# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Desktop app and Python backend readiness token mismatch after update

## Open now

- 0 issues, 3 PRs open on GitHub.
- PR #53776: fix(desktop): detect stale app.asar build and prompt for rebuild
- PR #60763: fix(serve): emit both HERMES_DASHBOARD_READY and HERMES_BACKEND_READY for backward compatibility
- PR #60842: fix(desktop): guard packaged backend readiness parser

Members describe a shared theme: a stale packaged desktop build (app.asar / Electron readiness parser) can be out of sync with the newer Python \`hermes serve\` backend, leading to launch timeouts on Windows. Several items propose emitting both ready tokens for compatibility, and others propose detecting stale builds or guarding the parser.

## TL;DR

- 8 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 3 closed issue(s), 3 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 1 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #122876. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #122876 (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-122876`. 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_PARTIAL`): some members are connected by structural evidence (shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference); the rest are joined by an automated relevance judgement over their text.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 `0.24`: 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

- #53770: Windows Desktop update can leave stale app.asar with old 45s backend timeout while source has 90s timeout
- #60412: \[Bug\]: \`hermes serve\` headless refactor (#55923) breaks desktop app launch — port discovery sentinel mismatch after \`hermes update\`
- #60772: Windows Desktop can timeout when packaged Electron readiness parser is older than Python backend

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#122876: fix(serve): announce both ready tokens so a stale packaged parser still boots**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`
  - files: `apps/desktop/scripts/after-pack-toolchain.test.mjs`, `apps/desktop/scripts/after-pack.mjs`, `apps/desktop/scripts/after-pack.test.mjs`, `apps/desktop/scripts/backend-ready-artifact.mjs`, `apps/desktop/scripts/backend-ready-artifact.test.mjs`, `hermes_cli/web_server.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_serve_mcp_discovery_after_bind.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_serve_port_in_use.py`
- **#53776: fix(desktop): detect stale app.asar build and prompt for rebuild**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `39d09453f95e8aefc0c97e5d9b30ff341cae9ed8`
  - files: `apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs`, `apps/desktop/src/app/shell/hooks/use-statusbar-items.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`, `apps/desktop/src/store/updates.test.ts`, `apps/desktop/src/store/updates.ts`
- **#60763: fix(serve): emit both HERMES_DASHBOARD_READY and HERMES_BACKEND_READY for backward compatibility**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `f0f8c84d1`, `#55923`, `#60779`
  - files: `hermes_cli/web_server.py`
- **#60779: fix(desktop): keep legacy ready token for desktop serve**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `duplicate_of`; implication `duplicate`; refs `#60763`, `#60772`, `#60412`
- **#60842: fix(desktop): guard packaged backend readiness parser**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`
  - files: `apps/desktop/package.json`, `apps/desktop/scripts/after-pack.mjs`, `apps/desktop/scripts/backend-ready-artifact.mjs`, `apps/desktop/scripts/backend-ready-artifact.node-test.mjs`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #122876 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-09-27`.
- Subsystem: `apps/desktop`