DeepSeek released a desktop version of its Harness tool for Windows 64-bit and macOS, moving away from the previous terminal-based installation. The application allows users to log in via their DeepSeek account or an API key, providing a persistent session environment that continues tasks even when the window is closed.
The desktop client introduces granular control over agent permissions through sandbox settings and confirmation policies, including a 'danger-full-access' mode. It also includes a 'Manage dsh Command' feature, which installs the dsh command into the system PATH, eliminating the need for separate Node.js or pnpm installations.
The application automatically collects product analytics, including device and account identifiers, as well as usage data such as model switches and plugin installations. There is currently no option in the interface to disable this tracking.
Plugins are managed as npm packages, which can be installed via the application's plugin page. The ecosystem includes various community-driven projects, with the awesome-dsh-plugin catalog tracking packages that contain a specific dsh.bundle manifest.
The software handles environment variables on macOS by launching a login shell at startup to detect Homebrew tools and proxy settings. However, the application does not read system proxy settings directly, requiring users to set HTTP_PROXY and HTTPS_PROXY environment variables manually.
