Preface

In DeepSeek Harness (DSH), subagents typically inherit the model configuration of the main agent. Without explicit controls, subagents may consume excessive inference compute or output tokens when handling complex tasks, leading to cost overruns or task timeouts.

The dsh-orquestrator plugin solves this problem by enforcing model selection, inference effort caps, and output token limits at the code level. No matter which tool is used to launch a sub-DSH instance, the plugin intervenes to ensure that the subagent uses the designated model and configuration.

Plugin Positioning

  • Name: dsh-orquestrator
  • Description: DeepSeek Harness plugin used to select the model running subagents, with inference effort caps and output token limits, enforced on every sub-DSH launch.
  • Maintainer: frederico-kluser
  • Category: Model inference
  • License: MIT

Core Features

  1. Model Selection
    Allows users to specify a particular model for subagents. This option applies to all types of subagents, including workflow-launched agents, ralph rounds, one-off background tasks, and agent teams. If not selected, subagents inherit the main agent’s model.

  2. Inference Effort Cap and Output Token Limit
    The plugin sets an inference effort cap and an output token limit for each controlled subagent. This prevents subagents from exhausting the entire budget while handling edge cases.

  3. Code-Level Enforcement
    Unlike plain prompt instructions, this plugin enforces limits at the code level. The plugin acts as a gatekeeper for DSH subprocess launches; the main agent cannot bypass these limits through instructions.

  4. Global Agent Skill
    The plugin includes a built-in global agent skill, orchestrate-subagents. By default, the skill is checked in the dialog and sent with the message. The skill is intended to teach the main agent to break work into small chunks, run subagents in parallel, and use verification subagents to check results.

  5. Native UI Integration
    The plugin provides a dialog consistent with DSH’s native appearance. Users can configure options before sending the message.

Installation and Activation

Add the plugin using the official install command:

dsh plugin --profile web add github:frederico-kluser/dsh-orquestrator

Important: After installing or updating the plugin, you must restart the dsh process, not merely refresh the browser page. The plugin’s host-side component is loaded when dsh starts, while the browser-side component is loaded only when the page loads. Refreshing the page alone preserves the old host-side running instance (and the old gatekeeping mechanism), which can cause abnormal plugin behavior.

Typical Usage

  1. Send a Message
    Type anything in the editor and send it. Whether the message is plain text, an @file reference, or a /skill invocation, the plugin displays a dialog before the message is sent.

  2. Configure Options

    • Subagent Model: Enable the toggle and select a model from the dropdown list. That model will apply to all subagents. If disabled, subagents use the main agent’s model.
    • Inference Effort: Select an inference effort level (from low to high) or “model default.” This option is always visible.
    • Orchestration Skill: Check the “orchestrate-subagents” checkbox to apply the built-in skill. If the message already contains the /orchestrate-subagents token, the checkbox is locked and shown as selected.

  3. Send and Cancel

    • Click “Send with these options” to send the message.
    • Click “Cancel”, press “Esc”, or click the “✕” button to abort sending. Nothing is sent, no message bubble appears, and the text remains in the editor as a draft.

  4. Open On Demand
    Use the /orquestrar command to open the same dialog at any time, to modify or clear stored configuration.

Use Cases and Notes

  • Use Cases: Developers who need fine-grained control over subagent models and resource consumption, or who want to prevent subagents from consuming unlimited tokens or inference compute.
  • Notes:
    • The dialog appears on every send and does not provide a “don’t ask again” option.
    • The plugin runs with the privileges of the DSH process. Before installing, check the source code and license (MIT).