# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Stale .pyc cache cleanup after updates

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

These issues and fixes address TypeError errors caused by stale Python bytecode cache files (.pyc/__pycache__) persisting after code updates or merges, particularly on Windows. The work involves adding or expanding cache cleanup steps in bootstrap and update routines.

## TL;DR

- 6 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 2 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 0 merged PR(s), 4 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_PARTIAL`): some members are connected by structural evidence (shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference); the rest are joined by an automated relevance judgement over their text.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 `0.29`: 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

- #6207: Bug: Stale .pyc cache causes TypeError after code update (max_result_size_chars)
- #45473: bug: build_skills_system_prompt() TypeError with compact_categories on Windows post-upgrade

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#6269: fix(update): clear __pycache__ after code update to prevent stale .pyc errors**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `duplicate_of`; implication `duplicate`; refs `#3819`
- **#7720: fix: auto-cleanup __pycache__ after post-merge**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `implemented_elsewhere`; implication `superseded`; refs `c4cf20f56469f49058791388f68d25fe75fe7c79`, `#6207`
- **#18723: fix(update): expand .pyc cache cleanup to cover ~/.hermes/ user dirs**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `uncategorized`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `#3819`
- **#46058: fix(bootstrap): clear stale Windows bytecode**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`

## Fix status

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