Recent Updates (2026-08)
Recent DeepSeek Harness changes verified against official release notes, npm tags, and developer documentation
This page tracks upstream changes that can affect use, upgrades, or plugin compatibility. It does not repeat unverified community reports.
Checked date and version
As of 2026-08-25, npm's latest and next tags both resolve to @deepseek-ai/[email protected], and upstream master points at the same commit. The check found no newer upstream commit or npm publish after 2026-08-21. It remains a pre-release / developer preview, so plan for compatibility changes before upgrading.
Recent releases at a glance
| Date | Version | Published highlights | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-21 | v0.1.1-rc.2 | The DeepSeek adapter now prioritizes image uploads through the Files API and reuses uploaded files; image preprocessing automatically resizes and converts formats for the selected model. | Image workflows should be more robust, but the selected model must still declare image input. |
| 2026-08-21 | v0.1.1-rc.1 | Adds DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp; fixes a Bubblewrap escape through /proc/<pid>/root; adds multiline responses to ask_user_question. | Check the Models page for the vision model; Linux sandbox users should prioritize upgrading. |
| 2026-08-19 | v0.1.0-rc.8 | Expands image input, lets /goal and /plan accept text plus images, and adds file and session references to the @ menu; Codex and Claude Code children can be installed on demand as Profile Bundles; the Windows Minimal preset gains persistent PowerShell. | Multimodal and cross-tool workflows are more complete, and Windows terminal work is no longer limited to one-shot commands. |
v0.1.0-rc.8 also changes the SQLite session-storage format; the official notes call that structure incompatible. Back up data and validate an upgrade in a rollback-friendly environment if you use the SQLite session backend.
The official positioning is unchanged
DeepSeek continues to describe Harness as an open-source, Cordis-powered agent harness where "everything is a plugin": models, tools, skills, sessions, sandboxes, storage, loops, scheduling, and the UI can all be composed or replaced. The official site also says the project remains in developer preview and that its core plugins and APIs will continue evolving.
New capability does not automatically appear in every local profile. The models, tools, children, and UI you see depend on the installed version and the composition you run.
Upgrade guidance
- Pin versions when you need repeatability. Use an explicit version such as
@deepseek-ai/[email protected]in scripts, images, or CI; an unpinnednpxinvocation resolves npm'slatesttag, subject to its local cache when deciding whether to download again. - Test plugins and presets in a copy first. This is especially important for third-party
dsh-pluginpackages, customcordis.patch.yml, custom providers, and SQLite session data. - Treat the security fix as upgrade priority. If you use Bubblewrap or work with sensitive workspaces, validate
v0.1.1-rc.1or later first. - Configure image input by model capability. A hand-entered custom model is text-only by default; see Configure Models for declaring
input: [text, image]on a custom vision model.
Authoritative sources to follow
- Official releases: release notes and complete changes.
- Official developer site: current Web UI, model, and development guidance.
- Official product page: positioning, developer-preview status, and community entry points.
- Upstream repository: source, issues, discussions, and current documentation.
Next steps
- Configure images or a custom model: Configure Models.
- See the community desktop distribution and plugin marketplace featured by this site: Ecosystem.