Choose a DeepSeek Harness Preset
Use Standard unless the task gives you a concrete reason to narrow, repackage or author the model-facing tool surface.
On this page
Standard, PTC, Minimal and Creator change the session's model-facing composition. They do not select a stronger LLM, and a smaller tool surface is not automatically a complete security boundary.
Use Standard unless the task requires a different tool surface
Preset changes apply to new sessions; a running session keeps the preset it started with. Start a fresh session when you want to compare another composition.
Standard
Default choice for ordinary coding, repository reading, shell work, search, planning, subagents and workflows.
PTC
Use when several tool operations can be packaged into one model-written TypeScript program and you accept that execution model.
Minimal
Use when you deliberately want only persistent bash and str_replace_editor.
Creator
Use when the job is inspecting, experimenting with or drafting a custom agent preset.
Compact context manually and resize Desktop text
Both Web and Desktop can run /compact in the conversation to ask DSH to compact the current context manually. Use it when the conversation has accumulated context you no longer need; it is a command, not an automatic mode change.
Manual context compaction
Send /compact from Web or Desktop when you choose the compaction point. Continue checking the next response and task state after the command.
Desktop text size
In Desktop, use Cmd/Ctrl + + to increase and Cmd/Ctrl + - to decrease the body, code and terminal font size together.
Minimal has separate automatic behavior
Minimal mode can read images and automatically compact long conversations. These are Minimal-specific capabilities; do not describe them as the effect of sending /compact. The command remains a manual Web/Desktop control.
Duplicate a preset before you customize it
The current Web UI separates Built-in and Custom presets. Duplicate a known preset, give the copy a stable identifier and edit the copied files on your machine. The identifier becomes the preset directory name and cannot be renamed later.
Creator can draft a custom composition, but the generated files are still code/configuration. Review the prompt, mounted tools and plugin behavior before using the result for important work.
Deleting or changing a preset affects later sessions. A session already running keeps the composition it started with.
StandardThe normal starting point for repository and coding work.
- File editing and shell
- File and web search
- Skills, planning and goals
- Subagents and workflows
PTCA code-orchestrated tool surface for multi-step mechanical work.
- The workflow tool is not exposed
- Other supported tools are available through the PTC SDK
- The model can combine operations inside one TypeScript run_code program
MinimalA deliberately narrow two-tool composition.
- Persistent bash
- str_replace_editor
CreatorA preset for inspecting and authoring custom agent compositions.
- Standard capabilities
- Runtime inspection
- Plugin experiments
- Preset-authoring guidance
Source boundary
The names, descriptions and custom-preset workflow follow the current official DeepSeek Harness Web UI copy. The /compact, Desktop shortcut, image-reading and automatic-compaction behavior comes from the v0.2.1-alpha.3 release notes. For PTC runtime safety and implementation detail, use the deeper modes article rather than assuming the preset itself is a sandbox.