dsh-superagent: developer tools for developers
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dsh-superagent helps you build software by starting with a research prototype that takes an allowed request on one GitHub repository and works on it in its own session. It is best for developers who are comfortable running research code on a machine kept separate from everyday work. People also use it to automate repetitive work. A free plan is available.
What it does
dsh-superagent is a research prototype of a proactive coding agent for one GitHub repository. The README's principle is to take as little human attention as possible, and give as much value as possible. An allowed person asks, the agent works in its own session, and the reply goes back to the original conversation. The philosophy doc is docs/000-philosophy.md.
Repository: deepseek-ai/dsh-superagent-prototype. License: MIT. Setup: SETUP.md. Plain-English explainer: what it is, and who should wait. Open-source tools on this site: GitHub. Other pages in that section: agent-desktop and PromptDirector.
Editorial note
dsh-superagent is a research prototype from the DeepSeek Harness team. It watches one GitHub repository and, when an allowed person asks, works in its own session and replies in that same conversation. The README says it is not an official DeepSeek product. The code is MIT licensed.
Who it’s for
- For: Developers who are comfortable running research code on a machine kept separate from everyday work.
- Not ideal for: everyone else. The README says it is a research prototype for reference only, not an official DeepSeek product, and not production-ready software.
- Not ideal for: a team that needs a chat window in a browser. The panel is on the computer where the agent runs.
Key use cases
- Build apps & code
- Automate work
What you can do with it
- Free access: The license file is the MIT License, copyright 2026 DeepSeek Harness Team. This is an ongoing free license to the code, not a trial and not a one-time credit grant. The deployment guide says you also configure a model provider for DeepSeek Harness. The repository does not list a price for that model.
- One repository: The README says it is a proactive coding agent for one GitHub repository, packaged as a bundle for DeepSeek Harness. It listens to GitHub and, optionally, Feishu.
- Its own session: When an allowed person asks, the README says it opens a work item, works in its own agent session and directory, and answers in the original conversation, for example with a pull request. The execution doc names the main session's preset dsh-superagent-router and the worker preset dsh-superagent-worker.
- A panel for what needs a person: The README says a web panel shows what needs a person. The panel doc says that list comes first. The deployment guide serves the panel on 127.0.0.1.
- Unasked work stays recorded until you allow it: The authorization doc's default accept mode is observe. A positive assessment of unasked work is recorded as ignore, marked would accept, and nothing is accepted. Explicit requests from an allowed person work in every mode.
- Published Oct 31, 2026: The repository's commit history shows one commit on that date, message "feat: add the dsh-superagent research prototype". The package file lists version 0.1.0.
How to use dsh-superagent: step-by-step tutorial
Five to eight steps from the account to a first useful result. Where the official guide names a control, the step uses that name. Where it does not, the step stays general.
- Read the README before you install anything. It says this is a research prototype for reference only, not an official DeepSeek product, and not production-ready software. Plan to run it on a computer, or an operating-system account, kept apart from everyday work.
- Install what the setup guide lists: Node.js 22.19 or newer, or Node.js 24 or newer; pnpm; git 2.32 or newer; Python 3.8 or newer; tmux; GitHub CLI 2.48 or newer; and DeepSeek Harness with a model provider configured. The deployment guide says GitHub Enterprise Server is not supported.
- Ask a coding agent to read SETUP.md in the repository and set dsh-superagent up with you. The file says the agent asks one question at a time, shows the full plan once, and installs only after you confirm.
- Give the agent its own GitHub account, with write access to one repository, and a GitHub CLI signed in only as that account. From an account on the allowed list, mention the agent on an issue. The setup guide says a work item should show on the panel within about a minute.
- Leave unasked work in the default observe mode until you have read what the agent would have accepted. The authorization doc says observe records a would-accept decision and does not start that work. A direct request from an allowed person still runs. Switch to auto only after the recorded decisions look right.
These steps follow official guides: README; SETUP.md; Deployment guide. Checked November 2, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is dsh-superagent free?
The code is. The license file is the MIT License, an ongoing free license, not a free trial. The deployment guide says you configure a model provider for DeepSeek Harness. The repository does not list a price for that model. Checked Nov 2, 2026.
Is it an official DeepSeek product?
No. The README says it is a research prototype for reference only, not an official DeepSeek product, and not production-ready software.
Who should try it?
Developers who are comfortable running research code on a machine kept separate from everyday work. Everyone else should wait.
Will it act without being asked?
Not by default. The authorization doc says observe is the default. Unasked work is recorded and not done until someone switches the accept mode to auto. A direct request from an allowed person still runs.
What machine does it need?
The setup guide lists Node.js 22.19 or newer, or Node.js 24 or newer; pnpm; git 2.32 or newer; Python 3.8 or newer; tmux; GitHub CLI 2.48 or newer; and DeepSeek Harness with a model provider configured.
Pricing
Prices checked on the official pricing page.
- Open source
-
Free
MIT license for the code. The deployment guide also requires DeepSeek Harness and a configured model provider, which this repository does not price.
- Prototype: The README says to treat it as research code, not production-ready software. It may still contain bugs. The published code is not identical to the team's internal version or to the design article named in the README. Some designs in that article are not implemented.
- Full user access: The deployment guide says the presets run with danger-full-access as the operator's operating-system user. Account wrappers do not isolate the process. Isolate it before use.
- One public GitHub host: The deployment guide says a repository on github.com is required, and that GitHub Enterprise Server is not supported.
- A model you configure: No price for DeepSeek Harness or for the model appears in the repository. This page does not invent one.
- Simulated timing figures are not in the repository: MarkTechPost's Nov 1, 2026 article describes a simulated timing comparison. Those figures are not in the repository, and the README says the published code is not the same as the design article, so they are not repeated here.
Facts
- Access
- Ongoing free plan
- Paid plans from
- Free
- Checked
- Category
- Category: Development tools (31 in the library).
- On the record
- The license file is the MIT License, copyright 2026 DeepSeek Harness Team. This is an ongoing free license to the code, not a free trial and not a one-time credit grant. The deployment guide says you also configure a model provider for DeepSeek Harness. The repository does not list a price for that model.