@michengai/dsh-btw

Readme

<p align="center">
  <img src="assets/branding/dsh-btw-banner.png" alt="DSH BTW" width="100%">
</p>

<div align="center">

# DSH BTW

**Ask a side question in DeepSeek Harness. Answers only, no tool execution.**

[简体中文](README.zh-CN.md) · [Screenshots](#screenshots) · [Installation](#installation) · [Usage](#usage) · [Changelog](CHANGELOG.md) · [Apache-2.0](LICENSE)

[![License: Apache-2.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache--2.0-blue.svg)](LICENSE)
[![DSH Web Plugin](https://img.shields.io/badge/DSH%20Web-Plugin-0f766e.svg)](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/deepseek-harness)
[![Node.js 22+](https://img.shields.io/badge/Node.js-22%2B-339933.svg?logo=node.js&logoColor=white)](https://nodejs.org/)

</div>

> DSH BTW is a community-maintained DeepSeek Harness plugin, not an official DeepSeek AI product. Type `/btw your question` in the current conversation to get a context-aware answer in an independent bubble without interrupting the main task. Supports DSH Web and desktop apps that include DSH Web.

## Features

- **Context-aware questions**: explain concepts, recap conclusions, or ask a quick question about the current conversation.
- **Answers only**: no reading new files, browsing the web, running commands, or editing code.
- **Independent answer bubbles**: render Markdown, copy answers, collapse, expand, and close individual bubbles. Multiple answers can stay visible.
- **Keep the main task going**: side questions are answered separately and do not add answers to the main conversation.
- **Cancel anytime**: close a bubble while it is answering to cancel that question.
- **Themes and languages**: follow DSH light and dark themes and switch between Chinese and English UI.

## Screenshots

### Side questions in stock DSH

The main conversation stays in place, with the side answer above the composer.

![A BTW answer bubble in the stock DSH conversation](assets/screenshots/btw-conversation.png)

### Command menu

Type `/` and select `btw` under the side-question category, or enter `/btw your question` directly.

![The side-question category and btw command](assets/screenshots/btw-command-menu.png)

### Independent answer bubbles

Each answer has its own copy, collapse or expand, and close controls in the upper right.

![Multiple answer bubbles with copy, collapse, and close controls](assets/screenshots/btw-bubbles.png)

## DSH product ecosystem

For a ready-to-use workbench, download [DSH Codex Desktop](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-codex-desktop/releases). If you already use [DeepSeek Harness](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/deepseek-harness), install any of these eight plugins individually. The desktop app includes all eight.

| Plugin | What you can do |
| --- | --- |
| [Codex UI](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-codex-ui) | Organize projects and conversations, search tasks, and navigate chat turns |
| [IM Connect](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-im-connect) | Send tasks and receive replies through your usual messenger |
| [Automation](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-automation) | Schedule tasks and review each run |
| [Skills Manager](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-skills-manager) | Find, enable, create, and import local skills |
| [Archive Manager](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-archive-manager) | Search, restore, or clean up archived conversations |
| [Agency Agents](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-agency-agents) | Choose and summon specialists for your task |
| [BTW](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-btw) | Ask side questions without interrupting the main task |
| [Simplify](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-simplify) | Use /simplify to improve code within your Git changes |

## Prerequisites

- An installed copy of DeepSeek Harness. The supported baseline is `0.1.2-rc.1`.
- Node.js 22+ and `dsh` available in your terminal.

## Installation

Examples use the `web` profile; replace it with your target profile. Disable other plugins that provide `/btw` before installing.

### Ask an agent to install it (recommended)

Send the prompt below to any agent that can run terminal commands on your computer. Replace `web` with your actual profile. Once installed, use the plugin in DSH.

```text
Install the DSH plugin @michengai/dsh-btw into my local web profile by running: dsh plugin --profile web add @michengai/dsh-btw@latest --registry=https://registry.npmjs.org/. Then run dsh --profile web --dump-config, confirm the configuration includes michengai-btw, and explain how to reload DSH and start using the plugin.
```

### Install manually from npm

```powershell
[Console]::OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8
$OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8

dsh plugin --profile web add @michengai/dsh-btw@latest --registry=https://registry.npmjs.org/
```

### From a package archive

Download a `.tgz` from [Releases](https://github.com/MichengAI/dsh-btw/releases). Run this command from the download directory, replacing the filename with your downloaded version:

```powershell
[Console]::OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8
$OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8

dsh plugin --profile web add .\michengai-dsh-btw-0.1.0.tgz --ignore-scripts
```

### Reloading

Install or update after current tasks finish, as desktop apps may reload automatically. If the change has not taken effect, use the desktop app's reload action or restart the `dsh web` service. Refreshing the browser alone is not enough.

## Usage

In a conversation with existing context, enter:

```text
/btw Summarize the proposed plan in one sentence.
```

| Goal | Action |
| --- | --- |
| Ask a side question | Submit `/btw your question`, or choose `btw` from the `/` menu. |
| Read the answer | Wait for the answer in the independent bubble above the composer. |
| Copy an answer | Click the copy icon in the bubble's upper right. |
| Collapse or expand | Click the collapse or expand icon. |
| Cancel a question | Close its bubble while it is running. The main task is unaffected. |
| Dismiss an answer | Close the completed bubble. |
| Ask again | Submit another `/btw` question. Each question is independent. |

Use the regular conversation to run commands, edit code, or continue the main task. BTW can only answer using existing context.

### Usage Notes

- Each question is independent and uses completed content from the main conversation at the time you ask. It does not include an answer still being generated or previous side questions.
- Bubbles are not restored after refreshing the page. Copy any answers you want to keep first.

## Uninstallation

```powershell
[Console]::OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8
$OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8

dsh plugin --profile web remove @michengai/dsh-btw
```

Reload DSH afterward. Disabling or updating the plugin does not delete the main conversation's records.

## Development

```powershell
[Console]::OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8
$OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8

npm ci --ignore-scripts
npm run check
```

`npm run check` runs type checking, tests, and a build.

To install from source, run `dsh plugin --profile web add . --ignore-scripts` from the project directory, then reload DSH.

## License

[Apache-2.0](LICENSE). Copyright 2026 MichengAI.