# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Working directory config settings being ignored in sessions

## Open now

- 2 issues, 2 PRs open on GitHub.
- #45039: Dashboard "Default project directory" setting is ignored (even Dashboard sessions)
- #51636: terminal.working_dir config is not applied on new session start
- PR #51645: fix(config): honor terminal.working_dir alias
- PR #65286: fix(cli): honor explicit local working directory

Multiple reports and fixes addressing cases where configured working directory and default project directory settings are not applied when starting new sessions across dashboard, desktop, and CLI contexts.

## TL;DR

- 10 member(s): 2 open issue(s), 2 closed issue(s), 2 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 3 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #56928. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #56928 (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-56928`. 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_PARTIAL`): some members are connected by structural evidence (shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference); the rest are joined by an automated relevance judgement over their text.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

- #45039: Dashboard "Default project directory" setting is ignored (even Dashboard sessions)
- #51636: terminal.working_dir config is not applied on new session start

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #38855: Desktop Working Directory setting does not override stale remembered workspace cwd
- #50017: \[Bug\]: \[Desktop\] windows: cwd directory is the home directory by default, even with project directory set differently

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#56928: fix(desktop): configured working directory overrides stale remembered workspace cwd**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-hermes-config.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-hermes-config.ts`, `scripts/release.py`
- **#39227: fix(desktop): prefer configured workspace cwd**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `merged_via`; implication `superseded`; refs `#56928`
- **#45073: fix: Dashboard "Default project directory" setting is ignored (even Dashboard sessions) (#45039)**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `silent_close`; implication `active`
- **#50649: fix(cli): honor explicit workspace cwd for local backends**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `59686df8fe1b4f499f48b83877f6d7db2f9de8d6`, `095b9eed3`, `#50017`
- **#51645: fix(config): honor terminal.working_dir alias**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`
  - files: `hermes_cli/config.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_set_config_value.py`
- **#65286: fix(cli): honor explicit local working directory**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `partial_fix`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `ac855bba0ed282ed6a1a94b8471689b2b6bf9fe4`, `16047655b5260acf40e2a9e932d0569f2520f389`, `59686df8fe1b4f499f48b83877f6d7db2f9de8d6`, `d682f320b35a13084371a541a835e1d988c982b8`, `66ef55da6906`, `#51636`, `#51645`, `#65286`, `#7802`, `#17205`, `#9798`, `#11441`, `#11708`, `#11312`, `#17205`, `#11878`, `#14079`, `#14136`, `#14044`, `#17205`, `#14264`, `#14796`, `#17205`, `#14828`, `#7802`, `#9798`, `#14830`, `#14828`, `#14831`, `#14831`, `#17205`, `#16762`, `#17205`, `#7663`, `#11312`, `#19218`, `#19242`, `#19334`, `#19334`, `#19214`, `#24888`, `#24957`, `#24888`, `#24888`, `#24985`, `#35028`, `#27488`, `#35028`, `#31206`, `#24888`, `#35028`, `#24882`, `#24969`, `#27383`, `#40161`, `#42984`, `#42961`, `#43075`, `#42984`, `#50649`, `#50017`, `#51645`, `#51636`, `#59340`, `#42984`, `#59360`, `#59363`, `#63092`, `#65286`, `#51636`, `#7802`, `#9798`, `#11708`, `#11878`, `#14796`, `#14828`, `#14830`, `#14831`, `#16762`, `#17205`, `#24888`, `#24957`, `#24985`, `#31206`, `#35028`, `#42984`, `#43075`, `#59340`, `#63092`, `#51645`, `#65286`, `#51645`, `#51636`, `#65286`, `#51645`, `#51636`, `#43075`, `#42984`
  - files: `cli.py`, `hermes_cli/setup.py`, `tests/cli/test_cwd_env_respect.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_setup.py`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #56928 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-07-02`.
- Subsystem: `apps/desktop`