# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Symlink path handling bugs in skills install

## Open now

- 2 issues, 3 PRs open on GitHub.
- #53403: Bug: skill install crashes with ValueError when SKILLS_DIR or install path contains a symlink
- #64953: \[Bug\]: skills install fails with false "Installation blocked" and orphans files when HERMES_HOME is a symlink
- PR #53409: fix(skills): resolve paths before computing relative install path
- PR #53493: fix(skills): handle symlinked skills install paths
- PR #53541: fix(skills): resolve symlinks before relative_to in skill install

Multiple bugs and fixes related to skill installation failures when SKILLS_DIR, HERMES_HOME, or install paths involve symlinks, including path resolution errors and blocked installation false positives. One additional fix addresses phantom slash commands in skill documentation.

## TL;DR

- 8 member(s): 2 open issue(s), 0 closed issue(s), 3 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.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 `0.30`: 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

- #53403: Bug: skill install crashes with ValueError when SKILLS_DIR or install path contains a symlink
- #64953: \[Bug\]: skills install fails with false "Installation blocked" and orphans files when HERMES_HOME is a symlink

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#21739: fix(skills): replace symlink install destinations**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `stale_abandoned`; implication `active`
- **#50608: fix(skills): remove phantom slash commands from hermes-agent SKILL.md**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `46c7a4076f`, `#70511`, `#70452`
- **#53409: fix(skills): resolve paths before computing relative install path**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `10e60060d`
  - files: `hermes_cli/skills_hub.py`, `skills/autonomous-ai-agents/hermes-agent/SKILL.md`, `tests/skills/test_hermes_agent_skill_slash_commands.py`, `tools/skills_hub.py`
- **#53493: fix(skills): handle symlinked skills install paths**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `duplicate_of`; implication `duplicate`
  - files: `hermes_cli/skills_hub.py`, `tests/tools/test_skills_hub.py`, `tools/skills_hub.py`
- **#53541: fix(skills): resolve symlinks before relative_to in skill install**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `duplicate_of`; implication `duplicate`; refs `#49885`, `#49885`, `#53409`, `#53493`
  - files: `tools/skills_hub.py`
- **#64954: fix(skills): resolve the skills root before computing the lock install path**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `ed0a8a480e`, `#86971`, `#93864`

## Fix status

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