Introduction

The DeepSeek Harness (DSH) web interface features a plain-colored background by default. Working for extended periods in the conversation area, trace area, or sidebar can make the interface appear monotonous. If you only want to change the background image for a specific region, it often requires modifying the global styles or writing custom CSS, leading to high maintenance costs.

dsh-plugin-background is a DSH wallpaper plugin maintained by gameswu, categorized under “Fun Customization” in the SkillHub community directory. Inspired by the VSCode background extension, it allows configuring separate backgrounds for interface areas like the conversation area, trace area, sidebar, and settings page. It supports image slideshows and silent videos, and provides an independent management entry point within the settings page.

What Is This

dsh-plugin-background (current version 0.2.1, MIT license) is a client-side plugin for the DSH Web platform. It is released as a bundle (dsh.bundle + cordis.patch.yml), injecting into the web interface via the Cordis patch layer. Configuration is available under Settings → Plugins → Background.

Maintainer gameswu open-sources this repository on GitHub. The SkillHub directory page and the GitHub repository serve as different entry points for the same plugin. The community directory is operated by SkillHub and has no official affiliation with DeepSeek / High-Flyer.

Core Features

Below is an introduction to the background management capabilities implemented by the plugin, based on the repository’s README and package.json description.

Independent Configuration per Area

Each interface area can have its own set of background assets. Image groups cycle in a PPT-style slideshow, while video groups play silently in a loop. Each group contains only one type of media (either images or videos, not mixed).

Supported areas include the conversation area, trace area, sidebar, settings page, and more. If dsh-plugin-vscode-sidebar is installed, its right panel, bottom panel as a whole, and each tab within can also serve as independent background areas.

Asset Sources and Persistence

When adding backgrounds, you can:

  • Paste URLs (comma-separated for multiple images/videos)
  • Select local images or videos
  • Select an entire folder

Local files are stored as IndexedDB blobs, persisting after page refresh, without using base64 encoding.

Selecting multiple areas and adding assets allows the same set of materials to be applied to several areas at once.

Display Parameters for Single Images

Clicking a thumbnail opens an editor where you can set parameters for each image individually:

  • Display mode: Fill, Fit, Stretch, Tile, Center, Custom
  • Opacity, Blur
  • In custom mode, you can also adjust position, scale, size, repeat, rotation, rounded corners, etc. (see package.json description)

Slideshow and Transition

You can configure slideshow intervals, play order (sequential or random), and manually switch to the next image. Before switching, the next image is preloaded with a crossfade effect to avoid flashing blank screens.

Cross-Area Merging

In the surface list, dragging one area row onto another merges them into a single cross-area background (similar to a multi-monitor wallpaper effect). Dragging apart splits them again.

Installation and Activation

This plugin is a bundle that includes its own patch layer. Use dsh plugin to install—the command forwards parameters to the profile’s pnpm and automatically mounts the bundle into dsh.profile.bundles, requiring no manual editing of configuration files.

To install from a local path (<path>/background is this repository’s directory):

dsh plugin --profile web add <path>/background

When installing from GitHub, it is recommended to pin a specific commit:

dsh plugin --profile web add github:gameswu/dsh-plugin-background#<sha>

When installing from GitHub, pnpm runs the package’s prepare script after installation to build lib/client.js. pnpm ≥10 refuses to execute such scripts by default. The first add attempt may fail with a prompt to add the package key to the profile’s pnpm-workspace.yaml and retry:

allowBuilds:
  dsh-plugin-background: true

Authorizing builds means the package’s build script will run locally during installation. Only authorize this for trusted sources.

After installation, restart the web interface (dsh web) for changes to take effect.

Typical Usage

Open Settings → Plugins → Background and follow these steps to configure:

  1. Click the area to configure in the surface list; selecting multiple rows adds to several areas at once
  2. Paste image or video URLs, or select local files
  3. Click a thumbnail to open the editor, adjusting display mode and parameters
  4. Drag one area row onto another to merge them into a cross-area background

If installed via local path (pnpm link), hard-refresh the browser (Ctrl+Shift+R) after rebuilding to see changes without restarting the server. Development-related commands:

pnpm install        # Install dependencies
pnpm build          # Bundle → lib/client.js
pnpm typecheck      # Type checking

Use Cases and Notes

This plugin is suitable for users who wish to customize wallpapers, slideshows, or silent background videos per area within the DSH web interface, especially agent developers who keep the conversation or trace area open for extended periods.

Before use, please note:

  • The plugin runs in the browser with the current dsh process’s permissions. Local files are written to IndexedDB. Review the source code and confirm the MIT license before installation.
  • Installing from GitHub requires authorizing the prepare build script. Only do this for trusted repositories.
  • Cross-area merging and the independent area capabilities of the vscode-sidebar plugin depend on the respective plugins being correctly installed.

Conclusion

dsh-plugin-background consolidates “per-area backgrounds, slideshows and videos, local persistence, and cross-area backgrounds” into a single entry point in the settings page, eliminating the need to modify global CSS. If you use the DSH web interface and want to add some visual differentiation to your workspace, check out the links below for directory information or source code.

  • SkillHub directory page: https://www.skillhub.cn/plugins/gameswu/dsh-plugin-background
  • GitHub repository: https://github.com/gameswu/dsh-plugin-background