A lot of Hermes UIs have shown up lately. Most of them want to rebuild session logic client-side or wrap the agent in their own messaging layer. That's a lot of moving parts for something that already works great at the CLI.
Hermes Desktop takes a different approach: the terminal is the interface, the app just makes it feel native on macOS.
What Hermes Desktop Actually Does
It connects to your host over plain /usr/bin/ssh — the same binary as Terminal.app. No gateway API, no local file mirror, no custom messaging layer. Your host stays the only source of truth.
If ssh your-host already works without prompts, the app works too.
Features in v0.3.0
- Native SwiftUI window with real embedded terminal
- Session browsing straight from
~/.hermes/state.db - In-app editing for USER.md, MEMORY.md, SOUL.md
- Usage view showing token consumption and costs
- Skills browser for remote SKILL.md files
- Better text selection/copying in terminal
Why Plain SSH Matters
Other Hermes interfaces add layers:
- Gateway APIs that need configuration
- Local file mirrors that can drift
- Custom protocols that break on updates
Hermes Desktop adds zero layers. The app is a terminal wrapper with convenience features. When Hermes updates, nothing breaks.
Installation
Download from the GitHub releases page. The release zip has a SHA-256 you can verify.
Requirements:
- Apple Silicon Mac
- macOS 14+
- SSH access to your Hermes host (VPS, Pi, another Mac, localhost)
Note: Not notarized yet, so macOS will complain on first launch. Right-click → Open gets past it.
Security
The only outbound connection is the SSH host you configure. Use nettop or Little Snitch to verify — no phoning home, no telemetry.
Source is open and buildable with one script if you want to inspect it.
Cross-Platform?
Hermes Desktop is Mac-only (SwiftUI). A community member started a Linux-compatible version at github.com/mayurjobanputra/Hermes-Desktop-Linux — still early but in active development.
Related Tools
If you want web-based interfaces:
- Hermes CyberUI — cyberpunk-themed web UI
- Hermes Control Interface — web dashboard for session management
- Hermes Console — minimalist web terminal
But if you're a Mac user who just wants Hermes to feel like a native app without extra moving parts, Hermes Desktop is exactly that.