# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Windows desktop npm install error and soft-fail install proposals

## Open now

- 1 issue, 1 PR open on GitHub.
- #60131: \[Windows\] desktop npm install fails with 'Cannot read properties of null (reading matches)' — blocks progress UI but hermes CLI works
- PR #133906: fix(install): skip the Windows desktop stage instead of failing the install

One issue reports a Windows desktop npm install error ('Cannot read properties of null (reading matches)') that affects the progress UI while the hermes CLI reportedly works. Two PR titles propose changing the install flow so the Windows desktop stage is skipped or allowed to soft-fail instead of failing the whole install.

## TL;DR

- 3 member(s): 1 open issue(s), 0 closed issue(s), 1 open PR(s), 0 merged PR(s), 1 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.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 `0.67`: 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

- #60131: \[Windows\] desktop npm install fails with 'Cannot read properties of null (reading matches)' — blocks progress UI but hermes CLI works

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#60163: fix(install): let desktop stage soft-fail on Windows**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`
- **#133906: fix(install): skip the Windows desktop stage instead of failing the install**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `4ad6a2bb41f83215d99f025737e01aea6da267d0`
  - files: `scripts/install.ps1`, `tests/scripts/install/test_install_ps1_desktop_soft_skip.py`

## Fix status

- No merged fix on record.
- Subsystem: `apps/bootstrap-installer`