Adaptive streaming backoff + cursor strip to prevent message truncation ([#7683](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7683))
-- Compression uses live session model instead of stale persisted config ([#8258](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8258))
-- Strip `<thought>` tags from Gemma 4 responses ([#8562](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8562))
-- Prevent `<think>` in prose from suppressing response output ([#6968](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6968))
-- Turn-exit diagnostic logging to agent loop ([#6549](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6549))
-- Scope tool interrupt signal per-thread to prevent cross-session leaks ([#7930](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7930))
-
-### Memory & Sessions
-- **Hindsight memory plugin** — feature parity, setup wizard, config improvements — @nicoloboschi ([#6428](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6428))
-- **Honcho** — opt-in `initOnSessionStart` for tools mode — @Kathie-yu ([#6995](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6995))
-- Orphan children instead of cascade-deleting in prune/delete ([#6513](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6513))
-- Doctor command only checks the active memory provider ([#6285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6285))
-
----
-
-## 📱 Messaging Platforms (Gateway)
-
-### New Platforms
-- **BlueBubbles (iMessage)** — full adapter with auto-webhook registration, setup wizard, and crash resilience ([#6437](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6437), [#6460](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6460), [#6494](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6494), [#7107](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7107))
-- **Weixin (WeChat)** — native support via iLink Bot API with streaming, media uploads, markdown links ([#7166](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7166), [#8665](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8665))
-- **WeCom Callback Mode** — self-built enterprise app adapter with atomic state persistence ([#7943](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7943), [#7928](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7928))
-
-### Discord
-- **Allowed channels whitelist** config — @jarvis-phw ([#7044](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7044))
-- **Forum channel topic inheritance** in thread sessions — @hermes-agent-dhabibi ([#6377](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6377))
-- **DISCORD_REPLY_TO_MODE** setting ([#6333](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6333))
-- Accept `.log` attachments, raise document size limit — @kira-ariaki ([#6467](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6467))
-- Decouple readiness from slash sync ([#8016](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8016))
-
-### Slack
-- **Consolidated Slack improvements** — 7 community PRs salvaged into one ([#6809](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6809))
-- Handle assistant thread lifecycle events ([#6433](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6433))
-
-### Matrix
-- **Migrated from matrix-nio to mautrix-python** ([#7518](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7518))
-- SQLite crypto store replacing pickle (fixes E2EE decryption) — @alt-glitch ([#7981](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7981))
-- Cross-signing recovery key verification for E2EE migration ([#8282](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8282))
-- DM mention threads + group chat events for Feishu ([#7423](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7423))
-
-### Gateway Core
-- **Unified proxy support** — SOCKS, DISCORD_PROXY, multi-platform with macOS auto-detection ([#6814](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6814))
-- **Inbound text batching** for Discord, Matrix, WeCom + adaptive delay ([#6979](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6979))
-- **Surface natural mid-turn assistant messages** in chat platforms ([#7978](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7978))
-- **WSL-aware gateway** with smart systemd detection ([#7510](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7510))
-- **All missing platforms added to setup wizard** ([#7949](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7949))
-- **Per-platform `tool_progress` overrides** ([#6348](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6348))
-- **Configurable 'still working' notification interval** ([#8572](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8572))
-- `/model` switch persists across messages ([#7081](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7081))
-- `/usage` shows rate limits, cost, and token details between turns ([#7038](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7038))
-- Drain in-flight work before restart ([#7503](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7503))
-- Don't evict cached agent on failed runs — prevents MCP restart loop ([#7539](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7539))
-- Replace `os.environ` session state with `contextvars` ([#7454](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7454))
-- Derive channel directory platforms from enum instead of hardcoded list ([#7450](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7450))
-- Validate image downloads before caching (cross-platform) ([#7125](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7125))
-- Cross-platform webhook delivery for all platforms ([#7095](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7095))
-- Cron Discord thread_id delivery support ([#7106](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7106))
-- Feishu QR-based bot onboarding ([#8570](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8570))
-- Gateway status scoped to active profile ([#7951](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7951))
-- Prevent background process notifications from triggering false pairing requests ([#6434](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6434))
-
----
-
-## 🖥️ CLI & User Experience
-
-### Interactive CLI
-- **Termux / Android support** — adapted install paths, TUI, voice, `/image` ([#6834](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6834))
-- **Native `/model` picker modal** for provider → model selection ([#8003](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8003))
-- **Live per-tool elapsed timer** restored in TUI spinner ([#7359](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7359))
-- **Stacked tool progress scrollback** in TUI ([#8201](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8201))
-- **Random tips on new session start** (CLI + gateway, 279 tips) ([#8225](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8225), [#8237](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8237))
-- **`hermes dump`** — copy-pasteable setup summary for debugging ([#6550](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6550))
-- **`hermes backup` / `hermes import`** — full config backup and restore ([#7997](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7997))
-- **WSL environment hint** in system prompt ([#8285](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8285))
-- **Profile creation UX** — seed SOUL.md + credential warning ([#8553](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8553))
-- Shell-aware sudo detection, empty password support ([#6517](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6517))
-- Flush stdin after curses/terminal menus to prevent escape sequence leakage ([#7167](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7167))
-- Handle broken stdin in prompt_toolkit startup ([#8560](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8560))
-
-### Setup & Configuration
-- **Per-platform display verbosity** configuration ([#8006](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8006))
-- **Component-separated logging** with session context and filtering ([#7991](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7991))
-- **`network.force_ipv4`** config to fix IPv6 timeout issues ([#8196](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8196))
-- **Standardize message whitespace and JSON formatting** ([#7988](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7988))
-- **Rebrand OpenClaw → Hermes** during migration ([#8210](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8210))
-- Config.yaml takes priority over env vars for auxiliary settings ([#7889](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7889))
-- Harden setup provider flows + live OpenRouter catalog refresh ([#7078](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7078))
-- Normalize reasoning effort ordering across all surfaces ([#6804](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6804))
-- Remove dead `LLM_MODEL` env var + migration to clear stale entries ([#6543](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6543))
-- Remove `/prompt` slash command — prefix expansion footgun ([#6752](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6752))
-- `HERMES_HOME_MODE` env var to override permissions — @ygd58 ([#6993](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6993))
-- Fall back to default model when model config is empty ([#8303](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8303))
-- Warn when compression model context is too small ([#7894](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7894))
-
----
-
-## 🔧 Tool System
-
-### Environments & Execution
-- **Unified spawn-per-call execution layer** for environments ([#6343](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6343))
-- **Unified file sync** with mtime tracking, deletion, and transactional state ([#7087](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7087))
-- **Persistent sandbox envs** survive between turns ([#6412](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6412))
-- **Bulk file sync** via tar pipe for SSH/Modal backends — @alt-glitch ([#8014](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8014))
-- **Daytona** — bulk upload, config bridge, silent disk cap ([#7538](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7538))
-- Foreground timeout cap to prevent session deadlocks ([#7082](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7082))
-- Guard invalid command values ([#6417](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6417))
-
-### MCP
-- **`hermes mcp add --env` and `--preset`** support ([#7970](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7970))
-- Combine `content` and `structuredContent` when both present ([#7118](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7118))
-- MCP tool name deconfliction fixes ([#7654](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7654))
-
-### Browser
-- Browser hardening — dead code removal, caching, scroll perf, security, thread safety ([#7354](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7354))
-- `/browser connect` auto-launch uses dedicated Chrome profile dir ([#6821](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6821))
-- Reap orphaned browser sessions on startup ([#7931](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7931))
-
-### Voice & Vision
-- **Voxtral TTS provider** (Mistral AI) ([#7653](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7653))
-- **TTS speed support** for Edge TTS, OpenAI TTS, MiniMax ([#8666](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8666))
-- **Vision auto-resize** for oversized images, raise limit to 20 MB, retry-on-failure ([#7883](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7883), [#7902](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7902))
-- STT provider-model mismatch fix (whisper-1 vs faster-whisper) ([#7113](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7113))
-
-### Other Tools
-- **`hermes dump`** command for setup summary ([#6550](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6550))
-- TODO store enforces ID uniqueness during replace operations ([#7986](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7986))
-- List all available toolsets in `delegate_task` schema description ([#8231](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8231))
-- API server: tool progress as custom SSE event to prevent model corruption ([#7500](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7500))
-- API server: share one Docker container across all conversations ([#7127](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7127))
-
----
-
-## 🧩 Skills Ecosystem
-
-- **Centralized skills index + tree cache** — eliminates rate-limit failures on install ([#8575](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8575))
-- **More aggressive skill loading instructions** in system prompt (v3) ([#8209](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8209), [#8286](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8286))
-- **Google Workspace skill** migrated to GWS CLI backend ([#6788](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6788))
-- **Creative divergence strategies** skill — @SHL0MS ([#6882](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6882))
-- **Creative ideation** — constraint-driven project generation — @SHL0MS ([#7555](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7555))
-- Parallelize skills browse/search to prevent hanging ([#7301](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7301))
-- Read name from SKILL.md frontmatter in skills_sync ([#7623](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7623))
-
----
-
-## 🔒 Security & Reliability
-
-### Security Hardening
-- **Twilio webhook signature validation** — SMS RCE fix ([#7933](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7933))
-- **Shell injection neutralization** in `_write_to_sandbox` via path quoting ([#7940](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7940))
-- **Git argument injection** and path traversal prevention in checkpoint manager ([#7944](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7944))
-- **SSRF redirect bypass** in Slack image uploads + base.py cache helpers ([#7151](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7151))
-- **Path traversal, credential gate, DANGEROUS_PATTERNS gaps** ([#7156](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7156))
-- **API bind guard** — enforce `API_SERVER_KEY` for non-loopback binding ([#7455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7455))
-- **Approval button authorization** — require auth for session continuation — @Cafexss ([#6930](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6930))
-- Path boundary enforcement in skill manager operations ([#7156](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7156))
-- DingTalk/API webhook URL origin validation, header injection rejection ([#7455](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7455))
-
-### Reliability
-- **Contextual error diagnostics** for invalid API responses ([#8565](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8565))
-- **Prevent 400 format errors** from triggering compression loop on Codex ([#6751](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6751))
-- **Don't halve context_length** on output-cap-too-large errors — @KUSH42 ([#6664](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6664))
-- **Recover primary client** on OpenAI transport errors ([#7108](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7108))
-- **Credential pool rotation** on billing-classified 400s ([#7112](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7112))
-- **Auto-increase stream read timeout** for local LLM providers ([#6967](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6967))
-- **Fall back to default certs** when CA bundle path doesn't exist ([#7352](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7352))
-- **Disambiguate usage-limit patterns** in error classifier — @sprmn24 ([#6836](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6836))
-- Harden cron script timeout and provider recovery ([#7079](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7079))
-- Gateway interrupt detection resilient to monitor task failures ([#8208](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8208))
-- Prevent unwanted session auto-reset after graceful gateway restarts ([#8299](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8299))
-- Prevent duplicate update prompt spam in gateway watcher ([#8343](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8343))
-- Deduplicate reasoning items in Responses API input ([#7946](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7946))
-
-### Infrastructure
-- **Multi-arch Docker image** — amd64 + arm64 ([#6124](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6124))
-- **Docker runs as non-root user** with virtualenv — @benbarclay contributing ([#8226](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8226))
-- **Use `uv`** for Docker dependency resolution to fix resolution-too-deep ([#6965](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6965))
-- **Container-aware Nix CLI** — auto-route into managed container — @alt-glitch ([#7543](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7543))
-- **Nix shared-state permission model** for interactive CLI users — @alt-glitch ([#6796](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6796))
-- **Per-profile subprocess HOME isolation** ([#7357](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7357))
-- Profile paths fixed in Docker — profiles go to mounted volume ([#7170](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7170))
-- Docker container gateway pathway hardened ([#8614](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8614))
-- Enable unbuffered stdout for live Docker logs ([#6749](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6749))
-- Install procps in Docker image — @HiddenPuppy ([#7032](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7032))
-- Shallow git clone for faster installation — @sosyz ([#8396](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8396))
-- `hermes update` always reset on stash conflict ([#7010](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7010))
-- Write update exit code before gateway restart (cgroup kill race) ([#8288](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8288))
-- Nix: `setupSecrets` optional, tirith runtime dep — @devorun, @ethernet8023 ([#6261](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6261), [#6721](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6721))
-- launchd stop uses `bootout` so `KeepAlive` doesn't respawn ([#7119](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7119))
-
----
-
-## 🐛 Notable Bug Fixes
-
-- Fix: `/model` switch not persisting across gateway messages ([#7081](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7081))
-- Fix: session-scoped gateway model overrides ignored — @Hygaard ([#7662](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7662))
-- Fix: compaction model context length ignoring config — 3 related issues ([#8258](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8258), [#8107](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8107))
-- Fix: OpenCode.ai context window resolved to 128K instead of 1M ([#6472](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6472))
-- Fix: Codex fallback auth-store lookup — @cherifya ([#6462](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6462))
-- Fix: duplicate completion notifications when process killed ([#7124](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7124))
-- Fix: agent daemon thread prevents orphan CLI processes on tab close ([#8557](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8557))
-- Fix: stale image attachment on text paste and voice input ([#7077](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7077))
-- Fix: DM thread session seeding causing cross-thread contamination ([#7084](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7084))
-- Fix: OpenClaw migration shows dry-run preview before executing ([#6769](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6769))
-- Fix: auth errors misclassified as retryable — @kuishou68 ([#7027](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7027))
-- Fix: Copilot-Integration-Id header missing ([#7083](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7083))
-- Fix: ACP session capabilities — @luyao618 ([#6985](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6985))
-- Fix: ACP PromptResponse usage from top-level fields ([#7086](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7086))
-- Fix: several failing/flaky tests on main — @dsocolobsky ([#6777](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6777))
-- Fix: backup marker filenames — @sprmn24 ([#8600](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/8600))
-- Fix: `NoneType` in fast_mode check — @0xbyt4 ([#7350](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7350))
-- Fix: missing imports in uninstall.py — @JiayuuWang ([#7034](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7034))
-
----
-
-## 📚 Documentation
-
-- Platform adapter developer guide + WeCom Callback docs ([#7969](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7969))
-- Cron troubleshooting guide ([#7122](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7122))
-- Streaming timeout auto-detection for local LLMs ([#6990](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6990))
-- Tool-use enforcement documentation expanded ([#7984](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7984))
-- BlueBubbles pairing instructions ([#6548](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6548))
-- Telegram proxy support section ([#6348](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6348))
-- `hermes dump` and `hermes logs` CLI reference ([#6552](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6552))
-- `tool_progress_overrides` configuration reference ([#6364](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/6364))
-- Compression model context length warning docs ([#7879](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/7879))
-
----
-
-## 👥 Contributors
-
-**269 merged PRs** from **24 contributors** across **487 commits**.
-
-### Community Contributors
-- **@alt-glitch** (6 PRs) — Nix container-aware CLI, shared-state permissions, Matrix SQLite crypto store, bulk SSH/Modal file sync, Matrix mautrix compat
-- **@SHL0MS** (2 PRs) — Creative divergence strategies skill, creative ideation skill
-- **@sprmn24** (2 PRs) — Error classifier disambiguation, backup marker fix
-- **@nicoloboschi** — Hindsight memory plugin feature parity
-- **@Hygaard** — Session-scoped gateway model override fix
-- **@jarvis-phw** — Discord allowed_channels whitelist
-- **@Kathie-yu** — Honcho initOnSessionStart for tools mode
-- **@hermes-agent-dhabibi** — Discord forum channel topic inheritance
-- **@kira-ariaki** — Discord .log attachments and size limit
-- **@cherifya** — Codex fallback auth-store lookup
-- **@Cafexss** — Security: auth for session continuation
-- **@KUSH42** — Compaction context_length fix
-- **@kuishou68** — Auth error retryable classification fix
-- **@luyao618** — ACP session capabilities
-- **@ygd58** — HERMES_HOME_MODE env var override
-- **@0xbyt4** — Fast mode NoneType fix
-- **@JiayuuWang** — CLI uninstall import fix
-- **@HiddenPuppy** — Docker procps installation
-- **@dsocolobsky** — Test suite fixes
-- **@bobashopcashier** (1 PR) — Graceful gateway drain before restart (salvaged into #7503 from #7290)
-- **@benbarclay** — Docker image tag simplification
-- **@sosyz** — Shallow git clone for faster install
-- **@devorun** — Nix setupSecrets optional
-- **@ethernet8023** — Nix tirith runtime dep
-
----
-
-**Full Changelog**: [v2026.4.8...v2026.4.13](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/compare/v2026.4.8...v2026.4.13)

agent/agent_runtime_helpers.py

@@ -47,6 +47,20 @@ def _ra():
     return run_agent
 
 
+AGENT_RUNTIME_POST_HOOK_TOOL_NAMES = frozenset(
+    {"todo", "session_search", "memory", "clarify", "delegate_task"}
+)
+
+
+def agent_runtime_owns_post_tool_hook(agent: Any, function_name: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True when an agent-level tool path emits its own post hook."""
+    if function_name in AGENT_RUNTIME_POST_HOOK_TOOL_NAMES:
+        return True
+    if getattr(agent, "_context_engine_tool_names", None) and function_name in agent._context_engine_tool_names:
+        return True
+    memory_manager = getattr(agent, "_memory_manager", None)
+    return bool(memory_manager and memory_manager.has_tool(function_name))
+
 
 def convert_to_trajectory_format(agent, messages: List[Dict[str, Any]], user_query: str, completed: bool) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
     """
@@ -1618,36 +1632,84 @@ def invoke_tool(agent, function_name: str, function_args: dict, effective_task_i
         try:
             from hermes_cli.plugins import get_pre_tool_call_block_message
             block_message = get_pre_tool_call_block_message(
-                function_name, function_args, task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                function_name,
+                function_args,
+                task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                session_id=getattr(agent, "session_id", "") or "",
+                tool_call_id=tool_call_id or "",
+                turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+                api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
             )
         except Exception:
             pass
     if block_message is not None:
-        return json.dumps({"error": block_message}, ensure_ascii=False)
+        result = json.dumps({"error": block_message}, ensure_ascii=False)
+        try:
+            from model_tools import _emit_post_tool_call_hook
+            _emit_post_tool_call_hook(
+                function_name=function_name,
+                function_args=function_args,
+                result=result,
+                task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                session_id=getattr(agent, "session_id", "") or "",
+                tool_call_id=tool_call_id or "",
+                turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+                api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
+                status="blocked",
+                error_type="plugin_block",
+                error_message=block_message,
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        return result
+
+    tool_start_time = time.monotonic()
+
+    def _finish_agent_tool(result: Any) -> Any:
+        try:
+            from model_tools import _emit_post_tool_call_hook
+            _emit_post_tool_call_hook(
+                function_name=function_name,
+                function_args=function_args,
+                result=result,
+                task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                session_id=getattr(agent, "session_id", "") or "",
+                tool_call_id=tool_call_id or "",
+                turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+                api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
+                duration_ms=int((time.monotonic() - tool_start_time) * 1000),
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        return result
 
     if function_name == "todo":
         from tools.todo_tool import todo_tool as _todo_tool
-        return _todo_tool(
-            todos=function_args.get("todos"),
-            merge=function_args.get("merge", False),
-            store=agent._todo_store,
+        return _finish_agent_tool(
+            _todo_tool(
+                todos=function_args.get("todos"),
+                merge=function_args.get("merge", False),
+                store=agent._todo_store,
+            )
         )
     elif function_name == "session_search":
         session_db = agent._get_session_db_for_recall()
         if not session_db:
             from hermes_state import format_session_db_unavailable
-            return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": format_session_db_unavailable()})
+            return _finish_agent_tool(json.dumps({"success": False, "error": format_session_db_unavailable()}))
         from tools.session_search_tool import session_search as _session_search
-        return _session_search(
-            query=function_args.get("query", ""),
-            role_filter=function_args.get("role_filter"),
-            limit=function_args.get("limit", 3),
-            session_id=function_args.get("session_id"),
-            around_message_id=function_args.get("around_message_id"),
-            window=function_args.get("window", 5),
-            sort=function_args.get("sort"),
-            db=session_db,
-            current_session_id=agent.session_id,
+        return _finish_agent_tool(
+            _session_search(
+                query=function_args.get("query", ""),
+                role_filter=function_args.get("role_filter"),
+                limit=function_args.get("limit", 3),
+                session_id=function_args.get("session_id"),
+                around_message_id=function_args.get("around_message_id"),
+                window=function_args.get("window", 5),
+                sort=function_args.get("sort"),
+                db=session_db,
+                current_session_id=agent.session_id,
+            )
         )
     elif function_name == "memory":
         target = function_args.get("target", "memory")
@@ -1673,23 +1735,27 @@ def invoke_tool(agent, function_name: str, function_args: dict, effective_task_i
                 )
             except Exception:
                 pass
-        return result
+        return _finish_agent_tool(result)
     elif agent._memory_manager and agent._memory_manager.has_tool(function_name):
-        return agent._memory_manager.handle_tool_call(function_name, function_args)
+        return _finish_agent_tool(agent._memory_manager.handle_tool_call(function_name, function_args))
     elif function_name == "clarify":
         from tools.clarify_tool import clarify_tool as _clarify_tool
-        return _clarify_tool(
-            question=function_args.get("question", ""),
-            choices=function_args.get("choices"),
-            callback=agent.clarify_callback,
+        return _finish_agent_tool(
+            _clarify_tool(
+                question=function_args.get("question", ""),
+                choices=function_args.get("choices"),
+                callback=agent.clarify_callback,
+            )
         )
     elif function_name == "delegate_task":
-        return agent._dispatch_delegate_task(function_args)
+        return _finish_agent_tool(agent._dispatch_delegate_task(function_args))
     else:
         return _ra().handle_function_call(
             function_name, function_args, effective_task_id,
             tool_call_id=tool_call_id,
             session_id=agent.session_id or "",
+            turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+            api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
             enabled_tools=list(agent.valid_tool_names) if agent.valid_tool_names else None,
             skip_pre_tool_call_hook=True,
             enabled_toolsets=getattr(agent, "enabled_toolsets", None),

agent/auxiliary_client.py

@@ -1621,6 +1621,47 @@ def _try_nous(vision: bool = False) -> Tuple[Optional[OpenAI], Optional[str]]:
     )
 
 
+def _refresh_nous_recommended_model(
+    *, vision: bool, stale_model: Optional[str]
+) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Re-fetch the Nous Portal's recommended model after a stale-model 404.
+
+    Long-lived processes (gateway, watchers) cache the Portal's
+    ``recommended-models`` payload for 10 minutes and, in practice, can pin a
+    model for the whole process lifetime. When that model is later dropped from
+    the Nous → OpenRouter catalog, every auxiliary call 404s with
+    "model does not exist". This forces a fresh Portal fetch and returns a
+    model name to retry with:
+
+      * the Portal's current recommendation for the task, if it differs from
+        the model that just failed; otherwise
+      * ``_NOUS_MODEL`` (google/gemini-3-flash-preview), the known-good default,
+        if it too differs from the failed model.
+
+    Returns ``None`` when no usable alternative is available (e.g. the Portal
+    still recommends the exact model that just 404'd and the default also
+    matches it) — callers should then let the original error propagate.
+    """
+    stale = (stale_model or "").strip().lower()
+    fresh: Optional[str] = None
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.models import get_nous_recommended_aux_model
+
+        fresh = get_nous_recommended_aux_model(vision=vision, force_refresh=True)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.debug(
+            "Nous recommended-model refresh failed (%s); using default %s",
+            exc, _NOUS_MODEL,
+        )
+    if fresh and fresh.strip().lower() != stale:
+        return fresh
+    # Portal recommendation unchanged or unavailable — fall back to the
+    # hardcoded known-good default, but only if it's actually different.
+    if _NOUS_MODEL.strip().lower() != stale:
+        return _NOUS_MODEL
+    return None
+
+
 def _read_main_model() -> str:
     """Read the user's configured main model from config.yaml.
 
@@ -2451,6 +2492,46 @@ def _is_unsupported_temperature_error(exc: Exception) -> bool:
     return _is_unsupported_parameter_error(exc, "temperature")
 
 
+def _is_model_not_found_error(exc: Exception) -> bool:
+    """Detect "the requested model doesn't exist" errors (404 / invalid model).
+
+    This fires when a resolved model name is no longer served by the endpoint
+    — most commonly when a long-lived process pinned a Portal-recommended model
+    that has since been dropped from the Nous → OpenRouter catalog. The Nous
+    proxy returns 404 with a body like::
+
+        Model 'gpt-5.4-mini' not found. The requested model does not exist
+        in our configuration or OpenRouter catalog.
+
+    Distinct from :func:`_is_payment_error` (which also matches some 404s for
+    free-tier/credit language) — this one keys on "does not exist / not found /
+    not a valid model" phrasing, and explicitly excludes the billing keywords
+    that the payment path already owns so the two predicates don't overlap.
+    """
+    status = getattr(exc, "status_code", None)
+    err_lower = str(exc).lower()
+    # Billing/quota 404s belong to _is_payment_error — don't claim them here.
+    if any(kw in err_lower for kw in (
+        "credits", "insufficient funds", "billing", "out of funds",
+        "balance_depleted", "no usable credits", "free tier", "free-tier",
+        "not available on the free tier",
+    )):
+        return False
+    if status not in {404, 400, None}:
+        return False
+    return any(kw in err_lower for kw in (
+        "model does not exist",
+        "does not exist in our configuration",
+        "openrouter catalog",
+        "is not a valid model",
+        "no such model",
+        "model not found",
+        "the model `",            # OpenAI-style: "The model `X` does not exist"
+        "model_not_found",
+        "unknown model",
+    ))
+
+
 def _evict_cached_clients(provider: str) -> None:
     """Drop cached auxiliary clients for a provider so fresh creds are used."""
     normalized = _normalize_aux_provider(provider)
@@ -5027,6 +5108,32 @@ def call_llm(
                     raise
                 first_err = retry_err
 
+        # ── Stale-model self-heal (Nous Portal recommendation drift) ───
+        # A long-lived process can pin a Portal-recommended model that has
+        # since been dropped from the Nous → OpenRouter catalog, so every
+        # auxiliary call 404s with "model does not exist". Force a fresh
+        # Portal fetch and retry once with the current recommendation (or the
+        # known-good default). Only applies to Nous-routed calls.
+        _heal_is_nous = (
+            resolved_provider == "nous"
+            or base_url_host_matches(_base_info, "inference-api.nousresearch.com")
+        )
+        if _is_model_not_found_error(first_err) and _heal_is_nous:
+            healed_model = _refresh_nous_recommended_model(
+                vision=(task == "vision"), stale_model=kwargs.get("model"))
+            if healed_model and healed_model != kwargs.get("model"):
+                logger.warning(
+                    "Auxiliary %s: model %r no longer in Nous catalog; "
+                    "retrying with refreshed recommendation %r",
+                    task or "call", kwargs.get("model"), healed_model,
+                )
+                kwargs["model"] = healed_model
+                try:
+                    return _validate_llm_response(
+                        client.chat.completions.create(**kwargs), task)
+                except Exception as retry_err:
+                    first_err = retry_err
+
         # ── Nous auth refresh parity with main agent ──────────────────
         client_is_nous = (
             resolved_provider == "nous"
@@ -5464,6 +5571,31 @@ async def async_call_llm(
                     raise
                 first_err = retry_err
 
+        # ── Stale-model self-heal (Nous Portal recommendation drift) ───
+        # See the sync call_llm() path for the rationale: a long-lived process
+        # can pin a Portal-recommended model that has since been dropped from
+        # the Nous → OpenRouter catalog, 404'ing every auxiliary call. Force a
+        # fresh Portal fetch and retry once with the current recommendation.
+        _heal_is_nous = (
+            resolved_provider == "nous"
+            or base_url_host_matches(_client_base, "inference-api.nousresearch.com")
+        )
+        if _is_model_not_found_error(first_err) and _heal_is_nous:
+            healed_model = _refresh_nous_recommended_model(
+                vision=(task == "vision"), stale_model=kwargs.get("model"))
+            if healed_model and healed_model != kwargs.get("model"):
+                logger.warning(
+                    "Auxiliary %s (async): model %r no longer in Nous catalog; "
+                    "retrying with refreshed recommendation %r",
+                    task or "call", kwargs.get("model"), healed_model,
+                )
+                kwargs["model"] = healed_model
+                try:
+                    return _validate_llm_response(
+                        await client.chat.completions.create(**kwargs), task)
+                except Exception as retry_err:
+                    first_err = retry_err
+
         # ── Nous auth refresh parity with main agent ──────────────────
         client_is_nous = (
             resolved_provider == "nous"

agent/chat_completion_helpers.py

@@ -1296,7 +1296,7 @@ def handle_max_iterations(agent, messages: list, api_call_count: int) -> str:
             for internal_key in [k for k in api_msg if isinstance(k, str) and k.startswith("_")]:
                 api_msg.pop(internal_key, None)
             if _needs_sanitize:
-                agent._sanitize_tool_calls_for_strict_api(api_msg)
+                agent._sanitize_tool_calls_for_strict_api(api_msg, model=agent.model)
             api_messages.append(api_msg)
 
         effective_system = agent._cached_system_prompt or ""

agent/conversation_compression.py

@@ -308,11 +308,14 @@ def compress_context(
     # The check itself sets ``agent._compression_warning`` so the
     # status-callback replay machinery still emits the warning to the user
     # the first time it would matter.
-    if not getattr(agent, "_compression_feasibility_checked", True):
-        try:
-            check_compression_model_feasibility(agent)
-        finally:
-            agent._compression_feasibility_checked = True
+    if not getattr(agent, "_compression_feasibility_checked", False):
+        # Mark as checked only after the probe completes. If the check
+        # raises (e.g. a fatal aux-context ValueError that aborts the
+        # session), leaving the flag unset is harmless; a non-fatal
+        # transient failure is swallowed inside the function so the flag
+        # is set normally on the next successful pass.
+        check_compression_model_feasibility(agent)
+        agent._compression_feasibility_checked = True
 
     _pre_msg_count = len(messages)
     logger.info(

agent/conversation_loop.py

@@ -435,6 +435,9 @@ def run_conversation(
     # state registry.  Set BEFORE any tool dispatch so snapshots taken at
     # child-launch time see the parent's real id, not None.
     agent._current_task_id = effective_task_id
+    turn_id = f"{agent.session_id or 'session'}:{effective_task_id}:{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
+    agent._current_turn_id = turn_id
+    agent._current_api_request_id = ""
     
     # Reset retry counters and iteration budget at the start of each turn
     # so subagent usage from a previous turn doesn't eat into the next one.
@@ -702,6 +705,8 @@ def run_conversation(
         _pre_results = _invoke_hook(
             "pre_llm_call",
             session_id=agent.session_id,
+            task_id=effective_task_id,
+            turn_id=turn_id,
             user_message=original_user_message,
             conversation_history=list(messages),
             is_first_turn=(not bool(conversation_history)),
@@ -977,7 +982,7 @@ def run_conversation(
             # Uses new dicts so the internal messages list retains the fields
             # for Codex Responses compatibility.
             if agent._should_sanitize_tool_calls():
-                agent._sanitize_tool_calls_for_strict_api(api_msg)
+                agent._sanitize_tool_calls_for_strict_api(api_msg, model=agent.model)
             # Keep 'reasoning_details' - OpenRouter uses this for multi-turn reasoning context
             # The signature field helps maintain reasoning continuity
             api_messages.append(api_msg)
@@ -1153,6 +1158,8 @@ def run_conversation(
         finish_reason = "stop"
         response = None  # Guard against UnboundLocalError if all retries fail
         api_kwargs = None  # Guard against UnboundLocalError in except handler
+        api_request_id = f"{turn_id}:api:{api_call_count}"
+        agent._current_api_request_id = api_request_id
 
         while retry_count < max_retries:
             # ── Nous Portal rate limit guard ──────────────────────
@@ -1220,37 +1227,58 @@ def run_conversation(
                     api_kwargs = agent._get_transport().preflight_kwargs(api_kwargs, allow_stream=False)
 
                 try:
-                    from hermes_cli.plugins import invoke_hook as _invoke_hook
-                    request_messages = api_kwargs.get("messages")
-                    if not isinstance(request_messages, list):
-                        request_messages = api_kwargs.get("input")
-                    if not isinstance(request_messages, list):
-                        request_messages = api_messages
-                    # Shallow-copy the outer list so plugins that retain the
-                    # reference for async snapshotting don't observe later
-                    # mutations of api_messages.  The inner dicts are not
-                    # mutated by the agent loop, so a shallow copy is
-                    # sufficient; a deepcopy would walk every tool result
-                    # and base64 image on every API call.
-                    _invoke_hook(
-                        "pre_api_request",
-                        task_id=effective_task_id,
-                        session_id=agent.session_id or "",
-                        user_message=original_user_message,
-                        conversation_history=list(messages),
-                        platform=agent.platform or "",
-                        model=agent.model,
-                        provider=agent.provider,
-                        base_url=agent.base_url,
-                        api_mode=agent.api_mode,
-                        api_call_count=api_call_count,
-                        request_messages=list(request_messages) if isinstance(request_messages, list) else [],
-                        message_count=len(api_messages),
-                        tool_count=len(agent.tools or []),
-                        approx_input_tokens=approx_tokens,
-                        request_char_count=total_chars,
-                        max_tokens=agent.max_tokens,
+                    from hermes_cli.plugins import (
+                        has_hook,
+                        invoke_hook as _invoke_hook,
                     )
+                    if has_hook("pre_api_request"):
+                        request_messages = api_kwargs.get("messages")
+                        if not isinstance(request_messages, list):
+                            request_messages = api_kwargs.get("input")
+                        if not isinstance(request_messages, list):
+                            request_messages = api_messages
+                        # Shallow-copy the outer list so plugins that retain the
+                        # reference for async snapshotting don't observe later
+                        # mutations of api_messages.  The inner dicts are not
+                        # mutated by the agent loop, so a shallow copy is
+                        # sufficient; a deepcopy would walk every tool result
+                        # and base64 image on every API call.
+                        #
+                        # The ``request_messages`` and ``conversation_history``
+                        # kwargs below are pre-existing raw passthroughs
+                        # consumed by the bundled langfuse plugin
+                        # (``plugins/observability/langfuse/__init__.py:_coerce_request_messages``).
+                        # They predate ``request`` and are intentionally NOT
+                        # sanitised — secrets are not expected here because
+                        # ``api_kwargs`` is the same object passed to the
+                        # provider client.  New consumers should read the
+                        # sanitised view from ``request["body"]["messages"]``.
+                        _request_payload = agent._api_request_payload_for_hook(api_kwargs)
+                        _invoke_hook(
+                            "pre_api_request",
+                            task_id=effective_task_id,
+                            turn_id=turn_id,
+                            api_request_id=api_request_id,
+                            session_id=agent.session_id or "",
+                            user_message=original_user_message,
+                            conversation_history=list(messages),
+                            platform=agent.platform or "",
+                            model=agent.model,
+                            provider=agent.provider,
+                            base_url=agent.base_url,
+                            api_mode=agent.api_mode,
+                            api_call_count=api_call_count,
+                            request_messages=list(request_messages)
+                            if isinstance(request_messages, list)
+                            else [],
+                            message_count=len(api_messages),
+                            tool_count=len(agent.tools or []),
+                            approx_input_tokens=approx_tokens,
+                            request_char_count=total_chars,
+                            max_tokens=agent.max_tokens,
+                            started_at=api_start_time,
+                            request=_request_payload,
+                        )
                 except Exception:
                     pass
 
@@ -1300,12 +1328,14 @@ def run_conversation(
                     if isinstance(getattr(agent, "client", None), Mock):
                         _use_streaming = False
 
-                if _use_streaming:
-                    response = agent._interruptible_streaming_api_call(
-                        api_kwargs, on_first_delta=_stop_spinner
-                    )
-                else:
-                    response = agent._interruptible_api_call(api_kwargs)
+                def _perform_api_call(next_api_kwargs):
+                    if _use_streaming:
+                        return agent._interruptible_streaming_api_call(
+                            next_api_kwargs, on_first_delta=_stop_spinner
+                        )
+                    return agent._interruptible_api_call(next_api_kwargs)
+
+                response = _perform_api_call(api_kwargs)
                 
                 api_duration = time.time() - api_start_time
                 
@@ -1406,6 +1436,21 @@ def run_conversation(
                             error_details.append("response.choices is empty")
 
                 if response_invalid:
+                    agent._invoke_api_request_error_hook(
+                        task_id=effective_task_id,
+                        turn_id=turn_id,
+                        api_request_id=api_request_id,
+                        api_call_count=api_call_count,
+                        api_start_time=api_start_time,
+                        api_kwargs=api_kwargs,
+                        error_type="InvalidAPIResponse",
+                        error_message=", ".join(error_details) or "Invalid API response",
+                        status_code=getattr(getattr(response, "error", None), "code", None),
+                        retry_count=retry_count,
+                        max_retries=max_retries,
+                        retryable=True,
+                        reason="invalid_response",
+                    )
                     # Stop spinner silently — retry status is now buffered
                     # and only surfaced if every retry+fallback exhausts.
                     if thinking_spinner:
@@ -1739,20 +1784,52 @@ def run_conversation(
                     if agent.api_mode in {"chat_completions", "bedrock_converse", "anthropic_messages"}:
                         assistant_message = _trunc_msg
                         if assistant_message is not None and _trunc_has_tool_calls:
-                            if truncated_tool_call_retries < 1:
+                            _is_stub_stall = (
+                                getattr(response, "id", "") == PARTIAL_STREAM_STUB_ID
+                            )
+                            if truncated_tool_call_retries < 3:
                                 truncated_tool_call_retries += 1
-                                agent._buffer_vprint(
-                                    f"⚠️  Truncated tool call detected — retrying API call..."
-                                )
+                                if _is_stub_stall:
+                                    # The stream broke mid tool-call (network /
+                                    # peer-closed connection), not a real output
+                                    # cap — say so instead of "max output tokens".
+                                    agent._buffer_vprint(
+                                        f"⚠️  Stream interrupted mid tool-call — "
+                                        f"retrying ({truncated_tool_call_retries}/3)..."
+                                    )
+                                else:
+                                    agent._buffer_vprint(
+                                        f"⚠️  Truncated tool call detected — "
+                                        f"retrying API call "
+                                        f"({truncated_tool_call_retries}/3)..."
+                                    )
+                                # Boost max_tokens on each retry so the model has
+                                # more room to complete the tool-call JSON. A
+                                # network stall doesn't need a bigger budget, but
+                                # a genuine output-cap truncation does, and the
+                                # boost is harmless for the stall case.
+                                _tc_boost_base = agent.max_tokens if agent.max_tokens else 4096
+                                _tc_boost = _tc_boost_base * (truncated_tool_call_retries + 1)
+                                _tc_requested_cap = agent._requested_output_cap_from_api_kwargs(api_kwargs)
+                                if _tc_requested_cap is not None:
+                                    _tc_boost = max(_tc_boost, _tc_requested_cap)
+                                _tc_boost_cap = max(32768, _tc_requested_cap or 0)
+                                agent._ephemeral_max_output_tokens = min(_tc_boost, _tc_boost_cap)
                                 # Don't append the broken response to messages;
                                 # just re-run the same API call from the current
                                 # message state, giving the model another chance.
                                 continue
                             agent._flush_status_buffer()
-                            agent._vprint(
-                                f"{agent.log_prefix}⚠️  Truncated tool call response detected again — refusing to execute incomplete tool arguments.",
-                                force=True,
-                            )
+                            if _is_stub_stall:
+                                agent._vprint(
+                                    f"{agent.log_prefix}⚠️  Stream kept dropping mid tool-call after 3 retries — the action was not executed.",
+                                    force=True,
+                                )
+                            else:
+                                agent._vprint(
+                                    f"{agent.log_prefix}⚠️  Truncated tool call response detected again — refusing to execute incomplete tool arguments.",
+                                    force=True,
+                                )
                             agent._cleanup_task_resources(effective_task_id)
                             agent._persist_session(messages, conversation_history)
                             return {
@@ -1761,7 +1838,12 @@ def run_conversation(
                                 "api_calls": api_call_count,
                                 "completed": False,
                                 "partial": True,
-                                "error": "Response truncated due to output length limit",
+                                "error": (
+                                    "Stream repeatedly dropped mid tool-call (network); "
+                                    "the tool was not executed"
+                                    if _is_stub_stall
+                                    else "Response truncated due to output length limit"
+                                ),
                             }
 
                     # If we have prior messages, roll back to last complete state
@@ -2241,6 +2323,21 @@ def run_conversation(
                     classified.retryable, classified.should_compress,
                     classified.should_rotate_credential, classified.should_fallback,
                 )
+                agent._invoke_api_request_error_hook(
+                    task_id=effective_task_id,
+                    turn_id=turn_id,
+                    api_request_id=api_request_id,
+                    api_call_count=api_call_count,
+                    api_start_time=api_start_time,
+                    api_kwargs=api_kwargs,
+                    error_type=type(api_error).__name__,
+                    error_message=str(api_error),
+                    status_code=status_code,
+                    retry_count=retry_count,
+                    max_retries=max_retries,
+                    retryable=classified.retryable,
+                    reason=classified.reason.value,
+                )
 
                 if (
                     classified.reason == FailoverReason.billing
@@ -3158,7 +3255,7 @@ def run_conversation(
                             else:  # nous
                                 agent._vprint(f"{agent.log_prefix}   💡 Nous Portal OAuth token was rejected (HTTP 401). Your token may be", force=True)
                                 agent._vprint(f"{agent.log_prefix}      expired, revoked, or your account may be out of credits. To fix:", force=True)
-                                agent._vprint(f"{agent.log_prefix}      1. Re-authenticate: hermes auth add nous --type oauth", force=True)
+                                agent._vprint(f"{agent.log_prefix}      1. Re-authenticate: hermes portal", force=True)
                                 agent._vprint(f"{agent.log_prefix}      2. Check your portal account: https://portal.nousresearch.com", force=True)
                                 # ``:free`` is OpenRouter slug syntax; Nous Portal will reject
                                 # the model name even after a successful re-auth.
@@ -3341,6 +3438,12 @@ def run_conversation(
                         "completed": False,
                         "failed": True,
                         "error": _final_summary,
+                        # Surface the classified reason so callers (notably the
+                        # kanban worker path in cli.py) can distinguish a
+                        # transient throttle from a real failure and choose a
+                        # different exit code. ``rate_limit`` / ``billing`` here
+                        # mean "quota wall, not a task error".
+                        "failure_reason": classified.reason.value,
                     }
 
                 # For rate limits, respect the Retry-After header if present
@@ -3412,9 +3515,16 @@ def run_conversation(
             # Progressively boost the output token budget on each retry.
             # Retry 1 → 2× base, retry 2 → 3× base, capped at 32 768.
             # Applies to all providers via _ephemeral_max_output_tokens.
+            # If the original request already used a larger provider/model
+            # default budget, keep that floor so continuation retries do
+            # not accidentally downshift to a much smaller cap.
             _boost_base = agent.max_tokens if agent.max_tokens else 4096
             _boost = _boost_base * (length_continue_retries + 1)
-            agent._ephemeral_max_output_tokens = min(_boost, 32768)
+            _requested_cap = agent._requested_output_cap_from_api_kwargs(api_kwargs)
+            if _requested_cap is not None:
+                _boost = max(_boost, _requested_cap)
+            _boost_cap = max(32768, _requested_cap or 0)
+            agent._ephemeral_max_output_tokens = min(_boost, _boost_cap)
             continue
 
         # Guard: if all retries exhausted without a successful response
@@ -3457,29 +3567,44 @@ def run_conversation(
                     assistant_message.content = str(raw)
 
             try:
-                from hermes_cli.plugins import invoke_hook as _invoke_hook
-                _assistant_tool_calls = getattr(assistant_message, "tool_calls", None) or []
-                _assistant_text = assistant_message.content or ""
-                _invoke_hook(
-                    "post_api_request",
-                    task_id=effective_task_id,
-                    session_id=agent.session_id or "",
-                    platform=agent.platform or "",
-                    model=agent.model,
-                    provider=agent.provider,
-                    base_url=agent.base_url,
-                    api_mode=agent.api_mode,
-                    api_call_count=api_call_count,
-                    api_duration=api_duration,
-                    finish_reason=finish_reason,
-                    message_count=len(api_messages),
-                    response_model=getattr(response, "model", None),
-                    response=response,
-                    usage=agent._usage_summary_for_api_request_hook(response),
-                    assistant_message=assistant_message,
-                    assistant_content_chars=len(_assistant_text),
-                    assistant_tool_call_count=len(_assistant_tool_calls),
+                from hermes_cli.plugins import (
+                    has_hook,
+                    invoke_hook as _invoke_hook,
                 )
+                if has_hook("post_api_request"):
+                    _assistant_tool_calls = (
+                        getattr(assistant_message, "tool_calls", None) or []
+                    )
+                    _assistant_text = assistant_message.content or ""
+                    _api_ended_at = api_start_time + api_duration
+                    _invoke_hook(
+                        "post_api_request",
+                        task_id=effective_task_id,
+                        turn_id=turn_id,
+                        api_request_id=api_request_id,
+                        session_id=agent.session_id or "",
+                        platform=agent.platform or "",
+                        model=agent.model,
+                        provider=agent.provider,
+                        base_url=agent.base_url,
+                        api_mode=agent.api_mode,
+                        api_call_count=api_call_count,
+                        api_duration=api_duration,
+                        started_at=api_start_time,
+                        ended_at=_api_ended_at,
+                        finish_reason=finish_reason,
+                        message_count=len(api_messages),
+                        response_model=getattr(response, "model", None),
+                        response=agent._api_response_payload_for_hook(
+                            response,
+                            assistant_message,
+                            finish_reason=finish_reason,
+                        ),
+                        usage=agent._usage_summary_for_api_request_hook(response),
+                        assistant_message=assistant_message,
+                        assistant_content_chars=len(_assistant_text),
+                        assistant_tool_call_count=len(_assistant_tool_calls),
+                    )
             except Exception:
                 pass
 
@@ -4573,6 +4698,8 @@ def run_conversation(
             _invoke_hook(
                 "post_llm_call",
                 session_id=agent.session_id,
+                task_id=effective_task_id,
+                turn_id=turn_id,
                 user_message=original_user_message,
                 assistant_response=final_response,
                 conversation_history=list(messages),
@@ -4692,6 +4819,8 @@ def run_conversation(
         _invoke_hook(
             "on_session_end",
             session_id=agent.session_id,
+            task_id=effective_task_id,
+            turn_id=turn_id,
             completed=completed,
             interrupted=interrupted,
             model=agent.model,

agent/credential_pool.py

@@ -1891,6 +1891,7 @@ def _seed_from_singletons(provider: str, entries: List[PooledCredential]) -> Tup
         # via `hermes auth openai-codex`.
         if isinstance(tokens, dict) and tokens.get("access_token"):
             active_sources.add("device_code")
+            custom_label = str(state.get("label") or "").strip()
             changed |= _upsert_entry(
                 entries,
                 provider,
@@ -1902,7 +1903,7 @@ def _seed_from_singletons(provider: str, entries: List[PooledCredential]) -> Tup
                     "refresh_token": tokens.get("refresh_token"),
                     "base_url": "https://chatgpt.com/backend-api/codex",
                     "last_refresh": state.get("last_refresh"),
-                    "label": label_from_token(tokens.get("access_token", ""), "device_code"),
+                    "label": custom_label or label_from_token(tokens.get("access_token", ""), "device_code"),
                 },
             )
 

agent/curator.py

@@ -183,6 +183,18 @@ def get_archive_after_days() -> int:
         return DEFAULT_ARCHIVE_AFTER_DAYS
 
 
+def get_prune_builtins() -> bool:
+    """Whether the curator may prune (archive) bundled built-in skills too.
+
+    ON by default. When on, built-ins become curation candidates and are
+    archived after the same inactivity period as agent-created skills, with a
+    suppression list keeping them archived across `hermes update` re-seeds.
+    Hub-installed skills are never pruned regardless of this flag.
+    """
+    cfg = _load_config()
+    return bool(cfg.get("prune_builtins", True))
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Idle / interval check
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -254,9 +266,17 @@ def should_run_now(now: Optional[datetime] = None) -> bool:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 def apply_automatic_transitions(now: Optional[datetime] = None) -> Dict[str, int]:
-    """Walk every agent-created skill and move active/stale/archived based on
+    """Walk every curator-managed skill and move active/stale/archived based on
     the latest real activity timestamp. Pinned skills are never touched.
-    Returns a counter dict describing what changed."""
+
+    Built-ins (eligible only when ``curator.prune_builtins`` is on) are seeded
+    with a baseline record the first time they're seen so their inactivity
+    clock starts NOW rather than at epoch — a long-unused built-in is therefore
+    archived only after a fresh ``archive_after_days`` of non-use, not on the
+    first pass after the flag flips on.
+
+    Returns a counter dict describing what changed.
+    """
     from tools import skill_usage as _u
 
     if now is None:
@@ -264,7 +284,7 @@ def apply_automatic_transitions(now: Optional[datetime] = None) -> Dict[str, int
     stale_cutoff = now - timedelta(days=get_stale_after_days())
     archive_cutoff = now - timedelta(days=get_archive_after_days())
 
-    counts = {"marked_stale": 0, "archived": 0, "reactivated": 0, "checked": 0}
+    counts = {"marked_stale": 0, "archived": 0, "reactivated": 0, "checked": 0, "seeded": 0}
 
     for row in _u.agent_created_report():
         counts["checked"] += 1
@@ -272,6 +292,13 @@ def apply_automatic_transitions(now: Optional[datetime] = None) -> Dict[str, int
         if row.get("pinned"):
             continue
 
+        # First sight of a curation-eligible skill with no persisted record
+        # (e.g. a newly-eligible built-in): anchor its clock to now and defer.
+        if not row.get("_persisted", True):
+            _u.seed_record_if_missing(name)
+            counts["seeded"] += 1
+            continue
+
         last_activity = _parse_iso(row.get("last_activity_at"))
         # If never active, treat created_at as the anchor so new skills don't
         # immediately archive themselves.
@@ -1484,14 +1511,30 @@ def run_curator_review(
                     "error": None,
                 }
             else:
+                # When pruning built-ins is enabled, the candidate list now
+                # includes bundled skills. Override the default "don't touch
+                # bundled" rule for them — but only archiving is permitted, and
+                # hub-installed skills remain strictly off-limits.
+                builtins_note = ""
+                if get_prune_builtins():
+                    builtins_note = (
+                        "\n\nPRUNE-BUILTINS MODE IS ON: bundled built-in skills "
+                        "ARE included in the candidate list below and MAY be "
+                        "archived for staleness/irrelevance, overriding hard "
+                        "rule #1 for bundled skills ONLY. Hub-installed skills "
+                        "remain strictly off-limits. Treat a stale built-in the "
+                        "same as a stale agent-created skill: archive it (never "
+                        "delete). It will be restored on `hermes update` only if "
+                        "the user explicitly restores it."
+                    )
                 if dry_run:
                     prompt = (
                         f"{CURATOR_DRY_RUN_BANNER}\n\n"
-                        f"{CURATOR_REVIEW_PROMPT}\n\n"
+                        f"{CURATOR_REVIEW_PROMPT}{builtins_note}\n\n"
                         f"{candidate_list}"
                     )
                 else:
-                    prompt = f"{CURATOR_REVIEW_PROMPT}\n\n{candidate_list}"
+                    prompt = f"{CURATOR_REVIEW_PROMPT}{builtins_note}\n\n{candidate_list}"
                 llm_meta = _run_llm_review(prompt)
                 final_summary = (
                     f"{prefix}{auto_summary}; llm: {llm_meta.get('summary', 'no change')}"

agent/curator_backup.py

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ It DOES include:
     pointer — otherwise the curator would immediately re-fire on the next
     tick)
   - ``.bundled_manifest`` (so protection markers stay consistent)
+  - ``.curator_suppressed`` (so rollback restores the set of pruned built-ins
+    the re-seeder must leave archived)
 
 Alongside the skills tarball, each snapshot also captures a copy of
 ``~/.hermes/cron/jobs.json`` as ``cron-jobs.json`` when it exists. Cron

agent/file_safety.py

@@ -451,3 +451,190 @@ def get_cross_profile_warning(path: str) -> Optional[str]:
         f"``cross_profile=True``. (Defense-in-depth — not a security "
         f"boundary; the terminal tool can still bypass.)"
     )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Sandbox-mirror write guard (#32049)
+#
+# Non-local terminal backends (Docker, Daytona, etc.) bind a sandbox-local
+# directory to the container's ``$HOME``. The on-disk layout looks like
+#
+#   <HERMES_HOME>/profiles/<name>/sandboxes/<backend>/<task>/home/.hermes/...
+#
+# When the agent (running host-side) speculates that authoritative profile
+# state lives at one of those sandbox-mirror paths, the write lands on the
+# mirror — never read by the host process — while the host file is left
+# untouched. The agent reports success, the user sees no change, and on
+# disk two divergent copies accumulate. See #32049 for evidence.
+#
+# This guard is path-shape-only: it detects the
+# ``…/sandboxes/<backend>/<task>/home/.hermes/…`` segment and warns
+# regardless of which Hermes profile is active. It does NOT cover the
+# inner-container case where the bind mount strips the ``sandboxes/`` prefix
+# (the agent's view inside the container is plain ``/root/.hermes/...``);
+# that case needs a separate dispatch-layer or host-side ``profile_state``
+# tool.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _find_sandbox_mirror_segments(parts: tuple) -> Optional[int]:
+    """Return the index of the inner ``.hermes`` part in a sandbox-mirror path.
+
+    Matches ``…/sandboxes/<backend>/<task>/home/.hermes/…`` and returns the
+    index where the inner Hermes-state portion starts. Returns ``None`` for
+    paths that do not contain the sandbox-mirror shape.
+    """
+    for i, part in enumerate(parts):
+        if part != "sandboxes":
+            continue
+        # Need at least: sandboxes / <backend> / <task> / home / .hermes / <thing>
+        if i + 5 >= len(parts):
+            continue
+        if parts[i + 3] == "home" and parts[i + 4] == ".hermes":
+            return i + 4
+    return None
+
+
+def classify_sandbox_mirror_target(path: str) -> Optional[dict]:
+    """Classify a write target as a sandbox-mirror of authoritative Hermes state.
+
+    Returns ``None`` when the path does not match the sandbox-mirror shape.
+    Otherwise returns a dict with:
+
+      * ``target_path``: the resolved path string
+      * ``mirror_root``: the ``…/sandboxes/<backend>/<task>/home/.hermes``
+        prefix (so callers can show users which sandbox owns the mirror)
+      * ``inner_path``: the portion under the mirror's ``.hermes`` (what the
+        agent likely meant to address on the host)
+
+    Detection is path-shape-only — does not require any Hermes resolver to
+    succeed, so it works correctly even when called from contexts where
+    HERMES_HOME resolution would be ambiguous.
+    """
+    try:
+        target = Path(os.path.expanduser(str(path))).resolve()
+    except (OSError, RuntimeError):
+        return None
+
+    parts = target.parts
+    inner_idx = _find_sandbox_mirror_segments(parts)
+    if inner_idx is None:
+        return None
+
+    mirror_root = str(Path(*parts[: inner_idx + 1]))
+    inner_path = str(Path(*parts[inner_idx + 1 :])) if inner_idx + 1 < len(parts) else ""
+
+    return {
+        "target_path": str(target),
+        "mirror_root": mirror_root,
+        "inner_path": inner_path,
+    }
+
+
+def get_sandbox_mirror_warning(path: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Return a model-facing warning when ``path`` lands in a sandbox mirror.
+
+    Returns ``None`` when the path is not a sandbox-mirror target. Caller
+    is expected to surface the warning to the agent as a tool-result
+    error. The bypass kwarg (``cross_profile=True``) is shared with the
+    cross-profile guard: both are soft "I know what I'm doing" overrides
+    a user can authorise.
+
+    Defense-in-depth, NOT a security boundary: the terminal tool runs as
+    the same OS user and can write the mirror path directly. The guard
+    exists to surface the misclassification before the silent-success +
+    divergent-copy footgun in #32049 fires.
+    """
+    info = classify_sandbox_mirror_target(path)
+    if info is None:
+        return None
+    return (
+        f"Sandbox-mirror write blocked by soft guard: {info['target_path']} "
+        f"sits under {info['mirror_root']!r}, which is a per-task mirror "
+        f"created by a non-local terminal backend (docker/daytona/etc.). "
+        f"Writes here land on a copy that the host Hermes process never "
+        f"reads — the authoritative file is likely {info['inner_path']!r} "
+        f"under the real HERMES_HOME. Use the host-side tool for "
+        f"authoritative state (e.g. ``memory`` for memories), or address "
+        f"the host path directly. To bypass this guard after explicit "
+        f"user direction, retry the call with ``cross_profile=True``. "
+        f"(Defense-in-depth — not a security boundary; the terminal tool "
+        f"can still bypass.)"
+    )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Container-context mirror guard (inner-container case — #32049 follow-up)
+#
+# Brian's shape-based detector (#32213) catches paths that still carry the
+# full ``…/sandboxes/<backend>/<task>/home/.hermes/…`` prefix on the host.
+# But when file tools execute *inside* the container the bind-mount strips
+# that prefix: the agent sees plain ``/root/.hermes/…``.  The root:root
+# ownership on the divergent SOUL.md in #32049 confirms this is the primary
+# failure mode.
+#
+# Fix: file_tools passes the active Docker mirror prefix when the terminal
+# backend is docker + persistent. This catches the very first file-tool call,
+# before a DockerEnvironment object necessarily exists.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def classify_container_mirror_target(
+    path: str,
+    mirror_prefix: str | None = None,
+) -> Optional[dict]:
+    """Classify a write target as a container-side sandbox mirror.
+
+    ``mirror_prefix`` must be supplied by the caller after it has established
+    that file tools are executing in a container whose home is a sandbox
+    mirror. Returns ``None`` when no such context is active or the path is not
+    under the mirror prefix. Otherwise returns:
+
+      * ``target_path``: resolved path string
+      * ``mirror_root``: the declared container mirror prefix
+      * ``inner_path``: portion under the mirror root (what the agent
+        likely meant to address in the host HERMES_HOME)
+    """
+    if not mirror_prefix:
+        return None
+    try:
+        target = Path(os.path.expanduser(str(path))).resolve()
+        mirror = Path(os.path.expanduser(mirror_prefix)).resolve()
+        inner = target.relative_to(mirror)
+    except (OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError):
+        return None
+    return {
+        "target_path": str(target),
+        "mirror_root": str(mirror),
+        "inner_path": inner.as_posix(),
+    }
+
+
+def get_container_mirror_warning(
+    path: str,
+    mirror_prefix: str | None = None,
+) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Return a model-facing warning when *path* lands in the container's
+    sandbox mirror of authoritative Hermes state.
+
+    The caller supplies ``mirror_prefix`` only when the current file-tool
+    backend is known to execute inside a Docker sandbox. Same contract as
+    ``get_cross_profile_warning``: soft guard, returns ``None`` for
+    non-mirror paths, caller surfaces as a tool-result error. Bypass via
+    ``cross_profile=True`` after explicit user direction.
+    """
+    info = classify_container_mirror_target(path, mirror_prefix)
+    if info is None:
+        return None
+    return (
+        f"Sandbox-mirror write blocked by soft guard: {info['target_path']} "
+        f"sits under {info['mirror_root']!r}, which is the container's "
+        f"bind-mounted home — a per-task mirror that the host Hermes "
+        f"process never reads. The authoritative file is "
+        f"{info['inner_path']!r} under the real HERMES_HOME. Use the "
+        f"host-side tool for authoritative state (e.g. ``memory`` for "
+        f"memories), or address the host path directly. To bypass after "
+        f"explicit user direction, retry with ``cross_profile=True``. "
+        f"(Defense-in-depth — not a security boundary; the terminal tool "
+        f"can still bypass.)"
+    )

agent/i18n.py

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import logging
 import os
+import sysconfig
 import threading
 from functools import lru_cache
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -87,11 +88,54 @@ _catalog_lock = threading.Lock()
 def _locales_dir() -> Path:
     """Return the directory containing locale YAML files.
 
-    Lives next to the repo root so both the bundled install and editable
-    checkouts find it without PYTHONPATH gymnastics.
+    Resolution order, first existing wins:
+
+    1. ``HERMES_BUNDLED_LOCALES`` env var -- set by the Nix wrapper (or any
+       sealed-packaging system) to point at the installed catalog directory.
+    2. ``<repo-root>/locales`` -- source checkouts and ``pip install -e .``,
+       where the working tree sits next to ``agent/``.
+    3. ``<sysconfig data|purelib|platlib>/locales`` -- pip wheel installs.
+       setuptools ``data-files`` extracts ``locales/*.yaml`` under the
+       interpreter's ``data`` scheme; the other schemes are checked as a
+       safety net for nonstandard layouts.
+
+    Falling through to the source-style path (even when missing) keeps
+    ``_load_catalog`` error messages informative -- it logs the path it
+    looked at -- rather than raising.
     """
-    # agent/i18n.py -> agent/ -> repo root
-    return Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "locales"
+    override = os.getenv("HERMES_BUNDLED_LOCALES", "").strip()
+    if override:
+        candidate = Path(override)
+        if candidate.is_dir():
+            return candidate
+        logger.warning(
+            "HERMES_BUNDLED_LOCALES points to a non-directory path (%s); "
+            "falling back to bundled/source locale resolution",
+            override,
+        )
+
+    # agent/i18n.py -> agent/ -> repo root (source checkout, editable install)
+    source_dir = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "locales"
+    if source_dir.is_dir():
+        return source_dir
+
+    # pip wheel install: data-files lands under the interpreter data scheme.
+    # ``data`` (== sys.prefix in a venv) is where setuptools data-files extract
+    # and is checked first. ``purelib``/``platlib`` (site-packages) are a safety
+    # net for nonstandard layouts. NOTE: this does NOT cover ``pip install
+    # --user`` (user scheme, ~/.local/locales) or ``pip install --target`` --
+    # both are out of scope; see the plan header.
+    for scheme in ("data", "purelib", "platlib"):
+        raw = sysconfig.get_path(scheme)
+        if not raw:
+            continue
+        candidate = Path(raw) / "locales"
+        if candidate.is_dir():
+            return candidate
+
+    # Last resort: return the source-style path so _load_catalog's catalog-missing
+    # log (logger.debug "i18n catalog missing for %s at %s") stays informative.
+    return source_dir
 
 
 def _normalize_lang(value: Any) -> str:

agent/memory_manager.py

@@ -491,6 +491,7 @@ class MemoryManager:
         *,
         parent_session_id: str = "",
         reset: bool = False,
+        rewound: bool = False,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> None:
         """Notify all providers that the agent's session_id has rotated.
@@ -503,9 +504,21 @@ class MemoryManager:
         per-session state so subsequent writes land in the correct
         session's record. See ``MemoryProvider.on_session_switch`` for
         the full contract.
+
+        ``rewound=True`` signals that session_id is unchanged but the
+        transcript was truncated; providers caching per-turn document
+        state should invalidate.
         """
         if not new_session_id:
             return
+        # Only forward ``rewound`` when it's actually set. Passing it
+        # unconditionally would inject ``rewound=False`` into every
+        # provider's **kwargs for the common /resume, /branch, /new, and
+        # compression paths, polluting providers that capture extra kwargs
+        # (and breaking exact-dict assertions). The /undo path sets
+        # rewound=True explicitly; everyone else stays clean.
+        if rewound:
+            kwargs["rewound"] = True
         for provider in self._providers:
             try:
                 provider.on_session_switch(

agent/memory_provider.py

@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ class MemoryProvider(ABC):
         *,
         parent_session_id: str = "",
         reset: bool = False,
+        rewound: bool = False,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> None:
         """Called when the agent switches session_id mid-process.
@@ -207,6 +208,10 @@ class MemoryProvider(ABC):
             (``_session_turns``, ``_turn_counter``, etc.) when this is
             set. ``False`` for ``/resume`` / ``/branch`` / compression
             where the logical conversation continues under the new id.
+        rewound:
+            ``True`` if session_id is unchanged but the transcript was
+            truncated; providers caching per-turn document state should
+            invalidate.
 
         Default is no-op for backward compatibility.
         """

agent/model_metadata.py

@@ -200,8 +200,12 @@ DEFAULT_CONTEXT_LENGTHS = {
     "qwen3-coder-plus": 1000000,  # 1M context
     "qwen3-coder": 262144,        # 256K context
     "qwen": 131072,
-    # MiniMax — official docs: 204,800 context for all models
-    # https://platform.minimax.io/docs/api-reference/text-anthropic-api
+    # MiniMax — M3 is 1M context (max output 512K); M2.x series is 204,800.
+    # Keys use substring matching (longest-first), so "minimax-m3" wins over
+    # the generic "minimax" catch-all for the M3 slug on every surface
+    # (native MiniMax-M3, OpenRouter/Nous minimax/minimax-m3).
+    # https://platform.minimax.io/docs/api-reference/text-chat-openai
+    "minimax-m3": 1000000,
     "minimax": 204800,
     # GLM
     "glm": 202752,
@@ -1124,6 +1128,18 @@ def _model_name_suggests_kimi(model: str) -> bool:
     return lower.startswith("kimi") or "moonshot" in lower
 
 
+def _model_name_suggests_minimax_m3(model: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True if the model name looks like MiniMax M3.
+
+    Catches ``MiniMax-M3``, ``minimax/minimax-m3``, and similar variants
+    across surfaces (native MiniMax-M3, OpenRouter/Nous minimax/minimax-m3).
+    Used as a guard against stale cache entries seeded by pre-catalog builds
+    that resolved M3 via the generic ``minimax`` catch-all (204,800) before
+    the ``minimax-m3`` (1M) entry existed in DEFAULT_CONTEXT_LENGTHS.
+    """
+    return "minimax-m3" in model.lower()
+
+
 def _query_local_context_length(model: str, base_url: str, api_key: str = "") -> Optional[int]:
     """Query a local server for the model's context length."""
     import httpx
@@ -1535,6 +1551,19 @@ def get_model_context_length(
                     model, base_url, f"{cached:,}",
                 )
                 _invalidate_cached_context_length(model, base_url)
+            # Invalidate stale ≤204,800 cache entries for MiniMax-M3.  Pre-catalog
+            # builds resolved M3 via the generic ``minimax`` catch-all (204,800)
+            # and persisted it before the ``minimax-m3`` (1M) entry existed; that
+            # stale value would otherwise stick forever here at step 1.  M3 is 1M,
+            # so any sub-256K cached value for an M3 slug is a leftover — drop it
+            # and fall through to the hardcoded default.
+            elif cached <= 204_800 and _model_name_suggests_minimax_m3(model):
+                logger.info(
+                    "Dropping stale MiniMax-M3 cache entry %s@%s -> %s (pre-catalog value); "
+                    "re-resolving via hardcoded defaults",
+                    model, base_url, f"{cached:,}",
+                )
+                _invalidate_cached_context_length(model, base_url)
             # Nous Portal: the portal /v1/models endpoint is authoritative.
             # Bypass the persistent cache so step 5b can always reconcile
             # against it — this corrects pre-fix entries seeded from the

agent/prompt_builder.py

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home, get_skills_dir, is_wsl
 from typing import Optional
 
+from agent.runtime_cwd import resolve_agent_cwd
 from agent.skill_utils import (
     extract_skill_conditions,
     extract_skill_description,
@@ -128,9 +129,14 @@ DEFAULT_AGENT_IDENTITY = (
 )
 
 HERMES_AGENT_HELP_GUIDANCE = (
-    "If the user asks about configuring, setting up, or using Hermes Agent "
-    "itself, load the `hermes-agent` skill with skill_view(name='hermes-agent') "
-    "before answering. Docs: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs"
+    "You run on Hermes Agent (by Nous Research). When the user needs help with "
+    "Hermes itself — configuring, setting up, using, extending, or troubleshooting "
+    "it — or when you need to understand your own features, tools, or capabilities, "
+    "the documentation at https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs is your "
+    "authoritative reference and always holds the latest, most up-to-date "
+    "information. Load the `hermes-agent` skill with skill_view(name='hermes-agent') "
+    "for additional guidance and proven workflows, but treat the docs as the source "
+    "of truth when the two differ."
 )
 
 MEMORY_GUIDANCE = (
@@ -802,7 +808,7 @@ def build_environment_hints() -> str:
 
         host_lines.append(f"User home directory: {os.path.expanduser('~')}")
         try:
-            host_lines.append(f"Current working directory: {os.getcwd()}")
+            host_lines.append(f"Current working directory: {resolve_agent_cwd()}")
         except OSError:
             pass
 

agent/runtime_cwd.py

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"""Single source of truth for the agent working directory.
+
+`TERMINAL_CWD` is the runtime carrier for the configured working directory
+(design #19214/#19242: `terminal.cwd` is bridged once to `TERMINAL_CWD` at
+gateway/cron startup). The local-CLI backend deliberately leaves it unset and
+relies on the launch dir. Reading it in one place keeps the system prompt, the
+tool surfaces, and context-file discovery agreeing on where the agent lives.
+
+Multi-session gateways can pin a logical cwd via the `_SESSION_CWD`
+contextvar; CLI/cron fall through to `TERMINAL_CWD`/launch cwd.
+"""
+
+import os
+from contextvars import ContextVar, Token
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+_UNSET: Any = object()
+
+_SESSION_CWD: ContextVar = ContextVar("HERMES_SESSION_CWD", default=_UNSET)
+
+
+def set_session_cwd(cwd: str | None) -> Token:
+    """Pin the logical cwd for the current context."""
+    return _SESSION_CWD.set((cwd or "").strip())
+
+
+def clear_session_cwd() -> None:
+    _SESSION_CWD.set("")
+
+
+def _session_cwd_override() -> str:
+    value = _SESSION_CWD.get()
+    if value is _UNSET:
+        return ""
+    return str(value).strip()
+
+
+def resolve_agent_cwd() -> Path:
+    override = _session_cwd_override()
+    if override:
+        p = Path(override).expanduser()
+        if p.is_dir():
+            return p
+    raw = os.environ.get("TERMINAL_CWD", "").strip()
+    if raw:
+        p = Path(raw).expanduser()
+        if p.is_dir():
+            return p
+    return Path(os.getcwd())
+
+
+def resolve_context_cwd() -> Path | None:
+    # None means "no configured cwd": build_context_files_prompt then falls back
+    # to the launch dir (os.getcwd()) — correct for the local CLI. The gateway
+    # avoids slurping its install dir by setting TERMINAL_CWD (see system_prompt.py)
+    # or, per session, the _SESSION_CWD contextvar above.
+    override = _session_cwd_override()
+    if override:
+        return Path(override).expanduser()
+    raw = os.environ.get("TERMINAL_CWD", "").strip()
+    return Path(raw).expanduser() if raw else None

agent/system_prompt.py

@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ Pure helpers that read the agent's state.  AIAgent keeps thin forwarders.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
-import os
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
 
 from agent.prompt_builder import (
@@ -41,6 +40,7 @@ from agent.prompt_builder import (
     TOOL_USE_ENFORCEMENT_GUIDANCE,
     TOOL_USE_ENFORCEMENT_MODELS,
 )
+from agent.runtime_cwd import resolve_context_cwd
 
 
 def _ra():
@@ -288,13 +288,12 @@ def build_system_prompt_parts(agent: Any, system_message: Optional[str] = None)
         context_parts.append(system_message)
 
     if not agent.skip_context_files:
-        # Use TERMINAL_CWD for context file discovery when set (gateway
-        # mode).  The gateway process runs from the hermes-agent install
-        # dir, so os.getcwd() would pick up the repo's AGENTS.md and
-        # other dev files — inflating token usage by ~10k for no benefit.
-        _context_cwd = os.getenv("TERMINAL_CWD") or None
+        # Prefer the configured TERMINAL_CWD (gateway mode). When unset (local
+        # CLI), None lets build_context_files_prompt fall back to the launch
+        # dir — the user's real cwd there, but the install dir for the gateway
+        # daemon, which is why the gateway sets TERMINAL_CWD.
         context_files_prompt = _r.build_context_files_prompt(
-            cwd=_context_cwd, skip_soul=_soul_loaded)
+            cwd=resolve_context_cwd(), skip_soul=_soul_loaded)
         if context_files_prompt:
             context_parts.append(context_files_prompt)
 

agent/tool_executor.py

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import os
 import random
 import threading
 import time
-from typing import Optional
+from typing import Any, Optional
 
 from agent.display import (
     KawaiiSpinner,
@@ -58,6 +58,76 @@ def _ra():
     return run_agent
 
 
+def _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+    agent,
+    *,
+    function_name: str,
+    function_args: dict,
+    result: Any,
+    effective_task_id: str,
+    tool_call_id: str,
+    duration_ms: int = 0,
+    status: str | None = None,
+    error_type: str | None = None,
+    error_message: str | None = None,
+) -> None:
+    try:
+        from model_tools import _emit_post_tool_call_hook
+        _emit_post_tool_call_hook(
+            function_name=function_name,
+            function_args=function_args,
+            result=result,
+            task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+            session_id=getattr(agent, "session_id", "") or "",
+            tool_call_id=tool_call_id or "",
+            turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+            api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
+            duration_ms=duration_ms,
+            status=status,
+            error_type=error_type,
+            error_message=error_message,
+        )
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
+
+def _cancelled_tool_result(reason: str = "user interrupt") -> str:
+    return json.dumps(
+        {
+            "error": f"Tool execution cancelled by {reason}",
+            "status": "cancelled",
+        },
+        ensure_ascii=False,
+    )
+
+
+def _emit_cancelled_terminal_post_tool_call(
+    agent,
+    *,
+    function_name: str,
+    function_args: dict,
+    effective_task_id: str,
+    tool_call_id: str,
+    start_time: float,
+    reason: str = "user interrupt",
+    error_type: str = "keyboard_interrupt",
+) -> str:
+    result = _cancelled_tool_result(reason)
+    _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+        agent,
+        function_name=function_name,
+        function_args=function_args,
+        result=result,
+        effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+        tool_call_id=tool_call_id,
+        duration_ms=int((time.time() - start_time) * 1000),
+        status="cancelled",
+        error_type=error_type,
+        error_message=f"Tool execution cancelled by {reason}",
+    )
+    return result
+
+
 def _tool_search_scoped_names(agent) -> frozenset:
     """Return the deferrable tool names the session may invoke via tool_call.
 
@@ -188,22 +258,61 @@ def execute_tool_calls_concurrent(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
         if _ts_scope_block is not None:
             # Out-of-scope tool_call: reject before hooks/guardrails/dispatch.
             block_result = _ts_scope_block
+            _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                agent,
+                function_name=function_name,
+                function_args=function_args,
+                result=block_result,
+                effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                status="blocked",
+                error_type="tool_scope_block",
+                error_message=_ts_scope_block,
+            )
         else:
             try:
                 from hermes_cli.plugins import get_pre_tool_call_block_message
                 block_message = get_pre_tool_call_block_message(
-                    function_name, function_args, task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                    function_name,
+                    function_args,
+                    task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                    session_id=getattr(agent, "session_id", "") or "",
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                    turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+                    api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
                 )
             except Exception:
                 block_message = None
 
             if block_message is not None:
                 block_result = json.dumps({"error": block_message}, ensure_ascii=False)
+                _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                    agent,
+                    function_name=function_name,
+                    function_args=function_args,
+                    result=block_result,
+                    effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                    status="blocked",
+                    error_type="plugin_block",
+                    error_message=block_message,
+                )
             else:
                 guardrail_decision = agent._tool_guardrails.before_call(function_name, function_args)
                 if not guardrail_decision.allows_execution:
                     block_result = agent._guardrail_block_result(guardrail_decision)
                     blocked_by_guardrail = True
+                    _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                        agent,
+                        function_name=function_name,
+                        function_args=function_args,
+                        result=block_result,
+                        effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                        tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                        status="blocked",
+                        error_type="guardrail_block",
+                        error_message=getattr(guardrail_decision, "message", None) or "Tool blocked by guardrail policy",
+                    )
 
         # ── Checkpoint preflight (only for tools that will execute) ──
         if block_result is None:
@@ -315,6 +424,23 @@ def execute_tool_calls_concurrent(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
                     messages=messages,
                     pre_tool_block_checked=True,
                 )
+            except KeyboardInterrupt:
+                try:
+                    agent.interrupt("keyboard interrupt")
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+                result = _emit_cancelled_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                    agent,
+                    function_name=function_name,
+                    function_args=function_args,
+                    effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                    start_time=start,
+                )
+                duration = time.time() - start
+                logger.info("tool %s cancelled (%.2fs)", function_name, duration)
+                results[index] = (function_name, function_args, result, duration, True, False)
+                return
             except Exception as tool_error:
                 result = f"Error executing tool '{function_name}': {tool_error}"
                 logger.error("_invoke_tool raised for %s: %s", function_name, tool_error, exc_info=True)
@@ -426,8 +552,30 @@ def execute_tool_calls_concurrent(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
             # Tool was cancelled (interrupt) or thread didn't return
             if agent._interrupt_requested:
                 function_result = f"[Tool execution cancelled — {name} was skipped due to user interrupt]"
+                _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                    agent,
+                    function_name=name,
+                    function_args=args,
+                    result=function_result,
+                    effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tc, "id", "") or "",
+                    status="cancelled",
+                    error_type="keyboard_interrupt",
+                    error_message="Tool execution cancelled by user interrupt",
+                )
             else:
                 function_result = f"Error executing tool '{name}': thread did not return a result"
+                _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                    agent,
+                    function_name=name,
+                    function_args=args,
+                    result=function_result,
+                    effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tc, "id", "") or "",
+                    status="error",
+                    error_type="thread_missing_result",
+                    error_message=function_result,
+                )
             tool_duration = 0.0
         else:
             function_name, function_args, function_result, tool_duration, is_error, blocked = r
@@ -592,13 +740,21 @@ def execute_tool_calls_sequential(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
 
         # Check plugin hooks for a block directive before executing.
         _block_msg: Optional[str] = None
+        _block_error_type = "plugin_block"
         if _ts_scope_block is not None:
             _block_msg = _ts_scope_block
+            _block_error_type = "tool_scope_block"
         else:
             try:
                 from hermes_cli.plugins import get_pre_tool_call_block_message
                 _block_msg = get_pre_tool_call_block_message(
-                    function_name, function_args, task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                    function_name,
+                    function_args,
+                    task_id=effective_task_id or "",
+                    session_id=getattr(agent, "session_id", "") or "",
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                    turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+                    api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
                 )
             except Exception:
                 pass
@@ -687,11 +843,33 @@ def execute_tool_calls_sequential(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
             # Tool blocked by plugin policy — return error without executing.
             function_result = json.dumps({"error": _block_msg}, ensure_ascii=False)
             tool_duration = 0.0
+            _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                agent,
+                function_name=function_name,
+                function_args=function_args,
+                result=function_result,
+                effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                status="blocked",
+                error_type=_block_error_type,
+                error_message=_block_msg,
+            )
         elif _guardrail_block_decision is not None:
             # Tool blocked by tool-loop guardrail — synthesize exactly one
             # tool result for the original tool_call_id without executing.
             function_result = agent._guardrail_block_result(_guardrail_block_decision)
             tool_duration = 0.0
+            _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                agent,
+                function_name=function_name,
+                function_args=function_args,
+                result=function_result,
+                effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                status="blocked",
+                error_type="guardrail_block",
+                error_message=getattr(_guardrail_block_decision, "message", None) or "Tool blocked by guardrail policy",
+            )
         elif function_name == "todo":
             from tools.todo_tool import todo_tool as _todo_tool
             function_result = _todo_tool(
@@ -850,12 +1028,29 @@ def execute_tool_calls_sequential(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
                     function_name, function_args, effective_task_id,
                     tool_call_id=tool_call.id,
                     session_id=agent.session_id or "",
+                    turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+                    api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
                     enabled_tools=list(agent.valid_tool_names) if agent.valid_tool_names else None,
                     skip_pre_tool_call_hook=True,
                     enabled_toolsets=getattr(agent, "enabled_toolsets", None),
                     disabled_toolsets=getattr(agent, "disabled_toolsets", None),
                 )
                 _spinner_result = function_result
+            except KeyboardInterrupt:
+                function_result = _emit_cancelled_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                    agent,
+                    function_name=function_name,
+                    function_args=function_args,
+                    effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                    start_time=tool_start_time,
+                )
+                _spinner_result = function_result
+                try:
+                    agent.interrupt("keyboard interrupt")
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+                raise
             except Exception as tool_error:
                 function_result = f"Error executing tool '{function_name}': {tool_error}"
                 logger.error("handle_function_call raised for %s: %s", function_name, tool_error, exc_info=True)
@@ -872,11 +1067,27 @@ def execute_tool_calls_sequential(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
                     function_name, function_args, effective_task_id,
                     tool_call_id=tool_call.id,
                     session_id=agent.session_id or "",
+                    turn_id=getattr(agent, "_current_turn_id", "") or "",
+                    api_request_id=getattr(agent, "_current_api_request_id", "") or "",
                     enabled_tools=list(agent.valid_tool_names) if agent.valid_tool_names else None,
                     skip_pre_tool_call_hook=True,
                     enabled_toolsets=getattr(agent, "enabled_toolsets", None),
                     disabled_toolsets=getattr(agent, "disabled_toolsets", None),
                 )
+            except KeyboardInterrupt:
+                _emit_cancelled_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                    agent,
+                    function_name=function_name,
+                    function_args=function_args,
+                    effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                    tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                    start_time=tool_start_time,
+                )
+                try:
+                    agent.interrupt("keyboard interrupt")
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+                raise
             except Exception as tool_error:
                 function_result = f"Error executing tool '{function_name}': {tool_error}"
                 logger.error("handle_function_call raised for %s: %s", function_name, tool_error, exc_info=True)
@@ -895,6 +1106,27 @@ def execute_tool_calls_sequential(agent, assistant_message, messages: list, effe
         # Log tool errors to the persistent error log so [error] tags
         # in the UI always have a corresponding detailed entry on disk.
         _is_error_result, _ = _detect_tool_failure(function_name, function_result)
+        # The agent-runtime tools above (todo, session_search, memory,
+        # context-engine, memory-manager, clarify, delegate_task) are
+        # dispatched inline — they never reach handle_function_call, so the
+        # executor is the one that has to fire post_tool_call. For
+        # registry-dispatched tools the else-branch above invoked
+        # handle_function_call, which already fires the hook.
+        from agent.agent_runtime_helpers import agent_runtime_owns_post_tool_hook
+        _executor_must_emit_post_hook = (
+            not _execution_blocked
+            and agent_runtime_owns_post_tool_hook(agent, function_name)
+        )
+        if _executor_must_emit_post_hook:
+            _emit_terminal_post_tool_call(
+                agent,
+                function_name=function_name,
+                function_args=function_args,
+                result=function_result,
+                effective_task_id=effective_task_id,
+                tool_call_id=getattr(tool_call, "id", "") or "",
+                duration_ms=int(tool_duration * 1000),
+            )
         if not _execution_blocked:
             function_result = agent._append_guardrail_observation(
                 function_name,

agent/transports/chat_completions.py

@@ -99,6 +99,22 @@ def _is_gemini_openai_compat_base_url(base_url: Any) -> bool:
     return normalized.endswith("/openai")
 
 
+def _model_consumes_thought_signature(model: Any) -> bool:
+    """True when the outgoing model is a Gemini family model that requires
+    ``extra_content`` (thought_signature) to be replayed on tool calls.
+
+    Gemini 3 thinking models attach ``extra_content`` to each tool call and
+    reject subsequent requests with HTTP 400 if it is missing. Every other
+    strict OpenAI-compatible provider (Fireworks, Mistral, ...) rejects the
+    request with 400 if ``extra_content`` *is* present. So the field must be
+    kept only when the target model is itself Gemini-family, and stripped
+    otherwise — including when a non-Gemini model inherits stale Gemini
+    ``extra_content`` from earlier in a mixed-provider session.
+    """
+    m = str(model or "").lower()
+    return "gemini" in m or "gemma" in m
+
+
 class ChatCompletionsTransport(ProviderTransport):
     """Transport for api_mode='chat_completions'.
 
@@ -119,6 +135,14 @@ class ChatCompletionsTransport(ProviderTransport):
         - Codex Responses API fields: ``codex_reasoning_items`` /
           ``codex_message_items`` on the message, ``call_id`` /
           ``response_item_id`` on ``tool_calls`` entries.
+        - ``extra_content`` on ``tool_calls`` (Gemini thought_signature) —
+          stripped unless the outgoing ``model`` is itself Gemini-family.
+          Gemini 3 thinking models attach it for replay, but strict providers
+          (Fireworks, Mistral) reject any payload containing it with
+          ``Extra inputs are not permitted, field: 'messages[N].tool_calls[M].extra_content'``.
+          It must be kept for Gemini targets (replay required) and dropped for
+          everyone else, including non-Gemini models that inherited stale
+          Gemini ``extra_content`` earlier in a mixed-provider session.
         - ``tool_name`` on tool-result messages — written by
           ``make_tool_result_message()`` for the SQLite FTS index, but not
           part of the Chat Completions schema. Strict providers (Fireworks,
@@ -137,6 +161,9 @@ class ChatCompletionsTransport(ProviderTransport):
           ``Extra inputs are not permitted, field: 'messages[N]._empty_recovery_synthetic'``,
           which then poisons every subsequent request in the session.
         """
+        strip_extra_content = not _model_consumes_thought_signature(
+            kwargs.get("model")
+        )
         needs_sanitize = False
         for msg in messages:
             if not isinstance(msg, dict):
@@ -155,7 +182,9 @@ class ChatCompletionsTransport(ProviderTransport):
             if isinstance(tool_calls, list):
                 for tc in tool_calls:
                     if isinstance(tc, dict) and (
-                        "call_id" in tc or "response_item_id" in tc
+                        "call_id" in tc
+                        or "response_item_id" in tc
+                        or (strip_extra_content and "extra_content" in tc)
                     ):
                         needs_sanitize = True
                         break
@@ -183,6 +212,8 @@ class ChatCompletionsTransport(ProviderTransport):
                     if isinstance(tc, dict):
                         tc.pop("call_id", None)
                         tc.pop("response_item_id", None)
+                        if strip_extra_content:
+                            tc.pop("extra_content", None)
         return sanitized
 
     def convert_tools(self, tools: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
@@ -240,8 +271,10 @@ class ChatCompletionsTransport(ProviderTransport):
             anthropic_max_output: int | None
             extra_body_additions: dict | None
         """
-        # Codex sanitization: drop reasoning_items / call_id / response_item_id
-        sanitized = self.convert_messages(messages)
+        # Codex sanitization: drop reasoning_items / call_id / response_item_id.
+        # Pass model so the Gemini thought_signature (extra_content) is kept for
+        # Gemini targets and stripped for strict non-Gemini providers.
+        sanitized = self.convert_messages(messages, model=model)
 
         # ── Provider profile: single-path when present ──────────────────
         _profile = params.get("provider_profile")

apps/bootstrap-installer/index.html

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <head>
     <meta charset="UTF-8" />
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
-    <title>Hermes Setup</title>
+    <title>Hermes</title>
   </head>
   <body class="h-full antialiased">
     <div id="root" class="h-full"></div>

apps/bootstrap-installer/src-tauri/build.rs

@@ -8,18 +8,24 @@ fn main() {
     // `option_env!()` macro to default the install-script reference.
     // Precedence (matches install.ps1's own arg precedence): commit > branch.
     //
-    // Resolution order:
-    //   1. Env var override at build time (HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT, etc.).
-    //      Useful for CI builds that want to pin to a tagged release SHA
-    //      rather than whatever the checkout's HEAD happens to be.
-    //   2. `git rev-parse HEAD` + `git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD` against
-    //      the repo this build.rs lives in. Default for `cargo tauri build`
-    //      from a dev machine — pins the produced .exe to your current
-    //      checkout state.
-    //   3. Last-resort fallback: hardcoded `main` branch, no commit. The
-    //      installer will fetch HEAD-of-main at runtime. Used when the
-    //      build is happening outside a git checkout (e.g. cargo install
-    //      from a packaged crate, unlikely for this binary but defensive).
+    // The COMMIT pin is opt-in. By default a dev build pins ONLY the branch,
+    // so the produced installer follows that branch's HEAD at install time
+    // (tolerant of fast-forwards/new commits, and never references a SHA the
+    // local checkout hasn't pushed). Set HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT to bake an
+    // immutable commit pin for reproducible/release installers.
+    //
+    // Commit pin resolution:
+    //   - HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT, if set and non-empty. Accepts a SHA, tag,
+    //     or branch name; resolved to an immutable SHA via `git rev-parse`
+    //     when possible, else used verbatim if it already looks like a SHA.
+    //   - Otherwise: NO commit pin (branch-follow is the default).
+    //
+    // Branch pin resolution:
+    //   1. HERMES_BUILD_PIN_BRANCH, if set and non-empty.
+    //   2. `git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD` of the checkout this build.rs
+    //      lives in — the current branch. (None on a detached HEAD.)
+    //   3. Last-resort fallback handled below: if neither commit nor branch
+    //      resolves, warn — the binary needs a runtime arg or dev-repo env.
     //
     // Build script reruns on git HEAD change so a new commit triggers
     // a rebuild without `cargo clean`.
@@ -30,11 +36,20 @@ fn main() {
 
     if let Some(c) = &commit {
         println!("cargo:rustc-env=BUILD_PIN_COMMIT={c}");
-        println!("cargo:warning=hermes-bootstrap: pinning to commit {}", short(c));
+        println!(
+            "cargo:warning=hermes-bootstrap: pinning to commit {}",
+            short(c)
+        );
     }
     if let Some(b) = &branch {
         println!("cargo:rustc-env=BUILD_PIN_BRANCH={b}");
-        println!("cargo:warning=hermes-bootstrap: pinning to branch {b}");
+        match &commit {
+            Some(_) => println!("cargo:warning=hermes-bootstrap: pinning to branch {b}"),
+            None => println!(
+                "cargo:warning=hermes-bootstrap: following branch {b} HEAD (no commit pin; \
+                 set HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT for an immutable pin)"
+            ),
+        }
     }
     if commit.is_none() && branch.is_none() {
         // Fail loudly rather than silently produce a binary that errors
@@ -46,8 +61,11 @@ fn main() {
         );
     }
 
-    // Rerun build.rs when HEAD moves so successive builds pick up new
-    // commits without needing `cargo clean`. .git/HEAD changes on every
+    // Rerun build.rs when HEAD moves. With branch-follow as the default the
+    // baked commit no longer changes per-commit, but a branch *switch* changes
+    // the detected branch name, so we still re-trigger. When an explicit
+    // HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT resolves a moving ref (tag/branch) to a SHA, a
+    // HEAD move can also change that resolution. .git/HEAD changes on every
     // commit / branch switch / rebase.
     let git_dir = locate_git_dir();
     if let Some(gd) = &git_dir {
@@ -83,24 +101,46 @@ fn main() {
 }
 
 fn resolve_commit_pin() -> Option<String> {
-    if let Ok(v) = std::env::var("HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT") {
-        if !v.trim().is_empty() {
-            return Some(v.trim().to_string());
-        }
-    }
-    let out = Command::new("git")
-        .args(["rev-parse", "HEAD"])
-        .output()
-        .ok()?;
-    if !out.status.success() {
+    // Commit pinning is OPT-IN. Only bake a commit when the caller explicitly
+    // asks for one via HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT. With no env var, we return
+    // None and the installer follows the branch HEAD at install time.
+    let requested = std::env::var("HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT").ok()?;
+    let requested = requested.trim();
+    if requested.is_empty() {
         return None;
     }
-    let s = String::from_utf8(out.stdout).ok()?.trim().to_string();
-    if s.is_empty() {
-        None
-    } else {
-        Some(s)
+    // Resolve the request (which may be a SHA, tag, or branch name) to an
+    // immutable commit SHA so the baked pin is reproducible. `^{commit}`
+    // dereferences tags to the commit they point at.
+    if let Ok(out) = Command::new("git")
+        .args(["rev-parse", "--verify", &format!("{requested}^{{commit}}")])
+        .output()
+    {
+        if out.status.success() {
+            if let Ok(s) = String::from_utf8(out.stdout) {
+                let s = s.trim().to_string();
+                if !s.is_empty() {
+                    return Some(s);
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
+    // Couldn't resolve via git (e.g. building outside a checkout). Accept the
+    // literal value only if it already looks like a SHA; otherwise fail loud
+    // rather than bake an unresolvable ref into the binary.
+    if is_sha(requested) {
+        return Some(requested.to_string());
+    }
+    panic!(
+        "HERMES_BUILD_PIN_COMMIT={requested:?} could not be resolved to a commit \
+         (git rev-parse failed and it is not a valid SHA)"
+    );
+}
+
+/// True if `s` looks like an abbreviated-or-full git SHA (7..=40 hex chars).
+fn is_sha(s: &str) -> bool {
+    let len = s.len();
+    (7..=40).contains(&len) && s.chars().all(|c| c.is_ascii_hexdigit())
 }
 
 fn resolve_branch_pin() -> Option<String> {

apps/bootstrap-installer/src-tauri/src/bootstrap.rs

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use tauri::{AppHandle, Emitter, State};
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, Mutex};
 
-use crate::events::{BootstrapEvent, Manifest, StageState};
+use crate::events::{BootstrapEvent, LogStream, Manifest, StageState};
 use crate::install_script::{self, Pin, ScriptKind, ScriptSource};
 use crate::powershell::{self, StreamSink};
 use crate::AppState;
@@ -179,9 +179,11 @@ pub async fn launch_hermes_desktop(
 
     tracing::info!(?exe_path, "launching Hermes desktop");
 
-    // Detach from us — the installer is about to exit.
-    let mut cmd = tokio::process::Command::new(&exe_path);
-    cmd.current_dir(exe_path.parent().unwrap_or(&install_root));
+    // Detach from us — the installer is about to exit. On macOS launch the
+    // bundle through LaunchServices instead of exec'ing Contents/MacOS/Hermes
+    // directly; this matches user double-click/open behavior and avoids cwd /
+    // quarantine oddities after a self-update rebuild.
+    let mut cmd = desktop_launch_command(&exe_path, &install_root);
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
     {
         use std::os::windows::process::CommandExt;
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ pub async fn launch_hermes_desktop(
 /// Walks the well-known electron-builder unpacked-app paths under
 /// `install_root`. Mirrors the resolver in `cmd_gui` (apps/desktop/release/
 /// <os>-unpacked/<exe>).
-fn resolve_hermes_desktop_exe(install_root: &std::path::Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+pub(crate) fn resolve_hermes_desktop_exe(install_root: &std::path::Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
     let release_dir = install_root.join("apps").join("desktop").join("release");
     let candidates: &[(&str, &str)] = if cfg!(target_os = "windows") {
         &[
@@ -232,6 +234,108 @@ fn resolve_hermes_desktop_exe(install_root: &std::path::Path) -> Option<PathBuf>
     None
 }
 
+pub(crate) fn resolve_hermes_desktop_app(install_root: &std::path::Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    let exe = resolve_hermes_desktop_exe(install_root)?;
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    {
+        // .../Hermes.app/Contents/MacOS/Hermes -> .../Hermes.app
+        let app = exe.parent()?.parent()?.parent()?.to_path_buf();
+        if app.extension().and_then(|e| e.to_str()) == Some("app") && app.is_dir() {
+            return Some(app);
+        }
+    }
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+    {
+        return Some(exe);
+    }
+    #[allow(unreachable_code)]
+    None
+}
+
+/// True when a prior install completed (bootstrap-complete marker present) AND a
+/// launchable desktop app exists on disk. Used by the installer's launcher fast
+/// path so a bare re-open just opens Hermes instead of re-running setup.
+pub(crate) fn hermes_is_installed(install_root: &std::path::Path) -> bool {
+    install_root.join(".hermes-bootstrap-complete").exists()
+        && resolve_hermes_desktop_exe(install_root).is_some()
+}
+
+/// Spawn the already-built desktop app, detached. Returns Err if no built app
+/// exists or the spawn fails, so the caller can fall back to showing the
+/// installer UI.
+pub(crate) fn spawn_installed_desktop(install_root: &std::path::Path) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    let exe = resolve_hermes_desktop_exe(install_root).ok_or_else(|| {
+        std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound, "no built Hermes desktop app")
+    })?;
+    let mut cmd = desktop_launch_command_std(&exe, install_root);
+    #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+    {
+        use std::os::windows::process::CommandExt;
+        // DETACHED_PROCESS = 0x00000008 — keep the desktop alive after the
+        // installer exits, mirroring launch_hermes_desktop. Kept correct here
+        // even though the only caller is macOS-gated today, so future reuse on
+        // Windows doesn't reintroduce the relaunch race.
+        cmd.creation_flags(0x0000_0008);
+    }
+    cmd.spawn().map(|_child| ())
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+pub(crate) fn open_macos_app_detached(app_bundle: &std::path::Path) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    let mut cmd = std::process::Command::new("/usr/bin/open");
+    cmd.arg(app_bundle);
+    cmd.current_dir(crate::paths::hermes_home());
+    cmd.spawn().map(|_child| ())
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+fn app_bundle_for_exe(exe: &std::path::Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    let app = exe.parent()?.parent()?.parent()?.to_path_buf();
+    if app.extension().and_then(|e| e.to_str()) == Some("app") && app.is_dir() {
+        Some(app)
+    } else {
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+fn desktop_launch_command(
+    exe_path: &std::path::Path,
+    install_root: &std::path::Path,
+) -> tokio::process::Command {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    {
+        if let Some(app_bundle) = app_bundle_for_exe(exe_path) {
+            let mut cmd = tokio::process::Command::new("/usr/bin/open");
+            cmd.arg(app_bundle);
+            cmd.current_dir(crate::paths::hermes_home());
+            return cmd;
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut cmd = tokio::process::Command::new(exe_path);
+    cmd.current_dir(exe_path.parent().unwrap_or(install_root));
+    cmd
+}
+
+fn desktop_launch_command_std(
+    exe_path: &std::path::Path,
+    install_root: &std::path::Path,
+) -> std::process::Command {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    {
+        if let Some(app_bundle) = app_bundle_for_exe(exe_path) {
+            let mut cmd = std::process::Command::new("/usr/bin/open");
+            cmd.arg(app_bundle);
+            cmd.current_dir(crate::paths::hermes_home());
+            return cmd;
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut cmd = std::process::Command::new(exe_path);
+    cmd.current_dir(exe_path.parent().unwrap_or(install_root));
+    cmd
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Bootstrap implementation
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -262,6 +366,7 @@ async fn run_bootstrap(
             BootstrapEvent::Log {
                 stage: None,
                 line: line.to_string(),
+                stream: LogStream::Stdout,
             },
         );
         // Bump to info-level so the line shows in bootstrap-installer.log
@@ -596,6 +701,7 @@ async fn run_install_script(
                 BootstrapEvent::Log {
                     stage: stage_for_stdout.clone(),
                     line: line.to_string(),
+                    stream: LogStream::Stdout,
                 },
             );
             // Tee to the rolling installer log so we have a persistent
@@ -614,7 +720,8 @@ async fn run_install_script(
                 &app_for_stderr,
                 BootstrapEvent::Log {
                     stage: stage_for_stderr.clone(),
-                    line: format!("stderr: {line}"),
+                    line: line.to_string(),
+                    stream: LogStream::Stderr,
                 },
             );
             // stderr-level lines get warn! so they're visually distinct
@@ -710,3 +817,90 @@ fn truncate(s: &str, max: usize) -> String {
         format!("{}...", &s[..max])
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::path::PathBuf;
+    use std::path::Path;
+
+    fn unique_tmp_dir(tag: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        let base = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "hermes-bootstrap-test-{tag}-{}-{}",
+            std::process::id(),
+            std::time::SystemTime::now()
+                .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+                .unwrap()
+                .as_nanos()
+        ));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&base).unwrap();
+        base
+    }
+
+    // Build a fake built-desktop release tree at the platform's expected path
+    // and return (install_root, expected_app_bundle_or_exe).
+    fn make_release_tree(install_root: &Path) -> PathBuf {
+        let release = install_root.join("apps").join("desktop").join("release");
+        if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
+            let macos_dir = release
+                .join("mac-arm64")
+                .join("Hermes.app")
+                .join("Contents")
+                .join("MacOS");
+            std::fs::create_dir_all(&macos_dir).unwrap();
+            std::fs::write(macos_dir.join("Hermes"), b"#!/bin/sh\n").unwrap();
+            macos_dir.parent().unwrap().parent().unwrap().to_path_buf() // .../Hermes.app
+        } else if cfg!(target_os = "windows") {
+            let dir = release.join("win-unpacked");
+            std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+            let exe = dir.join("Hermes.exe");
+            std::fs::write(&exe, b"stub").unwrap();
+            exe
+        } else {
+            let dir = release.join("linux-unpacked");
+            std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+            let exe = dir.join("hermes");
+            std::fs::write(&exe, b"stub").unwrap();
+            exe
+        }
+    }
+
+    // The relaunch / install target is derived from the rebuilt desktop app.
+    // On macOS this MUST resolve to the .app bundle (what `open` relaunches and
+    // what the updater ditto's over /Applications/Hermes.app). A regression in
+    // this derivation breaks the post-update auto-relaunch, so guard it.
+    #[test]
+    fn resolve_hermes_desktop_app_finds_built_bundle() {
+        let root = unique_tmp_dir("app-ok");
+        let expected = make_release_tree(&root);
+
+        let resolved = resolve_hermes_desktop_app(&root)
+            .expect("should resolve the freshly-built desktop app");
+
+        #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+        {
+            assert_eq!(resolved, expected, "must resolve to the .app bundle");
+            assert_eq!(
+                resolved.extension().and_then(|e| e.to_str()),
+                Some("app"),
+                "relaunch target must be a .app bundle on macOS"
+            );
+        }
+        #[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+        {
+            assert_eq!(resolved, expected);
+        }
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn resolve_hermes_desktop_app_is_none_without_a_build() {
+        let root = unique_tmp_dir("app-none");
+        // No release tree created.
+        assert!(
+            resolve_hermes_desktop_app(&root).is_none(),
+            "no resolved app when nothing has been built"
+        );
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root);
+    }
+}

apps/bootstrap-installer/src-tauri/src/events.rs

@@ -51,6 +51,16 @@ pub enum StageState {
     Failed,
 }
 
+/// Which pipe a raw log line came from. Reported as structured metadata so
+/// the UI can style stderr subtly rather than mislabeling it as an error:
+/// uv/pip/git/npm write normal progress to stderr by design.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
+pub enum LogStream {
+    Stdout,
+    Stderr,
+}
+
 /// The single event channel `bootstrap` emits these. `type` discriminates.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
 #[serde(tag = "type", rename_all = "lowercase")]
@@ -72,11 +82,14 @@ pub enum BootstrapEvent {
         #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
         error: Option<String>,
     },
-    /// Raw stdout/stderr line from install.ps1 (or our wrapper).
+    /// Raw stdout/stderr line from install.ps1 (or our wrapper). `stream`
+    /// tells the UI which pipe it came from so stderr can be styled subtly
+    /// instead of being mislabeled as an error.
     Log {
         #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
         stage: Option<String>,
         line: String,
+        stream: LogStream,
     },
     /// Sent once when all stages complete successfully.
     Complete {

apps/bootstrap-installer/src-tauri/src/lib.rs

@@ -50,6 +50,20 @@ impl AppMode {
     }
 }
 
+/// Returns true when the args request a forced installer UI (repair/reinstall)
+/// via `--reinstall` or `--repair`, which overrides the macOS launcher
+/// fast-path so a broken install can be repaired. Arg-iterator generic so it's
+/// unit-testable, mirroring `AppMode::from_args`. Independent of mode selection:
+/// these flags never flip Install<->Update.
+pub fn force_setup_from_args<I, S>(args: I) -> bool
+where
+    I: IntoIterator<Item = S>,
+    S: AsRef<str>,
+{
+    args.into_iter()
+        .any(|a| a.as_ref() == "--reinstall" || a.as_ref() == "--repair")
+}
+
 /// Process-wide install state, shared across Tauri commands.
 ///
 /// The bootstrap is a one-shot, single-tenant process — we only need one
@@ -85,7 +99,11 @@ pub fn run() {
     let _guard = paths::init_logging();
 
     let mode = AppMode::from_args(std::env::args().skip(1));
-    tracing::info!(?mode, "Hermes Setup starting");
+    // Escape hatch: `--reinstall`/`--repair` forces the installer UI even when
+    // Hermes is already installed, so users can re-run setup to repair a broken
+    // install instead of the launcher fast path silently relaunching the app.
+    let force_setup = force_setup_from_args(std::env::args().skip(1));
+    tracing::info!(?mode, force_setup, "Hermes installer starting");
 
     tauri::Builder::default()
         .plugin(tauri_plugin_dialog::init())
@@ -93,6 +111,60 @@ pub fn run() {
         .plugin(tauri_plugin_process::init())
         .plugin(tauri_plugin_shell::init())
         .manage(Arc::new(AppState::new(mode)))
+        .setup(move |app| {
+            use tauri::Manager;
+            // Launcher fast path (macOS only): a bare ("Install") launch when
+            // Hermes is already installed should NOT show the installer or
+            // rebuild — it should just open the app, so the /Applications
+            // "Hermes" doubles as a normal launcher (first run installs, every
+            // later run launches instantly). The window is kept hidden until
+            // here via `"visible": false` so this path never flashes a window.
+            //
+            // Gated to macOS deliberately: on Windows/Linux the installer keeps
+            // its existing behavior (Windows users relaunch via the Start
+            // Menu/Desktop "Hermes" shortcuts that install.ps1 creates, and a
+            // reliable detached relaunch there needs the DETACHED_PROCESS +
+            // startup-grace handling used by launch_hermes_desktop — out of
+            // scope here). So this is a pure no-op on non-macOS.
+            //
+            // `--reinstall`/`--repair` opts out so a broken install can be
+            // repaired by re-running setup instead of launching the bad app.
+            if cfg!(target_os = "macos") && mode == AppMode::Install && !force_setup {
+                let install_root = paths::hermes_home().join("hermes-agent");
+                if bootstrap::hermes_is_installed(&install_root) {
+                    match bootstrap::spawn_installed_desktop(&install_root) {
+                        Ok(()) => {
+                            // Brief grace so the spawned app is registered
+                            // before we exit (mirrors launch_hermes_desktop).
+                            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(200));
+                            tracing::info!(
+                                "hermes already installed — relaunched desktop; exiting installer"
+                            );
+                            app.handle().exit(0);
+                            return Ok(());
+                        }
+                        Err(err) => {
+                            tracing::warn!(
+                                ?err,
+                                "relaunch of installed desktop failed; showing installer UI"
+                            );
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            // First run / repair install, or Update mode: reveal the UI.
+            match app.get_webview_window("main") {
+                Some(win) => {
+                    if let Err(err) = win.show() {
+                        tracing::error!(?err, "failed to show main installer window");
+                    }
+                }
+                None => {
+                    tracing::error!("main installer window not found; installer UI will not appear");
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(())
+        })
         .invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![
             // Mode (install vs update)
             get_mode,
@@ -115,7 +187,7 @@ pub fn run() {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::AppMode;
+    use super::{force_setup_from_args, AppMode};
 
     #[test]
     fn bare_args_are_install() {
@@ -131,4 +203,30 @@ mod tests {
             AppMode::Update
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reinstall_and_repair_flags_force_setup() {
+        assert!(force_setup_from_args(["--reinstall"]));
+        assert!(force_setup_from_args(["--repair"]));
+        assert!(force_setup_from_args(["--foo", "--repair", "--bar"]));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn bare_or_unrelated_args_do_not_force_setup() {
+        assert!(!force_setup_from_args(Vec::<String>::new()));
+        assert!(!force_setup_from_args(["--foo", "bar"]));
+        // --update must not be mistaken for a force-setup flag.
+        assert!(!force_setup_from_args(["--update"]));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn force_setup_flags_do_not_affect_mode_selection() {
+        // The repair flags must never flip Install<->Update.
+        assert_eq!(AppMode::from_args(["--reinstall"]), AppMode::Install);
+        assert_eq!(AppMode::from_args(["--repair"]), AppMode::Install);
+        assert_eq!(
+            AppMode::from_args(["--update", "--reinstall"]),
+            AppMode::Update
+        );
+    }
 }

apps/bootstrap-installer/src-tauri/src/powershell.rs

@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ pub async fn run_script(
 ) -> Result<ScriptResult> {
     let mut cmd = build_command(script_path, args);
 
+    // The installer can be launched from a .app bundle that is later replaced
+    // during self-update. Pin child scripts to a stable directory so bash/zsh
+    // never starts from a deleted cwd and emits getcwd/job-working-directory
+    // errors at the end of an otherwise successful install.
+    if let Some(cwd) = stable_script_cwd(script_path, hermes_home_override) {
+        cmd.current_dir(cwd);
+    }
+
     if let Some(home) = hermes_home_override {
         cmd.env("HERMES_HOME", home);
     }
@@ -146,6 +154,16 @@ pub async fn run_script(
     })
 }
 
+fn stable_script_cwd<'a>(script_path: &'a Path, hermes_home_override: Option<&'a str>) -> Option<&'a Path> {
+    if let Some(home) = hermes_home_override {
+        let path = Path::new(home);
+        if path.is_dir() {
+            return Some(path);
+        }
+    }
+    script_path.parent().filter(|p| p.is_dir())
+}
+
 async fn recv_cancel(rx: &mut Option<CancelRx>) {
     match rx {
         Some(r) => {
@@ -264,4 +282,11 @@ info line
         assert!(parse_stage_result("just banner\n").is_none());
         assert!(parse_manifest("just banner\n").is_none());
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stable_script_cwd_prefers_existing_hermes_home() {
+        let script = Path::new("/tmp/install.sh");
+        let cwd = stable_script_cwd(script, Some("/"));
+        assert_eq!(cwd, Some(Path::new("/")));
+    }
 }

apps/bootstrap-installer/src-tauri/src/update.rs

@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@
 //! the no-window creation flag — both already cfg-gated. Keep new logic
 //! OS-agnostic so the mac/linux port stays "fill in the paths".
 
+use std::env;
+use std::ffi::OsString;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::process::Stdio;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
@@ -28,7 +31,7 @@ use tauri::{AppHandle, Emitter};
 use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt, BufReader};
 use tokio::process::Command;
 
-use crate::events::{BootstrapEvent, StageInfo, StageState};
+use crate::events::{BootstrapEvent, LogStream, StageInfo, StageState};
 
 /// `hermes update` exit code meaning "another hermes process is holding the
 /// venv shim open / dirty precondition" — see _cmd_update_impl in
@@ -40,10 +43,48 @@ const UPDATE_EXIT_CONCURRENT: i32 = 2;
 const DESKTOP_EXIT_WAIT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(20);
 const DESKTOP_EXIT_POLL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(500);
 
+/// Guards against concurrent update runs. The frontend kicks `startUpdate()`
+/// from a mount effect, which can fire more than once (React strict-mode
+/// double-invokes effects in dev; a window reload or stray re-init can do it
+/// in prod). Two `run_update` tasks racing on `git stash` corrupt the working
+/// tree — one stashes the changes the other then can't find. Exactly one task
+/// may hold this flag at a time.
+static UPDATE_RUNNING: AtomicBool = AtomicBool::new(false);
+
 /// Frontend → Rust: kick off the update flow. Mirrors `start_bootstrap`'s
 /// fire-and-forget shape; progress arrives on the `bootstrap` event channel.
 #[tauri::command]
 pub async fn start_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<(), String> {
+    // Re-entrancy guard (see UPDATE_RUNNING). compare_exchange lets exactly one
+    // caller flip false→true; any concurrent caller no-ops instead of spawning
+    // a second racing update.
+    if UPDATE_RUNNING
+        .compare_exchange(false, true, Ordering::SeqCst, Ordering::SeqCst)
+        .is_err()
+    {
+        // Already running: re-emit the manifest so a duplicate startUpdate()
+        // call (which resets the frontend store) can recover its stage list.
+        let target_app = if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
+            target_app_from_args(std::env::args().skip(1))
+        } else {
+            None
+        };
+        let mut stages = vec![
+            stage_info("update", "Updating Hermes"),
+            stage_info("rebuild", "Rebuilding the desktop app"),
+        ];
+        if cfg!(target_os = "macos") && target_app.is_some() {
+            stages.push(stage_info("install", "Installing the updated app"));
+        }
+        emit(
+            &app,
+            BootstrapEvent::Manifest {
+                stages,
+                protocol_version: None,
+            },
+        );
+        return Ok(());
+    }
     tokio::spawn(async move {
         if let Err(err) = run_update(app.clone()).await {
             // run_update already emits a Failed event on the paths that matter;
@@ -56,6 +97,7 @@ pub async fn start_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<(), String> {
                 },
             );
         }
+        UPDATE_RUNNING.store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
     });
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -63,6 +105,14 @@ pub async fn start_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<(), String> {
 async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
     let hermes_home = crate::paths::hermes_home();
     let install_root = hermes_home.join("hermes-agent");
+    let update_branch = update_branch_from_args(std::env::args().skip(1))
+        .or_else(|| option_env_string("BUILD_PIN_BRANCH"))
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "main".to_string());
+    let target_app = if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
+        target_app_from_args(std::env::args().skip(1))
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
 
     let hermes = resolve_hermes(&install_root).ok_or_else(|| {
         let msg = format!(
@@ -81,13 +131,18 @@ async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
     })?;
 
     // Synthetic manifest so the existing progress UI renders our two stages.
+    let mut stages = vec![
+        stage_info("update", "Updating Hermes"),
+        stage_info("rebuild", "Rebuilding the desktop app"),
+    ];
+    if cfg!(target_os = "macos") && target_app.is_some() {
+        stages.push(stage_info("install", "Installing the updated app"));
+    }
+
     emit(
         &app,
         BootstrapEvent::Manifest {
-            stages: vec![
-                stage_info("update", "Updating Hermes"),
-                stage_info("rebuild", "Rebuilding the desktop app"),
-            ],
+            stages,
             protocol_version: None,
         },
     );
@@ -107,12 +162,17 @@ async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
     // reports "already up to date" against the wrong branch. The desktop
     // detected the update against this same branch, so we must update against
     // it too.
-    let pin_branch = option_env_string("BUILD_PIN_BRANCH");
-    let mut update_args: Vec<&str> = vec!["update", "--yes", "--gateway"];
-    if let Some(b) = pin_branch.as_deref() {
-        update_args.push("--branch");
-        update_args.push(b);
-    }
+    emit_log(
+        &app,
+        Some("update"),
+        LogStream::Stdout,
+        &format!("[update] updating against branch {update_branch}"),
+    );
+    let child_env = update_child_env(&install_root);
+    let mut update_args: Vec<String> =
+        vec!["update".into(), "--yes".into(), "--gateway".into()];
+    update_args.push("--branch".into());
+    update_args.push(update_branch);
 
     emit_stage(&app, "update", StageState::Running, None, None);
     let started = Instant::now();
@@ -121,6 +181,7 @@ async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
         &hermes,
         &update_args,
         &install_root,
+        &child_env,
         Some("update"),
     )
     .await?;
@@ -182,11 +243,13 @@ async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
     // repo-root deps with --workspaces=false). This is the rebuild it skips.
     emit_stage(&app, "rebuild", StageState::Running, None, None);
     let started = Instant::now();
+    let rebuild_args: Vec<String> = vec!["desktop".into(), "--build-only".into()];
     let rebuild = run_streamed(
         &app,
         &hermes,
-        &["desktop", "--build-only"],
+        &rebuild_args,
         &install_root,
+        &child_env,
         Some("rebuild"),
     )
     .await?;
@@ -217,6 +280,43 @@ async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
     }
     emit_stage(&app, "rebuild", StageState::Succeeded, Some(rebuild_ms), None);
 
+    let launch_target = if let Some(target_app) = target_app {
+        let started = Instant::now();
+        emit_stage(&app, "install", StageState::Running, None, None);
+        match install_macos_app_update(&app, &install_root, &target_app).await {
+            Ok(installed_app) => {
+                emit_stage(
+                    &app,
+                    "install",
+                    StageState::Succeeded,
+                    Some(started.elapsed().as_millis() as u64),
+                    None,
+                );
+                Some(installed_app)
+            }
+            Err(err) => {
+                let msg = format!("{err:#}");
+                emit_stage(
+                    &app,
+                    "install",
+                    StageState::Failed,
+                    Some(started.elapsed().as_millis() as u64),
+                    Some(msg.clone()),
+                );
+                emit(
+                    &app,
+                    BootstrapEvent::Failed {
+                        stage: Some("install".into()),
+                        error: msg.clone(),
+                    },
+                );
+                return Err(anyhow!(msg));
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+
     // ---- done: signal complete, then launch the fresh desktop ------------
     emit(
         &app,
@@ -226,10 +326,17 @@ async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
         },
     );
 
-    // Reuse the same detached-launch + app.exit(0) used post-install.
-    if let Err(err) =
-        crate::bootstrap::launch_hermes_desktop(app.clone(), install_root.to_string_lossy().into_owned())
-            .await
+    if let Some(target_app) = launch_target {
+        if let Err(err) = launch_macos_app_and_exit(&app, &target_app).await {
+            emit_log(
+                &app,
+                None,
+                LogStream::Stderr,
+                &format!("[update] could not auto-launch desktop: {err}. Launch Hermes manually."),
+            );
+        }
+    } else if let Err(err) =
+        crate::bootstrap::launch_hermes_desktop(app.clone(), install_root.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).await
     {
         // Launch failed: don't hard-fail the update (it succeeded); surface a
         // log line so the success screen can still tell the user to launch
@@ -237,6 +344,7 @@ async fn run_update(app: AppHandle) -> Result<()> {
         emit_log(
             &app,
             None,
+            LogStream::Stdout,
             &format!("[update] could not auto-launch desktop: {err}. Launch Hermes manually."),
         );
     }
@@ -251,7 +359,7 @@ async fn wait_for_venv_free(install_root: &Path, app: &AppHandle) {
     let shim = venv_hermes(install_root);
     let deadline = Instant::now() + DESKTOP_EXIT_WAIT;
 
-    emit_log(app, Some("update"), "[update] waiting for Hermes to exit…");
+    emit_log(app, Some("update"), LogStream::Stdout, "[update] waiting for Hermes to exit…");
 
     loop {
         if !is_locked(&shim) {
@@ -261,6 +369,7 @@ async fn wait_for_venv_free(install_root: &Path, app: &AppHandle) {
             emit_log(
                 app,
                 Some("update"),
+                LogStream::Stdout,
                 "[update] timed out waiting for Hermes to exit; proceeding anyway",
             );
             return;
@@ -289,8 +398,9 @@ fn is_locked(path: &Path) -> bool {
 async fn run_streamed(
     app: &AppHandle,
     program: &Path,
-    args: &[&str],
+    args: &[String],
     cwd: &Path,
+    envs: &[(String, OsString)],
     stage: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<CmdResult> {
     let mut cmd = Command::new(program);
@@ -299,6 +409,9 @@ async fn run_streamed(
         .stdin(Stdio::null())
         .stdout(Stdio::piped())
         .stderr(Stdio::piped());
+    for (key, value) in envs {
+        cmd.env(key, value);
+    }
 
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
     {
@@ -320,22 +433,22 @@ async fn run_streamed(
     loop {
         tokio::select! {
             line = out.next_line() => match line {
-                Ok(Some(l)) => emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), &l),
+                Ok(Some(l)) => emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), LogStream::Stdout, &l),
                 Ok(None) => break,
                 Err(e) => { tracing::warn!("stdout read error: {e}"); break; }
             },
             line = err.next_line() => match line {
-                Ok(Some(l)) => emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), &format!("stderr: {l}")),
+                Ok(Some(l)) => emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), LogStream::Stderr, &l),
                 Ok(None) => {}
                 Err(e) => { tracing::warn!("stderr read error: {e}"); }
             },
         }
     }
     while let Ok(Some(l)) = out.next_line().await {
-        emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), &l);
+        emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), LogStream::Stdout, &l);
     }
     while let Ok(Some(l)) = err.next_line().await {
-        emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), &format!("stderr: {l}"));
+        emit_log(app, stage_owned.as_deref(), LogStream::Stderr, &l);
     }
 
     let status = child.wait().await.map_err(|e| anyhow!("waiting for child: {e}"))?;
@@ -378,6 +491,225 @@ fn resolve_hermes(install_root: &Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
     None
 }
 
+fn update_child_env(install_root: &Path) -> Vec<(String, OsString)> {
+    let hermes_home = crate::paths::hermes_home();
+    let mut envs = vec![(
+        "HERMES_HOME".to_string(),
+        hermes_home.as_os_str().to_os_string(),
+    )];
+    if let Some(path) = path_with_prepended_entries(&[
+        hermes_home.join("node").join("bin"),
+        venv_bin_dir(install_root),
+    ]) {
+        envs.push(("PATH".to_string(), path));
+    }
+    envs
+}
+
+fn venv_bin_dir(install_root: &Path) -> PathBuf {
+    if cfg!(target_os = "windows") {
+        install_root.join("venv").join("Scripts")
+    } else {
+        install_root.join("venv").join("bin")
+    }
+}
+
+fn path_with_prepended_entries(entries: &[PathBuf]) -> Option<OsString> {
+    let mut parts: Vec<PathBuf> = entries.to_vec();
+    if let Some(existing) = env::var_os("PATH") {
+        parts.extend(env::split_paths(&existing));
+    }
+    env::join_paths(parts).ok()
+}
+
+fn update_branch_from_args<I, S>(args: I) -> Option<String>
+where
+    I: IntoIterator<Item = S>,
+    S: AsRef<str>,
+{
+    arg_value_from_args(args, "--branch")
+        .map(|s| s.trim().to_string())
+        .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+}
+
+fn target_app_from_args<I, S>(args: I) -> Option<PathBuf>
+where
+    I: IntoIterator<Item = S>,
+    S: AsRef<str>,
+{
+    arg_value_from_args(args, "--target-app")
+        .map(PathBuf::from)
+        .filter(|p| p.extension().and_then(|e| e.to_str()) == Some("app"))
+}
+
+fn arg_value_from_args<I, S>(args: I, name: &str) -> Option<String>
+where
+    I: IntoIterator<Item = S>,
+    S: AsRef<str>,
+{
+    let mut iter = args.into_iter().map(|s| s.as_ref().to_string()).peekable();
+    while let Some(arg) = iter.next() {
+        if arg == name {
+            return iter.next();
+        }
+        if let Some(value) = arg.strip_prefix(&format!("{name}=")) {
+            return Some(value.to_string());
+        }
+    }
+    None
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+async fn install_macos_app_update(
+    app: &AppHandle,
+    install_root: &Path,
+    target_app: &Path,
+) -> Result<PathBuf> {
+    if target_app.extension().and_then(|e| e.to_str()) != Some("app") {
+        return Err(anyhow!(
+            "refusing to install update into non-app path: {}",
+            target_app.display()
+        ));
+    }
+
+    let rebuilt_app = crate::bootstrap::resolve_hermes_desktop_app(install_root).ok_or_else(|| {
+        anyhow!(
+            "desktop rebuild succeeded but no Hermes.app was found under {}",
+            install_root.join("apps").join("desktop").join("release").display()
+        )
+    })?;
+
+    let same = match (rebuilt_app.canonicalize(), target_app.canonicalize()) {
+        (Ok(a), Ok(b)) => a == b,
+        _ => rebuilt_app == target_app,
+    };
+    if same {
+        emit_log(
+            app,
+            Some("install"),
+            LogStream::Stdout,
+            &format!(
+                "[update] rebuilt app is already the launch target: {}",
+                target_app.display()
+            ),
+        );
+        return Ok(target_app.to_path_buf());
+    }
+
+    emit_log(
+        app,
+        Some("install"),
+        LogStream::Stdout,
+        &format!(
+            "[update] installing rebuilt app {} -> {}",
+            rebuilt_app.display(),
+            target_app.display()
+        ),
+    );
+
+    if let Some(parent) = target_app.parent() {
+        tokio::fs::create_dir_all(parent).await?;
+    }
+    let tmp = PathBuf::from(format!("{}.hermes-update-new", target_app.display()));
+    let old = PathBuf::from(format!("{}.hermes-update-old", target_app.display()));
+    remove_dir_if_exists(&tmp).await;
+    remove_dir_if_exists(&old).await;
+
+    let ditto = Command::new("/usr/bin/ditto")
+        .arg(&rebuilt_app)
+        .arg(&tmp)
+        .current_dir(crate::paths::hermes_home())
+        .status()
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow!("running ditto: {e}"))?;
+    if !ditto.success() {
+        return Err(anyhow!(
+            "ditto failed while copying updated app into {}",
+            tmp.display()
+        ));
+    }
+
+    // Atomic-as-possible swap with rollback. Extracted so the invariant
+    // (target is never left deleted-with-no-replacement) can be unit-tested
+    // without ditto / a real .app bundle.
+    swap_in_new_bundle(&tmp, target_app, &old).await?;
+
+    let _ = Command::new("/usr/bin/xattr")
+        .arg("-dr")
+        .arg("com.apple.quarantine")
+        .arg(target_app)
+        .current_dir(crate::paths::hermes_home())
+        .status()
+        .await;
+
+    Ok(target_app.to_path_buf())
+}
+
+/// Move a freshly-staged bundle (`tmp`) into place at `target`, parking any
+/// existing bundle at `old` so the move can succeed (macOS `rename` won't
+/// overwrite a non-empty directory).
+///
+/// Invariant: on ANY failure path, `target` is left pointing at a working
+/// bundle — either the original (rolled back from `old`) or untouched — and we
+/// never delete the running app with no replacement in place. The staged `tmp`
+/// copy is cleaned up on failure.
+async fn swap_in_new_bundle(tmp: &Path, target: &Path, old: &Path) -> Result<()> {
+    let moved_old = if target.exists() {
+        if let Err(err) = tokio::fs::rename(target, old).await {
+            // Could not move the existing app aside. Leave it untouched and
+            // bail — a failed update must not brick the install.
+            remove_dir_if_exists(tmp).await;
+            return Err(anyhow!(
+                "could not move existing app aside at {} (leaving it in place): {err}",
+                target.display()
+            ));
+        }
+        true
+    } else {
+        false
+    };
+    if let Err(err) = tokio::fs::rename(tmp, target).await {
+        // Restore the original app from the backup so the user keeps a working
+        // install, and clean up the staged copy.
+        if moved_old {
+            let _ = tokio::fs::rename(old, target).await;
+        }
+        remove_dir_if_exists(tmp).await;
+        return Err(anyhow!("installing updated app at {}: {err}", target.display()));
+    }
+    remove_dir_if_exists(old).await;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+async fn install_macos_app_update(
+    _app: &AppHandle,
+    _install_root: &Path,
+    target_app: &Path,
+) -> Result<PathBuf> {
+    Ok(target_app.to_path_buf())
+}
+
+async fn remove_dir_if_exists(path: &Path) {
+    if path.exists() {
+        let _ = tokio::fs::remove_dir_all(path).await;
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+async fn launch_macos_app_and_exit(app: &AppHandle, target_app: &Path) -> Result<()> {
+    crate::bootstrap::open_macos_app_detached(target_app)
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow!("launching {}: {e}", target_app.display()))?;
+    tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(150)).await;
+    app.exit(0);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+async fn launch_macos_app_and_exit(_app: &AppHandle, _target_app: &Path) -> Result<()> {
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Event helpers — keep emit shape identical to bootstrap.rs so the UI is reused
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -429,7 +761,7 @@ fn emit_stage(
     );
 }
 
-fn emit_log(app: &AppHandle, stage: Option<&str>, line: &str) {
+fn emit_log(app: &AppHandle, stage: Option<&str>, stream: LogStream, line: &str) {
     match stage {
         Some(s) => tracing::info!(target: "bootstrap.log", stage = %s, "{line}"),
         None => tracing::info!(target: "bootstrap.log", "{line}"),
@@ -439,6 +771,7 @@ fn emit_log(app: &AppHandle, stage: Option<&str>, line: &str) {
         BootstrapEvent::Log {
             stage: stage.map(|s| s.to_string()),
             line: line.to_string(),
+            stream,
         },
     );
 }
@@ -459,4 +792,118 @@ mod tests {
     fn missing_file_is_not_locked() {
         assert!(!is_locked(Path::new("/nonexistent/does/not/exist/xyz")));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_update_branch_from_space_or_equals_args() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            update_branch_from_args(["--update", "--branch", "bb/test"]),
+            Some("bb/test".to_string())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            update_branch_from_args(["--update", "--branch=main"]),
+            Some("main".to_string())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(update_branch_from_args(["--update"]), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_only_app_targets() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            target_app_from_args(["--update", "--target-app", "/Applications/Hermes.app"]),
+            Some(PathBuf::from("/Applications/Hermes.app"))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(target_app_from_args(["--target-app", "/tmp/not-an-app"]), None);
+    }
+
+    // Helpers for the swap tests: make a throwaway dir tree we can rename.
+    fn unique_tmp_dir(tag: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        let base = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "hermes-swap-test-{tag}-{}-{}",
+            std::process::id(),
+            std::time::SystemTime::now()
+                .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+                .unwrap()
+                .as_nanos()
+        ));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&base).unwrap();
+        base
+    }
+
+    fn write_marker(dir: &Path, contents: &str) {
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(dir).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(dir.join("marker.txt"), contents).unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn swap_installs_new_bundle_and_cleans_up() {
+        let base = unique_tmp_dir("ok");
+        let target = base.join("Hermes.app");
+        let tmp = base.join("Hermes.app.hermes-update-new");
+        let old = base.join("Hermes.app.hermes-update-old");
+        write_marker(&target, "OLD");
+        write_marker(&tmp, "NEW");
+
+        swap_in_new_bundle(&tmp, &target, &old).await.unwrap();
+
+        // New bundle is now at target; staging + backup dirs are gone.
+        assert_eq!(
+            std::fs::read_to_string(target.join("marker.txt")).unwrap(),
+            "NEW"
+        );
+        assert!(!tmp.exists(), "staged copy should be cleaned up");
+        assert!(!old.exists(), "backup should be cleaned up on success");
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&base);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn swap_failure_never_leaves_target_missing() {
+        // Regression guard for the catastrophic path: the move-aside of the
+        // existing app fails AND the staged bundle can't be installed. The
+        // buggy version deleted `target` when move-aside failed and then
+        // skipped rollback, bricking the install. The fixed version must leave
+        // the original app intact on disk.
+        //
+        // Trigger both failures deterministically:
+        //  - `old` is a NON-EMPTY dir  -> rename(target, old) fails
+        //  - `tmp` does not exist       -> rename(tmp, target) fails
+        let base = unique_tmp_dir("fail");
+        let target = base.join("Hermes.app");
+        let tmp = base.join("Hermes.app.hermes-update-new"); // intentionally absent
+        let old = base.join("Hermes.app.hermes-update-old");
+        write_marker(&target, "OLD");
+        write_marker(&old, "OCCUPIED"); // non-empty => rename(target,old) fails
+
+        let result = swap_in_new_bundle(&tmp, &target, &old).await;
+
+        assert!(result.is_err(), "swap should fail when neither move can complete");
+        assert!(target.exists(), "original app must NOT be deleted on failure");
+        assert_eq!(
+            std::fs::read_to_string(target.join("marker.txt")).unwrap(),
+            "OLD",
+            "original app contents must be intact after a failed swap"
+        );
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&base);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn swap_rolls_back_when_install_step_fails() {
+        // Move-aside succeeds but installing the staged bundle fails (tmp
+        // absent). The original must be rolled back from `old` to `target`.
+        let base = unique_tmp_dir("rollback");
+        let target = base.join("Hermes.app");
+        let tmp = base.join("Hermes.app.hermes-update-new"); // absent
+        let old = base.join("Hermes.app.hermes-update-old");
+        write_marker(&target, "OLD");
+
+        let result = swap_in_new_bundle(&tmp, &target, &old).await;
+
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+        assert!(target.exists(), "original must be restored after failed install");
+        assert_eq!(
+            std::fs::read_to_string(target.join("marker.txt")).unwrap(),
+            "OLD"
+        );
+        assert!(!old.exists(), "backup should be rolled back, not left behind");
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&base);
+    }
 }

apps/bootstrap-installer/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
-  "productName": "Hermes Setup",
+  "productName": "Hermes",
   "version": "0.0.1",
   "identifier": "com.nousresearch.hermes.setup",
   "build": {
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     "windows": [
       {
         "label": "main",
-        "title": "Hermes Setup",
+        "title": "Hermes",
         "width": 880,
         "height": 620,
         "minWidth": 720,
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
         "fullscreen": false,
         "decorations": true,
         "transparent": false,
-        "center": true
+        "center": true,
+        "visible": false
       }
     ],
     "security": {
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@
   "bundle": {
     "active": true,
     "category": "DeveloperTool",
-    "shortDescription": "Hermes Setup",
+    "shortDescription": "Hermes",
     "longDescription": "Installs Hermes Agent on your machine. Drives scripts/install.ps1 (Windows) and scripts/install.sh (macOS/Linux).",
     "publisher": "Nous Research",
     "copyright": "Copyright © 2026 Nous Research",

apps/bootstrap-installer/src/routes/failure.tsx

@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import { Button } from '../components/button'
 import {
   $logPath,
+  $mode,
   openLogDir,
   startInstall,
+  startUpdate,
   type BootstrapStateModel
 } from '../store'
 import { RefreshCw, FileText } from 'lucide-react'
@@ -22,6 +24,8 @@ interface FailureProps {
  */
 export default function Failure({ bootstrap }: FailureProps) {
   const logPath = useStore($logPath)
+  const mode = useStore($mode)
+  const isUpdate = mode === 'update'
 
   return (
     <div className="hermes-fade-in flex h-full flex-col items-center justify-center gap-6 px-12 py-10">
@@ -37,24 +41,27 @@ export default function Failure({ bootstrap }: FailureProps) {
           }
         >
           <span>
-            <span>Install didn&rsquo;t finish</span>
+            <span>{isUpdate ? 'Update didn\u2019t finish' : 'Install didn\u2019t finish'}</span>
           </span>
-          <span aria-hidden="true">Install didn&rsquo;t finish</span>
+          <span aria-hidden="true">{isUpdate ? 'Update didn\u2019t finish' : 'Install didn\u2019t finish'}</span>
         </p>
 
         <p className="m-0 mx-auto max-w-xl text-center text-sm leading-normal tracking-tight text-muted-foreground">
-          {bootstrap.error ?? 'Something went wrong during installation.'}
+          {bootstrap.error ??
+            (isUpdate
+              ? 'Something went wrong during the update.'
+              : 'Something went wrong during installation.')}
         </p>
       </div>
 
       <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
         <Button
-          onClick={() => void startInstall()}
+          onClick={() => void (isUpdate ? startUpdate() : startInstall())}
           size="lg"
           className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-6"
         >
           <RefreshCw size={16} />
-          Retry install
+          {isUpdate ? 'Retry update' : 'Retry install'}
         </Button>
         <Button
           variant="outline"

apps/bootstrap-installer/src/routes/progress.tsx

@@ -115,9 +115,7 @@ export default function ProgressScreen({ bootstrap }: ProgressProps) {
                   key={idx}
                   className={clsx(
                     'whitespace-pre-wrap',
-                    entry.line.startsWith('stderr:')
-                      ? 'text-destructive'
-                      : 'text-foreground/70'
+                    entry.stream === 'stderr' ? 'text-foreground/45' : 'text-foreground/70'
                   )}
                 >
                   {entry.line}

apps/bootstrap-installer/src/store.ts

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export interface BootstrapStateModel {
   currentStage: string | null
   installRoot: string | null
   error: string | null
-  logs: Array<{ stage?: string; line: string }>
+  logs: Array<{ stage?: string; line: string; stream?: 'stdout' | 'stderr' }>
 }
 
 const INITIAL: BootstrapStateModel = {
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ interface BootstrapLogEvent {
   type: 'log'
   stage?: string
   line: string
+  stream?: 'stdout' | 'stderr'
 }
 
 interface BootstrapCompleteEvent {
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ export async function initialize(): Promise<void> {
         break
       }
       case 'log': {
-        const logs = [...cur.logs, { stage: payload.stage, line: payload.line }]
+        const logs = [...cur.logs, { stage: payload.stage, line: payload.line, stream: payload.stream }]
         // Keep the rolling buffer bounded so the UI doesn't get OOM'd
         // during a long install (playwright chromium download is ~10k lines).
         const trimmed = logs.length > 2000 ? logs.slice(-2000) : logs

apps/desktop/README.md

@@ -111,15 +111,28 @@ npm run test:desktop:all
 
 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:**
+
 ```bash
 # Force a clean first-launch setup
-rm "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/.hermes-bootstrap-complete"   # macOS/Linux
+rm "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/.hermes-bootstrap-complete"
 # Rebuild a broken Python venv
-rm -rf "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/venv"                     # macOS/Linux
-# Reset a stuck macOS microphone prompt
+rm -rf "$HOME/.hermes/hermes-agent/venv"
+# Reset a stuck macOS microphone prompt (macOS only)
 tccutil reset Microphone com.nousresearch.hermes
 ```
 
+**Windows (PowerShell):**
+
+```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 the `HERMES_HOME` env var if you've relocated it.
+
 ---
 
 ## Community

apps/desktop/electron/bootstrap-platform.cjs

@@ -32,8 +32,58 @@ function bundledRuntimeImportCheck(platform = process.platform) {
   return platform === 'win32' ? 'import fastapi, uvicorn, winpty' : 'import fastapi, uvicorn, ptyprocess'
 }
 
+const GPU_OVERRIDE_ON = new Set(['1', 'true', 'yes', 'on'])
+const GPU_OVERRIDE_OFF = new Set(['0', 'false', 'no', 'off'])
+
+/**
+ * Decide whether the app is being shown over a remote/forwarded display, where
+ * Chromium's GPU compositor produces an unstable, flickering surface (it can't
+ * present accelerated layers cleanly over the wire). Native local Windows/macOS
+ * sessions composite locally and never hit this, so we only fall back to
+ * software rendering when a remote display is detected.
+ *
+ * Returns a short reason string when GPU acceleration should be disabled, or
+ * null to keep it enabled. `HERMES_DESKTOP_DISABLE_GPU` overrides detection
+ * both ways (1/true/yes/on → always disable, 0/false/no/off → never disable).
+ *
+ * Pure + dependency-free so it can be unit-tested and called before app ready.
+ */
+function detectRemoteDisplay(options = {}) {
+  const env = options.env ?? process.env
+  const platform = options.platform ?? process.platform
+
+  const override = String(env.HERMES_DESKTOP_DISABLE_GPU || '').trim().toLowerCase()
+  if (GPU_OVERRIDE_ON.has(override)) return 'override (HERMES_DESKTOP_DISABLE_GPU)'
+  if (GPU_OVERRIDE_OFF.has(override)) return null
+
+  // Launched from an SSH session → the display is X11-forwarded or otherwise
+  // remote. Covers the common `ssh user@box` + GUI-forwarding case.
+  if (env.SSH_CONNECTION || env.SSH_CLIENT || env.SSH_TTY) return 'ssh-session'
+
+  if (platform === 'linux') {
+    // X11 forwarding sets DISPLAY to "<host>:N" (e.g. "localhost:10.0"); a
+    // local X server is ":0"/":1" with no host part before the colon.
+    // NB: WSLg deliberately isn't treated as remote — it reports
+    // GPU-accelerated vGPU surfaces locally and doesn't show the flicker.
+    const display = String(env.DISPLAY || '')
+    if (display.includes(':') && display.split(':')[0]) {
+      return `x11-forwarding (DISPLAY=${display})`
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (platform === 'win32') {
+    // RDP sessions report SESSIONNAME like "RDP-Tcp#7"; the local console is
+    // "Console".
+    const sessionName = String(env.SESSIONNAME || '')
+    if (/^rdp-/i.test(sessionName)) return `rdp (SESSIONNAME=${sessionName})`
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   bundledRuntimeImportCheck,
+  detectRemoteDisplay,
   isWindowsBinaryPathInWsl,
   isWslEnvironment
 }

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

@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@ const fs = require('node:fs')
 const path = require('node:path')
 const test = require('node:test')
 
-const { bundledRuntimeImportCheck, isWindowsBinaryPathInWsl, isWslEnvironment } = require('./bootstrap-platform.cjs')
+const {
+  bundledRuntimeImportCheck,
+  detectRemoteDisplay,
+  isWindowsBinaryPathInWsl,
+  isWslEnvironment
+} = require('./bootstrap-platform.cjs')
 
 test('isWslEnvironment detects WSL2 env vars on linux', () => {
   assert.equal(isWslEnvironment({ WSL_DISTRO_NAME: 'Ubuntu' }, 'linux'), true)
@@ -28,6 +33,53 @@ test('bundledRuntimeImportCheck selects platform-specific import checks', () =>
   assert.equal(bundledRuntimeImportCheck('linux'), 'import fastapi, uvicorn, ptyprocess')
 })
 
+test('detectRemoteDisplay keeps GPU on for local sessions', () => {
+  // Plain local X11, Wayland, native Windows, native macOS — no remote signal.
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { DISPLAY: ':0' }, platform: 'linux' }), null)
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { WAYLAND_DISPLAY: 'wayland-0' }, platform: 'linux' }), null)
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { SESSIONNAME: 'Console' }, platform: 'win32' }), null)
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: {}, platform: 'darwin' }), null)
+})
+
+test('detectRemoteDisplay does not treat WSLg as remote', () => {
+  // WSLg renders locally via vGPU and doesn't show the flicker, so a WSL
+  // session with a local DISPLAY keeps hardware acceleration on.
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { WSL_DISTRO_NAME: 'Ubuntu', DISPLAY: ':0' }, platform: 'linux' }), null)
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { WSL_INTEROP: '/run/WSL/1_interop', DISPLAY: ':0' }, platform: 'linux' }), null)
+})
+
+test('detectRemoteDisplay flags SSH sessions on any platform', () => {
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { SSH_CONNECTION: '1.2.3.4 5 6.7.8.9 22' }, platform: 'linux' }), 'ssh-session')
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { SSH_CLIENT: '1.2.3.4 5 22' }, platform: 'darwin' }), 'ssh-session')
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { SSH_TTY: '/dev/pts/0' }, platform: 'win32' }), 'ssh-session')
+})
+
+test('detectRemoteDisplay flags forwarded X11 displays but not local ones', () => {
+  assert.match(String(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { DISPLAY: 'localhost:10.0' }, platform: 'linux' })), /x11-forwarding/)
+  assert.match(String(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { DISPLAY: '192.168.1.5:0' }, platform: 'linux' })), /x11-forwarding/)
+  assert.equal(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { DISPLAY: ':1' }, platform: 'linux' }), null)
+})
+
+test('detectRemoteDisplay flags RDP sessions', () => {
+  assert.match(String(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { SESSIONNAME: 'RDP-Tcp#7' }, platform: 'win32' })), /^rdp/)
+})
+
+test('detectRemoteDisplay honors the HERMES_DESKTOP_DISABLE_GPU override both ways', () => {
+  // Force-on even on a local display.
+  assert.match(
+    String(detectRemoteDisplay({ env: { HERMES_DESKTOP_DISABLE_GPU: '1', DISPLAY: ':0' }, platform: 'linux' })),
+    /override/
+  )
+  // Force-off even over SSH (escape hatch when a remote display has working accel).
+  assert.equal(
+    detectRemoteDisplay({
+      env: { HERMES_DESKTOP_DISABLE_GPU: 'false', SSH_CONNECTION: '1.2.3.4 5 6.7.8.9 22' },
+      platform: 'linux'
+    }),
+    null
+  )
+})
+
 test('packaged electron entrypoints do not require unpackaged npm modules', () => {
   const electronDir = __dirname
   const entrypoints = ['main.cjs', 'preload.cjs', 'bootstrap-platform.cjs']

apps/desktop/electron/bootstrap-runner.cjs

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
  *   { type: 'manifest',  stages: [{name, title, category, needs_user_input}, ...] }
  *   { type: 'stage',     name, state: 'running'|'succeeded'|'skipped'|'failed',
  *                        json?, durationMs?, error? }
- *   { type: 'log',       stage?, line }      // raw line from install.ps1
+ *   { type: 'log',       stage?, line, stream: 'stdout'|'stderr' } // raw line from install.ps1
  *   { type: 'complete',  marker: <written marker payload> }
  *   { type: 'failed',    stage?, error }     // bootstrap aborted
  *
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ function spawnPowerShell(scriptPath, args, { emit, stageName, abortSignal, herme
       while ((nl = stdoutBuf.indexOf('\n')) !== -1) {
         const line = stdoutBuf.slice(0, nl).replace(/\r$/, '')
         stdoutBuf = stdoutBuf.slice(nl + 1)
-        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line })
+        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line, stream: 'stdout' })
       }
     })
 
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ function spawnPowerShell(scriptPath, args, { emit, stageName, abortSignal, herme
       while ((nl = stderrBuf.indexOf('\n')) !== -1) {
         const line = stderrBuf.slice(0, nl).replace(/\r$/, '')
         stderrBuf = stderrBuf.slice(nl + 1)
-        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: `stderr: ${line}` })
+        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line, stream: 'stderr' })
       }
     })
 
@@ -253,8 +253,8 @@ function spawnPowerShell(scriptPath, args, { emit, stageName, abortSignal, herme
     child.on('close', (code, signal) => {
       if (abortSignal) abortSignal.removeEventListener('abort', onAbort)
       // Flush any trailing bytes
-      if (stdoutBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: stdoutBuf })
-      if (stderrBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: `stderr: ${stderrBuf}` })
+      if (stdoutBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: stdoutBuf, stream: 'stdout' })
+      if (stderrBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: stderrBuf, stream: 'stderr' })
       resolve({ stdout, stderr, code, signal, killed })
     })
   })
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ function spawnBash(scriptPath, args, { emit, stageName, abortSignal, hermesHome
       while ((nl = stdoutBuf.indexOf('\n')) !== -1) {
         const line = stdoutBuf.slice(0, nl).replace(/\r$/, '')
         stdoutBuf = stdoutBuf.slice(nl + 1)
-        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line })
+        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line, stream: 'stdout' })
       }
     })
 
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ function spawnBash(scriptPath, args, { emit, stageName, abortSignal, hermesHome
       while ((nl = stderrBuf.indexOf('\n')) !== -1) {
         const line = stderrBuf.slice(0, nl).replace(/\r$/, '')
         stderrBuf = stderrBuf.slice(nl + 1)
-        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: `stderr: ${line}` })
+        if (line) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line, stream: 'stderr' })
       }
     })
 
@@ -322,8 +322,8 @@ function spawnBash(scriptPath, args, { emit, stageName, abortSignal, hermesHome
 
     child.on('close', (code, signal) => {
       if (abortSignal) abortSignal.removeEventListener('abort', onAbort)
-      if (stdoutBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: stdoutBuf })
-      if (stderrBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: `stderr: ${stderrBuf}` })
+      if (stdoutBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: stdoutBuf, stream: 'stdout' })
+      if (stderrBuf) emit && emit({ type: 'log', stage: stageName, line: stderrBuf, stream: 'stderr' })
       resolve({ stdout, stderr, code, signal, killed })
     })
   })
@@ -482,6 +482,18 @@ async function runBootstrap(opts) {
     writeMarker // callback to write the bootstrap-complete marker; main.cjs provides
   } = opts
 
+  // Bail before spawning anything if the user already cancelled — otherwise an
+  // already-aborted signal would still fetch the manifest (a spawn) before the
+  // in-loop abort check fires.
+  if (abortSignal && abortSignal.aborted) {
+    if (typeof onEvent === 'function') {
+      try {
+        onEvent({ type: 'failed', error: 'bootstrap cancelled by user' })
+      } catch {}
+    }
+    return { ok: false, cancelled: true }
+  }
+
   const runLog = openRunLog(logRoot || path.join(hermesHome, 'logs'))
 
   // Tee every event to the runLog AND the caller's onEvent. This gives us a

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

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict')
+const test = require('node:test')
+
+const { runBootstrap } = require('./bootstrap-runner.cjs')
+
+test('runBootstrap bails immediately when the signal is already aborted', async () => {
+  const controller = new AbortController()
+  controller.abort()
+
+  const events = []
+  const result = await runBootstrap({
+    installStamp: null,
+    activeRoot: '/tmp/hermes-runner-test',
+    sourceRepoRoot: null,
+    hermesHome: '/tmp/hermes-runner-test',
+    logRoot: '/tmp/hermes-runner-test',
+    onEvent: ev => events.push(ev),
+    abortSignal: controller.signal
+  })
+
+  // Cancelled before any install script is spawned.
+  assert.deepEqual(result, { ok: false, cancelled: true })
+  assert.ok(
+    events.some(ev => ev.type === 'failed' && /cancelled/i.test(ev.error)),
+    'should emit a cancelled failure event'
+  )
+})

apps/desktop/electron/entitlements.mac.inherit.plist

@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@
   <true/>
   <key>com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation</key>
   <true/>
+  <key>com.apple.security.device.audio-input</key>
+  <true/>
 </dict>
 </plist>

apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs

@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ const {
   ipcMain,
   nativeImage,
   nativeTheme,
+  net: electronNet,
+  powerMonitor,
+  protocol,
   safeStorage,
   session,
   shell,
@@ -21,7 +24,7 @@ const net = require('node:net')
 const path = require('node:path')
 const { fileURLToPath, pathToFileURL } = require('node:url')
 const { execFileSync, spawn } = require('node:child_process')
-const { isWindowsBinaryPathInWsl, isWslEnvironment } = require('./bootstrap-platform.cjs')
+const { detectRemoteDisplay, isWindowsBinaryPathInWsl, isWslEnvironment } = require('./bootstrap-platform.cjs')
 const { runBootstrap } = require('./bootstrap-runner.cjs')
 const { canImportHermesCli, verifyHermesCli } = require('./backend-probes.cjs')
 const {
@@ -71,6 +74,26 @@ const IS_MAC = process.platform === 'darwin'
 const IS_WINDOWS = process.platform === 'win32'
 const IS_WSL = isWslEnvironment()
 const APP_ROOT = app.getAppPath()
+
+// Remote displays (SSH X11 forwarding, VNC, RDP) make Chromium's GPU
+// compositor flicker — accelerated layers can't be presented cleanly over the
+// wire, so the window flashes during scroll/streaming/animation. Local
+// Windows/macOS (and WSLg, which renders locally via vGPU) composite on the
+// GPU and never see it. Fall back to software rendering when a remote display
+// is detected; it's rock-steady over the wire and the CPU cost is negligible
+// next to the connection's latency. Must run before app `ready` — these
+// switches only apply pre-launch. Override with HERMES_DESKTOP_DISABLE_GPU
+// (1/true → always disable, 0/false → keep GPU on).
+const REMOTE_DISPLAY_REASON = detectRemoteDisplay()
+if (REMOTE_DISPLAY_REASON) {
+  app.disableHardwareAcceleration()
+  // Belt-and-suspenders for X11/VNC, where the Viz compositor can still glitch
+  // with only --disable-gpu: force compositing onto the CPU too.
+  app.commandLine.appendSwitch('disable-gpu-compositing')
+  console.log(
+    `[hermes] remote display detected (${REMOTE_DISPLAY_REASON}); disabling GPU hardware acceleration to prevent flicker`
+  )
+}
 const SOURCE_REPO_ROOT = path.resolve(APP_ROOT, '../..')
 
 // Build-time install stamp -- the git ref this .exe was built against.
@@ -364,22 +387,98 @@ app.setAboutPanelOptions({
   copyright: 'Copyright © 2026 Nous Research'
 })
 
+// Custom scheme for streaming local media (video/audio) into the renderer.
+// Reading large media through `readFileDataUrl` failed: it base64-loads the
+// whole file into memory and is hard-capped at DATA_URL_READ_MAX_BYTES (16 MB),
+// so any non-trivial video silently refused to load. Streaming via a protocol
+// handler removes the size cap and gives the <video> element seekable,
+// range-aware playback. Must be registered before the app is ready.
+const MEDIA_PROTOCOL = 'hermes-media'
+// Only audio/video may be streamed. Without this the handler would read any
+// non-blocklisted local file (no size cap) for any `fetch(hermes-media://…)`.
+const STREAMABLE_MEDIA_EXTS = new Set([
+  '.avi',
+  '.flac',
+  '.m4a',
+  '.mkv',
+  '.mov',
+  '.mp3',
+  '.mp4',
+  '.ogg',
+  '.opus',
+  '.wav',
+  '.webm'
+])
+
+protocol.registerSchemesAsPrivileged([
+  {
+    scheme: MEDIA_PROTOCOL,
+    privileges: {
+      secure: true,
+      standard: true,
+      stream: true,
+      supportFetchAPI: true
+    }
+  }
+])
+
+function registerMediaProtocol() {
+  protocol.handle(MEDIA_PROTOCOL, async request => {
+    let resolvedPath
+    try {
+      const url = new URL(request.url)
+      const filePath = decodeURIComponent(url.pathname.replace(/^\/+/, ''))
+      ;({ resolvedPath } = await resolveReadableFileForIpc(filePath, { purpose: 'Media stream' }))
+    } catch {
+      return new Response('Media not found', { status: 404 })
+    }
+
+    if (!STREAMABLE_MEDIA_EXTS.has(path.extname(resolvedPath).toLowerCase())) {
+      return new Response('Unsupported media type', { status: 415 })
+    }
+
+    // Delegate to Electron's net stack on a file:// URL — it resolves the
+    // content-type and honors Range requests so seeking works. Forward the
+    // renderer's headers (notably Range) and skip custom-protocol re-entry.
+    return electronNet.fetch(pathToFileURL(resolvedPath).toString(), {
+      bypassCustomProtocolHandlers: true,
+      headers: request.headers
+    })
+  })
+}
+
 let mainWindow = null
 let hermesProcess = null
 let connectionPromise = null
+// Auto-reload budget for renderer crashes. A deterministic startup crash would
+// otherwise loop forever (reload → crash → reload), pinning CPU and spamming
+// logs. Allow a few reloads per rolling window, then stop and leave the dead
+// window so the user can read the error / quit.
+const RENDERER_RELOAD_WINDOW_MS = 60_000
+const RENDERER_RELOAD_MAX = 3
+let rendererReloadTimes = []
 // Latched bootstrap failure: when the first-launch install fails, we hold
 // onto the error so subsequent startHermes() calls (e.g. the renderer's
 // ensureGatewayOpen retrying after the WS won't open) return the same error
 // instead of re-running install.ps1 in a hot loop. Cleared explicitly by
 // the renderer's "Reload and retry" path or by quitting the app.
 let bootstrapFailure = null
+// Active first-launch install, so the renderer's Cancel button (and app quit)
+// can abort the in-flight install.sh/ps1 instead of leaving it running.
+let bootstrapAbortController = null
+// Set by the renderer's "Repair install" IPC. While true, resolution skips the
+// existing-install adopt branch (3b) so repair re-drives the installer instead
+// of re-adopting the install we're repairing. Cleared once a bootstrap runs.
+let forceBootstrapRepair = false
 let connectionConfigCache = null
+let connectionConfigCacheMtime = null
 const hermesLog = []
 const previewWatchers = new Map()
 let previewShortcutActive = false
 let desktopLogBuffer = ''
 let desktopLogFlushTimer = null
 let desktopLogFlushPromise = Promise.resolve()
+let nativeThemeListenerInstalled = false
 let bootProgressState = {
   error: null,
   fakeMode: BOOT_FAKE_MODE,
@@ -463,6 +562,39 @@ function openExternalUrl(rawUrl) {
     return false
   }
 
+  // `file://` URLs come from the artifacts panel (the renderer can't open
+  // them itself because Chromium blocks file:// navigation from the app
+  // origin). Hand them to `shell.openPath`, which dispatches to the OS
+  // file association. If the OS can't open it (`error` is a non-empty
+  // string), fall back to revealing the file in the system file manager.
+  if (parsed.protocol === 'file:') {
+    let localPath
+    try {
+      localPath = fileURLToPath(parsed.toString())
+    } catch {
+      return false
+    }
+
+    void shell
+      .openPath(localPath)
+      .then(error => {
+        if (!error) {
+          return
+        }
+
+        rememberLog(`[file] openPath failed: ${error}; revealing in folder instead`)
+
+        try {
+          shell.showItemInFolder(localPath)
+        } catch (revealError) {
+          rememberLog(`[file] showItemInFolder failed: ${revealError.message}`)
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(error => rememberLog(`[file] openPath rejected: ${error.message}`))
+
+    return true
+  }
+
   if (!['http:', 'https:', 'mailto:'].includes(parsed.protocol)) {
     return false
   }
@@ -593,7 +725,7 @@ function broadcastBootstrapEvent(ev) {
       error: ev.error ?? null
     }
   } else if (ev.type === 'log') {
-    bootstrapState.log.push({ ts: Date.now(), stage: ev.stage || null, line: ev.line })
+    bootstrapState.log.push({ ts: Date.now(), stage: ev.stage || null, line: ev.line, stream: ev.stream || 'stdout' })
     if (bootstrapState.log.length > BOOTSTRAP_LOG_RING_MAX) {
       bootstrapState.log.splice(0, bootstrapState.log.length - BOOTSTRAP_LOG_RING_MAX)
     }
@@ -971,9 +1103,17 @@ function readDesktopUpdateConfig() {
   }
 }
 
+// Atomic file write: temp + rename (atomic on all platforms). Prevents
+// partial writes on crash/power loss that corrupt JSON config files.
+function writeFileAtomic(targetPath, data, encoding) {
+  const tmp = targetPath + '.tmp'
+  fs.writeFileSync(tmp, data, encoding)
+  fs.renameSync(tmp, targetPath)
+}
+
 function writeDesktopUpdateConfig(config) {
   fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(DESKTOP_UPDATE_CONFIG_PATH), { recursive: true })
-  fs.writeFileSync(DESKTOP_UPDATE_CONFIG_PATH, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2))
+  writeFileAtomic(DESKTOP_UPDATE_CONFIG_PATH, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2))
 }
 
 // Match the backend's source resolution but bias toward a real git checkout.
@@ -1190,16 +1330,34 @@ async function applyUpdates(opts = {}) {
 
     emitUpdateProgress({ stage: 'restart', message: 'Handing off to the Hermes updater…', percent: 100 })
 
+    const updateRoot = resolveUpdateRoot()
+    const { branch: configuredBranch } = readDesktopUpdateConfig()
+    const branch = await resolveHealedBranch(updateRoot, configuredBranch || DEFAULT_UPDATE_BRANCH)
+    const updaterArgs = ['--update', '--branch', branch]
+    const targetApp = IS_MAC ? runningAppBundle() : null
+    if (targetApp) {
+      updaterArgs.push('--target-app', targetApp)
+    }
+    const venvBin = path.join(updateRoot, 'venv', IS_WINDOWS ? 'Scripts' : 'bin')
+
     // Detached so the updater outlives this process — it needs us GONE before
     // `hermes update` will run (the venv shim is locked while we live).
-    const child = spawn(updater, ['--update'], {
+    const child = spawn(updater, updaterArgs, {
+      cwd: HERMES_HOME,
+      env: {
+        ...process.env,
+        HERMES_HOME,
+        PATH: [path.join(HERMES_HOME, 'node', 'bin'), venvBin, process.env.PATH]
+          .filter(Boolean)
+          .join(path.delimiter)
+      },
       detached: true,
       stdio: 'ignore',
       windowsHide: false
     })
     child.unref()
 
-    rememberLog(`[updates] launched updater: ${updater} --update; exiting desktop to release venv shim`)
+    rememberLog(`[updates] launched updater: ${updater} ${updaterArgs.join(' ')}; exiting desktop to release venv shim`)
 
     // Give the OS a beat to register the new process, then quit. The updater
     // rebuilds and relaunches us when it's done.
@@ -1283,6 +1441,18 @@ async function applyUpdatesPosixInApp(opts = {}) {
     PATH: [extraPath, process.env.PATH].filter(Boolean).join(path.delimiter)
   }
 
+  // `hermes update` reaps stale `hermes dashboard` backends (a code update
+  // leaves the running process serving old Python against the freshly-updated
+  // JS bundle). But OUR backend is one of those processes, and killing it
+  // mid-update produces the boot→kill→crash loop in #37532 — the desktop
+  // already restarts its own backend via the rebuild+relaunch below, so the
+  // reap must spare it. Hand the live backend's PID to the update process;
+  // _kill_stale_dashboard_processes reads HERMES_DESKTOP_CHILD_PID and excludes
+  // it while still reaping any genuinely-orphaned dashboards. (#37532)
+  if (hermesProcess && Number.isInteger(hermesProcess.pid)) {
+    env.HERMES_DESKTOP_CHILD_PID = String(hermesProcess.pid)
+  }
+
   // Branch-pin so a non-main checkout doesn't get switched to main (and self-heal
   // to main when the pinned branch no longer exists on origin).
   let branchArgs = []
@@ -1401,8 +1571,12 @@ function readJson(filePath) {
 // Marker schema (version 1):
 //   {
 //     schemaVersion: 1,
-//     pinnedCommit: "<40-char SHA>",       // what install.ps1 was driven against
+//     pinnedCommit: "<40-char SHA>" | null, // what install.ps1 was driven against;
+//                                           // may be null for adopted installs
 //     pinnedBranch: "<branch name>" | null,
+//     adopted: <bool>,                      // true when we adopted a pre-existing
+//                                           // install rather than bootstrapping it;
+//                                           // treated as authoritative even sans commit
 //     completedAt:  "<ISO 8601>",
 //     desktopVersion: "<app.getVersion()>"  // for forensics
 //   }
@@ -1410,11 +1584,25 @@ function readBootstrapMarker() {
   return readJson(BOOTSTRAP_COMPLETE_MARKER)
 }
 
+// Marker-independent: is the canonical install at ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT actually
+// runnable right now? A complete CLI install (`install.sh --include-desktop`)
+// or a DMG launch over a prior CLI install satisfies this WITHOUT the desktop
+// ever having written the bootstrap marker -- so we must be able to recognise
+// "already installed" off the filesystem alone, not just the marker.
+function isActiveRuntimeUsable() {
+  return isHermesSourceRoot(ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT) && fileExists(getVenvPython(VENV_ROOT))
+}
+
 function isBootstrapComplete() {
   const marker = readBootstrapMarker()
   if (!marker || typeof marker !== 'object') return false
   if (marker.schemaVersion !== BOOTSTRAP_MARKER_SCHEMA_VERSION) return false
-  if (typeof marker.pinnedCommit !== 'string' || marker.pinnedCommit.length < 7) return false
+  if (typeof marker.pinnedCommit !== 'string' || marker.pinnedCommit.length < 7) {
+    // Adopted markers (an existing install we detected and took ownership of,
+    // possibly without a resolvable commit) are still authoritative -- they
+    // attest a runnable install we deliberately decided to forward to.
+    if (marker.adopted !== true) return false
+  }
   // We DELIBERATELY do NOT verify that the checkout is currently at the
   // pinned commit -- users update via the in-app update path or `hermes
   // update`, which moves HEAD legitimately. The marker just attests "we
@@ -1422,7 +1610,22 @@ function isBootstrapComplete() {
   // a runnable venv: an interrupted or split-home install can leave the marker
   // + checkout without a venv, and trusting that spawns a dead backend
   // ("gateway offline") instead of re-running bootstrap to repair it.
-  return isHermesSourceRoot(ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT) && fileExists(getVenvPython(VENV_ROOT))
+  return isActiveRuntimeUsable()
+}
+
+// HEAD commit of ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT so an adopted marker carries the same
+// provenance a freshly-bootstrapped one would. null when git is unavailable or
+// the root isn't a checkout -- the marker stays valid via its `adopted` flag.
+function readActiveHeadCommit() {
+  try {
+    const sha = execFileSync(resolveGitBinary(), ['-C', ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT, 'rev-parse', 'HEAD'], {
+      encoding: 'utf8',
+      stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore']
+    }).trim()
+    return /^[0-9a-f]{7,40}$/i.test(sha) ? sha : null
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
 }
 
 function writeBootstrapMarker(payload) {
@@ -1431,10 +1634,11 @@ function writeBootstrapMarker(payload) {
     schemaVersion: BOOTSTRAP_MARKER_SCHEMA_VERSION,
     pinnedCommit: payload.pinnedCommit || null,
     pinnedBranch: payload.pinnedBranch || null,
+    adopted: Boolean(payload.adopted),
     completedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
     desktopVersion: app.getVersion()
   }
-  fs.writeFileSync(BOOTSTRAP_COMPLETE_MARKER, JSON.stringify(merged, null, 2) + '\n', 'utf8')
+  writeFileAtomic(BOOTSTRAP_COMPLETE_MARKER, JSON.stringify(merged, null, 2) + '\n', 'utf8')
   return merged
 }
 
@@ -1454,10 +1658,18 @@ function resolveRendererIndex() {
 }
 
 function resolveHermesCwd() {
+  // In a packaged build, `process.cwd()` resolves to the install root (e.g.
+  // `…/win-unpacked` on Windows or `/Applications/Hermes.app/Contents/...`
+  // on macOS). Sessions spawned there leave files inside the app bundle
+  // and bewilder users when "where did my files go?" is the install dir.
+  // The user-configurable default project directory wins over everything,
+  // followed by env hints (only honored when packaged if they point at a
+  // real directory), then the home dir.
   const candidates = [
+    readDefaultProjectDir(),
     process.env.HERMES_DESKTOP_CWD,
     process.env.INIT_CWD,
-    process.cwd(),
+    IS_PACKAGED ? null : process.cwd(),
     !IS_PACKAGED ? SOURCE_REPO_ROOT : null,
     app.getPath('home')
   ]
@@ -1471,6 +1683,48 @@ function resolveHermesCwd() {
   return app.getPath('home')
 }
 
+// Persisted "Default project directory" — surfaced as a setting in the
+// renderer (see app/settings/sessions-settings.tsx). Stored as JSON in
+// userData so it survives self-updates without bleeding into the new
+// install. `null` means "no preference, fall back to the usual chain".
+const DEFAULT_PROJECT_DIR_CONFIG_FILENAME = 'project-dir.json'
+
+function defaultProjectDirConfigPath() {
+  return path.join(app.getPath('userData'), DEFAULT_PROJECT_DIR_CONFIG_FILENAME)
+}
+
+function readDefaultProjectDir() {
+  try {
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(defaultProjectDirConfigPath(), 'utf8')
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(raw)
+
+    if (parsed && typeof parsed.dir === 'string' && parsed.dir.trim()) {
+      const resolved = path.resolve(parsed.dir)
+
+      if (directoryExists(resolved)) {
+        return resolved
+      }
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // Missing / unreadable / malformed → fall through to the rest of the
+    // candidate chain.
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
+function writeDefaultProjectDir(dir) {
+  const target = defaultProjectDirConfigPath()
+  const payload = dir ? JSON.stringify({ dir: path.resolve(dir) }, null, 2) : JSON.stringify({}, null, 2)
+
+  try {
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(target), { recursive: true })
+    fs.writeFileSync(target, payload, 'utf8')
+  } catch (error) {
+    rememberLog(`[settings] write default project dir failed: ${error.message}`)
+  }
+}
+
 function createPythonBackend(root, label, dashboardArgs, options = {}) {
   const python = findPythonForRoot(root)
   if (!python) return null
@@ -1538,6 +1792,24 @@ function resolveHermesBackend(dashboardArgs) {
     return createActiveBackend(dashboardArgs)
   }
 
+  // 3b. Existing-but-unmarked install at ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT. The marker is
+  //     written only by OUR bootstrap, so a runtime from `install.sh
+  //     --include-desktop` (or a DMG launch over a prior CLI install) is
+  //     runnable yet markerless -- without this we'd fall to step 6 and re-run
+  //     the WHOLE install on top of a working one. ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT is our
+  //     canonical location (unlike a random `hermes` on PATH), so adopt it:
+  //     stamp the marker once and forward straight to the app. Repair skips
+  //     this so a broken-but-present venv still gets rebuilt.
+  if (!forceBootstrapRepair && isActiveRuntimeUsable()) {
+    rememberLog(`[bootstrap] adopting existing install at ${ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT}; skipping first-launch setup`)
+    try {
+      writeBootstrapMarker({ pinnedCommit: readActiveHeadCommit(), pinnedBranch: null, adopted: true })
+    } catch (err) {
+      rememberLog(`[bootstrap] could not stamp adopted marker: ${err.message}`)
+    }
+    return createActiveBackend(dashboardArgs)
+  }
+
   // 4. Existing `hermes` on PATH -- installed via install.ps1 / install.sh from
   //    a previous tool-only setup, or pip-installed system-wide. Use it but
   //    do NOT write a bootstrap marker; the user did this themselves and we
@@ -1678,12 +1950,15 @@ async function ensureRuntime(backend) {
       })
     } catch {}
 
+    bootstrapAbortController = new AbortController()
+
     const bootstrapResult = await runBootstrap({
       installStamp: backend.installStamp,
       activeRoot: backend.activeRoot,
       sourceRepoRoot: SOURCE_REPO_ROOT,
       hermesHome: HERMES_HOME,
       logRoot: path.join(HERMES_HOME, 'logs'),
+      abortSignal: bootstrapAbortController.signal,
       onEvent: ev => {
         // Tee every bootstrap event to (a) the desktop log for forensics
         // and (b) the renderer for live progress UI. Either may be absent;
@@ -1699,6 +1974,16 @@ async function ensureRuntime(backend) {
       writeMarker: writeBootstrapMarker
     })
 
+    bootstrapAbortController = null
+
+    if (bootstrapResult.cancelled) {
+      const cancelledError = new Error('Hermes install was cancelled.')
+      cancelledError.isBootstrapFailure = true
+      cancelledError.bootstrapCancelled = true
+      bootstrapFailure = cancelledError
+      throw cancelledError
+    }
+
     if (!bootstrapResult.ok) {
       const bootstrapError = new Error(
         `Hermes bootstrap failed${bootstrapResult.failedStage ? ` at stage '${bootstrapResult.failedStage}'` : ''}: ` +
@@ -1715,6 +2000,9 @@ async function ensureRuntime(backend) {
     }
 
     rememberLog('[bootstrap] bootstrap complete; marker written. Re-resolving backend.')
+    // A repair (if any) has now re-run, so clear the gate -- the re-resolution
+    // below SHOULD land on the fresh marker fast-path rather than skip it.
+    forceBootstrapRepair = false
     // Re-resolve now that the install exists. The new resolution lands in
     // step 3 (bootstrap-complete marker) and we recurse to wire venvPython.
     return ensureRuntime(resolveHermesBackend(backend.args))
@@ -1816,6 +2104,7 @@ function fetchJson(url, token, options = {}) {
       },
       res => {
         const chunks = []
+        res.on('error', reject)
         res.on('data', chunk => chunks.push(chunk))
         res.on('end', () => {
           const text = Buffer.concat(chunks).toString('utf8')
@@ -2155,6 +2444,7 @@ async function resourceBufferFromUrl(rawUrl) {
         return
       }
       const chunks = []
+      res.on('error', reject)
       res.on('data', chunk => chunks.push(chunk))
       res.on('end', () => {
         resolve({
@@ -2416,6 +2706,32 @@ function sendClosePreviewRequested() {
   webContents.send('hermes:close-preview-requested')
 }
 
+// Tell the renderer the machine just woke. Sleep silently drops the
+// renderer's WebSocket to the local backend; the renderer reconnects on this
+// signal so the chat composer doesn't stay stuck on "Starting Hermes...".
+function sendPowerResume() {
+  if (!mainWindow || mainWindow.isDestroyed()) return
+  const { webContents } = mainWindow
+  if (!webContents || webContents.isDestroyed()) return
+  webContents.send('hermes:power-resume')
+}
+
+let powerResumeRegistered = false
+
+function registerPowerResumeListeners() {
+  if (powerResumeRegistered) return
+  powerResumeRegistered = true
+  try {
+    // 'resume' covers sleep/wake; 'unlock-screen' covers lock/unlock without a
+    // full suspend. Either can drop an idle socket.
+    powerMonitor.on('resume', sendPowerResume)
+    powerMonitor.on('unlock-screen', sendPowerResume)
+  } catch {
+    // powerMonitor is unavailable before app 'ready' on some platforms; the
+    // caller registers after 'ready', so this should not normally throw.
+  }
+}
+
 function getAppIconPath() {
   return APP_ICON_PATHS.find(fileExists)
 }
@@ -2504,9 +2820,31 @@ function buildApplicationMenu() {
       { role: 'forceReload' },
       { role: 'toggleDevTools' },
       { type: 'separator' },
-      { role: 'resetZoom' },
-      { role: 'zoomIn' },
-      { role: 'zoomOut' },
+      {
+        label: 'Actual Size',
+        accelerator: 'CommandOrControl+0',
+        click: () => { if (mainWindow && !mainWindow.isDestroyed()) mainWindow.webContents.setZoomLevel(0) }
+      },
+      {
+        label: 'Zoom In',
+        accelerator: 'CommandOrControl+Plus',
+        click: () => {
+          if (mainWindow && !mainWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+            const next = Math.min(mainWindow.webContents.getZoomLevel() + 0.1, 9)
+            mainWindow.webContents.setZoomLevel(next)
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        label: 'Zoom Out',
+        accelerator: 'CommandOrControl+-',
+        click: () => {
+          if (mainWindow && !mainWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+            const next = Math.max(mainWindow.webContents.getZoomLevel() - 0.1, -9)
+            mainWindow.webContents.setZoomLevel(next)
+          }
+        }
+      },
       { type: 'separator' },
       { role: 'togglefullscreen' }
     ]
@@ -2565,6 +2903,32 @@ function installPreviewShortcut(window) {
   })
 }
 
+function installZoomShortcuts(window) {
+  // Override Ctrl/Cmd + +/-/0 with half the default zoom step (0.1 vs 0.2).
+  // The menu items handle this on macOS (where the menu is always present),
+  // but on Linux/Windows the menu is null and Chromium's default handler
+  // would use the full 0.2 step, so we intercept here for consistency.
+  const ZOOM_STEP = 0.1
+  window.webContents.on('before-input-event', (event, input) => {
+    const mod = IS_MAC ? input.meta : input.control
+    if (!mod || input.alt || input.shift) return
+
+    const key = input.key
+    if (key === '0') {
+      event.preventDefault()
+      window.webContents.setZoomLevel(0)
+    } else if (key === '=' || key === '+') {
+      event.preventDefault()
+      const next = Math.min(window.webContents.getZoomLevel() + ZOOM_STEP, 9)
+      window.webContents.setZoomLevel(next)
+    } else if (key === '-') {
+      event.preventDefault()
+      const next = Math.max(window.webContents.getZoomLevel() - ZOOM_STEP, -9)
+      window.webContents.setZoomLevel(next)
+    }
+  })
+}
+
 function installContextMenu(window) {
   window.webContents.on('context-menu', (_event, params) => {
     const template = []
@@ -2617,6 +2981,28 @@ function installContextMenu(window) {
       )
     }
 
+    // Spell-check suggestions for the misspelled word under the caret.
+    // Chromium surfaces them on `params.dictionarySuggestions`; we offer the
+    // top 5 plus a "Add to dictionary" affordance.
+    const suggestions = Array.isArray(params.dictionarySuggestions) ? params.dictionarySuggestions : []
+
+    if (isEditable && params.misspelledWord && suggestions.length > 0) {
+      if (template.length) template.push({ type: 'separator' })
+
+      for (const suggestion of suggestions.slice(0, 5)) {
+        template.push({
+          label: suggestion,
+          click: () => window.webContents.replaceMisspelling(suggestion)
+        })
+      }
+
+      template.push({ type: 'separator' })
+      template.push({
+        label: 'Add to dictionary',
+        click: () => window.webContents.session.addWordToSpellCheckerDictionary(params.misspelledWord)
+      })
+    }
+
     if (hasSelection || isEditable) {
       if (template.length) template.push({ type: 'separator' })
       if (isEditable) {
@@ -2761,7 +3147,17 @@ function decryptDesktopSecret(secret) {
 }
 
 function readDesktopConnectionConfig() {
-  if (connectionConfigCache) {
+  // Check if file changed on disk since last read (e.g. modified by another
+  // process or an external tool).  Our own writes update the cache inline
+  // via writeDesktopConnectionConfig, but external changes would be missed.
+  let mtime = null
+  try {
+    mtime = fs.statSync(DESKTOP_CONNECTION_CONFIG_PATH).mtimeMs
+  } catch {
+    mtime = null
+  }
+
+  if (connectionConfigCache && connectionConfigCacheMtime === mtime) {
     return connectionConfigCache
   }
 
@@ -2782,14 +3178,16 @@ function readDesktopConnectionConfig() {
   }
 
   connectionConfigCache = config
+  connectionConfigCacheMtime = mtime
 
   return config
 }
 
 function writeDesktopConnectionConfig(config) {
   fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(DESKTOP_CONNECTION_CONFIG_PATH), { recursive: true })
-  fs.writeFileSync(DESKTOP_CONNECTION_CONFIG_PATH, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2))
+  writeFileAtomic(DESKTOP_CONNECTION_CONFIG_PATH, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2))
   connectionConfigCache = config
+  connectionConfigCacheMtime = fs.statSync(DESKTOP_CONNECTION_CONFIG_PATH).mtimeMs
 }
 
 function sanitizeDesktopConnectionConfig(config = readDesktopConnectionConfig()) {
@@ -3117,9 +3515,12 @@ function createWindow() {
   }
 
   if (!IS_MAC) {
-    nativeTheme.on('updated', () => {
-      mainWindow?.setTitleBarOverlay?.(getTitleBarOverlayOptions())
-    })
+    if (!nativeThemeListenerInstalled) {
+      nativeThemeListenerInstalled = true
+      nativeTheme.on('updated', () => {
+        mainWindow?.setTitleBarOverlay?.(getTitleBarOverlayOptions())
+      })
+    }
   }
 
   mainWindow.on('will-enter-full-screen', () => sendWindowStateChanged(true))
@@ -3129,6 +3530,7 @@ function createWindow() {
 
   installPreviewShortcut(mainWindow)
   installDevToolsShortcut(mainWindow)
+  installZoomShortcuts(mainWindow)
   installContextMenu(mainWindow)
   mainWindow.webContents.setWindowOpenHandler(details => {
     openExternalUrl(details.url)
@@ -3144,6 +3546,51 @@ function createWindow() {
     openExternalUrl(url)
   })
 
+  mainWindow.webContents.on('render-process-gone', (_event, details) => {
+    rememberLog(`[renderer] render-process-gone reason=${details?.reason} exitCode=${details?.exitCode}`)
+
+    if (details?.reason === 'crashed' || details?.reason === 'oom') {
+      const now = Date.now()
+      rendererReloadTimes = rendererReloadTimes.filter(t => now - t < RENDERER_RELOAD_WINDOW_MS)
+
+      if (rendererReloadTimes.length >= RENDERER_RELOAD_MAX) {
+        rememberLog(
+          `[renderer] suppressing reload: ${rendererReloadTimes.length} crashes within ${RENDERER_RELOAD_WINDOW_MS}ms (likely a crash loop)`
+        )
+
+        return
+      }
+
+      rendererReloadTimes.push(now)
+      setImmediate(() => {
+        if (!mainWindow || mainWindow.isDestroyed()) return
+        try {
+          mainWindow.webContents.reload()
+        } catch (err) {
+          rememberLog(`[renderer] reload after crash failed: ${err?.message || err}`)
+        }
+      })
+    }
+  })
+
+  mainWindow.webContents.on('unresponsive', () => rememberLog('[renderer] webContents became unresponsive'))
+
+  // Electron always passes the event first. The canonical (Electron 36+) shape
+  // is (event, messageDetails); the deprecated positional shape is
+  // (event, level, message, line, sourceId). Handle both. `level` is numeric
+  // (0..3), where 3 === error.
+  mainWindow.webContents.on('console-message', (_event, detailsOrLevel, message, line, sourceId) => {
+    const details = detailsOrLevel && typeof detailsOrLevel === 'object' ? detailsOrLevel : null
+    const level = details ? details.level : detailsOrLevel
+
+    if (level !== 3) return
+
+    const text = details ? details.message : message
+    const src = details ? details.sourceUrl : sourceId
+    const lineNo = details ? details.lineNumber : line
+    rememberLog(`[renderer console] ${text} (${src}:${lineNo})`)
+  })
+
   if (DEV_SERVER) {
     mainWindow.loadURL(DEV_SERVER)
   } else {
@@ -3164,6 +3611,7 @@ ipcMain.handle('hermes:bootstrap:reset', async () => {
   // full backend flow (including a fresh runBootstrap pass).
   rememberLog('[bootstrap] reset requested by renderer; clearing latched failure')
   bootstrapFailure = null
+  forceBootstrapRepair = false
   connectionPromise = null
   bootstrapState = {
     active: false,
@@ -3191,9 +3639,24 @@ ipcMain.handle('hermes:bootstrap:repair', async () => {
     rememberLog(`[bootstrap] failed to remove marker during repair: ${error.message}`)
   }
   bootstrapFailure = null
+  // Force the next resolution past both the marker fast-path and the adopt
+  // branch so the installer actually re-runs (the whole point of repair).
+  forceBootstrapRepair = true
   resetHermesConnection()
   return { ok: true }
 })
+ipcMain.handle('hermes:bootstrap:cancel', async () => {
+  // Renderer's Cancel button during first-launch install. Abort the running
+  // install script (SIGTERM via the runner's abortSignal). runBootstrap
+  // resolves with { cancelled: true }, which surfaces the recovery overlay.
+  if (bootstrapAbortController) {
+    try {
+      bootstrapAbortController.abort()
+    } catch {}
+    return { ok: true, cancelled: true }
+  }
+  return { ok: false, cancelled: false }
+})
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:boot-progress:get', async () => bootProgressState)
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:bootstrap:get', async () => getBootstrapState())
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:connection-config:get', async () => sanitizeDesktopConnectionConfig())
@@ -3282,13 +3745,21 @@ ipcMain.handle('hermes:readFileText', async (_event, filePath) => {
 })
 
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:selectPaths', async (_event, options = {}) => {
-  const properties = ['openFile']
-  if (options?.directories) properties.push('openDirectory')
+  const properties = options?.directories ? ['openDirectory'] : ['openFile']
   if (options?.multiple !== false) properties.push('multiSelections')
 
+  let resolvedDefaultPath
+  if (options?.defaultPath) {
+    try {
+      resolvedDefaultPath = path.resolve(String(options.defaultPath))
+    } catch {
+      resolvedDefaultPath = undefined
+    }
+  }
+
   const result = await dialog.showOpenDialog(mainWindow, {
     title: options?.title || 'Add context',
-    defaultPath: options?.defaultPath ? path.resolve(String(options.defaultPath)) : undefined,
+    defaultPath: resolvedDefaultPath,
     properties,
     filters: Array.isArray(options?.filters) ? options.filters : undefined
   })
@@ -3347,6 +3818,45 @@ ipcMain.handle('hermes:openExternal', (_event, url) => {
   }
 })
 
+// User-configurable default project directory. The renderer reads this on
+// settings mount and seeds the value into the picker; writing back persists
+// it via writeDefaultProjectDir so resolveHermesCwd picks it up on the next
+// session spawn (no app restart needed).
+ipcMain.handle('hermes:setting:defaultProjectDir:get', async () => ({
+  dir: readDefaultProjectDir(),
+  defaultLabel: path.join(app.getPath('home'), 'hermes-projects')
+}))
+
+ipcMain.handle('hermes:setting:defaultProjectDir:set', async (_event, dir) => {
+  const next = typeof dir === 'string' && dir.trim() ? dir.trim() : null
+
+  if (next) {
+    try {
+      fs.mkdirSync(next, { recursive: true })
+    } catch (error) {
+      throw new Error(`Could not create directory: ${error.message}`)
+    }
+  }
+
+  writeDefaultProjectDir(next)
+
+  return { dir: next }
+})
+
+ipcMain.handle('hermes:setting:defaultProjectDir:pick', async () => {
+  const result = await dialog.showOpenDialog({
+    title: 'Choose default project directory',
+    properties: ['openDirectory', 'createDirectory'],
+    defaultPath: readDefaultProjectDir() || app.getPath('home')
+  })
+
+  if (result.canceled || result.filePaths.length === 0) {
+    return { canceled: true, dir: null }
+  }
+
+  return { canceled: false, dir: result.filePaths[0] }
+})
+
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:fetchLinkTitle', (_event, url) => fetchLinkTitle(url))
 
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:logs:reveal', async () => {
@@ -3647,14 +4157,109 @@ ipcMain.handle('hermes:version', async () => ({
   hermesRoot: resolveUpdateRoot()
 }))
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// macOS first-launch placement: move into /Applications and pin to the Dock
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//
+// The DMG and CLI-built apps launch from wherever the user left them (a DMG
+// mount, ~/Downloads, ~/.hermes/...) -- which means Gatekeeper translocation,
+// no Dock tile, and "which icon do I click?" confusion. On first packaged
+// launch we relocate into /Applications (Electron relaunches from there) and,
+// once we're that canonical copy, pin to the Dock. Both macOS-only,
+// packaged-only, best-effort, run at most once.
+
+// Move the bundle into /Applications and relaunch. Returns true when a relaunch
+// is underway (caller must stop init). No-op in dev, off macOS, or already in
+// /Applications. `existsAndRunning` -> another copy owns the slot; don't fight
+// it. `exists` -> stale copy; replace it so there's exactly one current app.
+function maybeRelocateToApplications() {
+  if (!IS_MAC || !IS_PACKAGED || process.env.HERMES_DESKTOP_NO_AUTO_MOVE === '1') return false
+  try {
+    if (app.isInApplicationsFolder()) return false
+    const moved = app.moveToApplicationsFolder({ conflictHandler: type => type !== 'existsAndRunning' })
+    if (moved) rememberLog('[install] relocated into /Applications; relaunching')
+    return moved
+  } catch (err) {
+    rememberLog(`[install] move to /Applications skipped: ${err.message}`)
+    return false
+  }
+}
+
+const DOCK_PINNED_MARKER = 'dock-pinned.json'
+
+// Pin the /Applications copy to the Dock once. macOS has no Electron API for
+// this, so we append to com.apple.dock's persistent-apps and restart the Dock.
+// Guarded by a userData marker + membership check so we never duplicate the tile.
+function maybePinToDock() {
+  if (!IS_MAC || !IS_PACKAGED || process.env.HERMES_DESKTOP_NO_DOCK_PIN === '1') return
+  const marker = path.join(app.getPath('userData'), DOCK_PINNED_MARKER)
+  if (fileExists(marker)) return
+
+  let bundle
+  try {
+    if (!app.isInApplicationsFolder()) return // don't pin a soon-to-be-stale path
+    bundle = runningAppBundle()
+  } catch {
+    return
+  }
+  if (!bundle) return
+
+  // The Dock stores tiles as file-reference URLs (type 15), e.g.
+  // file:///Applications/Hermes.app/ -- NOT a raw POSIX path. A type-0/raw-path
+  // tile is silently dropped when the Dock rewrites persistent-apps on restart.
+  const url = pathToFileURL(bundle.endsWith('/') ? bundle : `${bundle}/`).href
+
+  const done = (note = {}) => {
+    try {
+      fs.writeFileSync(marker, JSON.stringify({ bundle, pinnedAt: new Date().toISOString(), ...note }) + '\n')
+    } catch {
+      // best-effort; we re-check next launch (membership guard dedupes)
+    }
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const apps = execFileSync('defaults', ['read', 'com.apple.dock', 'persistent-apps'], {
+      encoding: 'utf8',
+      stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore']
+    })
+    if (apps.includes(url)) return done({ alreadyPresent: true })
+  } catch {
+    // persistent-apps may not exist yet; -array-add creates it
+  }
+
+  const tile =
+    '<dict><key>tile-data</key><dict><key>file-data</key><dict>' +
+    `<key>_CFURLString</key><string>${url}</string><key>_CFURLStringType</key><integer>15</integer>` +
+    '</dict></dict></dict>'
+  try {
+    execFileSync('defaults', ['write', 'com.apple.dock', 'persistent-apps', '-array-add', tile], { stdio: 'ignore' })
+    // Flush the write through cfprefsd before restarting the Dock, otherwise the
+    // Dock reloads stale prefs and our tile is lost in the race.
+    execFileSync('defaults', ['read', 'com.apple.dock', 'persistent-apps'], { stdio: 'ignore' })
+    execFileSync('killall', ['Dock'], { stdio: 'ignore' })
+    done()
+    rememberLog(`[install] pinned to Dock: ${url}`)
+  } catch (err) {
+    rememberLog(`[install] Dock pin skipped: ${err.message}`)
+  }
+}
+
 app.whenReady().then(() => {
+  // macOS: relocate into /Applications before anything else so setup + state
+  // land in the final location; on success this relaunches, so bail here.
+  if (maybeRelocateToApplications()) return
+  maybePinToDock()
+
   if (IS_MAC) {
     Menu.setApplicationMenu(buildApplicationMenu())
   } else {
     Menu.setApplicationMenu(null)
   }
   installMediaPermissions()
+  registerMediaProtocol()
   ensureWslWindowsFonts()
+  configureSpellChecker()
+  registerPowerResumeListeners()
   createWindow()
 
   app.on('activate', () => {
@@ -3662,7 +4267,37 @@ app.whenReady().then(() => {
   })
 })
 
+// Seed Chromium's spellchecker with the system locale (falling back to en-US).
+// On macOS Electron uses the native spellchecker which ignores this list, but
+// on Windows/Linux Chromium downloads Hunspell dictionaries on demand and
+// won't enable any without an explicit language.
+function configureSpellChecker() {
+  try {
+    const defaultSession = session.defaultSession
+
+    if (!defaultSession || typeof defaultSession.setSpellCheckerLanguages !== 'function') {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const available = defaultSession.availableSpellCheckerLanguages || []
+    const locale = (app.getLocale && app.getLocale()) || 'en-US'
+    const candidates = [locale, locale.split('-')[0], 'en-US', 'en']
+    const chosen = candidates.find(lang => available.includes(lang)) || 'en-US'
+
+    defaultSession.setSpellCheckerLanguages([chosen])
+  } catch (error) {
+    rememberLog(`Spellchecker setup failed: ${error.message}`)
+  }
+}
+
 app.on('before-quit', () => {
+  // Quitting mid-install should stop the installer, not orphan it.
+  if (bootstrapAbortController) {
+    try {
+      bootstrapAbortController.abort()
+    } catch {}
+  }
+
   if (desktopLogFlushTimer) {
     clearTimeout(desktopLogFlushTimer)
     desktopLogFlushTimer = null

apps/desktop/electron/preload.cjs

@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('hermesDesktop', {
   setPreviewShortcutActive: active => ipcRenderer.send('hermes:previewShortcutActive', Boolean(active)),
   openExternal: url => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:openExternal', url),
   fetchLinkTitle: url => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:fetchLinkTitle', url),
+  settings: {
+    getDefaultProjectDir: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:setting:defaultProjectDir:get'),
+    setDefaultProjectDir: dir => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:setting:defaultProjectDir:set', dir),
+    pickDefaultProjectDir: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:setting:defaultProjectDir:pick')
+  },
   revealLogs: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:logs:reveal'),
   getRecentLogs: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:logs:recent'),
   readDir: dirPath => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:fs:readDir', dirPath),
@@ -78,6 +83,11 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('hermesDesktop', {
     ipcRenderer.on('hermes:backend-exit', listener)
     return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('hermes:backend-exit', listener)
   },
+  onPowerResume: callback => {
+    const listener = () => callback()
+    ipcRenderer.on('hermes:power-resume', listener)
+    return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('hermes:power-resume', listener)
+  },
   onBootProgress: callback => {
     const listener = (_event, payload) => callback(payload)
     ipcRenderer.on('hermes:boot-progress', listener)
@@ -91,6 +101,7 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('hermesDesktop', {
   getBootstrapState: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:bootstrap:get'),
   resetBootstrap: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:bootstrap:reset'),
   repairBootstrap: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:bootstrap:repair'),
+  cancelBootstrap: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('hermes:bootstrap:cancel'),
   onBootstrapEvent: callback => {
     const listener = (_event, payload) => callback(payload)
     ipcRenderer.on('hermes:bootstrap:event', listener)

apps/desktop/index.html

@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@
   <head>
     <meta charset="UTF-8" />
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
-    <link rel="icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
-    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
+    <meta name="color-scheme" content="light dark" />
+    <meta name="theme-color" content="#0a0a0a" />
+    <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
+    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
+    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
     <title>Hermes</title>
   </head>
   <body>

apps/desktop/package.json

@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
   "author": "Nous Research",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "electron/main.cjs",
+  "engines": {
+    "node": "^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0"
+  },
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "concurrently -k \"npm:dev:renderer\" \"npm:dev:electron\"",
     "dev:fake-boot": "cross-env HERMES_DESKTOP_BOOT_FAKE=1 HERMES_DESKTOP_BOOT_FAKE_STEP_MS=650 npm run dev",
@@ -32,7 +35,7 @@
     "test:desktop:nsis": "node scripts/test-desktop.mjs nsis",
     "test:desktop:existing": "node scripts/test-desktop.mjs existing",
     "test:desktop:fresh": "node scripts/test-desktop.mjs fresh",
-    "test:desktop:platforms": "node --test electron/bootstrap-platform.test.cjs electron/hardening.test.cjs electron/backend-probes.test.cjs",
+    "test:desktop:platforms": "node --test electron/bootstrap-platform.test.cjs electron/hardening.test.cjs electron/backend-probes.test.cjs electron/bootstrap-runner.test.cjs",
     "type-check": "tsc -b",
     "lint": "eslint src/ electron/",
     "lint:fix": "eslint src/ electron/ --fix",
@@ -50,6 +53,7 @@
     "@dnd-kit/sortable": "^10.0.0",
     "@dnd-kit/utilities": "^3.2.2",
     "@hermes/shared": "file:../shared",
+    "@icons-pack/react-simple-icons": "^13.13.0",
     "@nanostores/react": "^1.1.0",
     "@nous-research/ui": "^0.13.0",
     "@radix-ui/react-slot": "^1.2.4",
@@ -96,6 +100,7 @@
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "^9.39.4",
+    "@testing-library/dom": "^10.4.0",
     "@testing-library/react": "^16.3.2",
     "@types/hast": "^3.0.4",
     "@types/node": "^24.12.2",

apps/desktop/scripts/diag-scroll-reset.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,229 @@
+// Reproduce + diagnose the "scroll wheel resets position while reading" bug.
+//
+// The complaint (Windows, mouse wheel): scrolling UP through a chat to re-read
+// older content randomly yanks the view to a different position, so you have to
+// fight the scrollbar. Mac users on trackpads don't see it.
+//
+// Hypothesis: the thread scroller has the browser default `overflow-anchor:
+// auto`, and the thread renders items in natural document flow (padding
+// spacers, NOT transforms). When an item above the viewport is measured by
+// @tanstack/react-virtual (its real height differs a lot from the 220px
+// estimate) — or when Shiki/images/fonts reflow it — TWO mechanisms both
+// adjust scrollTop for the same delta: TanStack's measurement compensation AND
+// the browser's native scroll anchoring. The double-correction lurches the
+// view. A mouse wheel's coarse, discrete notches mount/measure several
+// under-estimated turns per tick, so the over-correction is large and visible;
+// a trackpad's ~1-3px/frame keeps it sub-perceptual.
+//
+// This script drives synthetic mouse-wheel-UP scrolling on a long thread and
+// measures how much a tracked on-screen turn jumps, first with
+// `overflow-anchor: auto` (reproduce) then `overflow-anchor: none` (the fix).
+// If the fix run shows dramatically fewer/smaller jumps, the hypothesis holds.
+//
+// Prereq: a running desktop app with remote debugging on 9222, on a thread
+// with enough history to scroll (the longer / more code+tool blocks, the
+// better the repro). Then:  node apps/desktop/scripts/diag-scroll-reset.mjs
+
+const NOTCHES = 14 // wheel-up ticks per sweep
+const NOTCH_PX = 120 // Windows wheel notch ≈ 120px
+const NOTCH_GAP_MS = 130 // let each smooth-scroll animation settle
+const REVERSE_JUMP_PX = 6 // tracked turn moving UP while scrolling up = wrong way
+const LURCH_PX = 60 // single-frame on-screen jump that reads as a "reset"
+
+const list = await (await fetch('http://127.0.0.1:9222/json/list')).json()
+const tgt = list.find(t => t.type === 'page' && t.url.startsWith('http'))
+if (!tgt) {
+  console.error('No page target on :9222. Is the desktop app running with --remote-debugging-port=9222?')
+  process.exit(1)
+}
+const ws = new WebSocket(tgt.webSocketDebuggerUrl)
+let id = 0
+const pending = new Map()
+ws.addEventListener('message', ev => {
+  const m = JSON.parse(ev.data)
+  if (m.id != null && pending.has(m.id)) {
+    pending.get(m.id)(m)
+    pending.delete(m.id)
+  }
+})
+await new Promise(r => ws.addEventListener('open', r))
+const send = (m, p = {}) =>
+  new Promise(r => {
+    const i = ++id
+    pending.set(i, r)
+    ws.send(JSON.stringify({ id: i, method: m, params: p }))
+  })
+const evalP = async expr => {
+  const r = await send('Runtime.evaluate', { expression: expr, returnByValue: true })
+  if (r.result?.exceptionDetails) throw new Error(r.result.exceptionDetails.text)
+  return r.result.result.value
+}
+const sleep = ms => new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, ms))
+
+// Install per-sweep instrumentation. `mode` is the overflow-anchor value to
+// force inline so we A/B the exact same thread regardless of any CSS fix.
+// Starts from ~45% down the thread so there's room to scroll up into
+// not-yet-measured turns, tags the turn nearest viewport-center as the anchor,
+// then records (per rAF) scrollTop + that turn's on-screen top, plus every
+// scrollTop *setter* write (TanStack compensation) and ResizeObserver hit.
+async function arm(mode) {
+  await evalP(`(() => {
+    const v = document.querySelector('[data-slot="aui_thread-viewport"]')
+    if (!v) throw new Error('thread viewport not found')
+
+    // Force the overflow-anchor behavior under test (inline beats CSS).
+    v.style.overflowAnchor = ${JSON.stringify(mode)}
+
+    // Park ~45% down so a wheel-up sweep climbs into estimated-but-unmeasured
+    // turns above the fold (where the measurement correction fires).
+    v.scrollTop = Math.round(v.scrollHeight * 0.45)
+
+    // Tag the turn closest to viewport center; we track its on-screen top.
+    const vr = v.getBoundingClientRect()
+    const center = vr.top + v.clientHeight / 2
+    let best = null, bestD = Infinity
+    for (const el of v.querySelectorAll('[data-index]')) {
+      const r = el.getBoundingClientRect()
+      const d = Math.abs((r.top + r.height / 2) - center)
+      if (d < bestD) { bestD = d; best = el }
+    }
+    document.querySelectorAll('[data-se-anchor]').forEach(e => e.removeAttribute('data-se-anchor'))
+    if (best) best.setAttribute('data-se-anchor', '1')
+    const anchorIndex = best ? best.getAttribute('data-index') : null
+
+    const samples = []
+    const writes = []
+    const ros = []
+    const t0 = performance.now()
+
+    // Intercept scrollTop writes → these are JS (TanStack) corrections.
+    // Native browser scroll anchoring does NOT go through this setter, so a
+    // scrollTop change with no write in the same frame is a native adjust.
+    const desc = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(Element.prototype, 'scrollTop')
+    Object.defineProperty(v, 'scrollTop', {
+      configurable: true,
+      get() { return desc.get.call(this) },
+      set(val) {
+        writes.push({ t: performance.now() - t0, val, sh: this.scrollHeight })
+        desc.set.call(this, val)
+      }
+    })
+    window.__restoreScrollTop = () => Object.defineProperty(v, 'scrollTop', desc)
+
+    const ro = new ResizeObserver(entries => {
+      for (const e of entries) {
+        ros.push({ t: performance.now() - t0, slot: e.target.getAttribute?.('data-slot') || e.target.tagName, h: Math.round(e.contentRect.height) })
+      }
+    })
+    ro.observe(v)
+    if (v.firstElementChild) ro.observe(v.firstElementChild)
+
+    let running = true
+    const tick = () => {
+      if (!running) return
+      const a = v.querySelector('[data-se-anchor]')
+      const ar = a ? a.getBoundingClientRect() : null
+      samples.push({
+        t: performance.now() - t0,
+        st: Math.round(v.scrollTop * 100) / 100,
+        sh: v.scrollHeight,
+        ch: v.clientHeight,
+        atop: ar ? Math.round(ar.top * 100) / 100 : null,
+        aconn: !!a
+      })
+      requestAnimationFrame(tick)
+    }
+    requestAnimationFrame(tick)
+
+    window.__se = { samples, writes, ros, anchorIndex, dpr: window.devicePixelRatio, stop() { running = false; ro.disconnect(); window.__restoreScrollTop?.() } }
+    return true
+  })()`)
+}
+
+async function wheelUpSweep() {
+  const { x, y } = await evalP(`(() => {
+    const v = document.querySelector('[data-slot="aui_thread-viewport"]')
+    const r = v.getBoundingClientRect()
+    return { x: Math.round(r.left + r.width / 2), y: Math.round(r.top + r.height / 2) }
+  })()`)
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < NOTCHES; i++) {
+    await send('Input.dispatchMouseEvent', { type: 'mouseWheel', x, y, deltaX: 0, deltaY: -NOTCH_PX })
+    await sleep(NOTCH_GAP_MS)
+  }
+  await sleep(400)
+}
+
+async function collect() {
+  const data = JSON.parse(await evalP(`(() => { window.__se.stop(); return JSON.stringify(window.__se) })()`))
+  return data
+}
+
+function analyze(label, data) {
+  const { samples, writes, ros, anchorIndex, dpr } = data
+  let reverseJumps = 0
+  let reverseSum = 0
+  let lurches = 0
+  let maxJump = 0
+  let nativeMoves = 0
+  let prev = null
+  for (const s of samples) {
+    if (prev && prev.aconn && s.aconn && prev.atop != null && s.atop != null) {
+      const dTop = s.atop - prev.atop // wheel-up should move content DOWN → dTop >= 0
+      const dSt = s.st - prev.st
+      // Native (browser-anchoring) move: scrollTop changed with no setter write in this frame window.
+      const wroteThisFrame = writes.some(w => w.t > prev.t && w.t <= s.t)
+      if (Math.abs(dSt) > 0.5 && !wroteThisFrame) nativeMoves++
+      if (dTop < -REVERSE_JUMP_PX) {
+        reverseJumps++
+        reverseSum += -dTop
+      }
+      if (Math.abs(dTop) > LURCH_PX) lurches++
+      if (Math.abs(dTop) > maxJump) maxJump = Math.abs(dTop)
+    }
+    prev = s
+  }
+  console.log(`\n── ${label} ──`)
+  console.log(`  devicePixelRatio:     ${dpr}${Number.isInteger(dpr) ? '' : '  (fractional — Windows scaling, worsens rounding jitter)'}`)
+  console.log(`  tracked turn index:   ${anchorIndex}`)
+  console.log(`  rAF frames:           ${samples.length}`)
+  console.log(`  scrollTop writes:     ${writes.length}   (TanStack measurement corrections)`)
+  console.log(`  ResizeObserver hits:  ${ros.length}`)
+  console.log(`  native scroll moves:  ${nativeMoves}   (scrollTop moved with NO JS write = browser anchoring)`)
+  console.log(`  reverse jumps:        ${reverseJumps}   (tracked turn yanked UP while scrolling up; total ${reverseSum.toFixed(0)}px)`)
+  console.log(`  big lurches (>${LURCH_PX}px):   ${lurches}`)
+  console.log(`  max single-frame jump: ${maxJump.toFixed(0)}px`)
+  return { reverseJumps, reverseSum, lurches, maxJump, nativeMoves }
+}
+
+console.log(`Wheel-up repro: ${NOTCHES} notches × ${NOTCH_PX}px, anchored mid-thread.\n`)
+
+await arm('auto')
+await sleep(150)
+await wheelUpSweep()
+const a = analyze('overflow-anchor: auto  (current / repro)', await collect())
+
+await sleep(300)
+
+await arm('none')
+await sleep(150)
+await wheelUpSweep()
+const b = analyze('overflow-anchor: none  (proposed fix)', await collect())
+
+// Clean up our tag.
+await evalP(`document.querySelectorAll('[data-se-anchor]').forEach(e => e.removeAttribute('data-se-anchor'))`)
+
+console.log('\n══ verdict ══')
+const drop = (x, y) => (x === 0 ? (y === 0 ? '0' : 'n/a') : `${Math.round((1 - y / x) * 100)}% fewer`)
+console.log(`  reverse jumps:  auto=${a.reverseJumps}  none=${b.reverseJumps}  (${drop(a.reverseJumps, b.reverseJumps)})`)
+console.log(`  big lurches:    auto=${a.lurches}  none=${b.lurches}  (${drop(a.lurches, b.lurches)})`)
+console.log(`  max jump:       auto=${a.maxJump.toFixed(0)}px  none=${b.maxJump.toFixed(0)}px`)
+console.log(`  native moves:   auto=${a.nativeMoves}  none=${b.nativeMoves}  (browser anchoring should ~vanish at none)`)
+if (a.reverseJumps + a.lurches > 0 && b.reverseJumps + b.lurches < a.reverseJumps + a.lurches) {
+  console.log('\n  → Jumps drop sharply with overflow-anchor:none → root cause confirmed.')
+} else if (a.reverseJumps + a.lurches === 0) {
+  console.log('\n  → No jumps captured this run. Use a longer thread (many code/tool blocks),')
+  console.log('    raise NOTCHES, and ensure you start scrolled up from the bottom.')
+}
+
+ws.close()

apps/desktop/src/app/artifacts/index.tsx

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { ZoomableImage } from '@/components/chat/zoomable-image'
 import { PageLoader } from '@/components/page-loader'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
-import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { CopyButton } from '@/components/ui/copy-button'
 import {
   Pagination,
@@ -25,7 +24,9 @@ import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
 import type { SessionInfo, SessionMessage } from '@/types/hermes'
 
+import { useRefreshHotkey } from '../hooks/use-refresh-hotkey'
 import { useRouteEnumParam } from '../hooks/use-route-enum-param'
+import { PAGE_INSET_NEG_X, PAGE_INSET_X } from '../layout-constants'
 import { PageSearchShell } from '../page-search-shell'
 import { sessionRoute } from '../routes'
 import type { SetStatusbarItemGroup } from '../shell/statusbar-controls'
@@ -372,14 +373,11 @@ export function ArtifactsView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
 
   const [kindFilter, setKindFilter] = useRouteEnumParam('tab', ARTIFACT_FILTERS, 'all')
 
-  const [refreshing, setRefreshing] = useState(false)
   const [failedImageIds, setFailedImageIds] = useState<Set<string>>(() => new Set())
   const [imagePage, setImagePage] = useState(1)
   const [filePage, setFilePage] = useState(1)
 
   const refreshArtifacts = useCallback(async () => {
-    setRefreshing(true)
-
     try {
       const sessions = (await listSessions(30, 1)).sessions
       const results = await Promise.allSettled(sessions.map(session => getSessionMessages(session.id)))
@@ -398,11 +396,11 @@ export function ArtifactsView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
     } catch (err) {
       notifyError(err, 'Artifacts failed to load')
       setArtifacts([])
-    } finally {
-      setRefreshing(false)
     }
   }, [])
 
+  useRefreshHotkey(refreshArtifacts)
+
   useEffect(() => {
     void refreshArtifacts()
   }, [refreshArtifacts])
@@ -502,7 +500,11 @@ export function ArtifactsView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
   return (
     <PageSearchShell
       {...props}
-      filters={
+      onSearchChange={setQuery}
+      searchHidden={counts.all === 0}
+      searchPlaceholder="Search artifacts..."
+      searchValue={query}
+      tabs={
         <>
           <TextTab active={kindFilter === 'all'} onClick={() => setKindFilter('all')}>
             All <TextTabMeta>({counts.all})</TextTabMeta>
@@ -518,23 +520,6 @@ export function ArtifactsView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
           </TextTab>
         </>
       }
-      onSearchChange={setQuery}
-      searchPlaceholder="Search artifacts..."
-      searchTrailingAction={
-        <Button
-          aria-label={refreshing ? 'Refreshing artifacts' : 'Refresh artifacts'}
-          className="text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-transparent hover:text-foreground"
-          disabled={refreshing}
-          onClick={() => void refreshArtifacts()}
-          size="icon-xs"
-          title={refreshing ? 'Refreshing artifacts' : 'Refresh artifacts'}
-          type="button"
-          variant="ghost"
-        >
-          <Codicon name="refresh" size="0.875rem" spinning={refreshing} />
-        </Button>
-      }
-      searchValue={query}
     >
       {!artifacts ? (
         <PageLoader label="Indexing recent session artifacts" />
@@ -549,10 +534,16 @@ export function ArtifactsView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
         </div>
       ) : (
         <div className="h-full overflow-y-auto">
-          <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 px-2 pb-2">
+          <div className={cn('flex flex-col gap-3 pb-2', PAGE_INSET_X)}>
             {visibleImageArtifacts.length > 0 && (
               <section className="flex flex-col">
-                <div className="sticky top-0 z-10 -mx-2 flex h-7 items-center gap-3 overflow-x-auto bg-background px-3">
+                <div
+                  className={cn(
+                    'sticky top-0 z-10 flex h-7 items-center gap-3 overflow-x-auto bg-background',
+                    PAGE_INSET_NEG_X,
+                    PAGE_INSET_X
+                  )}
+                >
                   <ArtifactsPagination
                     className="ml-auto justify-end px-0"
                     itemLabel="images"
@@ -578,7 +569,13 @@ export function ArtifactsView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
 
             {visibleFileArtifacts.length > 0 && (
               <section className="flex flex-col">
-                <div className="sticky top-0 z-10 -mx-2 flex h-7 items-center gap-3 overflow-x-auto bg-background px-3">
+                <div
+                  className={cn(
+                    'sticky top-0 z-10 flex h-7 items-center gap-3 overflow-x-auto bg-background',
+                    PAGE_INSET_NEG_X,
+                    PAGE_INSET_X
+                  )}
+                >
                   <ArtifactsPagination
                     className="ml-auto justify-end px-0"
                     itemLabel={itemsLabel(kindFilter)}
@@ -588,7 +585,7 @@ export function ArtifactsView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
                     total={visibleFileArtifacts.length}
                   />
                 </div>
-                <div className="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg border border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background) shadow-sm">
+                <div className="overflow-x-auto rounded-lg border border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background)">
                   <ArtifactTable artifacts={pagedFileArtifacts} ctx={cellCtx} filter={kindFilter} />
                 </div>
               </section>
@@ -660,11 +657,7 @@ interface ArtifactImageCardProps {
 
 function ArtifactImageCard({ artifact, failedImage, onImageError, onOpenChat }: ArtifactImageCardProps) {
   return (
-    <article
-      className={cn(
-        'group/artifact overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background) shadow-sm'
-      )}
-    >
+    <article className="group/artifact overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background)">
       <div
         className={cn(
           'relative flex h-40 w-full items-center justify-center overflow-hidden border-b border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-bg-quinary) p-1.5',
@@ -674,7 +667,7 @@ function ArtifactImageCard({ artifact, failedImage, onImageError, onOpenChat }:
         {!failedImage && (
           <ZoomableImage
             alt={artifact.label}
-            className="max-h-40 max-w-full cursor-zoom-in rounded-md object-contain shadow-sm"
+            className="max-h-40 max-w-full cursor-zoom-in rounded-md object-contain"
             containerClassName="max-h-full"
             decoding="async"
             loading="lazy"
@@ -702,7 +695,7 @@ function ArtifactImageCard({ artifact, failedImage, onImageError, onOpenChat }:
         </div>
 
         <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
-          <Button onClick={() => onOpenChat(artifact.sessionId)} size="xs" type="button" variant="outline">
+          <Button onClick={() => onOpenChat(artifact.sessionId)} size="xs" type="button" variant="textStrong">
             <FolderOpen className="size-3" />
             Chat
           </Button>
@@ -741,10 +734,7 @@ function ArtifactCellAction({
 
   return (
     <button
-      className={cn(
-        'flex h-full w-full min-w-0 items-center gap-2 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-left text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] leading-(--conversation-caption-line-height) font-normal text-(--ui-text-secondary) no-underline underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 transition-colors hover:text-foreground hover:underline',
-        'cursor-pointer'
-      )}
+      className="flex h-full w-full min-w-0 items-center gap-2 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-left text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] leading-(--conversation-caption-line-height) font-normal text-(--ui-text-secondary) no-underline underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 transition-colors hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
       onClick={onClick}
       title={title}
       type="button"
@@ -863,7 +853,7 @@ function ArtifactTable({
           ))}
         </tr>
       </thead>
-      <tbody className="divide-y divide-(--ui-stroke-quaternary)">
+      <tbody>
         {artifacts.map(artifact => (
           <tr className="group/artifact" key={artifact.id}>
             {ARTIFACT_COLUMNS.map(col => {

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/chat-drop-overlay.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+
+/**
+ * Full-bleed affordance shown while files are dragged over the chat area. Always
+ * `pointer-events-none` so the drop lands on the real element underneath and the
+ * drop-zone handler claims it — the overlay is purely visual. Mirrors the
+ * composer surface so the two read as one family.
+ */
+export function ChatDropOverlay({ active }: { active: boolean }) {
+  return (
+    <div
+      aria-hidden
+      className={cn(
+        'pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 z-40 flex items-center justify-center p-4 transition-opacity duration-150 ease-out',
+        active ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0'
+      )}
+      data-slot="chat-drop-overlay"
+    >
+      <div className="absolute inset-2 rounded-2xl border-2 border-dashed border-[color-mix(in_srgb,var(--dt-composer-ring)_55%,transparent)] bg-[color-mix(in_srgb,var(--dt-card)_55%,transparent)] backdrop-blur-[2px] [-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(2px)]" />
+      <div className="relative flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-[color-mix(in_srgb,var(--dt-composer-ring)_45%,transparent)] bg-[color-mix(in_srgb,var(--dt-card)_92%,transparent)] px-4 py-2 text-[0.8125rem] font-medium text-foreground shadow-composer">
+        <Codicon className="text-(--ui-accent)" name="cloud-upload" size="1rem" />
+        Drop files to attach
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/context-menu.tsx

@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
+import { useState } from 'react'
+
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
+import {
+  Dialog,
+  DialogContent,
+  DialogDescription,
+  DialogHeader,
+  DialogTitle
+} from '@/components/ui/dialog'
 import {
   DropdownMenu,
   DropdownMenuContent,
   DropdownMenuItem,
   DropdownMenuLabel,
   DropdownMenuSeparator,
-  DropdownMenuSub,
-  DropdownMenuSubContent,
-  DropdownMenuSubTrigger,
   DropdownMenuTrigger
 } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
 import { Clipboard, FileText, FolderOpen, type IconComponent, ImageIcon, Link, MessageSquareText } from '@/lib/icons'
@@ -17,6 +23,24 @@ import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { GHOST_ICON_BTN } from './controls'
 import type { ChatBarState } from './types'
 
+const PROMPT_SNIPPETS: readonly PromptSnippet[] = [
+  {
+    description: 'Audit the current change for regressions, dropped edge cases, and missing tests.',
+    label: 'Code review',
+    text: 'Please review this for bugs, regressions, and missing tests.'
+  },
+  {
+    description: 'Outline an approach before touching code so the diff stays focused.',
+    label: 'Implementation plan',
+    text: 'Please make a concise implementation plan before changing code.'
+  },
+  {
+    description: 'Walk through how the selected code works and link to the key files.',
+    label: 'Explain this',
+    text: 'Please explain how this works and point me to the key files.'
+  }
+]
+
 export function ContextMenu({
   state,
   onInsertText,
@@ -25,81 +49,114 @@ export function ContextMenu({
   onPickFiles,
   onPickFolders,
   onPickImages
-}: {
-  state: ChatBarState
-  onInsertText: (text: string) => void
-  onOpenUrlDialog: () => void
-  onPasteClipboardImage?: () => void
-  onPickFiles?: () => void
-  onPickFolders?: () => void
-  onPickImages?: () => void
-}) {
+}: ContextMenuProps) {
+  // Prompt snippets used to be a Radix submenu. That submenu didn't open
+  // reliably when the parent menu was positioned at the bottom of the
+  // window (composer "+" anchor), so we promoted it to a real Dialog —
+  // easier to grow with search / descriptions, and no positioning math.
+  const [snippetsOpen, setSnippetsOpen] = useState(false)
+
   return (
-    <DropdownMenu>
-      <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-        <Button
-          aria-label={state.tools.label}
-          className={cn(
-            GHOST_ICON_BTN,
-            'data-[state=open]:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) data-[state=open]:text-foreground'
-          )}
-          disabled={!state.tools.enabled}
-          size="icon"
-          title={state.tools.label}
-          type="button"
-          variant="ghost"
-        >
-          <Codicon name="add" size="1rem" />
-        </Button>
-      </DropdownMenuTrigger>
-      <DropdownMenuContent align="start" className="w-60" side="top" sideOffset={10}>
-        <DropdownMenuLabel className="text-[0.7rem] font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground/85">
-          Attach
-        </DropdownMenuLabel>
-        <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPickFiles} icon={FileText} onSelect={onPickFiles}>
-          Files…
-        </ContextMenuItem>
-        <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPickFolders} icon={FolderOpen} onSelect={onPickFolders}>
-          Folder…
-        </ContextMenuItem>
-        <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPickImages} icon={ImageIcon} onSelect={onPickImages}>
-          Images…
-        </ContextMenuItem>
-        <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPasteClipboardImage} icon={Clipboard} onSelect={onPasteClipboardImage}>
-          Paste image
-        </ContextMenuItem>
-        <ContextMenuItem icon={Link} onSelect={onOpenUrlDialog}>
-          URL…
-        </ContextMenuItem>
+    <>
+      <DropdownMenu>
+        <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+          <Button
+            aria-label={state.tools.label}
+            className={cn(
+              GHOST_ICON_BTN,
+              'data-[state=open]:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) data-[state=open]:text-foreground'
+            )}
+            disabled={!state.tools.enabled}
+            size="icon"
+            title={state.tools.label}
+            type="button"
+            variant="ghost"
+          >
+            <Codicon name="add" size="1rem" />
+          </Button>
+        </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+        <DropdownMenuContent align="start" className="w-60" side="top" sideOffset={10}>
+          <DropdownMenuLabel className="text-[0.7rem] font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground/85">
+            Attach
+          </DropdownMenuLabel>
+          <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPickFiles} icon={FileText} onSelect={onPickFiles}>
+            Files…
+          </ContextMenuItem>
+          <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPickFolders} icon={FolderOpen} onSelect={onPickFolders}>
+            Folder…
+          </ContextMenuItem>
+          <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPickImages} icon={ImageIcon} onSelect={onPickImages}>
+            Images…
+          </ContextMenuItem>
+          <ContextMenuItem disabled={!onPasteClipboardImage} icon={Clipboard} onSelect={onPasteClipboardImage}>
+            Paste image
+          </ContextMenuItem>
+          <ContextMenuItem icon={Link} onSelect={onOpenUrlDialog}>
+            URL…
+          </ContextMenuItem>
 
-        <DropdownMenuSeparator />
+          <DropdownMenuSeparator />
 
-        <DropdownMenuSub>
-          <DropdownMenuSubTrigger>
-            <MessageSquareText />
-            <span>Prompt snippets</span>
-          </DropdownMenuSubTrigger>
-          <DropdownMenuSubContent className="w-72">
-            {[
-              { label: 'Code review', text: 'Please review this for bugs, regressions, and missing tests.' },
-              { label: 'Implementation plan', text: 'Please make a concise implementation plan before changing code.' },
-              { label: 'Explain this', text: 'Please explain how this works and point me to the key files.' }
-            ].map(snippet => (
-              <ContextMenuItem icon={MessageSquareText} key={snippet.label} onSelect={() => onInsertText(snippet.text)}>
-                {snippet.label}
-              </ContextMenuItem>
-            ))}
-          </DropdownMenuSubContent>
-        </DropdownMenuSub>
+          <ContextMenuItem icon={MessageSquareText} onSelect={() => setSnippetsOpen(true)}>
+            Prompt snippets…
+          </ContextMenuItem>
 
-        <DropdownMenuSeparator />
+          <DropdownMenuSeparator />
 
-        <div className="px-2 py-1 text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground/80">
-          Tip: type <kbd className="rounded bg-muted/70 px-1 py-px font-mono text-[0.65rem]">@</kbd> to reference files
-          inline.
-        </div>
-      </DropdownMenuContent>
-    </DropdownMenu>
+          <div className="px-2 py-1 text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground/80">
+            Tip: type <kbd className="rounded bg-muted/70 px-1 py-px font-mono text-[0.65rem]">@</kbd> to reference files
+            inline.
+          </div>
+        </DropdownMenuContent>
+      </DropdownMenu>
+
+      <PromptSnippetsDialog
+        onInsertText={onInsertText}
+        onOpenChange={setSnippetsOpen}
+        open={snippetsOpen}
+        snippets={PROMPT_SNIPPETS}
+      />
+    </>
+  )
+}
+
+function PromptSnippetsDialog({
+  onInsertText,
+  onOpenChange,
+  open,
+  snippets
+}: PromptSnippetsDialogProps) {
+  return (
+    <Dialog onOpenChange={onOpenChange} open={open}>
+      <DialogContent className="max-w-md gap-3">
+        <DialogHeader>
+          <DialogTitle>Prompt snippets</DialogTitle>
+          <DialogDescription>Pick a starter prompt to drop into the composer.</DialogDescription>
+        </DialogHeader>
+        <ul className="grid gap-1">
+          {snippets.map(snippet => (
+            <li key={snippet.label}>
+              <button
+                className="group/snippet flex w-full items-start gap-2.5 rounded-md border border-transparent px-2.5 py-2 text-left transition-colors hover:border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) focus-visible:border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) focus-visible:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) focus-visible:outline-none"
+                onClick={() => {
+                  onInsertText(snippet.text)
+                  onOpenChange(false)
+                }}
+                type="button"
+              >
+                <MessageSquareText className="mt-0.5 size-3.5 shrink-0 text-(--ui-text-tertiary) group-hover/snippet:text-foreground" />
+                <span className="grid min-w-0 gap-0.5">
+                  <span className="text-sm font-medium text-foreground">{snippet.label}</span>
+                  <span className="text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] text-(--ui-text-tertiary)">
+                    {snippet.description}
+                  </span>
+                </span>
+              </button>
+            </li>
+          ))}
+        </ul>
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
   )
 }
 
@@ -108,12 +165,7 @@ export function ContextMenuItem({
   disabled,
   icon: Icon,
   onSelect
-}: {
-  children: string
-  disabled?: boolean
-  icon: IconComponent
-  onSelect?: () => void
-}) {
+}: ContextMenuItemProps) {
   return (
     <DropdownMenuItem disabled={disabled} onSelect={onSelect}>
       <Icon />
@@ -121,3 +173,33 @@ export function ContextMenuItem({
     </DropdownMenuItem>
   )
 }
+
+interface ContextMenuItemProps {
+  children: string
+  disabled?: boolean
+  icon: IconComponent
+  onSelect?: () => void
+}
+
+interface ContextMenuProps {
+  onInsertText: (text: string) => void
+  onOpenUrlDialog: () => void
+  onPasteClipboardImage?: () => void
+  onPickFiles?: () => void
+  onPickFolders?: () => void
+  onPickImages?: () => void
+  state: ChatBarState
+}
+
+interface PromptSnippet {
+  description: string
+  label: string
+  text: string
+}
+
+interface PromptSnippetsDialogProps {
+  onInsertText: (text: string) => void
+  onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void
+  open: boolean
+  snippets: readonly PromptSnippet[]
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/index.tsx

@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@ import {
   enqueueQueuedPrompt,
   type QueuedPromptEntry,
   removeQueuedPrompt,
+  shouldAutoDrainOnSettle,
   updateQueuedPrompt
 } from '@/store/composer-queue'
-import { $messages } from '@/store/session'
+import { $gatewayState, $messages } from '@/store/session'
 import { $threadScrolledUp } from '@/store/thread-scroll'
 
 import { extractDroppedFiles, HERMES_PATHS_MIME } from '../hooks/use-composer-actions'
@@ -72,9 +73,39 @@ import { VoiceActivity, VoicePlaybackActivity } from './voice-activity'
 
 const COMPOSER_STACK_BREAKPOINT_PX = 320
 
+// A single editor line is ~28px (--composer-input-min-height 1.625rem + 0.5rem
+// vertical padding). Anything taller means the text wrapped to a second line,
+// which is when the composer should expand to the stacked layout.
+const COMPOSER_SINGLE_LINE_MAX_PX = 36
+
 const COMPOSER_FADE_BACKGROUND =
   'linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent, color-mix(in srgb, var(--dt-background) 10%, transparent))'
 
+// Resting composer placeholders. New sessions get open-ended starters; an
+// existing chat gets phrasings that read as a continuation of the thread.
+// One is picked at random per session (stable until the session changes).
+const NEW_SESSION_PLACEHOLDERS = [
+  'What are we building?',
+  'Give Hermes a task',
+  "What's on your mind?",
+  'Describe what you need',
+  'What should we tackle?',
+  'Ask anything',
+  'Start with a goal'
+]
+
+const FOLLOW_UP_PLACEHOLDERS = [
+  'Send a follow-up',
+  'Add more context',
+  'Refine the request',
+  "What's next?",
+  'Keep it going',
+  'Push it further',
+  'Adjust or continue'
+]
+
+const pickPlaceholder = (pool: readonly string[]) => pool[Math.floor(Math.random() * pool.length)]
+
 interface QueueEditState {
   attachments: ComposerAttachment[]
   draft: string
@@ -124,6 +155,12 @@ export function ChatBar({
   const draftRef = useRef(draft)
   const previousBusyRef = useRef(busy)
   const drainingQueueRef = useRef(false)
+  // Set when the user explicitly interrupts the running turn via the Stop
+  // button (busy + empty composer). It suppresses the next busy→false
+  // auto-drain so an explicit Stop actually halts instead of immediately
+  // firing the head of the queue. The queue is preserved; the user resumes
+  // it deliberately via Cmd/Ctrl+K, Enter, or the per-row "send now" arrow.
+  const userInterruptedRef = useRef(false)
   const urlInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null)
 
   const [urlOpen, setUrlOpen] = useState(false)
@@ -135,6 +172,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
   const [queueEdit, setQueueEdit] = useState<QueueEditState | null>(null)
   const [focusRequestId, setFocusRequestId] = useState(0)
   const dragDepthRef = useRef(0)
+  const composingRef = useRef(false)  // true during IME composition (CJK input)
   const lastSpokenIdRef = useRef<string | null>(null)
 
   const narrow = useMediaQuery('(max-width: 30rem)')
@@ -149,7 +187,44 @@ export function ChatBar({
   const busyAction = busy && hasComposerPayload ? 'queue' : 'stop'
   const showHelpHint = draft === '?'
 
-  const placeholder = disabled ? 'Starting Hermes...' : 'Send follow-up'
+  const gatewayState = useStore($gatewayState)
+
+  // Resting placeholder: a starter for brand-new sessions, a continuation for
+  // existing ones. Picked once and only re-rolled when we genuinely move to a
+  // *different* conversation. Critically, the first id assignment of a freshly
+  // started session (null → id, on the first send) is treated as the same
+  // conversation so the placeholder doesn't visibly flip mid-stream.
+  const [restingPlaceholder, setRestingPlaceholder] = useState(() =>
+    pickPlaceholder(sessionId ? FOLLOW_UP_PLACEHOLDERS : NEW_SESSION_PLACEHOLDERS)
+  )
+
+  const prevSessionIdRef = useRef(sessionId)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const prev = prevSessionIdRef.current
+    prevSessionIdRef.current = sessionId
+
+    if (prev === sessionId) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    // null → id: the new session we're already in just got persisted. Keep the
+    // starter we showed instead of swapping to a follow-up under the user.
+    if (prev == null && sessionId) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    setRestingPlaceholder(pickPlaceholder(sessionId ? FOLLOW_UP_PLACEHOLDERS : NEW_SESSION_PLACEHOLDERS))
+  }, [sessionId])
+
+  // When the bar is disabled it's because the gateway isn't open. Distinguish a
+  // cold start ("Starting Hermes...") from a dropped connection we're trying to
+  // restore (e.g. after the Mac slept) so the stuck state reads as recoverable.
+  const placeholder = disabled
+    ? gatewayState === 'closed' || gatewayState === 'error'
+      ? 'Reconnecting to Hermes…'
+      : 'Starting Hermes...'
+    : restingPlaceholder
 
   const focusInput = useCallback(() => {
     focusComposerInput(editorRef.current)
@@ -240,14 +315,13 @@ export function ChatBar({
     }
   }, [urlOpen])
 
-  // Track expansion via cheap heuristics (newline or length threshold) instead
-  // of reading editor.scrollHeight on every keystroke. scrollHeight forces a
-  // synchronous layout flush — measured at 2.27 layouts per character typed
-  // (see scripts/leak-typing.mjs). With ~30 chars before a typical wrap on
-  // composer-default-width, this heuristic flips at roughly the right time
-  // and the user only notices if they type far past the wrap boundary
-  // without a newline; in that case the ResizeObserver below catches it via
-  // a height delta and we still expand.
+  // Expansion (input on its own full-width row, controls below) is driven by
+  // the editor's *actual* rendered height via the ResizeObserver in
+  // syncComposerMetrics — it only fires when the text genuinely wraps to a
+  // second line, so the layout flips exactly at the wrap point rather than at
+  // a guessed character count. We only handle the two cases the observer
+  // can't: an explicit newline (expand before layout settles) and an emptied
+  // draft (collapse back). We never read scrollHeight per keystroke.
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!draft) {
       setExpanded(false)
@@ -259,7 +333,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
       return
     }
 
-    if (draft.includes('\n') || draft.length > 60) {
+    if (draft.includes('\n')) {
       setExpanded(true)
     }
   }, [draft, expanded])
@@ -295,6 +369,18 @@ export function ChatBar({
       }
     }
 
+    // Expand once the input has actually wrapped past a single line. The
+    // observer only fires on real size changes, so this reads scrollHeight at
+    // most once per wrap (not per keystroke). One line ≈ 28px (1.625rem
+    // min-height + padding); a second line clears ~36px. We only ever expand
+    // here — collapse is handled by the emptied-draft effect to avoid
+    // oscillating across the wrap boundary as the input switches widths.
+    const editor = editorRef.current
+
+    if (editor && editor.scrollHeight > COMPOSER_SINGLE_LINE_MAX_PX) {
+      setExpanded(true)
+    }
+
     if (height > 0) {
       const bucket = Math.round(height / 8) * 8
 
@@ -314,7 +400,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
     }
   }, [])
 
-  useResizeObserver(syncComposerMetrics, composerRef, composerSurfaceRef)
+  useResizeObserver(syncComposerMetrics, composerRef, composerSurfaceRef, editorRef)
 
   useEffect(() => {
     return () => {
@@ -392,13 +478,19 @@ export function ChatBar({
       return
     }
 
-    const pastedText = event.clipboardData.getData('text')
+    // Trim surrounding whitespace so a copy that dragged along leading/trailing
+    // blank lines (common when selecting from terminals, code blocks, web pages)
+    // doesn't dump multiline padding into the composer. Internal newlines are
+    // preserved — only the edges are cleaned up.
+    const pastedText = event.clipboardData.getData('text').trim()
 
     if (!pastedText) {
+      event.preventDefault()
+
       return
     }
 
-    if (DATA_IMAGE_URL_RE.test(pastedText.trim())) {
+    if (DATA_IMAGE_URL_RE.test(pastedText)) {
       event.preventDefault()
 
       return
@@ -414,6 +506,14 @@ export function ChatBar({
   const [trigger, setTrigger] = useState<TriggerState | null>(null)
   const [triggerActive, setTriggerActive] = useState(0)
   const [triggerItems, setTriggerItems] = useState<readonly Unstable_TriggerItem[]>([])
+  // Set synchronously in keydown when the open trigger popover consumes a
+  // navigation/control key (Arrow/Enter/Tab/Escape). The subsequent keyup must
+  // NOT run refreshTrigger for that keypress: it never edits text, and for
+  // Escape the keydown has already set trigger=null, so a keyup refresh would
+  // re-detect the still-present `/` and instantly reopen the menu. A ref is
+  // used instead of reading `trigger` in keyup because by keyup time React has
+  // re-rendered and the handler closure sees the post-keydown state.
+  const triggerKeyConsumedRef = useRef(false)
 
   const refreshTrigger = useCallback(() => {
     const editor = editorRef.current
@@ -442,10 +542,24 @@ export function ChatBar({
     const detected = detectTrigger(before ?? composerPlainText(editor))
 
     setTrigger(detected)
-    setTriggerActive(0)
+
+    // Only reset the highlight when the trigger actually changed (opened, or
+    // the query/kind differs). Re-detecting the *same* trigger — e.g. on a
+    // caret move (mouseup) or a stray refresh — must preserve the user's
+    // current selection instead of snapping back to the first item.
+    if (detected?.kind !== trigger?.kind || detected?.query !== trigger?.query) {
+      setTriggerActive(0)
+    }
   }, [trigger])
 
   const handleEditorInput = (event: FormEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    // During IME composition the DOM contains uncommitted preedit text
+    // mixed with real content.  Skip state writes — compositionend will
+    // deliver the finalized text via a clean input event.
+    if (composingRef.current) {
+      return
+    }
+
     const editor = event.currentTarget
 
     if (editor.childNodes.length === 1 && editor.firstChild?.nodeName === 'BR') {
@@ -545,7 +659,18 @@ export function ChatBar({
   }
 
   const handleEditorKeyDown = (event: KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
-    if ((event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey) && !event.altKey && !event.shiftKey && event.key.toLowerCase() === 'k') {
+    // IME composition: Enter confirms composed text, not a message submission.
+    // We check both composingRef (set by compositionstart/compositionend, robust
+    // across browsers) and nativeEvent.isComposing (Chromium fallback).  Without
+    // this guard, pressing Enter to finalise a Korean/Japanese/Chinese IME
+    // preedit fires submitDraft() and splits the message mid-word.
+    if (composingRef.current || event.nativeEvent.isComposing) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    // Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+K drains the next queued message. Plain Cmd/Ctrl+K is
+    // reserved for the global command palette.
+    if ((event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey) && !event.altKey && event.shiftKey && event.key.toLowerCase() === 'k') {
       event.preventDefault()
 
       if (!busy) {
@@ -558,6 +683,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
     if (trigger && triggerItems.length > 0) {
       if (event.key === 'ArrowDown') {
         event.preventDefault()
+        triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = true
         setTriggerActive(idx => (idx + 1) % triggerItems.length)
 
         return
@@ -565,6 +691,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
 
       if (event.key === 'ArrowUp') {
         event.preventDefault()
+        triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = true
         setTriggerActive(idx => (idx - 1 + triggerItems.length) % triggerItems.length)
 
         return
@@ -572,6 +699,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
 
       if (event.key === 'Enter' || event.key === 'Tab') {
         event.preventDefault()
+        triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = true
         const item = triggerItems[triggerActive]
 
         if (item) {
@@ -583,6 +711,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
 
       if (event.key === 'Escape') {
         event.preventDefault()
+        triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = true
         closeTrigger()
 
         return
@@ -603,6 +732,18 @@ export function ChatBar({
   }
 
   const handleEditorKeyUp = () => {
+    // If this keyup belongs to a key the open trigger popover already consumed
+    // in keydown (Arrow/Enter/Tab/Escape), skip the refresh. Those keys never
+    // edit text, and for Escape the keydown already closed the menu — a refresh
+    // here would re-detect the still-present `/` and instantly reopen it. We
+    // read a ref set during keydown rather than `trigger`, because by keyup
+    // time React has re-rendered and `trigger` may already be null.
+    if (triggerKeyConsumedRef.current) {
+      triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = false
+
+      return
+    }
+
     window.setTimeout(refreshTrigger, 0)
   }
 
@@ -844,26 +985,42 @@ export function ChatBar({
     [queueEdit, runDrain]
   )
 
-  const interruptAndSendNextQueued = useCallback(async () => {
-    if (queuedPrompts.length === 0) {
-      return false
-    }
-
-    await Promise.resolve(onCancel())
-
-    return drainNextQueued()
-  }, [drainNextQueued, onCancel, queuedPrompts.length])
-
-  // Auto-drain on busy → false (turn settled).
+  // Auto-drain on busy → false (turn settled). An explicit user interrupt
+  // (Stop button) sets userInterruptedRef so we skip exactly one auto-drain:
+  // the user asked to halt, so we must not immediately re-send the queue.
+  // The queued turns stay intact and the user resumes them on demand.
   useEffect(() => {
     const wasBusy = previousBusyRef.current
     previousBusyRef.current = busy
 
-    if (busy || !wasBusy || queuedPrompts.length === 0) {
+    // Clear the interrupt latch when a new turn starts (false → true). This
+    // guards the sub-frame race where a Stop click lands after busy already
+    // flipped false (button not yet unmounted): the stale latch can no longer
+    // survive into the next turn and wrongly suppress its natural auto-drain.
+    if (busy && !wasBusy) {
+      userInterruptedRef.current = false
+
       return
     }
 
-    void drainNextQueued()
+    const interrupted = userInterruptedRef.current
+
+    // Consume the interrupt latch on any settle so a later natural completion
+    // is not wrongly suppressed.
+    if (!busy && wasBusy && interrupted) {
+      userInterruptedRef.current = false
+    }
+
+    if (
+      shouldAutoDrainOnSettle({
+        isBusy: busy,
+        queueLength: queuedPrompts.length,
+        userInterrupted: interrupted,
+        wasBusy
+      })
+    ) {
+      void drainNextQueued()
+    }
   }, [busy, drainNextQueued, queuedPrompts.length])
 
   // Clean up queue edit when its target disappears (session swap or external delete).
@@ -886,9 +1043,13 @@ export function ChatBar({
     } else if (busy) {
       if (hasComposerPayload) {
         queueCurrentDraft()
-      } else if (queuedPrompts.length > 0) {
-        void interruptAndSendNextQueued()
       } else {
+        // Stop button: an explicit interrupt must actually halt the running
+        // turn. Mark the interrupt so the busy→false auto-drain effect skips
+        // re-sending the queue — otherwise a queued follow-up would fire the
+        // instant we cancel and Stop would appear to "never work". Queued
+        // turns are preserved; the user sends them on demand.
+        userInterruptedRef.current = true
         triggerHaptic('cancel')
         void Promise.resolve(onCancel())
       }
@@ -898,7 +1059,8 @@ export function ChatBar({
       const submitted = draft
       triggerHaptic('submit')
       clearDraft()
-      void onSubmit(submitted)
+      clearComposerAttachments()
+      void onSubmit(submitted, { attachments })
     }
 
     focusInput()
@@ -1024,8 +1186,10 @@ export function ChatBar({
     <div className={cn('relative', stacked ? 'w-full' : 'min-w-(--composer-input-inline-min-width) flex-1')}>
       <div
         aria-label="Message"
+        autoCapitalize="off"
+        autoCorrect="off"
         className={cn(
-          'min-h-(--composer-input-min-height) max-h-(--composer-input-max-height) overflow-y-auto bg-transparent pb-1 pr-1 pt-1 leading-normal text-foreground outline-none disabled:cursor-not-allowed',
+          'min-h-(--composer-input-min-height) max-h-(--composer-input-max-height) overflow-y-auto whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [overflow-wrap:anywhere] bg-transparent pb-1 pr-1 pt-1 leading-normal text-foreground outline-none disabled:cursor-not-allowed',
           'empty:before:content-[attr(data-placeholder)] empty:before:text-muted-foreground/60',
           '**:data-ref-text:cursor-default',
           stacked && 'pl-3',
@@ -1035,6 +1199,12 @@ export function ChatBar({
         data-placeholder={placeholder}
         data-slot={RICH_INPUT_SLOT}
         onBlur={() => window.setTimeout(closeTrigger, 80)}
+        onCompositionEnd={() => {
+          composingRef.current = false
+        }}
+        onCompositionStart={() => {
+          composingRef.current = true
+        }}
         onDragOver={handleInputDragOver}
         onDrop={handleInputDrop}
         onFocus={() => markActiveComposer('main')}
@@ -1045,6 +1215,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
         onPaste={handlePaste}
         ref={editorRef}
         role="textbox"
+        spellCheck="true"
         suppressContentEditableWarning
       />
       {/* assistant-ui requires ComposerPrimitive.Input somewhere in the tree
@@ -1062,7 +1233,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
 
         `asChild` swaps TextareaAutosize for a Radix Slot wrapping our
         plain <textarea>, which carries the binding but skips autosize. */}
-      <ComposerPrimitive.Input asChild tabIndex={-1} unstable_focusOnScrollToBottom={false}>
+      <ComposerPrimitive.Input asChild submitMode="ctrlEnter" tabIndex={-1} unstable_focusOnScrollToBottom={false}>
         <textarea aria-hidden className="sr-only" tabIndex={-1} />
       </ComposerPrimitive.Input>
     </div>
@@ -1082,6 +1253,9 @@ export function ChatBar({
           onDrop={handleDrop}
           onSubmit={e => {
             e.preventDefault()
+            if (composingRef.current) {
+              return
+            }
             submitDraft()
           }}
           ref={composerRef}
@@ -1184,7 +1358,7 @@ export function ChatBar({
                     'grid w-full',
                     stacked
                       ? 'grid-cols-[auto_1fr] gap-(--composer-row-gap) [grid-template-areas:"input_input"_"menu_controls"]'
-                      : 'grid-cols-[auto_1fr_auto] items-end gap-(--composer-control-gap) [grid-template-areas:"menu_input_controls"]'
+                      : 'grid-cols-[auto_1fr_auto] items-center gap-(--composer-control-gap) [grid-template-areas:"menu_input_controls"]'
                   )}
                 >
                   <div className="flex items-center [grid-area:menu]">{contextMenu}</div>

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/slash-nav-dom-repro.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+import type { Unstable_TriggerAdapter, Unstable_TriggerItem } from '@assistant-ui/core'
+import { act, fireEvent, render } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+import { useLiveCompletionAdapter } from './hooks/use-live-completion-adapter'
+import { detectTrigger, type TriggerState } from './text-utils'
+
+// Faithful mirror of index.tsx's trigger wiring, driven through REAL DOM
+// keydown+keyup events on a contentEditable. Exercises the parts a direct
+// reducer-call repro misses: the keyup -> refreshTrigger path, the
+// keydown-set "consumed" ref that guards it, and per-press keydown+keyup
+// ordering (critical for Escape, whose keydown nulls `trigger` before keyup).
+function Harness({
+  onState
+}: {
+  onState: (s: { active: number; items: readonly Unstable_TriggerItem[]; open: boolean }) => void
+}) {
+  const editorRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const triggerKeyConsumedRef = useRef(false)
+  const [trigger, setTrigger] = useState<TriggerState | null>(null)
+  const [triggerActive, setTriggerActive] = useState(0)
+  const [triggerItems, setTriggerItems] = useState<readonly Unstable_TriggerItem[]>([])
+
+  const { adapter } = useLiveCompletionAdapter({
+    enabled: true,
+    debounceMs: 0,
+    fetcher: async (query: string) => ({
+      query,
+      items: Array.from({ length: 5 }, (_, i) => ({ text: `/cmd${i}`, display: `/cmd${i}`, meta: '' }))
+    }),
+    toItem: (entry, index) => ({ id: `${entry.text}|${index}`, type: 'slash', label: entry.text.slice(1) })
+  })
+
+  const triggerAdapter: Unstable_TriggerAdapter | null = trigger?.kind === '/' ? adapter : null
+
+  const refreshTrigger = useCallback(() => {
+    const editor = editorRef.current
+
+    if (!editor) {return}
+    const raw = editor.textContent ?? ''
+
+    if (!raw.includes('@') && !raw.includes('/')) {
+      if (trigger) {
+        setTrigger(null)
+        setTriggerActive(0)
+      }
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    const detected = detectTrigger(raw)
+    setTrigger(detected)
+
+    if (detected?.kind !== trigger?.kind || detected?.query !== trigger?.query) {
+      setTriggerActive(0)
+    }
+  }, [trigger])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!trigger || !triggerAdapter?.search) {
+      setTriggerItems([])
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    setTriggerItems(triggerAdapter.search(trigger.query))
+  }, [trigger, triggerAdapter])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setTriggerActive(idx => Math.min(idx, Math.max(0, triggerItems.length - 1)))
+  }, [triggerItems.length])
+
+  onState({ active: triggerActive, items: triggerItems, open: trigger !== null })
+
+  const closeTrigger = () => {
+    setTrigger(null)
+    setTriggerItems([])
+    setTriggerActive(0)
+  }
+
+  // Exact copies of index.tsx handlers, including the keydown-set "consumed"
+  // ref that the keyup consults.
+  const handleKeyDown = (event: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    if (trigger && triggerItems.length > 0) {
+      if (event.key === 'ArrowDown') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = true
+        setTriggerActive(idx => (idx + 1) % triggerItems.length)
+
+        return
+      }
+
+      if (event.key === 'ArrowUp') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = true
+        setTriggerActive(idx => (idx - 1 + triggerItems.length) % triggerItems.length)
+
+        return
+      }
+
+      if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = true
+        closeTrigger()
+
+        return
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  const handleKeyUp = () => {
+    if (triggerKeyConsumedRef.current) {
+      triggerKeyConsumedRef.current = false
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    // index.tsx defers via setTimeout(refreshTrigger, 0); call synchronously
+    // here so the test deterministically observes the keyup-driven refresh.
+    refreshTrigger()
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      contentEditable
+      data-testid="editor"
+      onInput={() => refreshTrigger()}
+      onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+      onKeyUp={handleKeyUp}
+      ref={editorRef}
+      suppressContentEditableWarning
+    />
+  )
+}
+
+async function flush() {
+  await act(async () => {
+    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 20))
+  })
+}
+
+describe('slash menu navigation — real DOM keydown+keyup', () => {
+  it('cycles through ALL items and Esc closes (and stays closed)', async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+    let latest = { active: 0, items: [] as readonly Unstable_TriggerItem[], open: false }
+    const { getByTestId } = render(<Harness onState={s => (latest = s)} />)
+    const editor = getByTestId('editor')
+
+    // Simulate typing '/'.
+    await act(async () => {
+      editor.textContent = '/'
+      fireEvent.input(editor)
+    })
+    await flush()
+
+    expect(latest.open).toBe(true)
+    expect(latest.items.length).toBe(5)
+
+    // ArrowDown 6x with REAL keydown+keyup pairs. Bug = stuck [0,1,0,1,...].
+    const seen: number[] = [latest.active]
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
+      await act(async () => {
+        fireEvent.keyDown(editor, { key: 'ArrowDown' })
+        fireEvent.keyUp(editor, { key: 'ArrowDown' })
+        await Promise.resolve()
+      })
+      seen.push(latest.active)
+    }
+
+    expect(seen).toEqual([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 0, 1])
+
+    // Escape: keydown closes; keyup must NOT reopen (the '/' is still in text).
+    await act(async () => {
+      fireEvent.keyDown(editor, { key: 'Escape' })
+      fireEvent.keyUp(editor, { key: 'Escape' })
+      await Promise.resolve()
+    })
+    await flush()
+    expect(latest.open).toBe(false)
+  })
+})

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/text-utils.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import { blobDedupeKey, detectTrigger, extractClipboardImageBlobs } from './text-utils'
+
+describe('detectTrigger', () => {
+  it('detects a bare slash trigger with an empty query', () => {
+    expect(detectTrigger('/')).toEqual({ kind: '/', query: '', tokenLength: 1 })
+  })
+
+  it('detects a slash command query', () => {
+    expect(detectTrigger('/skill')).toEqual({ kind: '/', query: 'skill', tokenLength: 6 })
+  })
+
+  it('detects a bare at-mention trigger with an empty query', () => {
+    expect(detectTrigger('@')).toEqual({ kind: '@', query: '', tokenLength: 1 })
+  })
+
+  it('detects an at-mention query', () => {
+    expect(detectTrigger('@file')).toEqual({ kind: '@', query: 'file', tokenLength: 5 })
+  })
+
+  it('returns null for plain text', () => {
+    expect(detectTrigger('hello there')).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
+
+describe('extractClipboardImageBlobs', () => {
+  it('dedupes the same image exposed on both items and files', () => {
+    const image = new File([new Uint8Array([1, 2, 3])], 'paste.png', {
+      type: 'image/png',
+      lastModified: 1_700_000_000_000
+    })
+
+    const clipboard = {
+      files: {
+        length: 1,
+        item: (index: number) => (index === 0 ? image : null)
+      },
+      getData: () => '',
+      items: [
+        {
+          kind: 'file',
+          type: 'image/png',
+          getAsFile: () => image
+        }
+      ]
+    } as unknown as DataTransfer
+
+    expect(extractClipboardImageBlobs(clipboard)).toEqual([image])
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to files when items has no image', () => {
+    const image = new File([new Uint8Array([4, 5])], 'shot.jpg', {
+      type: 'image/jpeg',
+      lastModified: 1_700_000_000_001
+    })
+
+    const clipboard = {
+      files: {
+        length: 1,
+        item: (index: number) => (index === 0 ? image : null)
+      },
+      getData: () => '',
+      items: []
+    } as unknown as DataTransfer
+
+    expect(extractClipboardImageBlobs(clipboard)).toEqual([image])
+  })
+})
+
+describe('blobDedupeKey', () => {
+  it('uses file metadata for File blobs', () => {
+    const file = new File([], 'a.png', { type: 'image/png', lastModified: 42 })
+
+    expect(blobDedupeKey(file)).toBe('file:a.png:0:image/png:42')
+  })
+})

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/text-utils.ts

@@ -8,16 +8,31 @@ export interface TriggerState {
 
 const TRIGGER_RE = /(?:^|[\s])([@/])([^\s@/]*)$/
 
+/** Stable key for paste dedupe — `items` and `files` often mirror the same image as different objects. */
+export function blobDedupeKey(blob: Blob): string {
+  if (blob instanceof File) {
+    return `file:${blob.name}:${blob.size}:${blob.type}:${blob.lastModified}`
+  }
+
+  return `blob:${blob.size}:${blob.type}`
+}
+
 export function extractClipboardImageBlobs(clipboard: DataTransfer): Blob[] {
   const blobs: Blob[] = []
-  const seen = new Set<Blob>()
+  const seen = new Set<string>()
 
   const push = (blob: Blob | null) => {
-    if (!blob || blob.size === 0 || seen.has(blob)) {
+    if (!blob || blob.size === 0) {
       return
     }
 
-    seen.add(blob)
+    const key = blobDedupeKey(blob)
+
+    if (seen.has(key)) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    seen.add(key)
     blobs.push(blob)
   }
 
@@ -29,7 +44,8 @@ export function extractClipboardImageBlobs(clipboard: DataTransfer): Blob[] {
     }
   }
 
-  if (clipboard.files?.length) {
+  // Chromium/Electron expose the same pasted image on both `items` and `files`.
+  if (blobs.length === 0 && clipboard.files?.length) {
     for (let i = 0; i < clipboard.files.length; i += 1) {
       const file = clipboard.files.item(i)
 

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/hooks/use-file-drop-zone.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import { type DragEvent as ReactDragEvent, useCallback, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+
+import { dragHasAttachments } from '@/app/chat/composer/inline-refs'
+
+import { type DroppedFile, extractDroppedFiles, HERMES_PATHS_MIME } from './use-composer-actions'
+
+const hasFiles = (event: ReactDragEvent) => dragHasAttachments(event.dataTransfer, HERMES_PATHS_MIME)
+
+interface FileDropZoneOptions {
+  /** When false the zone ignores drags entirely. */
+  enabled?: boolean
+  onDropFiles: (files: DroppedFile[]) => void
+}
+
+/**
+ * "Drop files anywhere in this region" affordance. An enter/leave depth counter
+ * keeps nested children from flickering the active state; `onDropCapture` clears
+ * it even when a nested target (the composer) handles the drop and stops
+ * propagation before our bubble-phase `onDrop` would fire.
+ *
+ * Spread `dropHandlers` onto the container; render an overlay off `dragActive`.
+ */
+export function useFileDropZone({ enabled = true, onDropFiles }: FileDropZoneOptions) {
+  const [dragActive, setDragActive] = useState(false)
+  const depth = useRef(0)
+
+  const reset = useCallback(() => {
+    depth.current = 0
+    setDragActive(false)
+  }, [])
+
+  const onDragEnter = useCallback(
+    (event: ReactDragEvent) => {
+      if (!enabled || !hasFiles(event)) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      event.preventDefault()
+      depth.current += 1
+      setDragActive(true)
+    },
+    [enabled]
+  )
+
+  const onDragOver = useCallback(
+    (event: ReactDragEvent) => {
+      if (!enabled || !hasFiles(event)) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      event.preventDefault()
+      event.dataTransfer.dropEffect = 'copy'
+    },
+    [enabled]
+  )
+
+  const onDragLeave = useCallback(() => {
+    if (enabled && --depth.current <= 0) {
+      reset()
+    }
+  }, [enabled, reset])
+
+  const onDrop = useCallback(
+    (event: ReactDragEvent) => {
+      if (!enabled || !hasFiles(event)) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      event.preventDefault()
+      reset()
+
+      const files = extractDroppedFiles(event.dataTransfer)
+
+      if (files.length) {
+        onDropFiles(files)
+      }
+    },
+    [enabled, onDropFiles, reset]
+  )
+
+  return { dragActive, dropHandlers: { onDragEnter, onDragLeave, onDragOver, onDrop, onDropCapture: reset } }
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/index.tsx

@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ import {
 import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import type * as React from 'react'
-import { Suspense, useMemo, useRef } from 'react'
+import { Suspense, useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react'
 import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom'
 
 import { Thread } from '@/components/assistant-ui/thread'
 import { Backdrop } from '@/components/Backdrop'
 import { NotificationStack } from '@/components/notifications'
+import { PromptOverlays } from '@/components/prompt-overlays'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { getGlobalModelOptions, type HermesGateway } from '@/hermes'
@@ -36,16 +37,21 @@ import {
   $introSeed,
   $messages,
   $selectedStoredSessionId,
-  $sessions
+  $sessions,
+  sessionPinId
 } from '@/store/session'
 import type { ModelOptionsResponse } from '@/types/hermes'
 
 import { routeSessionId } from '../routes'
 import { titlebarHeaderBaseClass, titlebarHeaderShadowClass } from '../shell/titlebar'
 
+import { ChatDropOverlay } from './chat-drop-overlay'
 import { ChatBar, ChatBarFallback } from './composer'
+import { requestComposerInsert } from './composer/focus'
+import { droppedFileInlineRef } from './composer/inline-refs'
 import type { ChatBarState } from './composer/types'
 import type { DroppedFile } from './hooks/use-composer-actions'
+import { useFileDropZone } from './hooks/use-file-drop-zone'
 import { SessionActionsMenu } from './sidebar/session-actions-menu'
 import { lastVisibleMessageIsUser, threadLoadingState } from './thread-loading'
 
@@ -92,9 +98,27 @@ function ChatHeader({
 }: ChatHeaderProps) {
   const sessions = useStore($sessions)
   const pinnedSessionIds = useStore($pinnedSessionIds)
-  const activeStoredSession = sessions.find(session => session.id === selectedSessionId) || null
-  const title = activeStoredSession ? sessionTitle(activeStoredSession) : 'New agent'
-  const selectedIsPinned = selectedSessionId ? pinnedSessionIds.includes(selectedSessionId) : false
+
+  const activeStoredSession =
+    sessions.find(session => session.id === selectedSessionId || session._lineage_root_id === selectedSessionId) || null
+
+  const title = activeStoredSession ? sessionTitle(activeStoredSession) : 'New session'
+
+  // Pins live on the durable lineage-root id, but selectedSessionId is the live
+  // (tip) id — resolve through the loaded row so the menu reflects the pin
+  // state after auto-compression rotates the id.
+  const selectedIsPinned = activeStoredSession
+    ? pinnedSessionIds.includes(sessionPinId(activeStoredSession))
+    : selectedSessionId
+      ? pinnedSessionIds.includes(selectedSessionId)
+      : false
+
+  // A brand-new session has no session to pin/delete/rename, so the header is
+  // just a dead "New session" label + chevron. Drop it (and its border)
+  // entirely until there's a real session to act on.
+  if (!selectedSessionId && !activeSessionId && !isRoutedSessionView) {
+    return null
+  }
 
   return (
     <header className={cn(titlebarHeaderBaseClass, isRoutedSessionView && titlebarHeaderShadowClass)}>
@@ -109,7 +133,7 @@ function ChatHeader({
           title={title}
         >
           <Button
-            className="pointer-events-auto h-6 min-w-0 gap-1 rounded-md border border-transparent bg-transparent px-2 py-0 text-(--ui-text-secondary) hover:border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground data-[state=open]:border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) data-[state=open]:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) [-webkit-app-region:no-drag]"
+            className="pointer-events-auto h-6 min-w-0 gap-1 border border-transparent bg-transparent px-2 py-0 text-(--ui-text-secondary) hover:border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground data-[state=open]:border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) data-[state=open]:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) [-webkit-app-region:no-drag]"
             type="button"
             variant="ghost"
           >
@@ -267,6 +291,24 @@ export function ChatView({
     onReload
   })
 
+  // Drop files anywhere in the conversation area, not just on the composer
+  // input — appending the same inline `@file:` ref chips the composer drop
+  // produces (vs. attachment cards) so both surfaces behave identically.
+  const onDropFiles = useCallback(
+    (candidates: DroppedFile[]) => {
+      const refs = candidates
+        .map(candidate => droppedFileInlineRef(candidate, currentCwd))
+        .filter((ref): ref is string => Boolean(ref))
+
+      if (refs.length) {
+        requestComposerInsert(refs.join(' '), { mode: 'inline', target: 'main' })
+      }
+    },
+    [currentCwd]
+  )
+
+  const { dragActive, dropHandlers } = useFileDropZone({ enabled: showChatBar, onDropFiles })
+
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
@@ -284,8 +326,12 @@ export function ChatView({
       />
 
       <NotificationStack />
+      <PromptOverlays />
 
-      <div className="relative min-h-0 max-w-full flex-1 overflow-hidden bg-(--ui-chat-surface-background) contain-[layout_paint]">
+      <div
+        className="relative min-h-0 max-w-full flex-1 overflow-hidden bg-(--ui-chat-surface-background) contain-[layout_paint]"
+        {...dropHandlers}
+      >
         <AssistantRuntimeProvider runtime={runtime}>
           <Thread
             clampToComposer={showChatBar}
@@ -326,6 +372,7 @@ export function ChatView({
             </Suspense>
           )}
         </AssistantRuntimeProvider>
+        <ChatDropOverlay active={dragActive} />
       </div>
     </div>
   )

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/right-rail/preview-console.tsx

@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ function ConsoleRow({ copyText, log, onSend, onToggleSelect, selected }: Console
     >
       <button
         className={cn(
-          'mt-0.5 cursor-pointer text-left uppercase opacity-70 transition-colors hover:opacity-100',
+          'mt-0.5 text-left uppercase opacity-70 transition-colors hover:opacity-100',
           consoleLevelClass[log.level] ?? consoleLevelClass[0]
         )}
         onClick={onToggleSelect}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/right-rail/preview-file.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import ShikiHighlighter from 'react-shiki'
 import { Streamdown } from 'streamdown'
 
 import { HERMES_PATHS_MIME } from '@/app/chat/hooks/use-composer-actions'
+import { PageLoader } from '@/components/page-loader'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import type { PreviewTarget } from '@/store/preview'
 
@@ -481,7 +482,7 @@ export function LocalFilePreview({ reloadKey, target }: { reloadKey: number; tar
   }, [blockedByTarget, filePath, forcePreview, isImage, isText, reloadKey, target.language])
 
   if (state.loading) {
-    return <div className="grid h-full place-items-center text-xs text-muted-foreground">Loading preview…</div>
+    return <PageLoader label="Loading preview" />
   }
 
   if (state.error) {

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/right-rail/preview-pane.tsx

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ function PreviewLoadError({
       body={
         <>
           <a
-            className="pointer-events-auto block cursor-pointer font-mono text-muted-foreground/90 underline decoration-current/20 underline-offset-4 transition-colors hover:text-foreground"
+            className="pointer-events-auto block font-mono text-muted-foreground/90 underline decoration-current/20 underline-offset-4 transition-colors hover:text-foreground"
             href={error.url}
             onClick={event => {
               event.preventDefault()
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ export function PreviewPane({
           <div className="pointer-events-none flex min-h-(--titlebar-height) items-center gap-1.5 border-b border-border/60 bg-background px-2 py-1">
             <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
               <a
-                className="pointer-events-auto inline max-w-full cursor-pointer truncate text-left text-xs font-medium text-foreground underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 transition-colors hover:text-primary hover:underline"
+                className="pointer-events-auto inline max-w-full truncate text-left text-xs font-medium text-foreground underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 transition-colors hover:text-primary hover:underline"
                 href={currentUrl}
                 rel="noreferrer"
                 target="_blank"

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/right-rail/preview.tsx

@@ -97,6 +97,17 @@ export function ChatPreviewRail({ onRestartServer, setTitlebarToolGroup }: ChatP
                     : 'border-r border-(--ui-stroke-quaternary) text-(--ui-text-tertiary) [--tab-bg:var(--ui-sidebar-surface-background)] hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground'
                 )}
                 key={tab.id}
+                // Middle-click closes the tab, matching browser/IDE muscle
+                // memory. `onMouseDown` swallows the middle-button press so
+                // Chromium doesn't switch into autoscroll mode.
+                onAuxClick={event => {
+                  if (event.button !== 1) return
+                  event.preventDefault()
+                  closeRightRailTab(tab.id)
+                }}
+                onMouseDown={event => {
+                  if (event.button === 1) event.preventDefault()
+                }}
               >
                 {active && (
                   <span aria-hidden="true" className="absolute inset-x-0 top-0 h-px bg-(--ui-stroke-primary)" />

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/index.tsx

@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@ import {
 import { CSS } from '@dnd-kit/utilities'
 import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import type * as React from 'react'
-import { useMemo, useState } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { DisclosureCaret } from '@/components/ui/disclosure-caret'
 import { KbdGroup } from '@/components/ui/kbd'
+import { SearchField } from '@/components/ui/search-field'
 import {
   Sidebar,
   SidebarContent,
@@ -33,9 +34,10 @@ import {
   SidebarMenuItem
 } from '@/components/ui/sidebar'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton'
-import type { SessionInfo } from '@/hermes'
+import { searchSessions, type SessionInfo, type SessionSearchResult } from '@/hermes'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import {
+  $panesFlipped,
   $pinnedSessionIds,
   $sidebarAgentsGrouped,
   $sidebarOpen,
@@ -54,7 +56,8 @@ import {
   $sessions,
   $sessionsLoading,
   $sessionsTotal,
-  $workingSessionIds
+  $workingSessionIds,
+  sessionPinId
 } from '@/store/session'
 
 import { type AppView, ARTIFACTS_ROUTE, MESSAGING_ROUTE, SKILLS_ROUTE } from '../../routes'
@@ -66,9 +69,25 @@ import { VirtualSessionList } from './virtual-session-list'
 
 const VIRTUALIZE_THRESHOLD = 25
 
+// Render the modifier key the user actually presses on this platform. The
+// global accelerator is bound to both Cmd+N (macOS) and Ctrl+N (everywhere
+// else) in desktop-controller.tsx, but the hint should match muscle memory.
+const NEW_SESSION_KBD: readonly string[] =
+  typeof navigator !== 'undefined' && navigator.platform.toLowerCase().includes('mac') ? ['⌘', 'N'] : ['Ctrl', 'N']
+
 const SIDEBAR_NAV: SidebarNavItem[] = [
-  { id: 'new-session', label: 'New agent', icon: props => <Codicon name="robot" {...props} />, action: 'new-session' },
-  { id: 'skills', label: 'Skills', icon: props => <Codicon name="symbol-misc" {...props} />, route: SKILLS_ROUTE },
+  {
+    id: 'new-session',
+    label: 'New session',
+    icon: props => <Codicon name="robot" {...props} />,
+    action: 'new-session'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'skills',
+    label: 'Skills & Tools',
+    icon: props => <Codicon name="symbol-misc" {...props} />,
+    route: SKILLS_ROUTE
+  },
   { id: 'messaging', label: 'Messaging', icon: props => <Codicon name="comment" {...props} />, route: MESSAGING_ROUTE },
   { id: 'artifacts', label: 'Artifacts', icon: props => <Codicon name="files" {...props} />, route: ARTIFACTS_ROUTE }
 ]
@@ -115,6 +134,32 @@ const baseName = (path: string) =>
     .filter(Boolean)
     .pop()
 
+// FTS results cover sessions that aren't in the loaded page; synthesize a
+// minimal SessionInfo so they render in the same row component (resume works
+// by id; the snippet stands in for the preview).
+function searchResultToSession(result: SessionSearchResult): SessionInfo {
+  const ts = result.session_started ?? Date.now() / 1000
+
+  return {
+    archived: false,
+    cwd: null,
+    ended_at: null,
+    id: result.session_id,
+    _lineage_root_id: result.lineage_root ?? null,
+    input_tokens: 0,
+    is_active: false,
+    last_active: ts,
+    message_count: 0,
+    model: result.model ?? null,
+    output_tokens: 0,
+    preview: result.snippet?.trim() || null,
+    source: result.source ?? null,
+    started_at: ts,
+    title: null,
+    tool_call_count: 0
+  }
+}
+
 function workspaceGroupsFor(sessions: SessionInfo[]): SidebarSessionGroup[] {
   const groups = new Map<string, SidebarSessionGroup>()
 
@@ -128,6 +173,14 @@ function workspaceGroupsFor(sessions: SessionInfo[]): SidebarSessionGroup[] {
     groups.set(id, group)
   }
 
+  // Groups keep recency order (Map insertion = first-seen in the recency-sorted
+  // input, so an active project floats up), but rows *within* a group sort by
+  // creation time so they don't reshuffle every time a message lands — keeps
+  // muscle memory intact.
+  for (const group of groups.values()) {
+    group.sessions.sort((a, b) => b.started_at - a.started_at)
+  }
+
   return [...groups.values()]
 }
 
@@ -149,6 +202,8 @@ interface ChatSidebarProps extends React.ComponentProps<typeof Sidebar> {
   onLoadMoreSessions: () => void
   onResumeSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onDeleteSession: (sessionId: string) => void
+  onArchiveSession: (sessionId: string) => void
+  onNewSessionInWorkspace: (path: null | string) => void
 }
 
 export function ChatSidebar({
@@ -156,9 +211,12 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
   onNavigate,
   onLoadMoreSessions,
   onResumeSession,
-  onDeleteSession
+  onDeleteSession,
+  onArchiveSession,
+  onNewSessionInWorkspace
 }: ChatSidebarProps) {
   const sidebarOpen = useStore($sidebarOpen)
+  const panesFlipped = useStore($panesFlipped)
   const agentsGrouped = useStore($sidebarAgentsGrouped)
   const pinnedSessionIds = useStore($pinnedSessionIds)
   const pinsOpen = useStore($sidebarPinsOpen)
@@ -170,6 +228,29 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
   const workingSessionIds = useStore($workingSessionIds)
   const [agentOrderIds, setAgentOrderIds] = useState<string[]>([])
   const [workspaceOrderIds, setWorkspaceOrderIds] = useState<string[]>([])
+  const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('')
+  const [serverMatches, setServerMatches] = useState<SessionSearchResult[]>([])
+  const [newSessionKbdFlash, setNewSessionKbdFlash] = useState(false)
+  const trimmedQuery = searchQuery.trim()
+
+  // Flash the ⌘N hint full-opacity (no transition) for the press, so hitting
+  // the shortcut visibly pings its affordance in the sidebar.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let timeout: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
+
+    const onShortcut = () => {
+      setNewSessionKbdFlash(true)
+      clearTimeout(timeout)
+      timeout = setTimeout(() => setNewSessionKbdFlash(false), 140)
+    }
+
+    window.addEventListener('hermes:new-session-shortcut', onShortcut)
+
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener('hermes:new-session-shortcut', onShortcut)
+      clearTimeout(timeout)
+    }
+  }, [])
 
   const activeSidebarSessionId = currentView === 'chat' ? selectedSessionId : null
 
@@ -180,24 +261,99 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
 
   const sortedSessions = useMemo(() => [...sessions].sort((a, b) => sessionTime(b) - sessionTime(a)), [sessions])
 
-  const sessionsById = useMemo(() => new Map(sessions.map(s => [s.id, s])), [sessions])
   const workingSessionIdSet = useMemo(() => new Set(workingSessionIds), [workingSessionIds])
 
-  const visiblePinnedIds = useMemo(
-    () => pinnedSessionIds.filter(id => sessionsById.has(id)),
-    [pinnedSessionIds, sessionsById]
-  )
+  // Index sessions by both their live id and their lineage-root id so a pin
+  // stored as the pre-compression root resolves to the live continuation tip.
+  const sessionByAnyId = useMemo(() => {
+    const map = new Map<string, SessionInfo>()
 
-  const visiblePinnedIdSet = useMemo(() => new Set(visiblePinnedIds), [visiblePinnedIds])
+    for (const s of sessions) {
+      map.set(s.id, s)
 
-  const pinnedSessions = useMemo(
-    () => visiblePinnedIds.map(id => sessionsById.get(id)!).filter(Boolean),
-    [visiblePinnedIds, sessionsById]
-  )
+      if (s._lineage_root_id && !map.has(s._lineage_root_id)) {
+        map.set(s._lineage_root_id, s)
+      }
+    }
+
+    return map
+  }, [sessions])
+
+  const pinnedSessions = useMemo(() => {
+    const seen = new Set<string>()
+    const out: SessionInfo[] = []
+
+    for (const pinId of pinnedSessionIds) {
+      const session = sessionByAnyId.get(pinId)
+
+      if (session && !seen.has(session.id)) {
+        seen.add(session.id)
+        out.push(session)
+      }
+    }
+
+    return out
+  }, [pinnedSessionIds, sessionByAnyId])
+
+  const pinnedRealIdSet = useMemo(() => new Set(pinnedSessions.map(s => s.id)), [pinnedSessions])
+
+  // Full-text search across *all* sessions (not just the loaded page) so 699
+  // sessions stay findable. Debounced; loaded sessions are matched instantly
+  // client-side and merged ahead of the server hits.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!trimmedQuery) {
+      setServerMatches([])
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    let cancelled = false
+
+    const id = window.setTimeout(() => {
+      void searchSessions(trimmedQuery)
+        .then(res => {
+          if (!cancelled) {
+            setServerMatches(res.results)
+          }
+        })
+        .catch(() => undefined)
+    }, 200)
+
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+      window.clearTimeout(id)
+    }
+  }, [trimmedQuery])
+
+  const searchResults = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!trimmedQuery) {
+      return []
+    }
+
+    const needle = trimmedQuery.toLowerCase()
+    const out = new Map<string, SessionInfo>()
+
+    for (const s of sortedSessions) {
+      if (`${s.title ?? ''} ${s.preview ?? ''} ${s.cwd ?? ''}`.toLowerCase().includes(needle)) {
+        out.set(s.id, s)
+      }
+    }
+
+    for (const match of serverMatches) {
+      if (out.has(match.session_id)) {
+        continue
+      }
+
+      const loaded = sessionByAnyId.get(match.session_id)
+      out.set(match.session_id, loaded ?? searchResultToSession(match))
+    }
+
+    return [...out.values()]
+  }, [trimmedQuery, sortedSessions, serverMatches, sessionByAnyId])
 
   const unpinnedAgentSessions = useMemo(
-    () => sortedSessions.filter(s => !visiblePinnedIdSet.has(s.id)),
-    [sortedSessions, visiblePinnedIdSet]
+    () => sortedSessions.filter(s => !pinnedRealIdSet.has(s.id)),
+    [sortedSessions, pinnedRealIdSet]
   )
 
   const agentSessions = useMemo(
@@ -227,7 +383,10 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
       return
     }
 
-    reorderPinnedSession(String(active.id), newIndex)
+    // Sortable ids are live session ids; the pinned store is keyed by durable
+    // (lineage-root) ids, so translate before reordering.
+    const dragged = sessionByAnyId.get(String(active.id))
+    reorderPinnedSession(dragged ? sessionPinId(dragged) : String(active.id), newIndex)
   }
 
   const handleAgentDragEnd = ({ active, over }: DragEndEvent) => {
@@ -270,7 +429,8 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
   return (
     <Sidebar
       className={cn(
-        'relative h-full min-w-0 overflow-hidden border-r border-t-0 border-b-0 border-l-0 text-foreground transition-none',
+        'relative h-full min-w-0 overflow-hidden border-t-0 border-b-0 text-foreground transition-none',
+        panesFlipped ? 'border-l border-r-0' : 'border-r border-l-0',
         sidebarOpen
           ? 'border-(--sidebar-edge-border) bg-(--ui-sidebar-surface-background) opacity-100'
           : 'pointer-events-none border-transparent bg-transparent opacity-0'
@@ -294,7 +454,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
                     <SidebarMenuButton
                       aria-disabled={!isInteractive}
                       className={cn(
-                        'flex h-7 w-full cursor-pointer justify-start gap-2 rounded-md border border-transparent px-2 text-left text-[0.8125rem] font-medium text-(--ui-text-secondary) transition-colors duration-100 ease-out hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground hover:transition-none',
+                        'flex h-7 w-full justify-start gap-2 rounded-md border border-transparent px-2 text-left text-[0.8125rem] font-medium text-(--ui-text-secondary) transition-colors duration-100 ease-out hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground hover:transition-none',
                         active &&
                           'border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground shadow-none hover:border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary)!',
                         !isInteractive &&
@@ -309,7 +469,10 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
                         <>
                           <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate max-[46.25rem]:hidden">{item.label}</span>
                           {item.id === 'new-session' && (
-                            <KbdGroup className="ml-auto max-[46.25rem]:hidden" keys={['⇧', 'N']} />
+                            <KbdGroup
+                              className={cn('ml-auto max-[46.25rem]:hidden', newSessionKbdFlash && 'opacity-100!')}
+                              keys={[...NEW_SESSION_KBD]}
+                            />
                           )}
                         </>
                       )}
@@ -322,12 +485,48 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
         </SidebarGroup>
 
         {sidebarOpen && showSessionSections && (
+          <div className="shrink-0 px-2 pb-1 pt-1">
+            <SearchField
+              aria-label="Search sessions"
+              onChange={setSearchQuery}
+              placeholder="Search sessions…"
+              value={searchQuery}
+            />
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {sidebarOpen && showSessionSections && trimmedQuery && (
+          <SidebarSessionsSection
+            activeSessionId={activeSidebarSessionId}
+            contentClassName="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-px overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain pb-1.75"
+            emptyState={
+              <div className="grid min-h-24 place-items-center rounded-lg px-2 text-center text-xs text-(--ui-text-tertiary)">
+                No sessions match “{trimmedQuery}”.
+              </div>
+            }
+            label="Results"
+            labelMeta={String(searchResults.length)}
+            onArchiveSession={onArchiveSession}
+            onDeleteSession={onDeleteSession}
+            onResumeSession={onResumeSession}
+            onToggle={() => undefined}
+            onTogglePin={pinSession}
+            open
+            pinned={false}
+            rootClassName="min-h-0 flex-1 p-0"
+            sessions={searchResults}
+            workingSessionIdSet={workingSessionIdSet}
+          />
+        )}
+
+        {sidebarOpen && showSessionSections && !trimmedQuery && (
           <SidebarSessionsSection
             activeSessionId={activeSidebarSessionId}
             contentClassName="flex min-h-10 shrink-0 flex-col gap-px rounded-lg pb-2 pt-1"
             dndSensors={dndSensors}
             emptyState={<SidebarPinnedEmptyState />}
             label="Pinned"
+            onArchiveSession={onArchiveSession}
             onDeleteSession={onDeleteSession}
             onReorder={handlePinnedDragEnd}
             onResumeSession={onResumeSession}
@@ -342,7 +541,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
           />
         )}
 
-        {sidebarOpen && showSessionSections && (
+        {sidebarOpen && showSessionSections && !trimmedQuery && (
           <SidebarSessionsSection
             activeSessionId={activeSidebarSessionId}
             contentClassName="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-px overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain pb-1.75"
@@ -360,27 +559,34 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
             forceEmptyState={showSessionSkeletons}
             groups={agentsGrouped ? agentGroups : undefined}
             headerAction={
-              <Button
-                aria-label={agentsGrouped ? 'Show agents as a single list' : 'Group agents by workspace'}
-                className={cn(
-                  'cursor-pointer text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-0 hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground hover:opacity-100 focus-visible:opacity-100 group-hover/section:opacity-100',
-                  agentsGrouped && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground opacity-100'
-                )}
-                onClick={event => {
-                  event.stopPropagation()
-                  setSidebarRecentsOpen(true)
-                  setSidebarAgentsGrouped(!agentsGrouped)
-                }}
-                size="icon-xs"
-                title={agentsGrouped ? 'Ungroup agents' : 'Group by workspace'}
-                variant="ghost"
-              >
-                <Codicon name={agentsGrouped ? 'list-unordered' : 'root-folder'} size="0.75rem" />
-              </Button>
+              // Grouping operates on unpinned recents; if everything is
+              // pinned the toggle does nothing visible, so hide it to avoid
+              // a phantom click target.
+              agentSessions.length > 0 ? (
+                <Button
+                  aria-label={agentsGrouped ? 'Show sessions as a single list' : 'Group sessions by workspace'}
+                  className={cn(
+                    'text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-70 hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground hover:opacity-100 focus-visible:opacity-100',
+                    agentsGrouped && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground opacity-100'
+                  )}
+                  onClick={event => {
+                    event.stopPropagation()
+                    setSidebarRecentsOpen(true)
+                    setSidebarAgentsGrouped(!agentsGrouped)
+                  }}
+                  size="icon-xs"
+                  title={agentsGrouped ? 'Ungroup sessions' : 'Group by workspace'}
+                  variant="ghost"
+                >
+                  <Codicon name={agentsGrouped ? 'list-unordered' : 'root-folder'} size="0.75rem" />
+                </Button>
+              ) : null
             }
-            label="Agents"
+            label="Sessions"
             labelMeta={countLabel(agentSessions.length, knownSessionTotal)}
+            onArchiveSession={onArchiveSession}
             onDeleteSession={onDeleteSession}
+            onNewSessionInWorkspace={onNewSessionInWorkspace}
             onReorder={handleAgentDragEnd}
             onResumeSession={onResumeSession}
             onToggle={() => setSidebarRecentsOpen(!agentsOpen)}
@@ -410,7 +616,7 @@ function SidebarSectionHeader({ label, open, onToggle, action, meta }: SidebarSe
   return (
     <div className="group/section flex shrink-0 items-center justify-between pb-1 pt-1.5">
       <button
-        className="group/section-label flex w-fit cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 bg-transparent text-left leading-none"
+        className="group/section-label flex w-fit items-center gap-1 bg-transparent text-left leading-none"
         onClick={onToggle}
         type="button"
       >
@@ -451,7 +657,7 @@ function SidebarPinnedEmptyState() {
       <span className="grid w-3.5 shrink-0 place-items-center text-(--ui-text-quaternary)">
         <Codicon name="pin" size="0.75rem" />
       </span>
-      <span>Shift click to pin a chat</span>
+      <span>Shift-click a chat to pin</span>
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -472,7 +678,9 @@ interface SidebarSessionsSectionProps {
   workingSessionIdSet: Set<string>
   onResumeSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onDeleteSession: (sessionId: string) => void
+  onArchiveSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onTogglePin: (sessionId: string) => void
+  onNewSessionInWorkspace?: (path: null | string) => void
   pinned: boolean
   rootClassName?: string
   contentClassName?: string
@@ -496,7 +704,9 @@ function SidebarSessionsSection({
   workingSessionIdSet,
   onResumeSession,
   onDeleteSession,
+  onArchiveSession,
   onTogglePin,
+  onNewSessionInWorkspace,
   pinned,
   rootClassName,
   contentClassName,
@@ -518,8 +728,9 @@ function SidebarSessionsSection({
       isPinned: pinned,
       isSelected: session.id === activeSessionId,
       isWorking: workingSessionIdSet.has(session.id),
+      onArchive: () => onArchiveSession(session.id),
       onDelete: () => onDeleteSession(session.id),
-      onPin: () => onTogglePin(session.id),
+      onPin: () => onTogglePin(sessionPinId(session)),
       onResume: () => onResumeSession(session.id),
       session
     }
@@ -551,9 +762,19 @@ function SidebarSessionsSection({
   } else if (groups?.length) {
     const groupNodes = groups.map(group =>
       dndActive ? (
-        <SortableSidebarWorkspaceGroup group={group} key={group.id} renderRows={renderSessionList} />
+        <SortableSidebarWorkspaceGroup
+          group={group}
+          key={group.id}
+          onNewSession={onNewSessionInWorkspace}
+          renderRows={renderSessionList}
+        />
       ) : (
-        <SidebarWorkspaceGroup group={group} key={group.id} renderRows={renderSessionList} />
+        <SidebarWorkspaceGroup
+          group={group}
+          key={group.id}
+          onNewSession={onNewSessionInWorkspace}
+          renderRows={renderSessionList}
+        />
       )
     )
 
@@ -568,6 +789,7 @@ function SidebarSessionsSection({
     inner = (
       <VirtualSessionList
         activeSessionId={activeSessionId}
+        onArchiveSession={onArchiveSession}
         onDeleteSession={onDeleteSession}
         onResumeSession={onResumeSession}
         onTogglePin={onTogglePin}
@@ -610,6 +832,7 @@ function SidebarSessionsSection({
 interface SidebarWorkspaceGroupProps extends React.ComponentProps<'div'> {
   group: SidebarSessionGroup
   renderRows: (sessions: SessionInfo[]) => React.ReactNode
+  onNewSession?: (path: null | string) => void
   reorderable?: boolean
   dragging?: boolean
   dragHandleProps?: React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLElement>
@@ -618,6 +841,7 @@ interface SidebarWorkspaceGroupProps extends React.ComponentProps<'div'> {
 function SidebarWorkspaceGroup({
   group,
   renderRows,
+  onNewSession,
   reorderable = false,
   dragging = false,
   dragHandleProps,
@@ -634,18 +858,31 @@ function SidebarWorkspaceGroup({
 
   return (
     <div className={cn('grid gap-px', dragging && 'z-10 opacity-60', className)} ref={ref} style={style} {...rest}>
-      <button
-        className="group/workspace flex min-h-6 cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 px-2 pt-1 text-left text-[0.6875rem] font-medium text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)"
-        onClick={() => setOpen(value => !value)}
-        title={group.path ?? undefined}
-        type="button"
-      >
-        <span className="truncate">{group.label}</span>
-        <SidebarCount>{group.sessions.length}</SidebarCount>
-        <DisclosureCaret
-          className="text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-0 transition group-hover/workspace:opacity-100"
-          open={open}
-        />
+      <div className="group/workspace flex min-h-6 items-center gap-1 px-2 pt-1 text-[0.6875rem] font-medium text-(--ui-text-tertiary)">
+        <button
+          className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1 bg-transparent text-left hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)"
+          onClick={() => setOpen(value => !value)}
+          title={group.path ?? undefined}
+          type="button"
+        >
+          <span className="truncate">{group.label}</span>
+          <SidebarCount>{group.sessions.length}</SidebarCount>
+          <DisclosureCaret
+            className="text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-0 transition group-hover/workspace:opacity-100"
+            open={open}
+          />
+        </button>
+        {onNewSession && (
+          <button
+            aria-label={`New session in ${group.label}`}
+            className="grid size-4 shrink-0 place-items-center rounded-sm bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-quaternary) opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground group-hover/workspace:opacity-100"
+            onClick={() => onNewSession(group.path)}
+            title={`New session in ${group.label}`}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            <Codicon name="add" size="0.75rem" />
+          </button>
+        )}
         {reorderable && (
           <span
             {...dragHandleProps}
@@ -663,14 +900,14 @@ function SidebarWorkspaceGroup({
             />
           </span>
         )}
-      </button>
+      </div>
       {open && (
         <>
           {renderRows(visibleSessions)}
           {hiddenCount > 0 && (
             <button
               aria-label={`Show ${nextCount} more in ${group.label}`}
-              className="ml-auto grid size-5 cursor-pointer place-items-center rounded-sm bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground"
+              className="ml-auto grid size-5 place-items-center rounded-sm bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground"
               onClick={() => setVisibleCount(count => count + WORKSPACE_PAGE)}
               title={`Show ${nextCount} more in ${group.label}`}
               type="button"
@@ -687,6 +924,7 @@ function SidebarWorkspaceGroup({
 interface SortableWorkspaceProps {
   group: SidebarSessionGroup
   renderRows: (sessions: SessionInfo[]) => React.ReactNode
+  onNewSession?: (path: null | string) => void
 }
 
 function SortableSidebarWorkspaceGroup(props: SortableWorkspaceProps) {
@@ -702,6 +940,7 @@ interface SortableSessionRowProps {
   isPinned: boolean
   isSelected: boolean
   isWorking: boolean
+  onArchive: () => void
   onDelete: () => void
   onPin: () => void
   onResume: () => void
@@ -722,7 +961,7 @@ function SidebarLoadMoreRow({ loading, onClick, step }: SidebarLoadMoreRowProps)
 
   return (
     <button
-      className="flex min-h-5 cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 self-start bg-transparent pl-2 text-left text-[0.6875rem] text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors duration-100 ease-out hover:text-foreground hover:transition-none disabled:cursor-default disabled:opacity-60 disabled:hover:text-(--ui-text-tertiary)"
+      className="flex min-h-5 items-center gap-1 self-start bg-transparent pl-2 text-left text-[0.6875rem] text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors duration-100 ease-out hover:text-foreground hover:transition-none disabled:cursor-default disabled:opacity-60 disabled:hover:text-(--ui-text-tertiary)"
       disabled={loading}
       onClick={onClick}
       type="button"

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-actions-menu.tsx

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ interface SessionActions {
   title: string
   pinned?: boolean
   onPin?: () => void
+  onArchive?: () => void
   onDelete?: () => void
 }
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ interface ItemSpec {
   variant?: 'destructive'
 }
 
-function useSessionActions({ sessionId, title, pinned = false, onPin, onDelete }: SessionActions) {
+function useSessionActions({ sessionId, title, pinned = false, onPin, onArchive, onDelete }: SessionActions) {
   const [renameOpen, setRenameOpen] = useState(false)
 
   const items: ItemSpec[] = [
@@ -81,6 +82,15 @@ function useSessionActions({ sessionId, title, pinned = false, onPin, onDelete }
         setRenameOpen(true)
       }
     },
+    {
+      disabled: !onArchive,
+      icon: 'archive',
+      label: 'Archive',
+      onSelect: () => {
+        triggerHaptic('selection')
+        onArchive?.()
+      }
+    },
     {
       className: 'text-destructive focus:text-destructive',
       disabled: !onDelete,

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-row.tsx

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import type * as React from 'react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
@@ -6,6 +7,7 @@ import type { SessionInfo } from '@/hermes'
 import { sessionTitle } from '@/lib/chat-runtime'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import { $attentionSessionIds } from '@/store/session'
 
 import { SessionActionsMenu, SessionContextMenu } from './session-actions-menu'
 
@@ -14,6 +16,7 @@ interface SidebarSessionRowProps extends React.ComponentProps<'div'> {
   isPinned: boolean
   isSelected: boolean
   isWorking: boolean
+  onArchive: () => void
   onDelete: () => void
   onPin: () => void
   onResume: () => void
@@ -45,6 +48,7 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
   isPinned,
   isSelected,
   isWorking,
+  onArchive,
   onDelete,
   onPin,
   onResume,
@@ -59,9 +63,20 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
   const title = sessionTitle(session)
   const age = formatAge(session.last_active || session.started_at)
   const handleLabel = `Reorder ${title}`
+  // Subscribe per-row (the leaf) instead of drilling a set through the list —
+  // the atom is tiny and rarely non-empty. True when a clarify prompt in this
+  // session is waiting on the user.
+  const needsInput = useStore($attentionSessionIds).includes(session.id)
 
   return (
-    <SessionContextMenu onDelete={onDelete} onPin={onPin} pinned={isPinned} sessionId={session.id} title={title}>
+    <SessionContextMenu
+      onArchive={onArchive}
+      onDelete={onDelete}
+      onPin={onPin}
+      pinned={isPinned}
+      sessionId={session.id}
+      title={title}
+    >
       <div
         className={cn(
           'group relative grid min-h-[1.625rem] cursor-pointer grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_1.375rem] items-center rounded-md transition-colors duration-100 ease-out hover:bg-(--ui-row-hover-background) hover:transition-none',
@@ -75,9 +90,9 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
         style={style}
         {...rest}
       >
-        {isWorking && <span aria-hidden="true" className="arc-border" />}
+        {isWorking && !needsInput && <span aria-hidden="true" className="arc-border" />}
         <button
-          className="z-0 flex min-w-0 cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 bg-transparent py-0.5 pl-2 pr-1 text-left group-hover:pr-12"
+          className="z-0 flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5 bg-transparent py-0.5 pl-2 pr-1 text-left group-hover:pr-12"
           onClick={event => {
             if (event.shiftKey) {
               event.preventDefault()
@@ -88,6 +103,15 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
               return
             }
 
+            if (event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey) {
+              event.preventDefault()
+              event.stopPropagation()
+              triggerHaptic('selection')
+              onArchive()
+
+              return
+            }
+
             onResume()
           }}
           type="button"
@@ -96,16 +120,25 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
             <span
               {...dragHandleProps}
               aria-label={handleLabel}
-              className="relative -my-0.5 grid w-4 shrink-0 cursor-grab touch-none place-items-center self-stretch overflow-hidden active:cursor-grabbing"
+              className={cn(
+                // Scope the dot↔grabber swap to a local group so the grabber
+                // only reveals when hovering/focusing the handle itself, not
+                // anywhere on the row.
+                'group/handle relative -my-0.5 grid w-4 shrink-0 cursor-grab touch-none place-items-center self-stretch overflow-hidden active:cursor-grabbing',
+                // The quest-glow box-shadow extends past the dot; let it bleed
+                // out instead of being clipped by this handle's overflow-hidden.
+                needsInput && 'overflow-visible'
+              )}
               onClick={event => event.stopPropagation()}
             >
               <SidebarRowDot
-                className="transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-0 group-focus-within:opacity-0"
+                className="transition-opacity group-hover/handle:opacity-0 group-focus-within/handle:opacity-0"
                 isWorking={isWorking}
+                needsInput={needsInput}
               />
               <Codicon
                 className={cn(
-                  'absolute text-(--ui-text-quaternary) opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-80 group-focus-within:opacity-80 hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)',
+                  'absolute text-(--ui-text-quaternary) opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover/handle:opacity-80 group-focus-within/handle:opacity-80 hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)',
                   dragging && 'text-(--ui-text-secondary) opacity-100'
                 )}
                 name="grabber"
@@ -113,8 +146,8 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
               />
             </span>
           ) : (
-            <span className="grid w-3.5 shrink-0 place-items-center overflow-hidden">
-              <SidebarRowDot isWorking={isWorking} />
+            <span className={cn('grid w-3.5 shrink-0 place-items-center', needsInput ? 'overflow-visible' : 'overflow-hidden')}>
+              <SidebarRowDot isWorking={isWorking} needsInput={needsInput} />
             </span>
           )}
           <span className="truncate text-[0.8125rem] font-normal text-(--ui-text-secondary) group-hover:text-foreground group-data-[working=true]:text-foreground/90">
@@ -127,10 +160,17 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
               {age}
             </span>
           )}
-          <SessionActionsMenu onDelete={onDelete} onPin={onPin} pinned={isPinned} sessionId={session.id} title={title}>
+          <SessionActionsMenu
+            onArchive={onArchive}
+            onDelete={onDelete}
+            onPin={onPin}
+            pinned={isPinned}
+            sessionId={session.id}
+            title={title}
+          >
             <Button
               aria-label={`Actions for ${title}`}
-              className="size-5 rounded-md bg-transparent text-transparent transition-colors duration-100 hover:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) hover:text-foreground focus-visible:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) focus-visible:text-foreground focus-visible:ring-0 data-[state=open]:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) data-[state=open]:text-foreground group-hover:text-(--ui-text-tertiary) [&_svg]:size-3.5!"
+              className="size-5 rounded-[4px] bg-transparent text-transparent transition-colors duration-100 hover:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) hover:text-foreground focus-visible:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) focus-visible:text-foreground focus-visible:ring-0 data-[state=open]:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) data-[state=open]:text-foreground group-hover:text-(--ui-text-tertiary) [&_svg]:size-3.5!"
               size="icon"
               title="Session actions"
               variant="ghost"
@@ -144,7 +184,30 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
   )
 }
 
-function SidebarRowDot({ isWorking, className }: { isWorking: boolean; className?: string }) {
+function SidebarRowDot({
+  isWorking,
+  needsInput = false,
+  className
+}: {
+  isWorking: boolean
+  needsInput?: boolean
+  className?: string
+}) {
+  // "Needs input" wins over "working": a clarify-blocked session is technically
+  // still running, but the actionable state is that it's waiting on the user.
+  // Amber + steady (no ping) reads as "your turn", distinct from the accent
+  // pulse of an active turn.
+  if (needsInput) {
+    return (
+      <span
+        aria-label="Needs your input"
+        className={cn('quest-glow relative size-1.5 rounded-full bg-amber-500', className)}
+        role="status"
+        title="Waiting for your answer"
+      />
+    )
+  }
+
   return (
     <span
       aria-label={isWorking ? 'Session running' : undefined}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/virtual-session-list.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { type FC, useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react'
 
 import type { SessionInfo } from '@/hermes'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import { sessionPinId } from '@/store/session'
 
 import { SidebarSessionRow } from './session-row'
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ interface SessionRowCommonProps {
   isPinned: boolean
   isSelected: boolean
   isWorking: boolean
+  onArchive: () => void
   onDelete: () => void
   onPin: () => void
   onResume: () => void
@@ -20,6 +22,7 @@ interface SessionRowCommonProps {
 interface VirtualSessionListProps {
   activeSessionId: null | string
   className?: string
+  onArchiveSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onDeleteSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onResumeSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onTogglePin: (sessionId: string) => void
@@ -35,6 +38,7 @@ const OVERSCAN_ROWS = 12
 export const VirtualSessionList: FC<VirtualSessionListProps> = ({
   activeSessionId,
   className,
+  onArchiveSession,
   onDeleteSession,
   onResumeSession,
   onTogglePin,
@@ -72,8 +76,9 @@ export const VirtualSessionList: FC<VirtualSessionListProps> = ({
       isPinned: pinned,
       isSelected: session.id === activeSessionId,
       isWorking: workingSessionIdSet.has(session.id),
+      onArchive: () => onArchiveSession(session.id),
       onDelete: () => onDeleteSession(session.id),
-      onPin: () => onTogglePin(session.id),
+      onPin: () => onTogglePin(sessionPinId(session)),
       onResume: () => onResumeSession(session.id)
     }
 

apps/desktop/src/app/command-palette/index.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,460 @@
+import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import { Dialog as DialogPrimitive } from 'radix-ui'
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
+import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
+
+import {
+  Command,
+  CommandEmpty,
+  CommandGroup,
+  CommandInput,
+  CommandItem,
+  CommandList
+} from '@/components/ui/command'
+import { getHermesConfigRecord, listSessions } from '@/hermes'
+import { sessionTitle } from '@/lib/chat-runtime'
+import {
+  Activity,
+  Archive,
+  BarChart3,
+  Check,
+  ChevronLeft,
+  ChevronRight,
+  Clock,
+  Cpu,
+  Globe,
+  type IconComponent,
+  Info,
+  KeyRound,
+  MessageCircle,
+  Monitor,
+  Moon,
+  Package,
+  Palette,
+  Plus,
+  Settings,
+  Sun,
+  Users,
+  Wrench
+} from '@/lib/icons'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import { $commandPaletteOpen, closeCommandPalette, setCommandPaletteOpen } from '@/store/command-palette'
+import { type ThemeMode, useTheme } from '@/themes/context'
+
+import {
+  AGENTS_ROUTE,
+  ARTIFACTS_ROUTE,
+  COMMAND_CENTER_ROUTE,
+  CRON_ROUTE,
+  MESSAGING_ROUTE,
+  NEW_CHAT_ROUTE,
+  PROFILES_ROUTE,
+  sessionRoute,
+  SETTINGS_ROUTE,
+  SKILLS_ROUTE
+} from '../routes'
+import { FIELD_LABELS, SECTIONS } from '../settings/constants'
+import { prettyName } from '../settings/helpers'
+
+interface PaletteItem {
+  active?: boolean
+  icon: IconComponent
+  id: string
+  /** Keep the palette open after running (live-preview pickers like theme/mode). */
+  keepOpen?: boolean
+  keywords?: string[]
+  label: string
+  /** Action to run when selected. Mutually exclusive with `to`. */
+  run?: () => void
+  /** Open a nested palette page (VS Code-style "choose X → options"). */
+  to?: string
+}
+
+interface PaletteGroup {
+  heading: string
+  items: PaletteItem[]
+}
+
+/** A nested page reachable from a root item via `to`. */
+interface PalettePage {
+  groups: PaletteGroup[]
+  placeholder: string
+  title: string
+}
+
+interface SessionEntry {
+  id: string
+  preview?: string
+  title: string
+}
+
+type SessionRow = Awaited<ReturnType<typeof listSessions>>['sessions'][number]
+
+const toSessionEntry = (session: SessionRow): SessionEntry => ({
+  id: session.id,
+  preview: session.preview ?? undefined,
+  title: sessionTitle(session)
+})
+
+const NON_CONFIG_SETTINGS: ReadonlyArray<{ icon: IconComponent; keywords?: string[]; label: string; tab: string }> = [
+  { icon: Globe, keywords: ['connection', 'messaging'], label: 'Gateway', tab: 'gateway' },
+  { icon: KeyRound, keywords: ['api', 'secrets', 'tokens', 'credentials'], label: 'API Keys', tab: 'keys' },
+  { icon: Wrench, keywords: ['servers', 'tools'], label: 'MCP', tab: 'mcp' },
+  { icon: Archive, keywords: ['history', 'archived'], label: 'Archived Chats', tab: 'sessions' },
+  { icon: Info, keywords: ['version', 'about'], label: 'About', tab: 'about' }
+]
+
+const THEME_MODES: ReadonlyArray<{ icon: IconComponent; label: string; mode: ThemeMode }> = [
+  { icon: Sun, label: 'Light', mode: 'light' },
+  { icon: Moon, label: 'Dark', mode: 'dark' },
+  { icon: Monitor, label: 'System', mode: 'system' }
+]
+
+function fieldLabel(key: string): string {
+  return FIELD_LABELS[key] ?? prettyName(key.split('.').pop() ?? key)
+}
+
+export function CommandPalette() {
+  const open = useStore($commandPaletteOpen)
+  const navigate = useNavigate()
+  const { availableThemes, mode, resolvedMode, setMode, setTheme, themeName } = useTheme()
+  const [search, setSearch] = useState('')
+  const [page, setPage] = useState<string | null>(null)
+
+  // Server-backed sources for the type-to-search groups, fetched lazily while
+  // the palette is open. react-query handles caching/dedup/staleness.
+  const configQuery = useQuery({ queryKey: ['command-palette', 'config'], queryFn: getHermesConfigRecord, enabled: open })
+
+  const sessionsQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['command-palette', 'sessions'],
+    queryFn: () => listSessions(200, 1, 'exclude'),
+    enabled: open
+  })
+
+  const archivedQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['command-palette', 'archived'],
+    queryFn: () => listSessions(200, 0, 'only'),
+    enabled: open
+  })
+
+  const mcpServers = useMemo(() => {
+    const raw = configQuery.data?.mcp_servers
+
+    return raw && typeof raw === 'object' && !Array.isArray(raw) ? Object.keys(raw as Record<string, unknown>).sort() : []
+  }, [configQuery.data])
+
+  const sessions = useMemo(() => (sessionsQuery.data?.sessions ?? []).map(toSessionEntry), [sessionsQuery.data])
+  const archivedSessions = useMemo(() => (archivedQuery.data?.sessions ?? []).map(toSessionEntry), [archivedQuery.data])
+
+  // Reset the query/sub-page on close so it reopens clean.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) {
+      setSearch('')
+      setPage(null)
+    }
+  }, [open])
+
+  const go = useCallback((path: string) => () => navigate(path), [navigate])
+
+  const baseGroups = useMemo<PaletteGroup[]>(() => {
+    const settingsTab = (tab: string) => `${SETTINGS_ROUTE}?tab=${tab}`
+
+    return [
+      {
+        heading: 'Go to',
+        items: [
+          { icon: Plus, id: 'nav-new', keywords: ['chat', 'create'], label: 'New session', run: go(NEW_CHAT_ROUTE) },
+          { icon: Settings, id: 'nav-settings', label: 'Settings', run: go(SETTINGS_ROUTE) },
+          {
+            icon: Wrench,
+            id: 'nav-skills',
+            keywords: ['tools', 'toolsets', 'providers'],
+            label: 'Skills & Tools',
+            run: go(SKILLS_ROUTE)
+          },
+          { icon: MessageCircle, id: 'nav-messaging', label: 'Messaging', run: go(MESSAGING_ROUTE) },
+          { icon: Package, id: 'nav-artifacts', label: 'Artifacts', run: go(ARTIFACTS_ROUTE) },
+          { icon: Clock, id: 'nav-cron', keywords: ['schedule', 'jobs'], label: 'Cron', run: go(CRON_ROUTE) },
+          { icon: Users, id: 'nav-profiles', label: 'Profiles', run: go(PROFILES_ROUTE) },
+          { icon: Cpu, id: 'nav-agents', label: 'Agents', run: go(AGENTS_ROUTE) }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        heading: 'Command Center',
+        items: [
+          {
+            icon: Archive,
+            id: 'cc-sessions',
+            keywords: ['command center', 'sessions', 'pin'],
+            label: 'Sessions',
+            run: go(`${COMMAND_CENTER_ROUTE}?section=sessions`)
+          },
+          {
+            icon: Activity,
+            id: 'cc-system',
+            keywords: ['command center', 'system', 'status', 'logs'],
+            label: 'System',
+            run: go(`${COMMAND_CENTER_ROUTE}?section=system`)
+          },
+          {
+            icon: BarChart3,
+            id: 'cc-usage',
+            keywords: ['command center', 'usage', 'tokens', 'cost'],
+            label: 'Usage',
+            run: go(`${COMMAND_CENTER_ROUTE}?section=usage`)
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        heading: 'Settings',
+        items: [
+          ...SECTIONS.map(section => ({
+            icon: section.icon,
+            id: `set-config-${section.id}`,
+            keywords: ['settings', section.label],
+            label: section.label,
+            run: go(settingsTab(`config:${section.id}`))
+          })),
+          ...NON_CONFIG_SETTINGS.map(entry => ({
+            icon: entry.icon,
+            id: `set-${entry.tab}`,
+            keywords: ['settings', ...(entry.keywords ?? [])],
+            label: entry.label,
+            run: go(settingsTab(entry.tab))
+          }))
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        heading: 'Appearance',
+        items: [
+          {
+            icon: Palette,
+            id: 'appearance-theme',
+            keywords: ['theme', 'appearance', 'color', 'palette', 'skin', 'dark', 'light', 'look'],
+            label: 'Change theme…',
+            to: 'theme'
+          },
+          {
+            icon: Sun,
+            id: 'appearance-mode',
+            keywords: ['appearance', 'color mode', 'brightness', 'dark', 'light', 'system'],
+            label: 'Change color mode…',
+            to: 'color-mode'
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+  }, [go])
+
+  // The long, granular lists (settings fields, API keys, MCP servers, archived
+  // chats) only surface once the user types — otherwise they'd bury the
+  // navigation entries on an empty palette.
+  const searchGroups = useMemo<PaletteGroup[]>(() => {
+    if (!search.trim()) {
+      return []
+    }
+
+    const result: PaletteGroup[] = []
+
+    if (sessions.length > 0) {
+      result.push({
+        heading: 'Sessions',
+        items: sessions.map(session => ({
+          icon: MessageCircle,
+          id: `session-${session.id}`,
+          keywords: ['chat', 'session', ...(session.preview ? [session.preview] : [])],
+          label: session.title,
+          run: go(sessionRoute(session.id))
+        }))
+      })
+    }
+
+    const fieldItems = SECTIONS.flatMap(section =>
+      section.keys.map(key => ({
+        icon: section.icon,
+        id: `field-${key}`,
+        keywords: ['settings', key, section.label],
+        label: `${section.label}: ${fieldLabel(key)}`,
+        run: go(`${SETTINGS_ROUTE}?tab=config:${section.id}&field=${encodeURIComponent(key)}`)
+      }))
+    )
+
+    result.push({ heading: 'Settings fields', items: fieldItems })
+
+    if (mcpServers.length > 0) {
+      result.push({
+        heading: 'MCP servers',
+        items: mcpServers.map(name => ({
+          icon: Wrench,
+          id: `mcp-${name}`,
+          keywords: ['mcp', 'server', 'tool'],
+          label: name,
+          run: go(`${SETTINGS_ROUTE}?tab=mcp&server=${encodeURIComponent(name)}`)
+        }))
+      })
+    }
+
+    if (archivedSessions.length > 0) {
+      result.push({
+        heading: 'Archived chats',
+        items: archivedSessions.map(session => ({
+          icon: Archive,
+          id: `archived-${session.id}`,
+          keywords: ['archived', 'chat', 'session', ...(session.preview ? [session.preview] : [])],
+          label: session.title,
+          run: go(`${SETTINGS_ROUTE}?tab=sessions&session=${encodeURIComponent(session.id)}`)
+        }))
+      })
+    }
+
+    return result
+  }, [archivedSessions, go, mcpServers, search, sessions])
+
+  const groups = useMemo(() => [...baseGroups, ...searchGroups], [baseGroups, searchGroups])
+
+  // Nested palette pages (VS Code-style submenus). Reusable: add an entry here
+  // and point a root item at it via `to`.
+  const subPages = useMemo<Record<string, PalettePage>>(
+    () => ({
+      theme: {
+        title: 'Theme',
+        placeholder: 'Choose a theme…',
+        // Skins aren't inherently light/dark — the same skin renders in either
+        // mode. Group by appearance so picking an entry sets skin + mode at
+        // once, and keep the palette open so each pick previews live.
+        groups: (['light', 'dark'] as const).map(groupMode => ({
+          heading: groupMode === 'light' ? 'Light' : 'Dark',
+          items: availableThemes.map(theme => ({
+            active: themeName === theme.name && resolvedMode === groupMode,
+            icon: groupMode === 'light' ? Sun : Moon,
+            id: `theme-${theme.name}-${groupMode}`,
+            keepOpen: true,
+            keywords: ['theme', 'appearance', 'palette', groupMode, theme.label, theme.description ?? ''],
+            label: theme.label,
+            run: () => {
+              setTheme(theme.name)
+              setMode(groupMode)
+            }
+          }))
+        }))
+      },
+      'color-mode': {
+        title: 'Color mode',
+        placeholder: 'Choose color mode…',
+        groups: [
+          {
+            heading: 'Color mode',
+            items: THEME_MODES.map(entry => ({
+              active: mode === entry.mode,
+              icon: entry.icon,
+              id: `mode-${entry.mode}`,
+              keepOpen: true,
+              keywords: ['appearance', 'brightness', entry.label],
+              label: entry.label,
+              run: () => setMode(entry.mode)
+            }))
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    }),
+    [availableThemes, mode, resolvedMode, setMode, setTheme, themeName]
+  )
+
+  const activePage = page ? subPages[page] : null
+  const visibleGroups = activePage ? activePage.groups : groups
+  const placeholder = activePage ? activePage.placeholder : 'Search commands and settings...'
+
+  const handleSelect = (item: PaletteItem) => {
+    if (item.to) {
+      setPage(item.to)
+      setSearch('')
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    item.run?.()
+
+    if (!item.keepOpen) {
+      closeCommandPalette()
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <DialogPrimitive.Root onOpenChange={setCommandPaletteOpen} open={open}>
+      <DialogPrimitive.Portal>
+        <DialogPrimitive.Overlay className="fixed inset-0 z-[200] bg-black/15 backdrop-blur-[1px] data-[state=closed]:animate-out data-[state=closed]:fade-out-0 data-[state=open]:animate-in data-[state=open]:fade-in-0" />
+        <DialogPrimitive.Content
+          aria-describedby={undefined}
+          className="fixed left-1/2 top-[14vh] z-[210] w-[min(40rem,calc(100vw-2rem))] -translate-x-1/2 overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-(--ui-stroke-secondary) bg-(--ui-chat-bubble-background) shadow-lg duration-150 data-[state=closed]:animate-out data-[state=closed]:fade-out-0 data-[state=closed]:zoom-out-95 data-[state=open]:animate-in data-[state=open]:fade-in-0 data-[state=open]:slide-in-from-top-2 data-[state=open]:zoom-in-95"
+        >
+          <DialogPrimitive.Title className="sr-only">Command palette</DialogPrimitive.Title>
+          <Command className="bg-transparent" loop>
+            {activePage && (
+              <button
+                className="flex w-full items-center gap-1.5 border-b border-border px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-xs text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:text-foreground"
+                onClick={() => setPage(null)}
+                type="button"
+              >
+                <ChevronLeft className="size-3.5" />
+                <span>Back</span>
+                <span className="text-muted-foreground/50">/</span>
+                <span className="font-medium text-foreground">{activePage.title}</span>
+              </button>
+            )}
+            <CommandInput
+              onKeyDown={event => {
+                if (!activePage) {
+                  return
+                }
+
+                // In a submenu: Esc and empty-input Backspace step back out
+                // instead of closing the whole palette.
+                if (event.key === 'Escape' || (event.key === 'Backspace' && search === '')) {
+                  event.preventDefault()
+                  event.stopPropagation()
+                  setPage(null)
+                }
+              }}
+              onValueChange={setSearch}
+              placeholder={placeholder}
+              value={search}
+            />
+            <CommandList className="max-h-[min(24rem,60vh)]">
+              <CommandEmpty>No results found.</CommandEmpty>
+              {visibleGroups.map(group => (
+                <CommandGroup
+                  className="**:[[cmdk-group-heading]]:uppercase **:[[cmdk-group-heading]]:tracking-wider **:[[cmdk-group-heading]]:text-[0.6875rem] **:[[cmdk-group-heading]]:text-muted-foreground/70"
+                  heading={group.heading}
+                  key={group.heading}
+                >
+                  {group.items.map(item => {
+                    const Icon = item.icon
+
+                    return (
+                      <CommandItem
+                        className="gap-2.5"
+                        key={item.id}
+                        keywords={item.keywords}
+                        onSelect={() => handleSelect(item)}
+                        value={`${item.label} ${item.keywords?.join(' ') ?? ''} ${item.id}`}
+                      >
+                        <Icon className="size-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+                        <span className="truncate">{item.label}</span>
+                        {item.to ? (
+                          <ChevronRight className="ml-auto size-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground/70" />
+                        ) : (
+                          <Check className={cn('ml-auto size-4 text-foreground', !item.active && 'invisible')} />
+                        )}
+                      </CommandItem>
+                    )
+                  })}
+                </CommandGroup>
+              ))}
+            </CommandList>
+          </Command>
+        </DialogPrimitive.Content>
+      </DialogPrimitive.Portal>
+    </DialogPrimitive.Root>
+  )
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/cron/index.tsx

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import type * as React from 'react'
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { PageLoader } from '@/components/page-loader'
+import { Badge, type BadgeProps } from '@/components/ui/badge'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import {
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   DialogTitle
 } from '@/components/ui/dialog'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
+import { SearchField } from '@/components/ui/search-field'
 import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '@/components/ui/select'
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea'
 import {
@@ -25,12 +26,12 @@ import {
   triggerCronJob,
   updateCronJob
 } from '@/hermes'
-import { AlertTriangle, Clock, Pause, Pencil, Play, Trash2, Zap } from '@/lib/icons'
+import { AlertTriangle, Clock } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
 
-import { PageSearchShell } from '../page-search-shell'
-import type { SetStatusbarItemGroup } from '../shell/statusbar-controls'
+import { useRefreshHotkey } from '../hooks/use-refresh-hotkey'
+import { OverlayView } from '../overlays/overlay-view'
 
 const DEFAULT_DELIVER = 'local'
 
@@ -86,23 +87,16 @@ const SCHEDULE_OPTIONS: ReadonlyArray<ScheduleOption> = [
   }
 ]
 
-const STATE_TONE: Record<string, 'good' | 'muted' | 'warn' | 'bad'> = {
-  enabled: 'good',
-  scheduled: 'good',
-  running: 'good',
+const STATE_VARIANT: Record<string, BadgeProps['variant']> = {
+  enabled: 'default',
+  scheduled: 'default',
+  running: 'default',
   paused: 'warn',
   disabled: 'muted',
-  error: 'bad',
+  error: 'destructive',
   completed: 'muted'
 }
 
-const PILL_TONE: Record<'good' | 'muted' | 'warn' | 'bad', string> = {
-  good: 'bg-primary/10 text-primary',
-  muted: 'bg-muted text-muted-foreground',
-  warn: 'bg-amber-500/10 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-300',
-  bad: 'bg-destructive/10 text-destructive'
-}
-
 const asText = (value: unknown): string => (typeof value === 'string' ? value : '')
 
 const truncate = (value: string, max = 80): string => (value.length > max ? `${value.slice(0, max)}…` : value)
@@ -305,14 +299,13 @@ function matchesQuery(job: CronJob, q: string): boolean {
   )
 }
 
-interface CronViewProps extends React.ComponentProps<'section'> {
-  setStatusbarItemGroup?: SetStatusbarItemGroup
+interface CronViewProps {
+  onClose: () => void
 }
 
-export function CronView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, ...props }: CronViewProps) {
+export function CronView({ onClose }: CronViewProps) {
   const [jobs, setJobs] = useState<CronJob[] | null>(null)
   const [query, setQuery] = useState('')
-  const [refreshing, setRefreshing] = useState(false)
   const [busyJobId, setBusyJobId] = useState<null | string>(null)
 
   const [editor, setEditor] = useState<EditorState>({ mode: 'closed' })
@@ -320,18 +313,16 @@ export function CronView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, ...pro
   const [deleting, setDeleting] = useState(false)
 
   const refresh = useCallback(async () => {
-    setRefreshing(true)
-
     try {
       const result = await getCronJobs()
       setJobs(result)
     } catch (err) {
       notifyError(err, 'Failed to load cron jobs')
-    } finally {
-      setRefreshing(false)
     }
   }, [])
 
+  useRefreshHotkey(refresh)
+
   useEffect(() => {
     void refresh()
   }, [refresh])
@@ -426,37 +417,25 @@ export function CronView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, ...pro
   }
 
   return (
-    <PageSearchShell
-      {...props}
-      filters={
-        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-2">
-          <Button onClick={() => setEditor({ mode: 'create' })} size="sm">
-            <Codicon name="add" />
-            New cron
-          </Button>
-        </div>
-      }
-      onSearchChange={setQuery}
-      searchPlaceholder="Search cron jobs..."
-      searchTrailingAction={
-        <Button
-          aria-label={refreshing ? 'Refreshing cron jobs' : 'Refresh cron jobs'}
-          className="text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground"
-          disabled={refreshing}
-          onClick={() => void refresh()}
-          size="icon-xs"
-          title={refreshing ? 'Refreshing cron jobs' : 'Refresh cron jobs'}
-          type="button"
-          variant="ghost"
-        >
-          <Codicon name="refresh" size="0.875rem" spinning={refreshing} />
-        </Button>
-      }
-      searchValue={query}
-    >
-      {!jobs ? (
-        <PageLoader label="Loading cron jobs..." />
-      ) : visibleJobs.length === 0 ? (
+    <OverlayView closeLabel="Close cron" onClose={onClose}>
+      <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col pt-[calc(var(--titlebar-height)+0.5rem)]">
+        {totalCount > 0 && (
+          <div className="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-4xl items-center gap-2 px-4 pb-2">
+            <SearchField
+              containerClassName="max-w-[60vw]"
+              onChange={setQuery}
+              placeholder="Search cron jobs…"
+              value={query}
+            />
+          </div>
+        )}
+        {!jobs ? (
+          <PageLoader label="Loading cron jobs..." />
+        ) : visibleJobs.length === 0 ? (
+        // Empty state owns the primary "create" CTA — we used to also have
+        // one in the filters bar but it was redundant. Only show the button
+        // when there are zero jobs total; the search-empty case ("No
+        // matches") just asks the user to broaden their query.
         <EmptyState
           actionLabel={totalCount === 0 ? 'Create first cron' : undefined}
           description={
@@ -467,25 +446,37 @@ export function CronView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, ...pro
           onAction={totalCount === 0 ? () => setEditor({ mode: 'create' }) : undefined}
           title={totalCount === 0 ? 'No scheduled jobs yet' : 'No matches'}
         />
-      ) : (
-        <div className="h-full overflow-y-auto px-4 py-3">
-          <div className="divide-y divide-border/40 rounded-lg border border-border/40 bg-background/70">
-            {visibleJobs.map(job => (
-              <CronJobRow
-                busy={busyJobId === job.id}
-                job={job}
-                key={job.id}
-                onDelete={() => setPendingDelete(job)}
-                onEdit={() => setEditor({ mode: 'edit', job })}
-                onPauseResume={() => void handlePauseResume(job)}
-                onTrigger={() => void handleTrigger(job)}
-              />
-            ))}
+        ) : (
+          <div className="mx-auto w-full max-w-4xl min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto px-4 py-3">
+            {/* Inline header replaces the old top-bar "New cron" button. We
+                still need a single, always-visible affordance to add a job
+                when the list is non-empty (rows themselves only expose
+                edit/pause/trigger/delete). */}
+            <div className="mb-2 flex items-center justify-between">
+              <span className="text-[0.7rem] uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
+                {enabledCount}/{totalCount} active
+              </span>
+              <Button onClick={() => setEditor({ mode: 'create' })} size="sm">
+                <Codicon name="add" />
+                New cron
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              {visibleJobs.map(job => (
+                <CronJobRow
+                  busy={busyJobId === job.id}
+                  job={job}
+                  key={job.id}
+                  onDelete={() => setPendingDelete(job)}
+                  onEdit={() => setEditor({ mode: 'edit', job })}
+                  onPauseResume={() => void handlePauseResume(job)}
+                  onTrigger={() => void handleTrigger(job)}
+                />
+              ))}
+            </div>
           </div>
-        </div>
-      )}
-      <div className="hidden">{totalCount === 0 ? 'No scheduled jobs' : `${enabledCount}/${totalCount} active`}</div>
-
+        )}
+      </div>
       <CronEditorDialog editor={editor} onClose={() => setEditor({ mode: 'closed' })} onSave={handleEditorSave} />
 
       <Dialog onOpenChange={open => !open && !deleting && setPendingDelete(null)} open={pendingDelete !== null}>
@@ -512,7 +503,7 @@ export function CronView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, ...pro
           </DialogFooter>
         </DialogContent>
       </Dialog>
-    </PageSearchShell>
+    </OverlayView>
   )
 }
 
@@ -540,14 +531,20 @@ function CronJobRow({
   return (
     <div className="grid gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 sm:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_auto] sm:items-start">
       <button
-        className="min-w-0 cursor-pointer rounded-md text-left transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/40"
+        className="min-w-0 rounded-md text-left transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/40"
         onClick={onEdit}
         type="button"
       >
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
           <span className="truncate text-sm font-medium">{jobTitle(job)}</span>
-          <StatePill tone={STATE_TONE[state] ?? 'muted'}>{state}</StatePill>
-          {deliver && deliver !== DEFAULT_DELIVER && <StatePill tone="muted">{deliver}</StatePill>}
+          <Badge className="capitalize" variant={STATE_VARIANT[state] ?? 'muted'}>
+            {state}
+          </Badge>
+          {deliver && deliver !== DEFAULT_DELIVER && (
+            <Badge className="capitalize" variant="muted">
+              {deliver}
+            </Badge>
+          )}
         </div>
         {hasName && prompt && <p className="mt-1 truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground">{truncate(prompt, 120)}</p>}
         <div className="mt-1 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-1 text-[0.68rem] text-muted-foreground">
@@ -573,13 +570,13 @@ function CronJobRow({
           onClick={onPauseResume}
           title={isPaused ? 'Resume' : 'Pause'}
         >
-          {isPaused ? <Play className="size-3.5" /> : <Pause className="size-3.5" />}
+          <Codicon name={isPaused ? 'play' : 'debug-pause'} size="0.875rem" />
         </IconAction>
         <IconAction aria-label="Trigger now" disabled={busy} onClick={onTrigger} title="Trigger now">
-          <Zap className="size-3.5" />
+          <Codicon name="zap" size="0.875rem" />
         </IconAction>
         <IconAction aria-label="Edit cron" onClick={onEdit} title="Edit">
-          <Pencil className="size-3.5" />
+          <Codicon name="edit" size="0.875rem" />
         </IconAction>
         <IconAction
           aria-label="Delete cron"
@@ -587,7 +584,7 @@ function CronJobRow({
           onClick={onDelete}
           title="Delete"
         >
-          <Trash2 className="size-3.5" />
+          <Codicon name="trash" size="0.875rem" />
         </IconAction>
       </div>
     </div>
@@ -597,8 +594,8 @@ function CronJobRow({
 function IconAction({ children, className, ...props }: Omit<React.ComponentProps<typeof Button>, 'size' | 'variant'>) {
   return (
     <Button
-      className={cn('size-7 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground', className)}
-      size="icon"
+      className={cn('text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground', className)}
+      size="icon-sm"
       variant="ghost"
       {...props}
     >
@@ -607,16 +604,6 @@ function IconAction({ children, className, ...props }: Omit<React.ComponentProps
   )
 }
 
-function StatePill({ children, tone }: { children: string; tone: keyof typeof PILL_TONE }) {
-  return (
-    <span
-      className={cn('inline-flex items-center rounded-full px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[0.64rem] capitalize', PILL_TONE[tone])}
-    >
-      {children}
-    </span>
-  )
-}
-
 function EmptyState({
   actionLabel,
   description,
@@ -761,7 +748,7 @@ function CronEditorDialog({
           <div className="grid items-start gap-4 sm:grid-cols-2">
             <Field htmlFor="cron-frequency" label="Frequency">
               <Select onValueChange={handleSchedulePresetChange} value={schedulePreset}>
-                <SelectTrigger className="h-9 rounded-md" id="cron-frequency">
+                <SelectTrigger id="cron-frequency">
                   <SelectValue />
                 </SelectTrigger>
                 <SelectContent>
@@ -776,7 +763,7 @@ function CronEditorDialog({
 
             <Field htmlFor="cron-deliver" label="Deliver to">
               <Select onValueChange={setDeliver} value={deliver}>
-                <SelectTrigger className="h-9 rounded-md" id="cron-deliver">
+                <SelectTrigger id="cron-deliver">
                   <SelectValue />
                 </SelectTrigger>
                 <SelectContent>

apps/desktop/src/app/desktop-controller.tsx

@@ -1,18 +1,21 @@
 import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
-import { lazy, Suspense, useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
+import { lazy, Suspense, useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef } from 'react'
 import { Navigate, Route, Routes, useLocation, useNavigate, useParams } from 'react-router-dom'
 
 import { BootFailureOverlay } from '@/components/boot-failure-overlay'
 import { DesktopInstallOverlay } from '@/components/desktop-install-overlay'
 import { DesktopOnboardingOverlay } from '@/components/desktop-onboarding-overlay'
+import { GatewayConnectingOverlay } from '@/components/gateway-connecting-overlay'
 import { Pane, PaneMain } from '@/components/pane-shell'
 import { useSkinCommand } from '@/themes/use-skin-command'
 
 import { formatRefValue } from '../components/assistant-ui/directive-text'
 import { getSessionMessages, listSessions } from '../hermes'
 import { preserveLocalAssistantErrors, toChatMessages } from '../lib/chat-messages'
+import { toggleCommandPalette } from '../store/command-palette'
 import {
+  $panesFlipped,
   $pinnedSessionIds,
   $sessionsLimit,
   bumpSessionsLimit,
@@ -31,8 +34,14 @@ import {
   $freshDraftReady,
   $gatewayState,
   $selectedStoredSessionId,
+  $sessions,
+  $workingSessionIds,
+  mergeSessionPage,
+  sessionPinId,
   setAwaitingResponse,
   setBusy,
+  setCurrentBranch,
+  setCurrentCwd,
   setCurrentModel,
   setCurrentProvider,
   setMessages,
@@ -51,13 +60,15 @@ import {
   PREVIEW_RAIL_PANE_WIDTH
 } from './chat/right-rail'
 import { ChatSidebar } from './chat/sidebar'
+import { CommandPalette } from './command-palette'
 import { useGatewayBoot } from './gateway/hooks/use-gateway-boot'
 import { useGatewayRequest } from './gateway/hooks/use-gateway-request'
 import { ModelPickerOverlay } from './model-picker-overlay'
+import { ModelVisibilityOverlay } from './model-visibility-overlay'
 import { RightSidebarPane } from './right-sidebar'
 import { $terminalTakeover } from './right-sidebar/store'
 import { PersistentTerminal, TerminalSlot } from './right-sidebar/terminal/persistent'
-import { NEW_CHAT_ROUTE, routeSessionId, sessionRoute } from './routes'
+import { NEW_CHAT_ROUTE, routeSessionId, sessionRoute, SETTINGS_ROUTE } from './routes'
 import { useContextSuggestions } from './session/hooks/use-context-suggestions'
 import { useCwdActions } from './session/hooks/use-cwd-actions'
 import { useHermesConfig } from './session/hooks/use-hermes-config'
@@ -72,6 +83,7 @@ import { AppShell } from './shell/app-shell'
 import { useOverlayRouting } from './shell/hooks/use-overlay-routing'
 import { useStatusSnapshot } from './shell/hooks/use-status-snapshot'
 import { useStatusbarItems } from './shell/hooks/use-statusbar-items'
+import { ModelMenuPanel } from './shell/model-menu-panel'
 import type { StatusbarItem } from './shell/statusbar-controls'
 import type { TitlebarTool } from './shell/titlebar-controls'
 import { useGroupRegistry } from './shell/use-group-registry'
@@ -103,6 +115,7 @@ export function DesktopController() {
   const previewTarget = useStore($previewTarget)
   const selectedStoredSessionId = useStore($selectedStoredSessionId)
   const terminalTakeover = useStore($terminalTakeover)
+  const panesFlipped = useStore($panesFlipped)
 
   const routedSessionId = routeSessionId(location.pathname)
   const routeToken = `${location.pathname}:${location.search}:${location.hash}`
@@ -116,12 +129,15 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     closeOverlayToPreviousRoute,
     commandCenterInitialSection,
     commandCenterOpen,
+    cronOpen,
     currentView,
     openAgents,
     openCommandCenterSection,
+    profilesOpen,
     settingsOpen,
     toggleCommandCenter
   } = useOverlayRouting()
+
   const terminalTakeoverActive = chatOpen && terminalTakeover
 
   const titlebarToolGroups = useGroupRegistry<TitlebarTool>()
@@ -185,6 +201,31 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     }
   }, [])
 
+  // Global chrome shortcuts (plain Cmd/Ctrl, no alt/shift): Cmd+K → command
+  // palette (the composer's "drain next queued" moved to Cmd+Shift+K), Cmd+. →
+  // command center (sessions / system / usage).
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const onKeyDown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (!(event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey) || event.altKey || event.shiftKey) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      const key = event.key.toLowerCase()
+
+      if (key === 'k') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        toggleCommandPalette()
+      } else if (key === '.') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        toggleCommandCenter()
+      }
+    }
+
+    window.addEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
+
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
+  }, [toggleCommandCenter])
+
   const refreshSessions = useCallback(async () => {
     const requestId = refreshSessionsRequestRef.current + 1
     refreshSessionsRequestRef.current = requestId
@@ -192,10 +233,19 @@ export function DesktopController() {
 
     try {
       const limit = $sessionsLimit.get()
-      const result = await listSessions(limit)
+      // Require at least one message so abandoned/empty "Untitled" drafts (one
+      // was created per TUI/desktop launch before the lazy-create fix) don't
+      // clutter the sidebar.
+      const result = await listSessions(limit, 1)
 
       if (refreshSessionsRequestRef.current === requestId) {
-        setSessions(result.sessions)
+        // Don't hard-replace. Two kinds of rows must survive a refresh the
+        // server didn't return: (1) sessions whose first turn is still in
+        // flight (message_count 0, so min_messages=1 omits them) and (2)
+        // pinned sessions that have aged off the most-recent page — otherwise
+        // the pin "disappears until you refresh". mergeSessionPage keeps both.
+        const keepIds = new Set<string>([...$workingSessionIds.get(), ...$pinnedSessionIds.get()])
+        setSessions(prev => mergeSessionPage(prev, result.sessions, keepIds))
         setSessionsTotal(typeof result.total === 'number' ? result.total : result.sessions.length)
       }
     } finally {
@@ -217,10 +267,14 @@ export function DesktopController() {
       return
     }
 
-    if ($pinnedSessionIds.get().includes(sessionId)) {
-      unpinSession(sessionId)
+    // Pin on the durable lineage-root id so the pin survives auto-compression.
+    const session = $sessions.get().find(s => s.id === sessionId || s._lineage_root_id === sessionId)
+    const pinId = session ? sessionPinId(session) : sessionId
+
+    if ($pinnedSessionIds.get().includes(pinId)) {
+      unpinSession(pinId)
     } else {
-      pinSession(sessionId)
+      pinSession(pinId)
     }
   }, [])
 
@@ -261,6 +315,22 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     requestGateway
   })
 
+  const openProviderSettings = useCallback(() => {
+    navigate(`${SETTINGS_ROUTE}?tab=keys`)
+  }, [navigate])
+
+  const modelMenuContent = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      gatewayState === 'open' ? (
+        <ModelMenuPanel
+          gateway={gatewayRef.current || undefined}
+          onSelectModel={selectModel}
+          requestGateway={requestGateway}
+        />
+      ) : null,
+    [gatewayRef, gatewayState, requestGateway, selectModel]
+  )
+
   useContextSuggestions({
     activeSessionId,
     activeSessionIdRef,
@@ -324,6 +394,7 @@ export function DesktopController() {
   })
 
   const {
+    archiveSession,
     branchCurrentSession,
     createBackendSessionForSend,
     openSettings,
@@ -358,14 +429,24 @@ export function DesktopController() {
         target instanceof HTMLTextAreaElement ||
         target instanceof HTMLSelectElement
 
-      if (editing || event.defaultPrevented || event.repeat || event.altKey || event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey) {
+      if (event.defaultPrevented || event.repeat || event.altKey || event.code !== 'KeyN') {
         return
       }
 
-      if (event.shiftKey && event.code === 'KeyN') {
-        event.preventDefault()
-        startFreshSessionDraft()
+      // Two accelerators for "new session":
+      //   - Cmd/Ctrl+N (browser-like, works while typing in any input)
+      //   - Shift+N    (single-key, only when no input is focused)
+      const accelerator = event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey
+      const singleKey = !accelerator && !editing && event.shiftKey
+
+      if (!accelerator && !singleKey) {
+        return
       }
+
+      event.preventDefault()
+      startFreshSessionDraft()
+      // Briefly light up the sidebar's ⌘N hint so the shortcut is discoverable.
+      window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('hermes:new-session-shortcut'))
     }
 
     window.addEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
@@ -392,6 +473,29 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     [branchCurrentSession, refreshSessions]
   )
 
+  const startSessionInWorkspace = useCallback(
+    (path: null | string) => {
+      startFreshSessionDraft()
+
+      const target = path?.trim()
+
+      if (!target) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      // The next message creates the backend session in $currentCwd, so seed
+      // it (and the branch) from the workspace the user clicked the + on.
+      setCurrentCwd(target)
+      void requestGateway<{ branch?: string; cwd?: string }>('config.get', { key: 'project', cwd: target })
+        .then(info => {
+          setCurrentCwd(info.cwd || target)
+          setCurrentBranch(info.branch || '')
+        })
+        .catch(() => undefined)
+    },
+    [requestGateway, startFreshSessionDraft]
+  )
+
   const handleSkinCommand = useSkinCommand()
 
   const { cancelRun, editMessage, handleThreadMessagesChange, reloadFromMessage, submitText, transcribeVoiceAudio } =
@@ -452,8 +556,11 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     gatewayLogLines,
     gatewayState,
     inferenceStatus,
+    modelMenuContent,
     openAgents,
+    freshDraftReady,
     openCommandCenterSection,
+    requestGateway,
     statusSnapshot,
     toggleCommandCenter
   })
@@ -461,9 +568,11 @@ export function DesktopController() {
   const sidebar = (
     <ChatSidebar
       currentView={currentView}
+      onArchiveSession={sessionId => void archiveSession(sessionId)}
       onDeleteSession={sessionId => void removeSession(sessionId)}
       onLoadMoreSessions={loadMoreSessions}
       onNavigate={selectSidebarItem}
+      onNewSessionInWorkspace={startSessionInWorkspace}
       onResumeSession={sessionId => navigate(sessionRoute(sessionId))}
     />
   )
@@ -484,8 +593,11 @@ export function DesktopController() {
         requestGateway={requestGateway}
       />
       <ModelPickerOverlay gateway={gatewayRef.current || undefined} onSelect={selectModel} />
+      <ModelVisibilityOverlay gateway={gatewayRef.current || undefined} onOpenProviders={openProviderSettings} />
       <UpdatesOverlay />
+      <GatewayConnectingOverlay />
       <BootFailureOverlay />
+      <CommandPalette />
 
       {settingsOpen && (
         <Suspense fallback={null}>
@@ -497,6 +609,13 @@ export function DesktopController() {
               void refreshCurrentModel()
               void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['model-options'] })
             }}
+            onMainModelChanged={(provider, model) => {
+              setCurrentProvider(provider)
+              setCurrentModel(model)
+              updateModelOptionsCache(provider, model, true)
+              void refreshCurrentModel()
+              void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['model-options'] })
+            }}
           />
         </Suspense>
       )}
@@ -507,14 +626,6 @@ export function DesktopController() {
             initialSection={commandCenterInitialSection}
             onClose={closeOverlayToPreviousRoute}
             onDeleteSession={removeSession}
-            onMainModelChanged={(provider, model) => {
-              setCurrentProvider(provider)
-              setCurrentModel(model)
-              updateModelOptionsCache(provider, model, true)
-              void refreshCurrentModel()
-              void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['model-options'] })
-            }}
-            onNavigateRoute={path => navigate(path)}
             onOpenSession={sessionId => navigate(sessionRoute(sessionId))}
           />
         </Suspense>
@@ -525,6 +636,18 @@ export function DesktopController() {
           <AgentsView onClose={closeOverlayToPreviousRoute} />
         </Suspense>
       )}
+
+      {cronOpen && (
+        <Suspense fallback={null}>
+          <CronView onClose={closeOverlayToPreviousRoute} />
+        </Suspense>
+      )}
+
+      {profilesOpen && (
+        <Suspense fallback={null}>
+          <ProfilesView onClose={closeOverlayToPreviousRoute} />
+        </Suspense>
+      )}
     </>
   )
 
@@ -536,7 +659,7 @@ export function DesktopController() {
       onAddUrl={url => composer.addContextRefAttachment(`@url:${formatRefValue(url)}`, url)}
       onAttachDroppedItems={composer.attachDroppedItems}
       onAttachImageBlob={composer.attachImageBlob}
-      onBranchInNewChat={messageId => void branchInNewChat(messageId)}
+      onBranchInNewChat={branchInNewChat}
       onCancel={cancelRun}
       onDeleteSelectedSession={() => {
         if (selectedStoredSessionId) {
@@ -563,24 +686,64 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     </div>
   )
 
+  // Flipped layout mirrors the default: sessions sidebar → right, file
+  // browser + preview rail → left. Same panes, swapped sides.
+  const sidebarSide = panesFlipped ? 'right' : 'left'
+  const railSide = panesFlipped ? 'left' : 'right'
+
+  const previewPane = (
+    <Pane
+      disabled={!chatOpen || (!previewTarget && !filePreviewTarget)}
+      id="preview"
+      key="preview"
+      maxWidth={PREVIEW_RAIL_MAX_WIDTH}
+      minWidth={PREVIEW_RAIL_MIN_WIDTH}
+      resizable
+      side={railSide}
+      width={PREVIEW_RAIL_PANE_WIDTH}
+    >
+      {chatOpen ? (
+        <ChatPreviewRail onRestartServer={restartPreviewServer} setTitlebarToolGroup={setTitlebarToolGroup} />
+      ) : null}
+    </Pane>
+  )
+
+  const fileBrowserPane = (
+    <Pane
+      defaultOpen={false}
+      disabled={!chatOpen}
+      id="file-browser"
+      key="file-browser"
+      maxWidth={FILE_BROWSER_MAX_WIDTH}
+      minWidth={FILE_BROWSER_MIN_WIDTH}
+      resizable
+      side={railSide}
+      width={FILE_BROWSER_DEFAULT_WIDTH}
+    >
+      <RightSidebarPane
+        onActivateFile={composer.attachContextFilePath}
+        onActivateFolder={composer.attachContextFolderPath}
+        onChangeCwd={changeSessionCwd}
+      />
+    </Pane>
+  )
+
   return (
     <AppShell
-      commandCenterOpen={commandCenterOpen}
       leftStatusbarItems={leftStatusbarItems}
       leftTitlebarTools={titlebarToolGroups.flat.left}
-      onOpenSearch={() => openCommandCenterSection('sessions')}
       onOpenSettings={openSettings}
       overlays={overlays}
       statusbarItems={statusbarItems}
       titlebarTools={titlebarToolGroups.flat.right}
     >
       <Pane
+        disabled={terminalTakeoverActive}
         id="chat-sidebar"
         maxWidth={SIDEBAR_MAX_WIDTH}
         minWidth={SIDEBAR_DEFAULT_WIDTH}
-        disabled={terminalTakeoverActive}
         resizable
-        side="left"
+        side={sidebarSide}
         width={`${SIDEBAR_DEFAULT_WIDTH}px`}
       >
         {sidebar}
@@ -613,25 +776,8 @@ export function DesktopController() {
             }
             path="artifacts"
           />
-          <Route
-            element={
-              <Suspense fallback={null}>
-                <CronView setStatusbarItemGroup={setStatusbarItemGroup} />
-              </Suspense>
-            }
-            path="cron"
-          />
-          <Route
-            element={
-              <Suspense fallback={null}>
-                <ProfilesView
-                  setStatusbarItemGroup={setStatusbarItemGroup}
-                  setTitlebarToolGroup={setTitlebarToolGroup}
-                />
-              </Suspense>
-            }
-            path="profiles"
-          />
+          <Route element={null} path="cron" />
+          <Route element={null} path="profiles" />
           <Route element={null} path="settings" />
           <Route element={null} path="command-center" />
           <Route element={null} path="agents" />
@@ -640,35 +786,13 @@ export function DesktopController() {
           <Route element={<Navigate replace to={NEW_CHAT_ROUTE} />} path="*" />
         </Routes>
       </PaneMain>
-      <Pane
-        disabled={!chatOpen || (!previewTarget && !filePreviewTarget)}
-        id="preview"
-        maxWidth={PREVIEW_RAIL_MAX_WIDTH}
-        minWidth={PREVIEW_RAIL_MIN_WIDTH}
-        resizable
-        side="right"
-        width={PREVIEW_RAIL_PANE_WIDTH}
-      >
-        {chatOpen ? (
-          <ChatPreviewRail onRestartServer={restartPreviewServer} setTitlebarToolGroup={setTitlebarToolGroup} />
-        ) : null}
-      </Pane>
-      <Pane
-        defaultOpen={false}
-        disabled={!chatOpen}
-        id="file-browser"
-        maxWidth={FILE_BROWSER_MAX_WIDTH}
-        minWidth={FILE_BROWSER_MIN_WIDTH}
-        resizable
-        side="right"
-        width={FILE_BROWSER_DEFAULT_WIDTH}
-      >
-        <RightSidebarPane
-          onActivateFile={composer.attachContextFilePath}
-          onActivateFolder={composer.attachContextFolderPath}
-          onChangeCwd={changeSessionCwd}
-        />
-      </Pane>
+      {/*
+        Order within a side maps to column order. Default (rail on the right):
+        main | preview | file-browser. Flipped (rail on the left): mirror it to
+        file-browser | preview | main so preview stays adjacent to the chat.
+      */}
+      {panesFlipped ? fileBrowserPane : previewPane}
+      {panesFlipped ? previewPane : fileBrowserPane}
     </AppShell>
   )
 }

apps/desktop/src/app/gateway/hooks/use-gateway-boot.ts

@@ -63,6 +63,94 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
       return () => void (cancelled = true)
     }
 
+    // --- Reconnect-after-sleep machinery -------------------------------------
+    // macOS sleep silently drops the renderer's WebSocket. The backend Python
+    // process keeps running, but nothing re-opened the socket on wake, so the
+    // composer stayed disabled forever on "Starting Hermes...". Once the
+    // initial boot succeeds we treat any non-open state as recoverable and
+    // reconnect with backoff, and we nudge a reconnect on the OS/browser
+    // signals that fire around wake (power resume, network online, the window
+    // becoming visible).
+    let bootCompleted = false
+    let reconnecting = false
+    let reconnectTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
+    let reconnectAttempt = 0
+
+    // Wrap the live getter in a call so TS control-flow analysis doesn't narrow
+    // `connectionState` to a constant across the early-return guards (the state
+    // genuinely changes between reads).
+    const gatewayOpen = () => gateway.connectionState === 'open'
+
+    const clearReconnectTimer = () => {
+      if (reconnectTimer !== null) {
+        clearTimeout(reconnectTimer)
+        reconnectTimer = null
+      }
+    }
+
+    const attemptReconnect = async () => {
+      if (cancelled || reconnecting || gatewayOpen()) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      reconnecting = true
+
+      try {
+        const conn = await desktop.getConnection()
+
+        if (cancelled) {
+          return
+        }
+
+        publish(conn)
+        await gateway.connect(conn.wsUrl)
+
+        if (cancelled) {
+          return
+        }
+
+        reconnectAttempt = 0
+        // Resync state that may have moved on the backend while we were asleep.
+        await callbacksRef.current.refreshHermesConfig().catch(() => undefined)
+        await callbacksRef.current.refreshSessions().catch(() => undefined)
+      } catch {
+        // Fall through to scheduleReconnect's backoff below.
+      } finally {
+        reconnecting = false
+
+        if (!cancelled && !gatewayOpen()) {
+          scheduleReconnect()
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    function scheduleReconnect() {
+      if (cancelled || reconnecting || reconnectTimer !== null || gatewayOpen()) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      // 1s, 2s, 4s … capped at 15s.
+      const delay = Math.min(15_000, 1_000 * 2 ** Math.min(reconnectAttempt, 4))
+      reconnectAttempt += 1
+      reconnectTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+        reconnectTimer = null
+        void attemptReconnect()
+      }, delay)
+    }
+
+    const reconnectNow = () => {
+      if (cancelled || !bootCompleted) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      clearReconnectTimer()
+      reconnectAttempt = 0
+
+      if (!gatewayOpen()) {
+        void attemptReconnect()
+      }
+    }
+
     const offBootProgress = desktop.onBootProgress(payload => applyDesktopBootProgress(payload))
     void desktop
       .getBootProgress()
@@ -79,9 +167,34 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
     callbacksRef.current.onGatewayReady(gateway)
     setGateway(gateway)
 
-    const offState = gateway.onState(st => void setGatewayState(st))
+    const offState = gateway.onState(st => {
+      setGatewayState(st)
+
+      if (st === 'open') {
+        reconnectAttempt = 0
+        clearReconnectTimer()
+      } else if (bootCompleted && (st === 'closed' || st === 'error')) {
+        // The socket dropped after a healthy boot (typically sleep/wake). Try
+        // to bring it back instead of leaving the composer stuck disabled.
+        scheduleReconnect()
+      }
+    })
     const offEvent = gateway.onEvent(event => callbacksRef.current.handleGatewayEvent(event))
 
+    // Wake signals: power resume (macOS/Windows), network coming back, and the
+    // window regaining focus/visibility. Each nudges an immediate reconnect.
+    const offPowerResume = desktop.onPowerResume?.(() => reconnectNow())
+
+    const onOnline = () => reconnectNow()
+    const onVisible = () => {
+      if (document.visibilityState === 'visible') {
+        reconnectNow()
+      }
+    }
+
+    window.addEventListener('online', onOnline)
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisible)
+
     const offWindowState = desktop.onWindowStateChanged?.(payload => {
       const current = $connection.get()
 
@@ -141,6 +254,7 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
         })
         await callbacksRef.current.refreshSessions()
         completeDesktopBoot()
+        bootCompleted = true
       } catch (err) {
         if (!cancelled) {
           const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
@@ -155,6 +269,10 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
 
     return () => {
       cancelled = true
+      clearReconnectTimer()
+      window.removeEventListener('online', onOnline)
+      document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisible)
+      offPowerResume?.()
       offState()
       offEvent()
       offExit()

apps/desktop/src/app/hooks/use-refresh-hotkey.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
+
+/**
+ * Binds the bare `r` key to a refresh action while the calling view is mounted.
+ * Ignored when a modifier is held, the event repeats, or focus is in an
+ * editable field (so typing "r" in a search/input never triggers it).
+ */
+export function useRefreshHotkey(onRefresh: () => void, enabled = true) {
+  const ref = useRef(onRefresh)
+  ref.current = onRefresh
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!enabled) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const onKeyDown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (event.key !== 'r' && event.key !== 'R') {
+        return
+      }
+
+      if (event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey || event.altKey || event.shiftKey || event.repeat) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      const target = event.target as HTMLElement | null
+
+      if (
+        target?.isContentEditable ||
+        target instanceof HTMLInputElement ||
+        target instanceof HTMLTextAreaElement ||
+        target instanceof HTMLSelectElement
+      ) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      event.preventDefault()
+      ref.current()
+    }
+
+    window.addEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
+
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
+  }, [enabled])
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/layout-constants.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// Responsive horizontal gutter for primary content bodies (settings right side,
+// skills, artifacts, command center / sessions). Ratio-based so it scales with
+// the window, but clamped so it never collapses on narrow widths or runs away
+// on ultrawide displays. Headers/tabs intentionally keep their own tighter
+// padding.
+//
+// NOTE: these must stay literal strings — Tailwind's scanner only picks up
+// complete class names, so do not build them via template interpolation.
+export const PAGE_INSET_X = 'px-[clamp(1.25rem,4vw,4rem)]'
+
+// Matching negative inline-margin to bleed an element (e.g. a sticky header bar)
+// out to the gutter edges before re-applying PAGE_INSET_X.
+export const PAGE_INSET_NEG_X = '-mx-[clamp(1.25rem,4vw,4rem)]'

apps/desktop/src/app/messaging/index.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { PageLoader } from '@/components/page-loader'
 import { StatusDot, type StatusTone } from '@/components/status-dot'
+import { Badge, type BadgeProps } from '@/components/ui/badge'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { DisclosureCaret } from '@/components/ui/disclosure-caret'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
@@ -17,10 +18,13 @@ import { AlertTriangle, ExternalLink, Save, Trash2 } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
 
+import { useRefreshHotkey } from '../hooks/use-refresh-hotkey'
 import { useRouteEnumParam } from '../hooks/use-route-enum-param'
 import { PageSearchShell } from '../page-search-shell'
 import type { SetStatusbarItemGroup } from '../shell/statusbar-controls'
 
+import { PlatformAvatar } from './platform-icon'
+
 interface MessagingViewProps extends React.ComponentProps<'section'> {
   setStatusbarItemGroup?: SetStatusbarItemGroup
 }
@@ -39,34 +43,11 @@ const STATE_LABELS: Record<string, string> = {
   startup_failed: 'Startup failed'
 }
 
-const PLATFORM_TINTS: Record<string, string> = {
-  telegram: 'bg-sky-500/15 text-sky-600 dark:text-sky-300',
-  discord: 'bg-indigo-500/15 text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-300',
-  slack: 'bg-violet-500/15 text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-300',
-  mattermost: 'bg-blue-500/15 text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-300',
-  matrix: 'bg-emerald-500/15 text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-300',
-  signal: 'bg-cyan-500/15 text-cyan-600 dark:text-cyan-300',
-  whatsapp: 'bg-green-500/15 text-green-600 dark:text-green-300',
-  bluebubbles: 'bg-blue-500/15 text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-300',
-  homeassistant: 'bg-teal-500/15 text-teal-600 dark:text-teal-300',
-  email: 'bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-300',
-  sms: 'bg-rose-500/15 text-rose-600 dark:text-rose-300',
-  dingtalk: 'bg-blue-500/15 text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-300',
-  feishu: 'bg-cyan-500/15 text-cyan-600 dark:text-cyan-300',
-  wecom: 'bg-emerald-500/15 text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-300',
-  wecom_callback: 'bg-emerald-500/15 text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-300',
-  weixin: 'bg-green-500/15 text-green-600 dark:text-green-300',
-  qqbot: 'bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-300',
-  yuanbao: 'bg-orange-500/15 text-orange-600 dark:text-orange-300',
-  api_server: 'bg-slate-500/15 text-slate-600 dark:text-slate-300',
-  webhook: 'bg-zinc-500/15 text-zinc-600 dark:text-zinc-300'
-}
-
-const PILL_TONE: Record<StatusTone, string> = {
-  good: 'bg-primary/10 text-primary',
-  muted: 'bg-muted text-muted-foreground',
-  warn: 'bg-amber-500/10 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-300',
-  bad: 'bg-destructive/10 text-destructive'
+const TONE_VARIANT: Record<StatusTone, BadgeProps['variant']> = {
+  good: 'default',
+  muted: 'muted',
+  warn: 'warn',
+  bad: 'destructive'
 }
 
 const HINT_BY_STATE: Record<string, string> = {
@@ -234,6 +215,8 @@ export function MessagingView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
     }
   }, [])
 
+  useRefreshHotkey(() => void refreshPlatforms())
+
   useEffect(() => {
     void refreshPlatforms()
   }, [refreshPlatforms])
@@ -364,15 +347,15 @@ export function MessagingView({ setStatusbarItemGroup: _setStatusbarItemGroup, .
     <PageSearchShell
       {...props}
       onSearchChange={setQuery}
+      searchHidden={(platforms?.length ?? 0) === 0}
       searchPlaceholder="Search messaging..."
-      searchTrailingAction={null}
       searchValue={query}
     >
       {!platforms ? (
         <PageLoader label="Loading messaging platforms..." />
       ) : (
         <div className="grid h-full min-h-0 grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-[14rem_minmax(0,1fr)]">
-          <aside className="min-h-0 overflow-y-auto border-b border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) p-2 lg:border-b-0 lg:border-r">
+          <aside className="min-h-0 overflow-y-auto p-2">
             <ul className="space-y-1">
               {visiblePlatforms.map(platform => (
                 <li key={platform.id}>
@@ -427,8 +410,8 @@ function PlatformRow({
       className={cn(
         'flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-left transition-colors',
         active
-          ? 'bg-(--ui-bg-tertiary) text-foreground'
-          : 'text-(--ui-text-secondary) hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground'
+          ? 'bg-(--ui-row-active-background) text-foreground'
+          : 'text-(--ui-text-secondary) hover:bg-(--ui-row-hover-background) hover:text-foreground'
       )}
       onClick={onSelect}
       type="button"
@@ -442,19 +425,6 @@ function PlatformRow({
   )
 }
 
-function PlatformAvatar({ platformId, platformName }: { platformId: string; platformName: string }) {
-  return (
-    <span
-      className={cn(
-        'inline-flex size-6 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-md text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] font-medium',
-        PLATFORM_TINTS[platformId] || 'bg-(--ui-bg-tertiary) text-(--ui-text-tertiary)'
-      )}
-    >
-      {platformName.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
-    </span>
-  )
-}
-
 function PlatformDetail({
   edits,
   onClear,
@@ -516,7 +486,7 @@ function PlatformDetail({
               {introCopy(platform)}
             </p>
             <div className="mt-3">
-              <Button asChild size="sm" variant="outline">
+              <Button asChild size="sm" variant="textStrong">
                 <a href={platform.docs_url} rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
                   Open setup guide
                   <ExternalLink className="size-3.5" />
@@ -594,19 +564,15 @@ function PlatformDetail({
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <footer className="border-t border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-chat-surface-background) px-5 py-2.5">
+      <footer className="bg-(--ui-chat-surface-background) px-5 py-2.5">
         <div className="mx-auto flex max-w-2xl flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-          <label className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2 rounded-md border border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-bg-quinary) px-2.5 py-1.5 text-[length:var(--conversation-text-font-size)]">
-            <Switch
-              aria-label={platform.enabled ? `Disable ${platform.name}` : `Enable ${platform.name}`}
-              checked={platform.enabled}
-              disabled={saving === `enabled:${platform.id}`}
-              onCheckedChange={onToggle}
-            />
-            <span className="text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground">
-              {platform.enabled ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled'}
-            </span>
-          </label>
+          <Switch
+            aria-label={platform.enabled ? `Disable ${platform.name}` : `Enable ${platform.name}`}
+            checked={platform.enabled}
+            disabled={saving === `enabled:${platform.id}`}
+            onCheckedChange={onToggle}
+            size="xs"
+          />
 
           <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-2">
             {hasEdits && <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Unsaved changes</span>}
@@ -685,7 +651,7 @@ function MessagingField({
       </div>
       <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
         <Input
-          className="h-9 rounded-lg font-mono text-sm"
+          className="font-mono"
           id={`messaging-field-${field.key}`}
           onChange={event => onEdit(field.key, event.target.value)}
           placeholder={field.is_set ? field.redacted_value || 'Replace current value' : copy.placeholder}
@@ -732,27 +698,13 @@ function PlatformHint({ platform }: { platform: MessagingPlatformInfo }) {
 
 function StatePill({ children, tone }: { children: string; tone: StatusTone }) {
   return (
-    <span
-      className={cn(
-        'inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 text-[0.66rem] font-medium',
-        PILL_TONE[tone]
-      )}
-    >
+    <Badge variant={TONE_VARIANT[tone]}>
       <StatusDot tone={tone} />
       {children}
-    </span>
+    </Badge>
   )
 }
 
 function SetupPill({ active, children }: { active: boolean; children: string }) {
-  return (
-    <span
-      className={cn(
-        'inline-flex items-center rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 text-[0.66rem] font-medium',
-        PILL_TONE[active ? 'good' : 'muted']
-      )}
-    >
-      {children}
-    </span>
-  )
+  return <Badge variant={active ? 'default' : 'muted'}>{children}</Badge>
 }

apps/desktop/src/app/messaging/platform-icon.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+import type { ComponentType, SVGProps } from 'react'
+
+import {
+  SiApple,
+  SiBilibili,
+  SiDiscord,
+  SiGmail,
+  SiHomeassistant,
+  SiMatrix,
+  SiMattermost,
+  SiQq,
+  SiSignal,
+  SiTelegram,
+  SiWechat,
+  SiWhatsapp
+} from '@icons-pack/react-simple-icons'
+
+import { Globe, Link as LinkIcon, MessageSquareText } from '@/lib/icons'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+
+// We render simpleicons.org brand glyphs for platforms whose owners publish a
+// usable mark (telegram, discord, matrix, ...). A few brands — Slack, Dingtalk,
+// Feishu, WeCom — have been removed from Simple Icons at the brand owner's
+// request, so we fall back to a colored letter monogram for those.
+//
+// `iconColor` is the brand's hex from simpleicons.org so we can paint each
+// glyph in its native color on top of a soft tint. The fallback monogram uses
+// the same hex to keep visual consistency.
+type IconKind = 'brand' | 'generic'
+
+interface PlatformIconSpec {
+  Icon: ComponentType<SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>>
+  color: string
+  kind: IconKind
+}
+
+const PLATFORM_ICONS: Record<string, PlatformIconSpec> = {
+  telegram: { Icon: SiTelegram, color: '#26A5E4', kind: 'brand' },
+  discord: { Icon: SiDiscord, color: '#5865F2', kind: 'brand' },
+  // Slack removed from Simple Icons by Salesforce request — letter monogram.
+  mattermost: { Icon: SiMattermost, color: '#0058CC', kind: 'brand' },
+  matrix: { Icon: SiMatrix, color: '#000000', kind: 'brand' },
+  signal: { Icon: SiSignal, color: '#3A76F0', kind: 'brand' },
+  whatsapp: { Icon: SiWhatsapp, color: '#25D366', kind: 'brand' },
+  bluebubbles: { Icon: SiApple, color: '#0BD318', kind: 'brand' },
+  homeassistant: { Icon: SiHomeassistant, color: '#18BCF2', kind: 'brand' },
+  email: { Icon: SiGmail, color: '#EA4335', kind: 'brand' },
+  sms: { Icon: MessageSquareText, color: '#F43F5E', kind: 'generic' },
+  webhook: { Icon: LinkIcon, color: '#71717A', kind: 'generic' },
+  api_server: { Icon: Globe, color: '#64748B', kind: 'generic' },
+  weixin: { Icon: SiWechat, color: '#07C160', kind: 'brand' },
+  qqbot: { Icon: SiQq, color: '#EB1923', kind: 'brand' },
+  yuanbao: { Icon: SiBilibili, color: '#FB7299', kind: 'brand' }
+}
+
+interface PlatformAvatarProps {
+  platformId: string
+  platformName: string
+  className?: string
+}
+
+export function PlatformAvatar({ className, platformId, platformName }: PlatformAvatarProps) {
+  const spec = PLATFORM_ICONS[platformId]
+
+  const baseClass = cn(
+    'inline-grid size-6 shrink-0 place-items-center rounded-md text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] font-medium',
+    className
+  )
+
+  if (!spec) {
+    return (
+      <span
+        aria-hidden="true"
+        className={cn(baseClass, 'bg-(--ui-bg-tertiary) text-(--ui-text-tertiary)')}
+      >
+        {platformName.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
+      </span>
+    )
+  }
+
+  const { Icon, color } = spec
+
+  return (
+    <span
+      aria-hidden="true"
+      className={baseClass}
+      style={{
+        // 16% tint of the brand color so the glyph reads against any surface
+        // without the avatar dominating the row.
+        backgroundColor: `color-mix(in srgb, ${color} 16%, transparent)`,
+        color
+      }}
+    >
+      <Icon className="size-3.5" />
+    </span>
+  )
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/model-visibility-overlay.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
+
+import { ModelVisibilityDialog } from '@/components/model-visibility-dialog'
+import type { HermesGateway } from '@/hermes'
+import { $modelVisibilityOpen, setModelVisibilityOpen } from '@/store/model-visibility'
+import { $activeSessionId, $gatewayState } from '@/store/session'
+
+interface ModelVisibilityOverlayProps {
+  gateway?: HermesGateway
+  onOpenProviders: () => void
+}
+
+export function ModelVisibilityOverlay({ gateway, onOpenProviders }: ModelVisibilityOverlayProps) {
+  const activeSessionId = useStore($activeSessionId)
+  const gatewayOpen = useStore($gatewayState) === 'open'
+  const open = useStore($modelVisibilityOpen)
+
+  if (!gatewayOpen) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <ModelVisibilityDialog
+      gw={gateway}
+      onOpenChange={setModelVisibilityOpen}
+      onOpenProviders={onOpenProviders}
+      open={open}
+      sessionId={activeSessionId}
+    />
+  )
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/overlays/overlay-search-input.tsx

@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-import type { ReactNode, RefObject } from 'react'
-
-import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
-import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
-import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
-import { Loader2, Search } from '@/lib/icons'
-import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-
-interface OverlaySearchInputProps {
-  placeholder: string
-  value: string
-  onChange: (value: string) => void
-  containerClassName?: string
-  inputClassName?: string
-  loading?: boolean
-  onClear?: () => void
-  inputRef?: RefObject<HTMLInputElement | null>
-  trailingAction?: ReactNode
-}
-
-export function OverlaySearchInput({
-  placeholder,
-  value,
-  onChange,
-  containerClassName,
-  inputClassName,
-  loading = false,
-  onClear,
-  inputRef,
-  trailingAction
-}: OverlaySearchInputProps) {
-  const clear = onClear ?? (() => onChange(''))
-  const hasTrailing = Boolean(trailingAction)
-
-  return (
-    <div className={cn('relative', containerClassName)}>
-      <Search className="pointer-events-none absolute left-3 top-1/2 z-1 size-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground/80" />
-      <Input
-        className={cn(
-          'relative z-0 h-8 rounded-lg py-2 pl-8 text-[length:var(--conversation-text-font-size)]',
-          hasTrailing || loading || value ? 'pr-16' : 'pr-8',
-          inputClassName
-        )}
-        onChange={event => onChange(event.target.value)}
-        placeholder={placeholder}
-        ref={inputRef}
-        value={value}
-      />
-      <div className="absolute right-1.5 top-1/2 z-1 flex -translate-y-1/2 items-center gap-0.5">
-        {trailingAction}
-        {loading ? (
-          <Loader2 className="pointer-events-none size-3.5 animate-spin text-muted-foreground/70" />
-        ) : value ? (
-          <Button
-            aria-label="Clear search"
-            className="text-muted-foreground/85 hover:bg-accent/60 hover:text-foreground"
-            onClick={clear}
-            size="icon-xs"
-            variant="ghost"
-          >
-            <Codicon name="close" size="0.875rem" />
-          </Button>
-        ) : null}
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  )
-}
-
-export function PageSearchInput(props: OverlaySearchInputProps) {
-  return (
-    <OverlaySearchInput
-      {...props}
-      containerClassName={cn('mx-auto w-[min(36rem,calc(100%-2rem))] min-w-0', props.containerClassName)}
-      inputClassName={cn('h-8 rounded-lg py-2 pl-8', props.inputClassName)}
-    />
-  )
-}

apps/desktop/src/app/overlays/overlay-split-layout.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
 import type { IconComponent } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
+import { PAGE_INSET_X } from '../layout-constants'
+
 interface OverlaySplitLayoutProps {
   children: ReactNode
   className?: string
@@ -43,7 +45,9 @@ export function OverlaySidebar({ children, className }: OverlaySidebarProps) {
   return (
     <aside
       className={cn(
-        'flex min-h-0 flex-col gap-0.5 overflow-y-auto bg-(--ui-sidebar-surface-background) px-2.5 py-3',
+        // pt clears the floating titlebar/header; the bg itself fills from the
+        // card's top edge so there's no surface-colored gap above the sidebar.
+        'flex min-h-0 flex-col gap-0.5 overflow-y-auto bg-(--ui-sidebar-surface-background) px-2.5 pb-3 pt-[calc(var(--titlebar-height)+1rem)]',
         className
       )}
     >
@@ -54,7 +58,15 @@ export function OverlaySidebar({ children, className }: OverlaySidebarProps) {
 
 export function OverlayMain({ children, className }: OverlayMainProps) {
   return (
-    <main className={cn('flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-transparent p-3', className)}>{children}</main>
+    <main
+      className={cn(
+        'flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-transparent pb-3 pt-[calc(var(--titlebar-height)+1rem)]',
+        PAGE_INSET_X,
+        className
+      )}
+    >
+      {children}
+    </main>
   )
 }
 

apps/desktop/src/app/overlays/overlay-view.tsx

@@ -64,23 +64,26 @@ export function OverlayView({
       >
         <div className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-x-0 top-0 z-10 h-[calc(var(--titlebar-height)+0.1875rem)] [-webkit-app-region:drag]">
           {headerContent && (
-            <div className="pointer-events-auto absolute left-1/2 top-[calc(1rem+var(--titlebar-height)/2)] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 [-webkit-app-region:no-drag]">
+            <div className="pointer-events-auto absolute left-1/2 top-[calc(0.5rem+var(--titlebar-height)/2)] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 [-webkit-app-region:no-drag]">
               {headerContent}
             </div>
           )}
 
           <Button
             aria-label={closeLabel}
-            className="pointer-events-auto absolute right-3 top-[calc(0.1875rem+var(--titlebar-height)/2)] h-7 w-7 -translate-y-1/2 rounded-md text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground [-webkit-app-region:no-drag]"
+            className="pointer-events-auto absolute right-3 top-[calc(0.1875rem+var(--titlebar-height)/2)] -translate-y-1/2 text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground [-webkit-app-region:no-drag]"
             onClick={closeOverlay}
-            size="icon"
+            size="icon-titlebar"
             variant="ghost"
           >
             <Codicon name="close" size="1rem" />
           </Button>
         </div>
 
-        <div className={cn('min-h-0 flex flex-1 flex-col pt-(--titlebar-height)', contentClassName)}>{children}</div>
+        {/* No top padding here: the split-layout columns own their own
+            titlebar clearance so their backgrounds run flush to the card top
+            (otherwise the card surface shows as a gap above the sidebar). */}
+        <div className={cn('min-h-0 flex flex-1 flex-col', contentClassName)}>{children}</div>
       </div>
     </div>
   )

apps/desktop/src/app/page-search-shell.tsx

@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
 import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
 
+import { SearchField } from '@/components/ui/search-field'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
-import { PageSearchInput } from './overlays/overlay-search-input'
-
 interface PageSearchShellProps extends React.ComponentProps<'section'> {
   children: ReactNode
+  /** Primary tabs shown on the top row, beside the search. */
+  tabs?: ReactNode
+  /** Secondary filters shown full-width on their own row below (expands). */
   filters?: ReactNode
   onSearchChange: (value: string) => void
   searchPlaceholder: string
-  searchTrailingAction?: ReactNode
   searchValue: string
+  /** Hide the search field when there's nothing to search (empty dataset). */
+  searchHidden?: boolean
 }
 
 export function PageSearchShell({
   children,
   className,
+  tabs,
   filters,
   onSearchChange,
   searchPlaceholder,
-  searchTrailingAction,
   searchValue,
+  searchHidden = false,
   ...props
 }: PageSearchShellProps) {
   return (
@@ -28,24 +32,43 @@ export function PageSearchShell({
       {...props}
       className={cn('flex h-full min-w-0 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-(--ui-chat-surface-background)', className)}
     >
-      <div className="relative z-10 grid gap-2 border-b border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) px-3 py-2.5">
-        {/* Reserve the top-right titlebar tools + native window-controls
-            footprint so the full-width search input never slides under them
-            (this header sits in the titlebar row at the window top). */}
-        <div
-          style={{
-            paddingRight:
-              'max(0px, calc(var(--titlebar-tools-right, 0px) + var(--titlebar-tools-width, 0px) - 0.75rem))'
-          }}
-        >
-          <PageSearchInput
-            onChange={onSearchChange}
-            placeholder={searchPlaceholder}
-            trailingAction={searchTrailingAction}
-            value={searchValue}
-          />
-        </div>
-        {filters ? <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-1.5">{filters}</div> : null}
+      {/*
+        Header lives in the page body, below the window chrome (the shell floats
+        traffic lights over the top titlebar-height strip, which the `pt` clears
+        and leaves draggable). Top row: primary tabs + search. Second row:
+        secondary filters, full-width so they expand. Interactive bits opt out
+        of the drag region.
+      */}
+      {/*
+        IMPORTANT: do NOT put `-webkit-app-region: drag` on this header. It spans
+        full width over the band where the floating titlebar icon clusters live,
+        and an overlapping OS drag region eats their clicks at the compositor
+        level (pointer-events / no-drag carve-outs across separate stacking
+        contexts don't reliably fix it on macOS). The shell already supplies a
+        draggable titlebar strip that is `calc()`'d around the icon clusters
+        (see app-shell.tsx), so window dragging still works here.
+      */}
+      <div className="shrink-0">
+        {(tabs || !searchHidden) && (
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 pb-2 pt-[calc(var(--titlebar-height)+0.5rem)]">
+            {tabs ? (
+              <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-wrap items-center gap-x-2 gap-y-1">{tabs}</div>
+            ) : null}
+            {!searchHidden && (
+              <div className={cn('flex shrink-0 items-center', !tabs && 'flex-1')}>
+                <SearchField
+                  containerClassName="max-w-[45vw]"
+                  onChange={onSearchChange}
+                  placeholder={searchPlaceholder}
+                  value={searchValue}
+                />
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        )}
+        {filters ? (
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-2 gap-y-1 px-3 pb-2">{filters}</div>
+        ) : null}
       </div>
       <div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden bg-(--ui-chat-surface-background)">{children}</div>
     </section>