What is dsh-synapse? DeepSeek Harness session map plugin

dsh-synapse is a visual session map DSH plugin for DeepSeek Harness: it arranges the sessions, follow-ups, and branches of one workspace on a pannable, zoomable canvas while keeping native sessions as the single source of truth (source). This article examines that one plugin across three directions: what need it addresses, how to install and enable it, and the dependencies, permissions, and trade-offs involved.

Overview: the dsh-synapse DSH plugin in one line

It addresses getting lost once sessions multiply—upgrading a linear session list into a navigable map. What you asked, which thread you forked a follow-up from, and which branch is still open are all visible on the canvas. It is a UI plugin: it does not change model capability and does not touch workspace files.

The need it addresses: turning a linear DeepSeek Harness conversation into a navigable map

The pain is concrete: sessions pile up in a workspace and follow-ups fork deeper, while a list view only scrolls by time and shows no structure. dsh-synapse answers with four capabilities:

1. A conversation map canvas — Sessions, follow-ups, and branches sit on one canvas you can pan and zoom. Expected: you see the whole structure at a glance instead of opening each item.
2. Real branches preserved — Branches created by follow-ups are real structure on the map, not visual decoration. Expected: the branch relationships match the actual sessions.
3. Smoother follow-ups — You continue asking directly from a node on the map. Expected: a follow-up's attribution is clear and does not bleed into another session.
4. Two-way sync — The canvas and native sessions stay consistent. Expected: a change on the canvas lands on the native session, and a change to the native session shows on the canvas.

The key point is that the native session is the single source of truth—dsh-synapse does not keep a second copy, so there is no risk of two stores telling different stories. It is organized per workspace, which means switching workspaces switches the map.

How to install and enable this DSH plugin: marketplace, command line, and profile scope

Installation goes through the standard plugin channel, two options:

1. Graphical install — Open the plugin marketplace, search dsh-synapse, and click install. UI plugins are browsable by category here, with the entry point at DSH Plugin Hub. Expected: dsh-synapse appears in your installed list.
2. Command-line install — One command installs it:

dsh plugin --profile web add dsh-synapse

Expected: the canvas entry appears after you restart dsh web.

Watch the profile scope: plugins install and take effect per profile, and --profile must point at the environment you are actually running; the web version is the web profile, while the desktop client has its own, and installing in the wrong place means no entry in the UI. For a source install, use dsh plugin --profile web add github:liangmianya/dsh-synapse.

Usage notes and boundaries: DeepSeek Harness dependencies, permissions, and trade-offs

It is a UI plugin, so its permission surface is relatively narrow, but check dependencies and sources all the same.

1. Dependencies and approval — Installing from npm is the easiest path; a direct GitHub install may pull build dependencies and require allowBuilds approval, which you should not grant without reviewing the source.
2. Permission boundary — UI plugins mainly display and navigate and do not directly read or write workspace files; for settings sensitive to control, that is friendlier than a tool plugin.
3. Trade-offs against similar plugins — For lightweight session switching in a sidebar, a sidebar plugin fits better, as covered in What is dsh-better-sidebar; only when you need a global view across branches and follow-ups is the dsh-synapse canvas the right tool.
4. Trial it small first — With many sessions the canvas gets denser, so try a real workspace once to confirm readability before making it a daily driver.

Notes on using the dsh-synapse DSH plugin

1. It does not create sessions: dsh-synapse is a view layer; sessions themselves are still produced and saved by DeepSeek Harness native mechanisms.
2. Do not install it into the wrong profile: install it outside the running profile and no entry appears in the UI.
3. Verify the source: prefer the marketplace and the official npm package name dsh-synapse, and do not pull packages from unknown sources.
4. The canvas is not a backup: it visualizes native sessions and does not back up data, so confirm through the session management flow before cleaning up sessions.
5. Split the work with similar plugins: sidebar plugins handle quick switching, map plugins handle global structure—pick one primary use per need.

Sources: liangmianya/dsh-synapse, dsh CLI README, dshplugin/dsh-plugin-hub