# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Unknown DB columns breaking session message reads

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

These items address a bug where unexpected or unknown binary/BLOB columns in the messages table cause failures when reading session messages via the API. The fix involves handling or dropping such columns before data reaches the API layer.

## 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 #116756. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #116756 (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-116756`. 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.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

- #116510: SELECT * in message reads lets a new column break GET /api/sessions/{id}/messages

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#116756: fix(state): session transcripts survive an unknown binary column in messages (#116510, salvage #116527)**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`
  - files: `hermes_state_messages.py`, `tests/hermes_state/test_hermes_state.py`
- **#109465: fix(state): degrade undecodable UTF-8 cells instead of aborting session queries**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `partial_fix`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `8ee246b58923378685f531050819b87667202995`
- **#116527: fix(state): drop unknown BLOB columns before messages reach the API**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `merged_via`; implication `superseded`; refs `b873a3a1d946`, `#116756`, `#116510`, `#116527`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #116756 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-09-20`.