Introduction

In DeepSeek Harness (DSH), dsh web already provides an accessible web service. However, daily use typically involves opening a browser window, which includes tabs and address bars, making the entry point less direct. For developers who wish to use Harness as a daily desktop tool, sylkmpo/dsh-web-app-launcher provides a launch method that feels more like a native desktop application.

It does not alter the dsh web service itself; instead, it allows Windows users to double-click an icon on the desktop to open an independent window in the browser’s application mode and exit the process when the window is closed.

What is it

dsh-web-app-launcher is a Windows-oriented community plugin for DSH, licensed under the MIT License.

It wraps the official dsh web service as a startup layer:

  • Does not introduce Electron;
  • Does not perform secondary packaging;
  • Does not fork the backend service;
  • Features are consistent with the Web version.

Visually, it opens an independent window using the --app mode of Edge, Chrome, Brave, or Vivaldi, with no tabs or address bar.

Core Features

  • Desktop Icon: Automatically creates DeepSeek Harness.lnk after the first launch.
  • Independent Window: Opens the application window using the --app mode of Edge, Chrome, Brave, or Vivaldi.
  • Clean Interface: No tabs or address bar in the window.
  • Lifecycle: Starts by double-clicking the icon and exits Harness when the window is closed.
  • Temporary Profile: Uses the system temporary directory to save a temporary Chromium profile, which is automatically deleted after the window closes.
  • Feature Consistency: The plugin itself does not add new web features; its functionality is consistent with the dsh web Web version.

Prerequisites

Before using this plugin, the following environment must be met:

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • Node.js
  • DeepSeek Harness is installed, and dsh is in the PATH

If DeepSeek Harness is not installed on your machine yet, the global installation command provided in the documentation is:

npm install -g @deepseek-ai/dsh

Confirm that the Node.js environment is available and that you are willing to globally install this package on your machine before executing.

Installation and Activation

  1. Install the plugin. This command adds the plugin to the web profile:
dsh plugin --profile web add github:sylkmpo/dsh-web-app-launcher
  1. Run the Web profile for the first time. Plugin installation does not immediately create a shortcut; the plugin code needs the Web profile to be activated before it can create a Windows shortcut. Run this once:
dsh web
  1. Use the desktop icon. After the plugin is activated, DeepSeek Harness.lnk will appear on the desktop. Simply double-click this icon afterward to open an independent window.

Typical Usage

Daily usage typically involves only three steps:

  1. Double-click DeepSeek Harness.lnk on the desktop.
  2. The plugin calls the --app mode of Edge, Chrome, Brave, or Vivaldi to open an independent window.
  3. After closing the window, Harness exits, and the temporary Chromium profile is deleted from the system temporary directory.

If troubleshooting is needed, first confirm that dsh web can start normally in the terminal; the application window is just the browser frontend entry point for dsh web.

Uninstallation

Uninstallation command:

dsh plugin --profile web remove dsh-web-app-launcher

After deleting the plugin, manually delete the DeepSeek Harness.lnk on the desktop.

Use Cases and Notes

Suitable for:

  • Using the DeepSeek Harness Web interface on Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • Wanting to use dsh web as an independent window entry rather than a browser tab
  • Wanting to exit when closing the window without needing to manually manage browser windows

Notes:

  • This is an unofficial community plugin and has no affiliation or endorsement relationship with DeepSeek official.
  • The plugin runs with the permissions of the current dsh process; you should check the source code, startup logic, and MIT license before installing.
  • The window experience depends on Edge, Chrome, Brave, or Vivaldi being installed on the machine and the browser’s support for the --app mode.
  • The plugin does not change the functional boundaries of dsh web; if a capability is not present in the Web version, this plugin will not provide it out of thin air.

Links

Repository: https://github.com/sylkmpo/dsh-web-app-launcher

Directory link (unverified): https://www.skillhub.cn/plugins/sylkmpo/dsh-web-app-launcher