feat(tui): add native terminal mode defaults

hermes_cli/_parser.py

@@ -205,6 +205,8 @@ def _add_top_level_flags(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
               help="Troubleshooting mode: disable ALL customizations — user config, AGENTS.md/memory injection, plugins, and MCP servers (implies --ignore-user-config and --ignore-rules)")
     inherited(parser, "--tui", action="store_true", default=False,
               help="Launch the modern TUI instead of the classic REPL")
+    inherited(parser, "--native", "--tui-native", dest="tui_native", action="store_true", default=False,
+              help="With --tui: use native terminal scrollback and disable mouse tracking")
     inherited(parser, "--cli", action="store_true", default=False,
               help="Force the classic prompt_toolkit REPL (overrides display.interface=tui)")
     inherited(parser, "--dev", dest="tui_dev", action="store_true", default=False,
@@ -308,6 +310,8 @@ def _build_chat_parser(subparsers) -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         help="Session source tag for filtering (default: cli). Use 'tool' for third-party integrations that should not appear in user session lists.")
     inherited(chat_parser, "--tui", action="store_true", default=SUPPRESS,
               help="Launch the modern TUI instead of the classic REPL")
+    inherited(chat_parser, "--native", "--tui-native", dest="tui_native", action="store_true", default=SUPPRESS,
+              help="Use native terminal scrollback and disable mouse tracking")
     inherited(chat_parser, "--cli", action="store_true", default=SUPPRESS,
               help="Force the classic prompt_toolkit REPL (overrides display.interface=tui)")
     inherited(chat_parser, "--dev", dest="tui_dev", action="store_true", default=SUPPRESS,

hermes_cli/config_defaults.py

@@ -816,6 +816,9 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
         # Interface bare `hermes`/`hermes chat` launches: "cli" (prompt_toolkit REPL) | "tui" (Ink).
         # Flags win: `--cli` forces the REPL, `--tui` / HERMES_TUI=1 forces the TUI.
         "interface": "cli",
+        # Native TUI uses the terminal's primary buffer and scrollback instead of the custom
+        # alternate-screen viewport. Flags win: `--native` / `--tui-native` and `--cli`.
+        "tui_native": False,
         # `hermes --tui` auto-resumes the most recent human-facing session (like `hermes -c`).
         # HERMES_TUI_RESUME=<id> always wins.
         "tui_auto_resume_recent": False,

hermes_cli/main.py

@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ def _wants_tui_early(argv: "list[str] | None" = None) -> bool:
         argv = sys.argv[1:]
     if "--cli" in argv:
         return False
-    if os.environ.get("HERMES_TUI") == "1" or "--tui" in argv:
+    if os.environ.get("HERMES_TUI") == "1" or any(flag in argv for flag in ("--tui", "--native", "--tui-native")):
         return True
     try:
         if not (sys.stdin.isatty() and sys.stdout.isatty()):
@@ -1841,6 +1841,7 @@ def cmd_chat(args):
         _launch_tui(
             passthrough.pop("resume"),
             tui_dev=getattr(args, "tui_dev", False),
+            native_mode=True if getattr(args, "tui_native", False) else None,
             model=getattr(args, "model", None),
             accept_hooks=getattr(args, "accept_hooks", False),
             **passthrough,

hermes_cli/main_tui_launch.py

@@ -343,7 +343,8 @@ def _setup_tui_worktree() -> dict:
 
 
 def _launch_tui(
-    resume_session_id: Optional[str] = None, tui_dev: bool = False, model: Optional[str] = None,
+    resume_session_id: Optional[str] = None, tui_dev: bool = False, native_mode: Optional[bool] = None,
+    model: Optional[str] = None,
     provider: Optional[str] = None, toolsets: object = None, skills: object = None,
     verbose: Optional[bool] = None, quiet: bool = False, query: Optional[str] = None,
     image: Optional[str] = None, worktree: bool = False, checkpoints: bool = False,
@@ -373,6 +374,15 @@ def _launch_tui(
     os.close(active_session_fd)
     env["HERMES_TUI_ACTIVE_SESSION_FILE"] = active_session_file
     env.setdefault("NODE_ENV", "development" if tui_dev else "production")
+    if native_mode is None:
+        try:
+            from hermes_cli.config import load_config
+            from utils import is_truthy_value
+            display = load_config().get("display", {})
+            native_mode = is_truthy_value(display.get("tui_native", False)) if isinstance(display, dict) else False
+        except Exception:
+            native_mode = False
+    env["HERMES_TUI_NATIVE"] = "1" if native_mode else "0"
 
     wt_info = None
     if worktree:
@@ -479,7 +489,7 @@ def _resolve_use_tui(args) -> bool:
     """
     if getattr(args, "cli", False):
         return False
-    if getattr(args, "tui", False):
+    if getattr(args, "tui", False) or getattr(args, "tui_native", False):
         return True
     try:
         if not (sys.stdin.isatty() and sys.stdout.isatty()):

tests/hermes_cli/test_default_interface_resolution.py

@@ -169,6 +169,11 @@ class TestParserFlags:
         args = self._parser().parse_args(["chat", "--tui"])
         assert args.tui is True
 
+    def test_native_flag_at_both_parser_levels(self):
+        parser = self._parser()
+        assert parser.parse_args(["--native"]).tui_native is True
+        assert parser.parse_args(["chat", "--tui-native"]).tui_native is True
+
     def test_cli_and_tui_are_relaunch_inherited(self):
         from hermes_cli.relaunch import _INHERITED_FLAGS_TABLE
 
@@ -176,6 +181,13 @@ class TestParserFlags:
         assert "--cli" in inherited
         assert "--tui" in inherited
 
+    def test_native_flag_is_relaunch_inherited(self):
+        from hermes_cli.relaunch import _INHERITED_FLAGS_TABLE
+
+        inherited = {flag for flag, _takes_value in _INHERITED_FLAGS_TABLE}
+        assert "--native" in inherited
+        assert "--tui-native" in inherited
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # config default — shipped default preserves classic behavior