WHY DESKTOP
Why DSH Desktop?
The official way to run DeepSeek Harness is npx @deepseek-ai/dsh web in a terminal, then opening a local address in your browser. Functionally it is the same WebUI — DSH Desktop simply packages that WebUI into a dependable native desktop app. The difference: no Node environment to maintain, and no command to remember.
CLI vs desktop client
| Capability | npx CLI + browser | DSH Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js / pnpm | Install and maintain yourself | Bundled, pinned Node.js 22 — zero setup |
| Launching | Open a terminal, remember the command | Click the icon, or summon from anywhere with a shortcut |
| Window & tray | One more browser tab | Dedicated native window, hides to the system tray |
| Crash recovery | Diagnose and restart by hand | Restarts automatically after a crash; error-page retry |
| Broken plugins | A bad plugin can wedge the WebUI | Update or disable suspects right from the error page; Safe Mode as the fallback |
| Data isolation | Shares ~/.dsh with the CLI | Own ~/.dsh-desktop; share via DSH_HOME if wanted |
| Diagnostics | Read terminal logs yourself | One-click health check + exportable sanitized report |
| Updates | Upgrade the npm package manually | Windows in-place auto-update; macOS checks and opens the release page |
Who it is for
- Non-terminal users: download, install, done — no Node.js, npm, or command-line experience required.
- People who live in Harness daily: tray resident plus a global summon shortcut (default
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Space). - Multi-machine setups: export agent presets as a single
.dshpresetfile and import them elsewhere.
When the CLI is still the better fit
If you already maintain a Node environment, use Harness over SSH on a server, or want to script it in a pipeline, the official npx @deepseek-ai/dsh web remains the right tool. DSH Desktop is the same kernel in desktop form, not a replacement — the two coexist fine.