# NousResearch/hermes-agent · ignore-existing flag skips local runtime discovery

## Open now

- 0 issues, 2 PRs open on GitHub.
- PR #117704: fix(desktop): honor ignore-existing for local backend resolution
- PR #117705: fix(desktop): HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING skips every discovered local runtime, not just PATH (#117682)

A bug where \`HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING\` / \`--ignore-existing\` did not prevent local backend resolution, with multiple fix attempts refining the behavior to correctly skip all discovered local runtimes.

## TL;DR

- 4 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 2 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 0 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #121443. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #121443 (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-121443`. 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.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

- #117682: \[Bug\]: HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING / --ignore-existing does not prevent a local backend (ACTIVE_HERMES_ROOT resolves first)

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#121443: fix(desktop): ignore-existing skips discovered runtimes without repeating install**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`
  - files: `apps/desktop/e2e/fixtures.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/backend-resolution.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/backend-resolution.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/main.ts`, `hermes_cli/subcommands/gui.py`, `website/docs/reference/environment-variables.md`, `website/docs/user-guide/desktop.md`
- **#117704: fix(desktop): honor ignore-existing for local backend resolution**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `apps/desktop/electron/backend-resolution.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/backend-resolution.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/main.ts`, `hermes_cli/subcommands/gui.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_desktop_local_flag.py`, `website/docs/reference/environment-variables.md`, `website/docs/user-guide/desktop.md`
- **#117705: fix(desktop): HERMES_DESKTOP_IGNORE_EXISTING skips every discovered local runtime, not just PATH (#117682)**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `#117704`, `#117682`
  - files: `apps/desktop/electron/local-runtime-ignore.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/local-runtime-ignore.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/main.ts`, `hermes_cli/subcommands/gui.py`, `website/docs/reference/environment-variables.md`, `website/docs/user-guide/desktop.md`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #121443 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-09-26`.
- Subsystem: `apps/desktop`