# NousResearch/hermes-agent · XML tag stripping bug in file/code tools

## Open now

- 0 issues, 2 PRs open on GitHub.
- PR #72821: fix: preserve XML-like tags in write_file/execute_code/patch content (#72797)
- PR #72828: fix: preserve XML-like tags in write_file/execute_code/patch content (#72797)

A bug where write_file, execute_code, and patch silently strip XML-like tags from content arguments, along with associated fix attempts. The issue required workarounds using character codes.

## TL;DR

- 3 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 2 open PR(s), 0 merged PR(s), 0 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.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.

## Closed / duplicate issues

- #72797: \[Bug\]: write_file/execute_code/patch silently strip XML-like tags from content arguments — agent must use chr(60)/chr(62) workarounds

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#72821: fix: preserve XML-like tags in write_file/execute_code/patch content (#72797)**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `silent_close`; implication `active`
  - files: `agent/agent_runtime_helpers.py`, `cli.py`, `plugins/tool-escalator/README.md`, `plugins/tool-escalator/__init__.py`, `plugins/tool-escalator/plugin.yaml`, `tests/plugins/test_tool_escalator_plugin.py`
- **#72828: fix: preserve XML-like tags in write_file/execute_code/patch content (#72797)**. open
  - maintainer direction: category `partial_fix`; implication `needs_llm`; refs `e627144a56f9`, `#72797`, `#72821`, `#72828`, `#374151`
  - files: `agent/agent_runtime_helpers.py`, `cli.py`, `plugins/tool-escalator/README.md`, `plugins/tool-escalator/__init__.py`, `plugins/tool-escalator/plugin.yaml`, `tests/plugins/test_tool_escalator_plugin.py`

## Fix status

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