Preface¶

DeepSeek Harness (hereinafter referred to as DSH) treats models, tools, skills, sessions, sandboxes, storage, loops, scheduling, and UI as replaceable plugins. The official slogan is “Everything is a plugin”: the Cordis kernel only handles loading, unloading, and dependencies, with specific capabilities provided by plugins. The web interface can even be replaced entirely without modifying the Harness source code.

The default Web GUI can handle daily operations of coding Agents, and its screenshots and demos look similar to the official preview pages. Community-themed plugins have emerged one after another: some people made QQ retro windows, some made Excel layouts, and others put character art into the chat area. dsh-deep-whale belongs to the last category—it does not modify the Agent loop or touch model requests, only replacing the web interface with an “Abyssal Maid Atelier” skin.

This article is organized by cross-checking the community plugin directory page, GitHub repository README, package.json / skin.json / NOTICE in the maid-atelier subdirectory, and client entry source code: explaining what this plugin is, which command to use to install it, how to switch themes after installation, and the attribution chain required in the license. The community plugin directory (deepseek-harness-plugin.com) is an independent site and has no official affiliation with DeepSeek / HyperMind, so do not treat it as an official app store.

What is this¶

dsh-deep-whale is a series of whale girl theme skins for DSH Web GUI, maintained by Small-tailqwq, with the repository address at Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale. The directory page categorizes it under “Themes & Appearance”, and the main language is TypeScript. The repository was created on August 13, 2026, and was added to the community directory on August 15, 2026. As of August 17, 2026, the GitHub API shows approximately 1099 stars; the directory page displayed 756 stars at that time, so we can use that as the inclusion snapshot, and the star count should refer to the repository page.

The problem it solves is very specific: allowing the web interface to be changed to a look with character backgrounds and decorative layers without modifying the Harness source code. The repository README states that this is an independent distribution repository, and currently only has one skin:

The English name in skin.json is Abyssal Maid Atelier, the author field is Small-tailqwq, wiring.id is ui-skin-maid-atelier, the accent color is #c5a468, and the scope attribute is data-dsh-maid-atelier. The current version of package.json is 0.0.1, dsh.client.platform is web, and the peer dependency on @deepseek-ai/cordis is ^4.0.1.

The skin subdirectory’s README positions it as a pure presentation layer client plugin: the apply() function in the host entry src/index.ts is empty, with a comment stating “Provides no host-side behavior”; the actual interface modifications are done in src/client/index.ts. It does not inject Cordis services, emit Cordis events, or access model requests. When uninstalled, the Cordis effect destructor restores all CSS and DOM modifications.

Core Features¶

The following capabilities come from maid-atelier/README.md, skin.json, and the client entry, not imagined features from demo slides.

Light and Dark Palace Backgrounds¶

The chat area uses a dual maid workshop scene as the background. The client switches between MAID_ATELIER_PALACE_LIGHT and MAID_ATELIER_PALACE_DARK based on whether body has the data-ds-dark-theme attribute, with the background covering the entire screen and centered at the top. The repository README includes maid-atelier/preview/light.webp and dark.webp in the “Effect Preview” section, which you can view before installing.

The directory page also mentions that you can preview the light and dark versions to see the effect before switching; after installation, the theme can follow the system preferences. Whether it “takes effect immediately” depends on your current skin management method, which will be covered separately in the next section.

Decorative Layer Instead of Modifying the Core¶

The description in skin.json matches the README: it uses deep sea blue, ceramic white, periwinkle blue, and soft gold to create a hot-swappable UI overlay. The client also:
- Adds chibi characters and corner decorations to the collapsible sidebar
- Changes the page title to “Abyssal Maid Atelier · DeepSeek Harness”
- Sets theme-color to #0b193f
- Appends a PNG favicon to document.head

All assets are embedded into the client bundle (data URI). The README clearly states that activation does not depend on temporary files, remote URLs, or additional resource servers. The corresponding source files are art.ts, background-art.generated.ts, chrome-art.generated.ts, and workspace-art.generated.ts.

Show/Hide Characters Based on Page State¶

The README’s layout conventions are:
1. The landing page character scales with the responsive input box
2. After entering a conversation, the character moves to the safe edge
3. The Trajectory / Inspector view retains the landing composition

The client uses a set of data-maid-* attributes to project these states, such as whether there is an active conversation, whether the settings page is open, and whether [data-dsh-better-sidebar] exists. The source code comments also note that the sidebar width is written into a separate stylesheet instead of modifying body inline styles to avoid triggering Chrome autofill’s MutationObserver. The data-maid-low-power attribute is added when WebGL acceleration is unavailable. These are implementation details and do not require configuration for daily use.

Load Immediately, Uninstall and Restore¶

cordis.patch.yml inserts an entry into the web plugin registry:
- id: ui-skin-maid-atelier
- name: @dsh-external/dsh-client-ui-skin-maid-atelier

The client apply(ctx) uses ctx.effect to register a destructor: removes data-dsh-maid-atelier, restores CSS variables, deletes nodes inserted by the skin, and restores the original document.title. The README states “Load to take effect, uninstall to restore”, and notes compatibility with mutually exclusive switching via the skin center / dsh-skin.

Installation and Activation¶

Please make sure you have a working DSH Web interface before installing. The official quick start command is:

npx @deepseek-ai/dsh web

For source code installation, clone deepseek-ai/deepseek-harness. DSH is still in developer preview, and core plugins and APIs will continue to change.

Command Provided by the Directory Page¶

The installation command on the community directory page is as per the original text on the page, run it in the DeepSeek Harness terminal:

dsh plugin add github:Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale

For reproducible installations, the directory page requires fixing the commit hash:

dsh plugin add github:Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale#<commit>

Replace <commit> with the actual commit hash from the repository, do not copy the placeholder verbatim.

The directory page also reminds users that the plugin runs with the permissions of the current dsh process, and may execute code during installation. You should check the source code repository and license before installing.

Two Installation Methods from the Repository README¶

The root directory README provides two additional paths.

1. Directly tell DSH (called the “lazy version” in the repository):

    Install this skin package: https://github.com/Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale

2. After cloning locally, add the maid-atelier subdirectory to the web profile:

    git clone https://github.com/Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale
    cd <harness>
    dsh plugin --profile web add ../dsh-deep-whale/maid-atelier

<harness> is your DeepSeek Harness working directory. The second command points to the skin’s finished product directory, not the repository root; this directory contains package.json, pre-built lib/, and skin.json.

The maid-atelier/README.md previously contained git clone https://github.com/dsh-external/dsh-deep-whale. The current public repository owner and the directory page’s installation command both use Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale, so use that for cloning.

Typical Usage¶

Preview Before Deciding¶

The root repository README uses a table to display the light and dark preview images, with paths:
- maid-atelier/preview/light.webp
- maid-atelier/preview/dark.webp

The directory page’s usage guide also recommends previewing first: this style focuses on elaborate character art, so if you do not like it, you can check other themes in the same category without installing and uninstalling first.

How to Switch to This Skin After Installation¶

The entry points vary slightly across different documents, use them according to the source:
1. Skin Subdirectory README: Takes effect immediately after loading, restores to original when uninstalled; wiring.id is ui-skin-maid-atelier.
2. Community Directory Page: Select it in the theme area after installation; the light/dark versions can follow the system preferences.
3. If you have installed a skin management plugin (such as the community dsh-skin-manager), the process from its README is: open Settings → Skins, the installed skin will appear in the list (the sample name is “Abyssal Maid Atelier / maid-atelier”), click Apply, and follow the prompt to Refresh. Select Default to disable all skins and return to the original DSH appearance. dsh-deep-whale does not bundle a skin manager by itself.

Without a skin center, refer to the “theme area” on the directory page and the loading/unloading instructions in the README, and do not treat the menu structure of a third-party manager as the interface built into this repository.

Development Build (Generally Unnecessary)¶

This repository only distributes finished skin products (including pre-built lib/) and does not include the scaffolding. The root README states that the scaffolding comes from zhu1090093659/dsh-web-ui; maid-atelier/README.md states that development builds should be performed under skins/maid-atelier/ in that scaffolding repository:

cd <dsh-web-ui>/skins/maid-atelier
pnpm build          # Regenerate asset embeds + build lib/ with tsdown
pnpm test           # Behavior test for apply.spec.ts

You do not need to go through this path if you only want to change the appearance. Submitting the built lib/ back to dsh-deep-whale counts as a skin update.

Applicable Scenarios and Notes¶

Suitable for these situations:
- Already using dsh web and want a consistent recognizable interface for screenshots, tutorials, and community posts
- Teams or individuals want to unify the Web interface with a unified character skin
- Only want to change the appearance and do not want the skin plugin to insert services or modify model requests

Not suitable for these situations:
- Need commercial use. Both the repository and maid-atelier/LICENSE use CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (Attribution, Non-Commercial, ShareAlike), and the README explicitly prohibits commercial use
- Using DSH only in the terminal / TUI, without the Web GUI. package.json marks the platform as web
- Expect it to enhance Agent capabilities. It does not provide tools, skills, or model adaptations

There is also a required attribution chain in the license, written in maid-atelier/NOTICE. The skin assets are derivative works:
1. Original Creator Shàngshàn (Pixiv): Original creator of the whale girl character形象
2. Derivative Creator 2 ZipZipPipe / zipzip (Pixiv): Secondary design of the maid whale girl adding DeepSeek elements to the original work (the NOTICE states that the generation model used is GPT Image 2)
3. Derivative Creator 3 Small-tailqwq: Redesign of the DeepSeek elements used in this skin

The full license text is in maid-atelier/LICENSE. The repository README requires that you open a GitHub Issue for feedback questions instead of contacting the original creators directly; you can follow their pages for more whale girl derivative works.

A few other practical limitations:
- The plugin runs with the permissions of the current dsh process. Even though this is a presentation layer skin, you should still browse the repository source code and license before installing
- The client will modify document.title, favicon, and theme-color; the destructor will restore the original values saved before uninstallation
- The source code includes a compatible selector for [data-dsh-better-sidebar], indicating that it can coexist with sidebar enhancement plugins, but the coexistence effect depends on your actual local interface, and the repository does not provide a list of “verified plugin combinations”
- DSH and the community skin scaffolding are still undergoing rapid iteration, and version numbers like 0.0.1 indicate that the product is still early; changes to the interface DOM structure may break the skin’s selectors

Summary¶

dsh-deep-whale directly embodies DSH’s “UI is also a plugin” concept: currently only distributing the maid-atelier Abyssal Maid Atelier skin, with the package name @dsh-external/dsh-client-ui-skin-maid-atelier, adding dual maid backgrounds and decorative layers to the web page without interfering with the Agent loop. Use the directory page command to install:

dsh plugin add github:Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale

Or add the maid-atelier subdirectory to the web profile as per the README. Check the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and the attribution chain in NOTICE before using, and install it only for non-commercial scenarios.

Directory page: https://deepseek-harness-plugin.com/zh-CN/plugins/dsh-deep-whale/

GitHub: https://github.com/Small-tailqwq/dsh-deep-whale