fix(termux): improve status and install UX

hermes_cli/doctor.py

@@ -543,7 +543,10 @@ def run_doctor(args):
         if shutil.which("docker"):
             check_ok("docker", "(optional)")
         else:
-            check_warn("docker not found", "(optional)")
+            if _is_termux():
+                check_info("Docker backend is not available inside Termux (expected on Android)")
+            else:
+                check_warn("docker not found", "(optional)")
     
     # SSH (if using ssh backend)
     if terminal_env == "ssh":
@@ -591,11 +594,17 @@ def run_doctor(args):
         if agent_browser_path.exists():
             check_ok("agent-browser (Node.js)", "(browser automation)")
         else:
-            check_warn("agent-browser not installed", "(run: npm install)")
+            if _is_termux():
+                check_info("agent-browser is not installed (expected in the tested Termux path)")
+                check_info("Install it manually later with: npm install")
+            else:
+                check_warn("agent-browser not installed", "(run: npm install)")
     else:
-        check_warn("Node.js not found", "(optional, needed for browser tools)")
         if _is_termux():
+            check_info("Node.js not found (browser tools are optional in the tested Termux path)")
             check_info("Install Node.js on Termux with: pkg install nodejs")
+        else:
+            check_warn("Node.js not found", "(optional, needed for browser tools)")
     
     # npm audit for all Node.js packages
     if shutil.which("npm"):

hermes_cli/status.py

@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ def _effective_provider_label() -> str:
     return provider_label(effective)
 
 
+def _is_termux() -> bool:
+    prefix = os.getenv("PREFIX", "")
+    return bool(os.getenv("TERMUX_VERSION") or "com.termux/files/usr" in prefix)
+
+
 def show_status(args):
     """Show status of all Hermes Agent components."""
     show_all = getattr(args, 'all', False)
@@ -325,7 +330,25 @@ def show_status(args):
     print()
     print(color("◆ Gateway Service", Colors.CYAN, Colors.BOLD))
     
-    if sys.platform.startswith('linux'):
+    if _is_termux():
+        try:
+            from hermes_cli.gateway import find_gateway_pids
+            gateway_pids = find_gateway_pids()
+        except Exception:
+            gateway_pids = []
+        is_running = bool(gateway_pids)
+        print(f"  Status:       {check_mark(is_running)} {'running' if is_running else 'stopped'}")
+        print("  Manager:      Termux / manual process")
+        if gateway_pids:
+            rendered = ", ".join(str(pid) for pid in gateway_pids[:3])
+            if len(gateway_pids) > 3:
+                rendered += ", ..."
+            print(f"  PID(s):       {rendered}")
+        else:
+            print("  Start with:   hermes gateway")
+            print("  Note:         Android may stop background jobs when Termux is suspended")
+
+    elif sys.platform.startswith('linux'):
         try:
             from hermes_cli.gateway import get_service_name
             _gw_svc = get_service_name()
@@ -339,7 +362,7 @@ def show_status(args):
                 timeout=5
             )
             is_active = result.stdout.strip() == "active"
-        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+        except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired):
             is_active = False
         print(f"  Status:       {check_mark(is_active)} {'running' if is_active else 'stopped'}")
         print("  Manager:      systemd (user)")

scripts/install.sh

@@ -121,6 +121,32 @@ is_termux() {
     [ -n "${TERMUX_VERSION:-}" ] || [[ "${PREFIX:-}" == *"com.termux/files/usr"* ]]
 }
 
+get_command_link_dir() {
+    if is_termux && [ -n "${PREFIX:-}" ]; then
+        echo "$PREFIX/bin"
+    else
+        echo "$HOME/.local/bin"
+    fi
+}
+
+get_command_link_display_dir() {
+    if is_termux && [ -n "${PREFIX:-}" ]; then
+        echo '$PREFIX/bin'
+    else
+        echo '~/.local/bin'
+    fi
+}
+
+get_hermes_command_path() {
+    local link_dir
+    link_dir="$(get_command_link_dir)"
+    if [ -x "$link_dir/hermes" ]; then
+        echo "$link_dir/hermes"
+    else
+        echo "hermes"
+    fi
+}
+
 # ============================================================================
 # System detection
 # ============================================================================
@@ -897,15 +923,27 @@ setup_path() {
         return 0
     fi
 
-    # Create symlink in ~/.local/bin (standard user binary location, usually on PATH)
+    local command_link_dir
-    mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/bin"
+    local command_link_display_dir
-    ln -sf "$HERMES_BIN" "$HOME/.local/bin/hermes"
+    command_link_dir="$(get_command_link_dir)"
-    log_success "Symlinked hermes → ~/.local/bin/hermes"
+    command_link_display_dir="$(get_command_link_display_dir)"
+
+    # Create a user-facing shim for the hermes command.
+    mkdir -p "$command_link_dir"
+    ln -sf "$HERMES_BIN" "$command_link_dir/hermes"
+    log_success "Symlinked hermes → $command_link_display_dir/hermes"
+
+    if [ "$DISTRO" = "termux" ]; then
+        export PATH="$command_link_dir:$PATH"
+        log_info "$command_link_display_dir is the native Termux command path"
+        log_success "hermes command ready"
+        return 0
+    fi
 
     # Check if ~/.local/bin is on PATH; if not, add it to shell config.
     # Detect the user's actual login shell (not the shell running this script,
     # which is always bash when piped from curl).
-    if ! echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -q "^$HOME/.local/bin$"; then
+    if ! echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -q "^$command_link_dir$"; then
         SHELL_CONFIGS=()
         LOGIN_SHELL="$(basename "${SHELL:-/bin/bash}")"
         case "$LOGIN_SHELL" in
@@ -951,7 +989,7 @@ setup_path() {
     fi
 
     # Export for current session so hermes works immediately
-    export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+    export PATH="$command_link_dir:$PATH"
 
     log_success "hermes command ready"
 }
@@ -1149,8 +1187,7 @@ maybe_start_gateway() {
             read -p "Pair WhatsApp now? [Y/n] " -n 1 -r
             echo
             if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]] || [[ -z $REPLY ]]; then
-                HERMES_CMD="$HOME/.local/bin/hermes"
+                HERMES_CMD="$(get_hermes_command_path)"
-                [ ! -x "$HERMES_CMD" ] && HERMES_CMD="hermes"
                 $HERMES_CMD whatsapp || true
             fi
         else
@@ -1164,16 +1201,17 @@ maybe_start_gateway() {
     fi
 
     echo ""
-    read -p "Would you like to install the gateway as a background service? [Y/n] " -n 1 -r < /dev/tty
+    if [ "$DISTRO" = "termux" ]; then
+        read -p "Would you like to start the gateway in the background? [Y/n] " -n 1 -r < /dev/tty
+    else
+        read -p "Would you like to install the gateway as a background service? [Y/n] " -n 1 -r < /dev/tty
+    fi
     echo
 
     if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]] || [[ -z $REPLY ]]; then
-        HERMES_CMD="$HOME/.local/bin/hermes"
+        HERMES_CMD="$(get_hermes_command_path)"
-        if [ ! -x "$HERMES_CMD" ]; then
-            HERMES_CMD="hermes"
-        fi
 
-        if command -v systemctl &> /dev/null; then
+        if [ "$DISTRO" != "termux" ] && command -v systemctl &> /dev/null; then
             log_info "Installing systemd service..."
             if $HERMES_CMD gateway install 2>/dev/null; then
                 log_success "Gateway service installed"
@@ -1186,12 +1224,19 @@ maybe_start_gateway() {
                 log_warn "Systemd install failed. You can start manually: hermes gateway"
             fi
         else
-            log_info "systemd not available — starting gateway in background..."
+            if [ "$DISTRO" = "termux" ]; then
+                log_info "Termux detected — starting gateway in best-effort background mode..."
+            else
+                log_info "systemd not available — starting gateway in background..."
+            fi
             nohup $HERMES_CMD gateway > "$HERMES_HOME/logs/gateway.log" 2>&1 &
             GATEWAY_PID=$!
             log_success "Gateway started (PID $GATEWAY_PID). Logs: ~/.hermes/logs/gateway.log"
             log_info "To stop: kill $GATEWAY_PID"
             log_info "To restart later: hermes gateway"
+            if [ "$DISTRO" = "termux" ]; then
+                log_warn "Android may stop background processes when Termux is suspended or the system reclaims resources."
+            fi
         fi
     else
         log_info "Skipped. Start the gateway later with: hermes gateway"
@@ -1230,17 +1275,22 @@ print_success() {
 
     echo -e "${CYAN}─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────${NC}"
     echo ""
-    echo -e "${YELLOW}⚡ Reload your shell to use 'hermes' command:${NC}"
+    if [ "$DISTRO" = "termux" ]; then
-    echo ""
+        echo -e "${YELLOW}⚡ 'hermes' was linked into $(get_command_link_display_dir), which is already on PATH in Termux.${NC}"
-    LOGIN_SHELL="$(basename "${SHELL:-/bin/bash}")"
+        echo ""
-    if [ "$LOGIN_SHELL" = "zsh" ]; then
-        echo "   source ~/.zshrc"
-    elif [ "$LOGIN_SHELL" = "bash" ]; then
-        echo "   source ~/.bashrc"
     else
-        echo "   source ~/.bashrc   # or ~/.zshrc"
+        echo -e "${YELLOW}⚡ Reload your shell to use 'hermes' command:${NC}"
+        echo ""
+        LOGIN_SHELL="$(basename "${SHELL:-/bin/bash}")"
+        if [ "$LOGIN_SHELL" = "zsh" ]; then
+            echo "   source ~/.zshrc"
+        elif [ "$LOGIN_SHELL" = "bash" ]; then
+            echo "   source ~/.bashrc"
+        else
+            echo "   source ~/.bashrc   # or ~/.zshrc"
+        fi
+        echo ""
     fi
-    echo ""
 
     # Show Node.js warning if auto-install failed
     if [ "$HAS_NODE" = false ]; then

tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor.py

@@ -223,3 +223,25 @@ class TestDoctorMemoryProviderSection:
         out = self._run_doctor_and_capture(monkeypatch, tmp_path, provider="mem0")
         assert "Memory Provider" in out
         assert "Built-in memory active" not in out
+
+
+def test_run_doctor_termux_treats_docker_and_browser_warnings_as_expected(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    helper = TestDoctorMemoryProviderSection()
+    monkeypatch.setenv("TERMUX_VERSION", "0.118.3")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("PREFIX", "/data/data/com.termux/files/usr")
+
+    real_which = doctor_mod.shutil.which
+
+    def fake_which(cmd):
+        if cmd in {"docker", "node", "npm"}:
+            return None
+        return real_which(cmd)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(doctor_mod.shutil, "which", fake_which)
+
+    out = helper._run_doctor_and_capture(monkeypatch, tmp_path, provider="")
+
+    assert "Docker backend is not available inside Termux" in out
+    assert "Node.js not found (browser tools are optional in the tested Termux path)" in out
+    assert "Install Node.js on Termux with: pkg install nodejs" in out
+    assert "docker not found (optional)" not in out

tests/hermes_cli/test_status.py

@@ -12,3 +12,33 @@ def test_show_status_includes_tavily_key(monkeypatch, capsys, tmp_path):
     output = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "Tavily" in output
     assert "tvly...cdef" in output
+
+
+def test_show_status_termux_gateway_section_skips_systemctl(monkeypatch, capsys, tmp_path):
+    from hermes_cli import status as status_mod
+    import hermes_cli.auth as auth_mod
+    import hermes_cli.gateway as gateway_mod
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("TERMUX_VERSION", "0.118.3")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("PREFIX", "/data/data/com.termux/files/usr")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(status_mod, "get_env_path", lambda: tmp_path / ".env", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(status_mod, "get_hermes_home", lambda: tmp_path, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(status_mod, "load_config", lambda: {"model": "gpt-5.4"}, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(status_mod, "resolve_requested_provider", lambda requested=None: "openai-codex", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(status_mod, "resolve_provider", lambda requested=None, **kwargs: "openai-codex", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(status_mod, "provider_label", lambda provider: "OpenAI Codex", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(auth_mod, "get_nous_auth_status", lambda: {}, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(auth_mod, "get_codex_auth_status", lambda: {}, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_mod, "find_gateway_pids", lambda exclude_pids=None: [], raising=False)
+
+    def _unexpected_systemctl(*args, **kwargs):
+        raise AssertionError("systemctl should not be called in the Termux status view")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(status_mod.subprocess, "run", _unexpected_systemctl)
+
+    status_mod.show_status(SimpleNamespace(all=False, deep=False))
+
+    output = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "Manager:      Termux / manual process" in output
+    assert "Start with:   hermes gateway" in output
+    assert "systemd (user)" not in output

website/docs/getting-started/termux.md

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ On Termux, the installer automatically:
 - uses `pkg` for system packages
 - creates the venv with `python -m venv`
 - installs `.[termux]` with `pip`
+- links `hermes` into `$PREFIX/bin` so it stays on your Termux PATH
 - skips the untested browser / WhatsApp bootstrap
 
 If you want the explicit commands or need to debug a failed install, use the manual path below.
@@ -110,14 +111,22 @@ If you only want the minimal core agent, this also works:
 python -m pip install -e '.' -c constraints-termux.txt
 ```
 
-### 5. Verify the install
+### 5. Put `hermes` on your Termux PATH
+
+```bash
+ln -sf "$PWD/venv/bin/hermes" "$PREFIX/bin/hermes"
+```
+
+`$PREFIX/bin` is already on PATH in Termux, so this makes the `hermes` command persist across new shells without re-activating the venv every time.
+
+### 6. Verify the install
 
 ```bash
 hermes version
 hermes doctor
 ```
 
-### 6. Start Hermes
+### 7. Start Hermes
 
 ```bash
 hermes