Deepseek-Tui-web

Version: 0.5.3

Deepseek-Tui-web is a local browser interface for the installed deepseek-tui. The project keeps the real TUI process running locally, then layers a structured WebUI around sessions, messages, plans, tasks, settings, logs, and debugging output.

Vision

The goal is not to replace DeepSeek TUI with a generic chat page. The goal is to bring the TUI into a browser-native workbench:

• keep compatibility with the real local deepseek-tui runtime;
• make sessions, plans, tasks, settings, and logs easier to inspect;
• preserve terminal-level access as a fallback/debug view;
• evolve toward a Hermes-inspired local agent dashboard for daily work.

Current Status

This is an active prototype. Version 0.5.3 focuses on replacing the raw terminal-centered middle area with a structured conversation surface while keeping the real DeepSeek TUI running behind the scenes.

Working:

• local HTTP server on 127.0.0.1:8791;
• WebSocket bridge to a Python PTY running deepseek-tui;
• session list from deepseek-tui sessions;
• resume/fresh session launch;
• structured reading of ~/.deepseek/sessions/*.json;
• chat-style message rendering for text content;
• right-side panels for thinking, plans, and tool tasks;
• left app rail for chat, tasks, skills, config, stats, logs, and settings;
• light/dark themes;
• Orbit logo identity;
• raw TUI debug panel kept available but hidden by default.
• middle output defaults to structured session messages, not the xterm mirror;
• fresh-session replies are synchronized back from the DeepSeek session API.

Known issues:

• the structured WebUI still depends on polling session files after user input;
• some DeepSeek internal messages are tool-only and should remain outside the main conversation stream;
• the main output visual language is still being refined;
• direct app-server/stdin integration is not complete yet.

Architecture

Browser WebUI
  |
  | HTTP static assets + WebSocket
  v
Node server.js
  |
  | JSON-over-stdio
  v
Python PTY bridge
  |
  | real pseudo-terminal
  v
deepseek-tui

Key files:

• server.js — local HTTP API, static file server, WebSocket PTY launcher;
• scripts/tui_bridge.py — PTY bridge for input, output, and resize events;
• public/index.html — application shell;
• public/app.js — session loading, rendering, i18n, settings, WebSocket flow;
• public/style.css — layout, light/dark themes, panels, message styling.

Run Locally

Requirements:

• Node.js 20+
• Python 3
• installed deepseek and deepseek-tui binaries

Install dependencies:

npm install

Start:

npm start

Open:

http://127.0.0.1:8791/

Optional environment variables:

DEEPSEEK_TUI_BIN=/path/to/deepseek-tui
PYTHON_BIN=/path/to/python3
HOST=127.0.0.1
PORT=8791

Project Direction

Near-term:

• stabilize message rendering and eliminate empty/internal-only bubbles;
• improve the main conversation visual system;
• move sending from PTY-only input toward DeepSeek app-server APIs where reliable;
• make session rename, pin, archive, task, skill, config, stats, and logs feel production-grade;
• keep Hermes WebUI as a reference for layout and workflow density.

Mid-term:

• create a full browser-native session manager;
• provide better task and plan synchronization;
• add workspace/project switching when it can be done without breaking local DeepSeek assumptions;
• package the app for simpler local installation.

Version

Current version: 0.5.3

See CHANGELOG.md for release notes.