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DeepSeek Harness model setup

August 20, 2026 · dshbase · vision status note added

DeepSeek Harness is model-agnostic — point it at any OpenAI-compatible API. Here are the three setups the community actually uses, from the official API to free tiers. Separately: do not assume official DeepSeek image understanding works today — see the vision status section below.

1. Official DeepSeek API

The default and simplest. Register at platform.deepseek.com, create an API key, and set it in dsh:

DEEPSEEK_API_KEY: sk-your-key-here
# base URL: https://api.deepseek.com

Store it in ~/.dsh/.credentials.yaml or under Settings → Models. No referral program — just direct registration and pay-as-you-go. This path is text (and whatever the live catalog lists) — not a substitute for a ready vision endpoint.

2. OpenCode Go — $5 for $60 of credits

OpenCode Go is a token plan: first month $5 gives you $60 of credits, billed per model. The most useful models on it are DeepSeek and MiMo. It pairs cleanly with dsh — hand dsh a task, let OpenCode's model credits do the work.

# add OpenCode Go as a custom provider in dsh
# base URL + your OpenCode Go key + model (deepseek / mimo)

Get it here (referral): opencode.ai/go?ref=S7Y0RD7RBS

3. Agnes — free, unlimited multimodal API

Agnes (by Sapiens AI) offers a permanently free multimodal API — the agnes-2.5-flash coding model is free with no rate limit, covering code, image, and more. A domestic China endpoint is also available. This is a third-party provider, not DeepSeek’s official vision catalog.

# add Agnes as a custom OpenAI-compatible provider in dsh
# base URL (agnes endpoint) + your Agnes key + model: agnes-2.5-flash

Register at agnes-ai.com, then add it as a custom provider in dsh's Settings → Models (lowercase Provider ID + base URL + key + model).

Vision API status (rc.8)

rc.8 marketing talks about multimodal agents. In the official tree, experimental names like deepseek-v4-flash-vision-exp appear with notes that they stay out of the formal catalog until the endpoint is ready. Practical takeaway for setup:

  • Do not claim that official DeepSeek image understanding works out of the box today.
  • Meanwhile: use a verified vision pack — /packs/#vision or artist — and plugins such as modlens / dsh-vision-toolkit.
  • Full side-by-side (narrative vs catalog vs packs): vision guide.

How to add a custom provider in dsh

  1. Open Settings → Models in the web UI.
  2. Add a provider: lowercase ID, base URL, protocol, your key, and at least one model.
  3. Use Get available models to verify the endpoint.

Full model configuration is in the tutorial.

Which to pick?

  • Official DeepSeek — simplest, pay-as-you-go (text / live catalog).
  • OpenCode Go — best bang for buck early on ($60 credits for $5).
  • Agnes — free third-party multimodal for testing or light use.
  • Need eyes on screenshots today — vision pack, not “wait for official vision.”

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