Refine Hermes Desktop v1.2.0 release notes

Author: itsdodobitch

README.md

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ host they already use, without adding another layer to trust.
 - works with multiple Hermes profiles for a multi-agent workflow
 - reads the real sessions, Kanban, cron jobs, skills, files, and usage
 - saves reusable workflow presets locally on your Mac, then launches them
-  against the selected host/profile in a fresh Terminal tab
+  against the selected connection/profile in a fresh Terminal tab
 - includes an embedded local or SSH terminal for the moments where the shell is still
   the right tool
 - ships as a universal macOS app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ in place with conflict checks before save.
 
 That restraint has a practical advantage: Hermes Desktop can remain useful when
 higher-level surfaces are unavailable. If a dashboard, gateway, or agent
-configuration breaks, the app still has the direct SSH path: inspect the host,
-edit the relevant files, open a terminal, and repair the system from the place
-where the state actually lives.
+configuration breaks, the app still has the direct machine path: inspect the
+real Hermes state, edit the relevant files, open a terminal, and repair the
+system from the place where the state actually lives.
 
 ### Desktop and web dashboard
 
@@ -125,8 +125,9 @@ For the native Kanban workspace, the host needs a Hermes Agent build with
 upstream Kanban support. Newer Kanban features appear automatically when the
 host exposes them.
 
-Simple rule: if this works in Terminal from this Mac without asking for a
-password or host key confirmation, the app is usually ready too:
+For an SSH connection, the simple rule is: if this works in Terminal from this
+Mac without asking for a password or host key confirmation, the app is usually
+ready too:
 
 ```bash
 ssh your-host
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@ The important detail is that Chat is a hosted `hermes --tui` surface, not a
 separate Desktop conversation backend. Sessions still reads persisted
 transcripts from the active Hermes store, which remains the source of truth.
 
-### Does Hermes Desktop replace a remote file manager or IDE?
+### Does Hermes Desktop replace a file manager or IDE?
 
 No.
 
@@ -441,28 +442,29 @@ selected text files next to the canonical Hermes files. It is still a focused
 Hermes workspace, not a full file manager, SFTP client, or IDE. Text files up
 to 10 MB are editable.
 
-### What happens if a remote file changed after I opened it?
+### What happens if a file changed after I opened it?
 
 Hermes Desktop will not blindly overwrite it.
 
 Before saving an edited workspace file or skill, the app checks whether the
-remote file still matches the version you opened. If it changed, save is
-blocked and your local edits stay intact until you reload intentionally.
+file on the active Hermes machine still matches the version you opened. If it
+changed, save is blocked and your unsaved edits stay intact until you reload
+intentionally.
 
 ## Where Hermes Desktop goes next
 
 Most of the original roadmap is now shipped.
 
 Hermes Desktop has reached the shape it was aiming for: a calm, capable native
-macOS workspace for the real Hermes workflow, still anchored to SSH and the
-host as source of truth.
+macOS workspace for the real Hermes workflow, anchored to the machine where
+Hermes runs as the source of truth.
 
 From here, the work is not about adding novelty for its own sake. It is about:
 
 - polishing onboarding, diagnostics, Files ergonomics, terminal UX, and
-  multi-host details
+  multi-connection details
 - tracking upstream Hermes Agent changes so the app stays close to the real
-  host workflow
+  Hermes workflow
 - keeping the trust story and release documentation aligned with the code and
   actual distribution model
 

docs/releases/RELEASE-v1.2.0.md

@@ -1,48 +1,51 @@
 # Hermes Desktop v1.2.0
 
-Hermes Desktop 1.2.0 adds first-class support for Hermes Agent running directly
-on the same Mac.
+Hermes Desktop 1.2.0 is the local Hermes release.
 
-Choose `This Mac` when Hermes is installed locally and use the full Desktop
-workspace without configuring SSH to localhost. Sessions, Chat, Workflows,
-Files, Skills, Usage, Cron, Kanban, discovery, and Terminal all operate against
-your current macOS account's real Hermes data.
+If Hermes Agent runs on your Mac, you can now choose `This Mac` and use the
+whole Desktop workspace without setting up SSH to localhost. Sessions, Chat,
+Workflows, Files, Skills, Usage, Cron, Kanban, and Terminal work directly
+against your current macOS account's real Hermes installation.
 
-Remote workflows remain fully supported. Existing connections still decode as
-`SSH Host`, retain their exact workspace identities, and use the same SSH
-arguments, ControlMaster behavior, retries, errors, terminal environment, and
-profile scoping as before.
+The idea stays the same: Hermes Desktop does not create a second copy of your
+Hermes state. It now meets Hermes where it already runs, whether that is this
+Mac, a Raspberry Pi on your network, another Mac, a VPS, or a remote server.
 
-## Direct-Local Hermes
+## What Changed
 
-- Add a connection and choose `This Mac` or `SSH Host`.
-- Local connections need only a name; SSH host, user, alias, and port fields are
-  hidden because they are not used.
-- Named Hermes profiles and custom `HERMES_HOME` paths work in both modes.
-- The embedded terminal launches a real local shell with the current user's
-  environment and the same Hermes bootstrap used for SSH terminals.
-- Local mutations are clearly identified as changes to this Mac's real Hermes
-  files, sessions, scheduler, skills, and Kanban data.
-- Direct-local mode is distinct from an SSH connection targeting `localhost`,
-  so saved workflows, bookmarks, pins, and profile preferences do not collide.
+- Connections now have an explicit `This Mac` or `SSH Host` mode.
+- `This Mac` needs only a connection name. There is no SSH alias, hostname,
+  user, port, host-key setup, or passwordless SSH requirement.
+- Every main workspace surface supports local Hermes: Sessions and transcripts,
+  the real Hermes TUI in Chat, Workflows, Files, Skills, Usage, Cron Jobs,
+  Kanban, discovery, and Terminal.
+- The embedded Terminal opens a real local shell and uses the same Hermes
+  profile, custom home, PATH preparation, and launch rules as the rest of the
+  app.
+- Named profiles and custom `HERMES_HOME` paths work in both local and SSH
+  mode.
+- Actions that edit files, skills, scheduler state, sessions, or Kanban make it
+  clear when they are changing this Mac's real Hermes data.
 
-## Compatibility And Safety
+## Existing SSH Connections
 
-- Existing saved connection profiles without a connection type continue to load
-  as SSH connections.
-- SSH fingerprints and workspace scope remain unchanged for existing users.
-- Invalid future or malformed connection entries no longer prevent valid saved
-  connections from loading.
-- English, Simplified Chinese, and Russian UI copy now describes local and SSH
-  operation accurately.
+Nothing about the remote workflow is being replaced. Existing saved
+connections continue to load as `SSH Host`, keep the same workspace identities,
+and retain the established SSH arguments, multiplexing behavior, retry path,
+terminal environment, and profile scoping.
+
+Direct-local mode is also intentionally separate from an SSH connection aimed
+at `localhost`, so workflows, bookmarks, pinned sessions, and preferences do
+not collide between the two.
 
-## Additional Hardening
+## Also Included
 
-- LAN SSH failures now point users to the macOS Local Network permission when
-  appropriate.
-- Release packaging refuses dirty working trees.
-- Release verification checks that the shipped bundle contains the Local
-  Network usage description required for LAN SSH hosts.
+- Saved connection loading is more resilient: malformed or future connection
+  entries no longer prevent valid profiles from loading.
+- LAN SSH failures now point to the macOS Local Network permission when that is
+  the likely blocker.
+- English, Simplified Chinese, and Russian copy now describes local and SSH
+  operation accurately.
 
 ## Requirements