How to install DeepSeek Harness: from npx one-liner to source build

Install & Get StartedPublished 2026-08-14Author: DSH-Plugin Hub
DeepSeek HarnessDSHinstallnpxbuild
DeepSeek Harness can be installed in two main ways: run the Web UI with npx in one line, or clone and build from source. This guide covers both, the Node.js 18+ requirement, and the default access URL.

The fastest way to install DeepSeek Harness is the one-liner npx @deepseek-ai/dsh web, which opens the Web UI at http://127.0.0.1:3080 by default.

Prerequisites

Running DeepSeek Harness requires Node.js 18 or newer. If you plan to build from source, install pnpm as your package manager as well.

Option 1: npx one-liner (fastest)

A single command starts DSH, ideal for a quick try.

bash
npx @deepseek-ai/dsh web

After it starts, open http://127.0.0.1:3080 in your browser (source).

Option 2: source build (for development)

Clone and build from source when you want to debug or modify the code.

bash
git clone https://github.com/deepseek-ai/deepseek-harness.git
cd deepseek-harness
pnpm install
pnpm run build
pnpm dsh web

Once built, run pnpm dsh web to start the Web UI (source).

Installing plugins

After DSH starts, use dsh plugin --profile web add to install plugins; the framework loads and registers their capabilities automatically.

bash
dsh plugin --profile web add <package-name-or-url>

For each plugin's exact install command, visit the dsh-plugin.org plugin hub and copy it from the plugin detail page.

Notes

  1. Developer preview: DSH iterates fast, so install commands and plugin interfaces may change — always check the official docs.
  2. Version compatibility: plugins usually declare a supported DSH version (e.g. rc.6); verify the version matches before installing.
  3. Network access: the source build requires access to GitHub and an npm registry.

Source: DeepSeek Harness documentation, deepseek-ai/deepseek-harness

FAQ

What do I need before installing DeepSeek Harness?

You need Node.js 18 or newer. pnpm is also recommended if you plan to build from source.

What is the difference between npx and source build?

npx is the fastest way to try it out, while the source build is better for development and debugging.

Where can I access the Web UI after starting?

It opens at http://127.0.0.1:3080 by default.

Sources