P1 Homebrew/Linuxbrew Install Cannot Run TUI — ui-tui Directory Missing from Cellar (#57031)
Executive Summary
On any homebrew or linuxbrew install of Hermes Agent v0.18.0 (2026.7.1), the TUI is completely unusable. Running hermes --tui immediately fails because the ui-tui directory is not included in the homebrew formula's installation path. The error message suggests running git restore -- ui-tui and npm install — but there is no git checkout in a homebrew Cellar. The recovery instructions are nonsensical for homebrew users. This is a re-regression of previously fixed #19514 — and a P1 because a major feature is broken with zero workaround.
The Error
Why the Recovery Instructions Fail
The error message suggests: git restore -- ui-tui and npm install. But homebrew Cellar paths are not git repositories — they are immutable formula installations. There is no .git directory in the Cellar. The instructions assume a source checkout, which homebrew users do not have. This leaves every homebrew/linuxbrew user completely blocked with no suggested recovery path.
Impact Assessment
| Dimension | Severity | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Availability | CRITICAL | TUI mode is a major feature. Every homebrew/linuxbrew user on macOS or Linux is locked out entirely. No workaround exists — you cannot git restore in a Cellar. |
| Platform Scope | HIGH | Affects both macOS (homebrew) and Linux (linuxbrew). Homebrew is the primary installation method for macOS users and a common method for Linux users. |
| Regression Status | CRITICAL | This is a re-regression of #19514, which was previously fixed. The fix did not stick — the ui-tui workspace files are once again not being bundled into the homebrew formula. |
| Fix Complexity | HIGH | Requires updating the homebrew formula build process to include the ui-tui workspace directory. The fact that this broke again after being fixed once suggests the build pipeline lacks a regression test. |
Packaging/Installation Bug History
| Issue | Severity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| #46260 | P2 | Windows installer fails at desktop stage (npm EBADENGINE) |
| #50897 | P2 | Desktop won't launch on Windows |
| #19514 | P2 | ui-tui missing from homebrew (previously fixed, now re-regressed) |
| #57031 | P1 | ui-tui missing from homebrew v0.18.0 — re-regression, no workaround |
🔴 Pattern: The homebrew formula build pipeline has now lost the ui-tui workspace twice. The first time (#19514) was fixed. The second time (#57031) means the fix was not durable — the build pipeline lacks an automated check that verifies ui-tui is present in the formula output. A one-line check in CI (e.g., test -d libexec/lib/python*/site-packages/ui-tui) would catch this before every release. Without it, this will regress again.
Source Evidence
- GitHub Issue: #57031 — Installs from Homebrew / Linuxbrew Cannot Run TUI
- Opened: July 2, 2026
- Reporter: @travisgroth
- Labels: P1, bug, comp/cli, comp/tui, type/bug
- Hermes: v0.18.0 (2026.7.1) | OS: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | Python: 3.14.6
- PR: #57136 already open
- Reporter willing to submit PR: Yes
📋 https://hermes-agent.reviews/hermes-homebrew-tui-missing-ui-directory-57031.html
Tracked by hermes-agent.reviews — July 2, 2026