# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Symlink resolution bug in deleted-WAL sidecar guard

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

These issues and PRs address a bug where the deleted-WAL guard fails to detect held sidecars when state.db is accessed via a symlinked path. The fixes resolve symlinks so the guard correctly identifies holders in that scenario.

## TL;DR

- 4 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 2 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #116747. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #116747 (and any competing PRs below) before filing. Confirm the merged change covers your symptom.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `resolved` · deciding PR(s): `pr-116747`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.50`: the share of member pairs that carry a link, counting a structural link in full and a relevance-only link at 0.36. `1.00` means every pair is linked.

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #116450: \[Bug\]: deleted-WAL guard misses held sidecars when state.db is reached through a symlinked path

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#116747: fix(state): deleted-WAL guard finds holders through a symlinked HERMES_HOME (#116450, salvage #116451)**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`
  - files: `hermes_state_dbfile.py`, `tests/hermes_state/test_deleted_wal_generation_guard.py`
- **#116451: fix(state): resolve symlinks in deleted-WAL sidecar watch paths**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `merged_via`; implication `superseded`; refs `c6550d87c7e7`, `#116747`, `#116450`, `#116451`
- **#116481: fix(state): resolve symlinked deleted-WAL paths**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `c6550d87c7e7`, `#116747`, `#116450`, `#116451`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #116747 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-09-20`.