# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Windows probe subprocess pipe deadlock fixes

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

These issues and fixes address a Windows-specific deadlock where child or orphaned processes inherit capture pipes from git/env probes, causing reads to hang indefinitely and blocking agent initialization or session creation. Multiple fixes apply timeouts and alternate I/O strategies to bound post-kill cleanup.

## TL;DR

- 9 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 3 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 3 merged PR(s), 3 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #67999. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #67999 (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-67999`. 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_PARTIAL`): some members are connected by structural evidence (shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference); the rest are joined by an automated relevance judgement over their text.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 `0.19`: 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

- #66037: Windows: agent turn hangs forever in the git workspace probe when the 2.5s timeout fires (post-kill communicate deadlock)
- #67964: \[Bug\]: Windows env probe can deadlock all new sessions when an orphaned pip child keeps capture pipes open
- #68609: \[Bug\]: Windows Desktop agent initialization times out after git probe leaves suspended child

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#67999: fix(env-probe): stuck Windows probe can no longer deadlock system-prompt builds**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `tests/tools/test_env_probe.py`, `tools/env_probe.py`
- **#68045: fix(env-probe): capture probe output via temp files so descendants can't stall the read (#67964 follow-up)**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `tests/tools/test_env_probe.py`, `tools/env_probe.py`
- **#68629: fix(tui): bound post-kill cleanup in Windows git probe to prevent agent init timeout**. closed without merge · fix tier `suggested`
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `#68622`, `#68622`
  - _suggested-tier fix detail withheld; re-request with `?tier=all` to include it._
- **#68997: fix(windows): share one bounded, tree-killing git probe across both probe call sites**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`; implication `superseded`
  - files: `agent/coding_context.py`, `hermes_cli/_subprocess_compat.py`, `tests/test_windows_subprocess_no_window_flags.py`, `tui_gateway/git_probe.py`
- **#67991: fix(tools): bound env probe subprocess so a Windows inherited pipe can't wedge sessions (#67964)**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `merged_via`; implication `superseded`; refs `e77ffdc28`, `#68045`, `#67999`, `#67964`, `#67999`
- **#68622: fix(gateway): bound the post-kill cleanup in the Windows git probe**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `superseded_by_pr`; implication `superseded`; refs `#68997`, `#68997`, `#66038`, `#66037`, `#68997`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #67999 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-07-22`.
- Subsystem: `apps/desktop`