# NousResearch/hermes-agent · EMFILE errors from orphaned backend processes accumulating

## Open now

- Nothing open on GitHub.

A bug where orphaned local backend processes pile up and exhaust file descriptors, causing EMFILE errors and broken UI state. Two related fixes address this via file descriptor limits, orphan process cleanup, and bounded resource pools.

## TL;DR

- 3 member(s): 0 open issue(s), 1 closed issue(s), 0 open PR(s), 1 merged PR(s), 1 PR(s) closed without merging.
- A fix was merged to main in PR #83406. Verify it addresses your case.
- **Recommended:** read PR #83406 (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-83406`. 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evidence (`STRUCTURAL_SPANNING`): every member is connected by structural evidence: shared changed files, or a closing/superseded reference.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

- #78872: Desktop: orphan local hermes serve backends pile up → EMFILE → empty tabs/sidebar

## Prior & competing PRs

- **#83406: fix(state,desktop,runtime): EMFILE cascade — bounded WAL read pool, orphan serve reap, nofile floor**. merged to main · fix tier `verified`
  - maintainer direction: category `merged`
  - files: `apps/desktop/electron/backend-child.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/main.ts`, `apps/desktop/electron/windows-child-options.test.ts`, `cli-config.yaml.example`, `contributors/emails/XiaoZAZA@users.noreply.github.com`, `contributors/emails/[redacted:email]`, `contributors/emails/[redacted:email]`, `gateway/run.py`, `hermes_cli/config_defaults.py`, `hermes_cli/dashboard_procs.py`, `hermes_cli/gateway.py`, `hermes_cli/main.py`, `hermes_cli/resource_limits.py`, `hermes_cli/web_server.py`, `hermes_state.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_dashboard_admin_endpoints.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py`, `tests/hermes_cli/test_orphan_desktop_serve_reap.py`, `tests/test_resource_limits.py`, `tests/test_session_db_read_conn_pool.py` (+2 more)
- **#78873: fix(runtime,desktop,gateway): EMFILE hardening — nofile floor, orphan serve reap, launchd plist limit persistence**. closed without merge
  - maintainer direction: category `merged_via`; implication `superseded`; refs `#83406`, `#76700`, `#77587`, `#73066`, `#78873`, `#78312`

## Fix status

- Merged to main in PR #83406 (cited above). No release data is tracked. Verify downstream.
- Fix last verified (merged) `2026-08-11`.