diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..218f5d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+.git
+.pytest_cache
+__pycache__
+*.pyc
+*.pyo
+tests/
+.env*
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 295d86e..de0212e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ WORKDIR /app
 # Copy source
 COPY . /app
 
+# Install Python dependencies
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
+
 # Default to binding all interfaces (required for container networking)
 ENV HERMES_WEBUI_HOST=0.0.0.0
 ENV HERMES_WEBUI_PORT=8787
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index c020fdd..eba188b 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ services:
       # Persist session data, settings, and projects across restarts
       - hermes-data:/data
       # Mount hermes-agent for full agent features (optional)
-      - ${HERMES_HOME:-~/.hermes}:/root/.hermes:ro
+      - ${HERMES_HOME:-${HOME}/.hermes}:/root/.hermes:ro
     environment:
       - HERMES_WEBUI_HOST=0.0.0.0
       - HERMES_WEBUI_PORT=8787
diff --git a/static/boot.js b/static/boot.js
index c1fcde6..bd1d3f8 100644
--- a/static/boot.js
+++ b/static/boot.js
@@ -29,16 +29,21 @@ function toggleMobileFiles(){
   panel.classList.toggle('mobile-open');
 }
 function mobileSwitchPanel(name){
-  // Close sidebar if open, then switch panel
-  closeMobileSidebar();
-  // Open sidebar for the selected panel, then close after a moment
-  const sidebar=document.querySelector('.sidebar');
-  const overlay=$('mobileOverlay');
-  if(sidebar){
-    sidebar.classList.add('mobile-open');
-    if(overlay)overlay.classList.add('visible');
-  }
+  // Switch the panel content view
   switchPanel(name);
+  // For non-chat panels (tasks, skills, memory, spaces), open the sidebar
+  // so the panel is visible. For 'chat', the content is in the main area —
+  // just close the sidebar so the chat view is unobstructed.
+  if(name==='chat'){
+    closeMobileSidebar();
+  } else {
+    const sidebar=document.querySelector('.sidebar');
+    const overlay=$('mobileOverlay');
+    if(sidebar){
+      sidebar.classList.add('mobile-open');
+      if(overlay)overlay.classList.add('visible');
+    }
+  }
   // Update bottom nav active state
   document.querySelectorAll('.mobile-nav-btn').forEach(btn=>{
     btn.classList.toggle('active',btn.dataset.panel===name);
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index 375f9f1..641dc83 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -525,9 +525,14 @@
   transition:background .15s;
 }
 .resize-handle:hover,.resize-handle.dragging{background:rgba(124,185,255,.35);}
-.sidebar{position:relative;}
+/* Desktop-only: position:relative for sidebar/rightpanel resize handles.
+   Must be scoped to min-width:641px so it doesn't override the mobile
+   position:fixed slide-in overlay set in the max-width:640px @media block above. */
+@media(min-width:641px){
+  .sidebar{position:relative;}
+  .rightpanel{position:relative;}
+}
 .sidebar .resize-handle{right:-2px;}
-.rightpanel{position:relative;}
 .rightpanel .resize-handle{left:-2px;}
 /* Prevent text selection during drag */
 body.resizing{user-select:none;cursor:col-resize;}