# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Desktop thin-client mode for remote Hermes backends

## Open now

- 2 issues, 0 PRs open on GitHub.
- #38519: \[Feature\]: Hermes Desktop frontend install only
- #56513: \[Setup\]: Looking for desktop app for linux without installing the whole hermes agent.

These issues and PRs request or implement a way to run the Hermes desktop app as a standalone client that connects to an existing remote Hermes instance, without bundling or installing a local agent. Several also address onboarding flows for this remote-connection path.

## TL;DR

- 13 member(s): 2 open issue(s), 7 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 3 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #70907. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #70907 (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: `partially_resolved` · deciding PR(s): `pr-70907`. This is distinct from the fix status above. Weigh it yourself.

## How this cluster was grouped

- Link evidence (`STRUCTURAL_PARTIAL`): some members are connected by structural evidence (shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference); the rest are joined by an automated relevance judgement over their text.
- Members outside that structural core may belong to a different underlying problem.
- Pairwise link density `0.17`: 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.

## Open related issues

- #38519: \[Feature\]: Hermes Desktop frontend install only
- #56513: \[Setup\]: Looking for desktop app for linux without installing the whole hermes agent.

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #36970: Desktop: add first-class remote-client onboarding for existing Hermes instances
- #37663: \[Setup\]: Connecting Desktop (Windows and Mac) client to existing VPS Hermes instance
- #38602: \[Feature\]: Desktop Client-Only Installation
- #40468: \[Feature\]: Remote Git Gateway Support in Hermes Desktop
- #50643: \[Feature\]: Support GUI-only Desktop installation for connecting exclusively to a remote gateway
- #58799: \[Feature\]: Standalone Hermes Desktop installer (lite client without bundled agent)
- #61329: Feature request: Desktop-only / thin-client installer for remote Hermes backend

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#70907: feat(desktop): add "Connect to existing Hermes" option to first-run onboarding**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `apps/desktop/README.md`, `apps/desktop/electron/connection-apply.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/first-run-setup-gate.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/first-run-setup-gate.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/first-run-setup-main-process.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/main.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/preload.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/primary-backend-startup.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/primary-backend-startup.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/primary-connection-rehome.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/components/boot-failure-reauth.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/components/desktop-install-overlay.test.tsx`, `apps/desktop/src/components/desktop-install-overlay.tsx`, `apps/desktop/src/components/first-run-remote-form.tsx`, `apps/desktop/src/global.d.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts` (+3 more)
- **#42282: feat(desktop): add remote onboarding path to install overlay**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`
- **#49123: feat(desktop): Remote-SSH connection mode**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`
- **#60489: feat(desktop): add "Connect to existing Hermes" option to first-run onboarding**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `#70907`, `#70907`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #70907 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-07-24`.
- Subsystem: `apps/bootstrap-installer`