# NousResearch/hermes-agent · Windows env probe subprocess stalling session or prompt builds

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

The members all concern the environment probe on Windows, where an inherited capture pipe held open by a descendant process (such as an orphaned pip child) is described as able to block reads and stall new sessions or system-prompt builds. Several members propose bounding the probe or capturing its output via temp files instead of pipes.

## TL;DR

- 4 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 2 merged PR(s), 1 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #68045. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #68045 (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: `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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.
- Pairwise link density `0.50`: 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

- #67964: \[Bug\]: Windows env probe can deadlock all new sessions when an orphaned pip child keeps capture pipes open

## 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`
  - 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`
  - files: `tests/tools/test_env_probe.py`, `tools/env_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  - maintainer direction: category `merged_via`; implication `superseded`; refs `e77ffdc28`, `#68045`, `#67999`, `#67964`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #68045 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-07-20`.