# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Skip npm install during update when lockfile unchanged

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

These members all concern the update command running Node.js dependency installation (npm ci/install) every time, including a report of roughly 8 minutes spent on Windows. The pull requests and feature requests propose skipping that step when lockfiles or node_modules already match.

## TL;DR

- 5 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 2 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 0 merged PR(s), 3 PR(s) closed without merging.
- No fix has been merged to main; one or more PRs were attempted (see below).
- **Recommended:** review the prior/competing PR(s) below. A fix was attempted but not merged; your case may extend or revive that work.

## Maintainer resolution verdict

- Internal-tracker verdict over this cluster's issue members: `unresolved`. 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.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 `0.44`: 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

- #17268: feat: Skip npm install during updates when Node dependencies haven't changed
- #43837: hermes update: Node.js dependencies install unconditionally every time — ~8 min wasted on Windows

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#43875: fix(update): skip npm ci when lockfiles haven't changed**. closed without merge · fix tier `suggested`
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `#39397`
  - _suggested-tier fix detail withheld; re-request with `?tier=all` to include it._
- **#17386: feat(update): skip npm ci when node_modules already matches lockfile (#17268)**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `stale_abandoned`; implication `active`
- **#39397: perf(cli): skip npm install during update when lockfile is unchanged (#17268)**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`

## Fix status

- No merged fix on record.
- Subsystem: `hermes_cli`