# dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) vs Kilo Code CLI (slim)

> Kilo Code CLI scores 73 (BB) to dsh-superagent's 42.1 (E) for agent harnesses. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-superagent-vs-kilo-code-cli.md (~7,250 tokens) · this version ~3,580 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-superagent-vs-kilo-code-cli.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-superagent-vs-kilo-code-cli
- Index: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt · API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json · MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp · Updated: 2026-11-01
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)

Kilo Code CLI scores 73 (BB) on agent readiness against dsh-superagent (DeepSeek)'s 42.1 (E), and leads in every scored category. Both do agent harnesses.

- dsh-superagent (DeepSeek): E 42.1, rank #1108 of 1251 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/deepseek-superagent.min.md
- Kilo Code CLI: BB 73, rank #100 of 1251 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kilo-code-cli.min.md
- dsh-superagent (DeepSeek), good for Teams on github.com that want a DeepSeek Harness agent to turn allowed people's issue requests into pull requests, run on an isolated machine or OS account.
- Kilo Code CLI, good for Developers who want an open-source terminal agent with per-tool permission rules, an optional sandbox and a choice of provider, and the same engine in VS Code and JetBrains. Ahead on Reliability, 85 against 15; Schema & documentation, 90 against 61; Agent ergonomics, 72 against 67; Security & auth, 64 against 33; Payments & pricing, 50 against 40; Maintenance & community, 87 against 34; Transparency & trust, 76 against 52. Also Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better.

| Category | dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) | Kilo Code CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 15 | 85 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 61 | 90 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 67 | 72 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 33 | 64 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 40 | 50 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 34 | 87 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 52 | 76 |

| Fact (where they differ) | dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) | Kilo Code CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vendor | DeepSeek | Kilo Code Inc. |
| Auth | Token | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| llms.txt | no | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-31 | 2026-10-15 |
| Terms last updated | no document linked | 2026-09-30 |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-09-20 | 2026-05-29 |
| Customer content may train models | not read yet | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict automated access | not read yet | yes |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not read yet | not found in the text |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not read yet | yes |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not read yet | yes |
| Popularity | none | 28k stars, 33k npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | none | 2.3/5 (4) |

Why the edge:
- Reliability, Kilo Code CLI +70: dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) 15 (Local-package reading, since it runs as a DSH bundle on the operator's machine. Not published to npm (`private: true` in package.json, and the registry has no `dsh-superagent`). It installs from a git clone with `pnpm install && pnpm build` on top of `@deepseek-ai/dsh@0.2.1-rc.3`, with Node 22.19+ or 24+, git 2.32+, Python 3.8+, tmux and gh 2.48+ stated, so half credit (10). A vitest suite of about 25 spec files is listed in docs/007, and `pnpm check` runs the typecheck, tests and build. Two spec files were read on raw.githubusercontent.com. No CI workflow was found at five common paths under .github/workflows, and the directory couldn't be listed (5). Open issues couldn't be read, because github.com and api.github.com weren't reachable from our network. Unchecked, so scored absent (0). Version 0.1.0 with no tag, release or changelog found, so no semver record (0). A research prototype, not stable (0).); Kilo Code CLI 85 (Local-package reading. `@kilocode/cli` on npm, a Homebrew tap, an AUR package, an install script and release binaries for Linux, macOS and Windows on x64 and arm64, with baseline and musl builds named (20). Public CI, and the 40 most recent completed workflow runs on main on 8 October 2026 all succeeded, the test, typecheck and VS Code test workflows among them, per the 8 October check, not re-read on 17 October (25). 448 open issues and 147 open pull requests, a workflow that closes issues after 60 quiet days and pull requests after 30, and open reports from 7 October of a turn that hangs after the loop exits (#14876) and of exhausted 503 retries ending a run with no visible error (#14877), per the 8 October check, not re-read on 17 October (15). The CLI changelog is generated by Changesets with Minor and Patch headings and no dates or breaking-change headings. 7.8.13 (rc on 16 October) changes how a custom agent's edit denies apply to its subagents under a Patch heading (10). 7.8.12 on the npm `latest` tag, past 1.0 (15).)
- Maintenance & community, Kilo Code CLI +53: dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) 34 (Published on 31 October 2026, within 30 days, read as the last published change since no tag or release was found (30). One publication, so not three releases in 90 days (0). Issues, pull requests and Discussions couldn't be read, and the README frames the code as a reference prototype adapted from an internal version (0). No official SDK or registry entry (0). Exact dependency pins and a lockfile, but no CI workflow found, and the docs pin DSH 0.2.1-rc.3 (23 October 2026) while npm `latest` is 0.2.1-rc.5 (29 October 2026) (4).); Kilo Code CLI 87 (7.8.12 on the npm `latest` tag on 15 October 2026, with 7.8.13 and 7.8.14 on the `rc` tag on 16 October (30). 7.8.9, 7.8.10 and 7.8.12 since the 8 October check, and 46 versions published to npm since 17 July 2026, two of them on the `rc` tag (20). The newest issues carry area and triage labels from automation, but the 15 newest open issues had no or one comment each on 8 October, against 448 open issues and 147 open pull requests, per the 8 October check, not re-read on 17 October (15). `@kilocode/sdk` is at 7.8.12 with the CLI, and the VS Code extension ships from the same release workflow (13). CI, CodeQL and Dependabot security updates run, with version updates switched off because most dependencies arrive through merges from opencode (9).)
- Security & auth, Kilo Code CLI +31: dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) 33 (Harness reading of the framework checklist, 30 for what leaves the machine by default, 20 for approvals and sandboxing, 15 for prompt-injection posture, 15 for audit and 20 for the security programme. The `superagent` profile is created from DSH's Web template, and DSH documents that shipped profiles mount `session-log-deepseek`, enabled by default, which adds the session log to each official DeepSeek API request, up to 8 MiB. dsh-superagent's docs don't mention it, and its Sessions read issue, pull request and chat text and the repository. Setup and worker shells drop variables named KEY, PASSWORD, SECRET or TOKEN, and `GH_TOKEN` and `GITHUB_TOKEN` are removed from git (8). Both presets run `danger-full-access` without approval as the operator's OS user. docs/006 says the account wrappers don't isolate the process, a worker can run programs by path and read the operator's home directory, and recommends a dedicated OS account. The gate, `observe` default, blocked commands and no auto-merge as the agent account narrow what it does, not what it can do (6). docs/002 says messages, comments and quoted documents are inputs to a decision and can't change allowed lists, rules or Mandates, bots can never make explicit requests, and prompt edits don't change the gate. Workers with full access still read untrusted Thread text, and no further guidance on that was found (7). Decisions are recorded with reasons, Ticket details show the Trigger, Decision, scope and Policy version, the host records the prompt revisions each Session used, and every GitHub message starts with an automated-agent line by default (12). No SECURITY.md (404 at the root and in .github), no security.txt on www.deepseek.com (404), no bug bounty or advisory found. NVD has no record for the prototype. The CVEs against DSH itself are on the deepseek-harness listing (0).); Kilo Code CLI 64 (Harness reading of the framework checklist. 30 for what leaves the machine by default, 20 for approvals and sandboxing, 15 for prompt-injection posture, 15 for audit and 20 for the security programme. Telemetry is on by default and goes to PostHog in the United States, the source links the machine identifier to the account email after a Kilo sign-in, and since 7.8.10 (14 October) it also attaches the conda client ID when `~/.conda/aau_token` exists (see negative). It is turned off with `experimental.openTelemetry` or `KILO_TELEMETRY_LEVEL`. Provider keys stay on the machine (14). Shell commands ask by default outside a built-in allow list, reads of `.env` files and paths outside the project ask, and edits inside the project run without asking. An operating-system sandbox (Seatbelt on macOS, Bubblewrap on Linux, none on Windows) limits writes and blocks the network, refuses to run when it can't be enforced, and is off by default. `--auto` approves everything not explicitly denied (15). The sandboxing page covers prompt injection and its limits, project config can't weaken the sandbox, and `{env:VAR}` is resolved only in trusted config (11). Session export, `kilo stats` and OTLP export of traces and logs, with audit logs on the Enterprise plan (12). A valid security.txt (expires 2026-12-31), a disclosure policy that cites HackerOne's standards and safe harbour, CodeQL in CI and no published repository advisories. NVD lists CVE-2026-8766 (low, through 7.0.47, May 2026) and says the vendor didn't respond, and SECURITY.md still says the CLI has no sandbox (12).)
- Schema & documentation, Kilo Code CLI +29: dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) 61 (Framework reading, as for deepseek-harness. No OpenAPI or JSON Schema is published. docs/006 documents the Management API's routes, fields, block shapes and refusals in tables, and the code validates settings with zod (12). Markdown docs in the repository, readable raw, and a SETUP.md written for a coding agent. No llms.txt (5). Nine numbered documents read in order, each stating purpose, limits and what not to do, such as never rerunning the profile-creation command for an upgrade (17). Closed sets for accept mode (`off`, `observe`, `auto`), admission cells, Source states, health states and `listen` (12). A worked curl example, refusals as 400, 404, 409 and 500 with `issues`, `setup` or `code`, a troubleshooting table and status exit codes 0 to 3 (13). package.json says 0.1.0 and pins an `engines.dsh` range, but no changelog or tags were found (2).); Kilo Code CLI 90 (Framework reading. A JSON Schema for `kilo.jsonc` at `https://app.kilo.ai/config.json`, an OpenAPI file for the `kilo serve` API at `packages/sdk/openapi.json` and a CLI reference generated from the command definitions (25). `llms.txt` on kilo.ai and on the docs, the second listing a raw Markdown address for every page (10). The sandboxing page says when to use the sandbox, what it does not protect and how it differs from permissions (16). Permissions are `allow`, `ask` or `deny` with glob rules, `sandbox.network` and `--format` are enums, though the schema served on 8 October had no `sandbox` key (13). Config and CI samples and exit codes 0, 1 and 124, but we found no reference for the records `--format json` writes (11). A versioned changelog and dated GitHub releases (15).)
- Transparency & trust, Kilo Code CLI +24: dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) 52 (MIT, Copyright (c) 2026 DeepSeek Harness Team (30). The prototype has no data statement of its own. DeepSeek Harness's privacy policy (last updated 20 September 2026) names Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd., says session logs are collected with official model services and may be used to train models with a right to opt out, and says custom model services aren't stored server-side. It agrees with DSH's session-log README, but neither is referred to from the prototype (12). No deprecation policy. The README says the published code differs from DeepSeek's internal version, and docs/006 warns that database migrations are one-way (3). Telemetry and the session-log upload are disclosed with opt-outs in DSH's own reference pages, not in this repository (6).); Kilo Code CLI 76 (MIT, with opencode's copyright kept in the licence file (30). The privacy policy (29 May 2026) names Kilo Code Inc. as controller, says data is stored in the United States and lists Stripe, OpenRouter, model providers, AppsFlyer and Sentry, but it doesn't mention the CLI's PostHog telemetry. PRIVACY.md in the repository is dated March 2025 and is silent on telemetry too. The terms (30 September 2026) are a contract with Anaconda, Inc. and grant a perpetual licence to use uploaded Customer Data to improve the services (13). `kilo console` is marked deprecated with no removal date, and updated terms apply after 30 days. No written deprecation policy found (8). The docs say telemetry is on by default and name the opt-out key in two places, without listing what is collected or where it goes (10).)
- Payments & pricing, Kilo Code CLI +10: dsh-superagent (DeepSeek) 40 (Self-hosted rule, as for the other open-source harnesses. No payment protocol (0). Free under MIT with nothing to buy (20). No card for the software (20). An agent can't get started alone, because the setup needs a person to create a dedicated GitHub user account, accept the repository invitation and run `auth login` for the wrappers, which SETUP.md lists as operator steps. 0, as the other harnesses that need an account were read (0). The model provider is a separate purchase.); Kilo Code CLI 50 (No payment protocol (0). Scored on Kilo's paid options, as with Cline. Plan prices are public (Kilo Pass from $19 a month, Teams $15 a user a month, Enterprise by quote) and the gateway bills provider rates plus a 5 per cent fee on credit purchases, but the pricing page carries no per-token list (10). The CLI is MIT-licensed and free. The no-card statement seen on 8 October wasn't in the pricing page text on 17 October, but nothing has to be bought to use the CLI with your own key (20). Your own provider key or a local model works with no Kilo account, so an agent can install and run it without a sign-up (20).)