DeepSeek Harness · Runtime Modes

Four Modes, One Plugin Philosophy From Benchmarks to Custom Presets

Standard Mode ships a full coding Agent; PTC / Code Mode orchestrates multi-step tools with TypeScript; Minimal Mode serves evaluations; Create Mode inspects the runtime and authors new modes. You can try the same task prompt with DeepSeek-V4 on the DeepSeek web version first.

Try the Task on the DeepSeek Web Version Go to Get Started

Standard

Full Agent

Primary path for daily coding

PTC

Code Orchestration

Compose multi-step tools in one pass

Minimal

Eval-Friendly

Dual-tool minimized environment

Create

Custom

Plugin experiments and presets

Pick a Mode by Scenario

DeepSeek Harness Modes Are Not “Which Is Stronger”—They Constrain Differently

More tools mean more power, and a harder fair benchmark. Officially you get both a full set and a minimal set, plus a dedicated creation entry.

Standard Mode: Full Coding Agent

Supports file editing, Shell, file and web retrieval, Skills, plans, goals, sub-agents, and workflows. Put DeepSeek-V4 planning into a tool-equipped environment and run it continuously.

DeepSeek Standard Mode

PTC / Code Mode: Compose Tools with a Program

Keeps Standard Mode capabilities and exposes tools through the Code Mode SDK so the model generates a TypeScript snippet to compose multi-step operations, cutting fragmented tool calls.

DeepSeek Code Mode

Minimal Mode: Slimmed Down for Evaluation

Keeps only persistent bash and str_replace_editor. Public materials note that some DeepSeek-V4-Flash Code Agent benchmarks relate to the “soon-to-ship Minimal Mode,” now open with the Harness preview.

DeepSeek Minimal Mode

Create Mode: Build Your Own Preset

Adds runtime inspection, in-memory experiments with Cordis plugins, and preset-authoring guidance on top of Standard capabilities—built for Harness developers exploring new modes.

DeepSeek Create Mode

Division of Labor with the Web Version

Unsure which tier to pick? Ask DeepSeek-V4 the same prompt on the DeepSeek web version first and see whether reasoning is enough; enter the matching Harness mode when you need to edit files or run commands.

DeepSeek web version Agent

Switch in Configuration, Not by Changing Code

A mode is the result of a plugin combination. Official guidance stresses that you can select or extend capabilities at the configuration layer without changing DeepSeek Harness source; Create Mode helps you produce new combinations.

DeepSeek Harness configuration
Mode Comparison

Four DeepSeek Harness Modes at a Glance

When searching “DeepSeek Harness Standard Mode / PTC / Minimal / Create”, use the table below for a quick side-by-side.

Tool Count

Standard / PTC

Full tool combination (editing / Shell / retrieval / Skills / sub-agents, and more)

Minimal / Create

Minimal is dual-tool only; Create adds runtime inspection and plugin experiments

Typical Use

Standard / PTC

Day-to-day coding Agents, multi-step workflows, orchestrating tools with code (PTC)

Minimal / Create

Model benchmarks, custom presets, exploring new modes

With DeepSeek-V4

Standard / PTC

Place a web-version-validated task into a tool-equipped environment and run it continuously

Minimal / Create

Fairly evaluate the model with minimal tools, or customize a plugin combination for V4 tasks

Complexity

Standard / PTC

Full capability and a large interaction surface—built for real R&D

Minimal / Create

Minimal is tightly constrained; Create Mode requires understanding Cordis plugins

Full tools serve delivery; minimal tools serve evaluation; Create Mode is for plugin authors. The task itself can still be aligned with DeepSeek-V4 on the DeepSeek web version first.

Try the Same Question on the DeepSeek Web Version before Picking a Mode

See whether DeepSeek-V4 understands the constraints; enter the matching Harness mode when you need to edit files or run commands.

Start DeepSeek Web Version Chat
Mode FAQ

DeepSeek Harness Runtime Mode FAQ

PTC versus Code, Minimal versus evaluation, and how Create Mode relates to changing source.

01 Which mode should I use by default?

Use Standard Mode for day-to-day coding and workflows; PTC / Code when the model should write multi-step tool orchestration in one pass; Minimal for fair benchmarks; Create Mode for new presets. If the task itself is unclear, chat on the DeepSeek web version first.

02 What does PTC mean?

The Chinese official site uses “PTC Mode”; English uses Code mode: compose multi-turn tool calls with model-generated code, expose tools through the Code Mode SDK, and keep every Standard Mode capability.

03 Can Minimal Mode replace Standard Mode?

No. It deliberately keeps only bash and a file-replace editor. The goal is a minimized evaluation environment, not full productivity.

04 Is Create Mode unsafe?

Create Mode lets you inspect the runtime and experiment with plugins in memory, and it is aimed at developers. It is still an official preview—experiment in an isolated directory, and do not point it at a production repository you care about.

05 How do modes pair with DeepSeek-V4 Pro / Flash?

Model tier (Pro / Flash) and Harness mode are different layers. Compare Pro and Flash on the web version first, then attach the chosen model to a Harness mode. Complex orchestration needs more reasoning; simple file edits can try Flash first.

06 Do I need to reinstall to switch modes?

By official design, modes are configuration-layer combinations. Follow the repository docs and in-Web-UI switching; this site’s intro pages help you build a mental model, while concrete steps follow GitHub docs.

Hand a Validated Task to a Composable Runtime

Standard Mode for delivery, Minimal Mode for evaluation, Create Mode for extension. Enter the DeepSeek web version now.

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