What it does
DeerFlow is an open-source "agent harness": software that coordinates an AI as it works through a long task. It splits work among helper agents, keeps memory between steps, and runs code in a sandbox, a sealed-off space where it can't harm your computer.
It started as a deep-research tool and has been rebuilt to handle wider tasks, such as research reports, coding and content creation. Abilities are added through "skills", and it can connect to chat apps and outside tools.
You run it yourself and connect it to the AI models of your choice. The README includes a security notice about deploying it carefully.
Who it's for
Developers and technical teams who want a self-hosted research and task agent they can extend.
Can I use it without coding?
With some setup. Needs downloading the code and running a setup wizard; Docker is the recommended way to run it. New to this? Start here.
Can I run it?
- Cost
- Free, but needs an AI accountThe software is free, but it uses an online AI service (like OpenAI or Anthropic), which usually charges for use.
- API key
- Needed. An API key is a password-like code from an online AI service. What's that?
Try it
- Download the DeerFlow project from GitHub.
- Run its setup wizard to choose an AI provider and add your key.
- Start it with Docker, which the makers recommend.
Using Claude Code, Cursor or another AI coding assistant? Paste the prompt and it will walk you through the setup.New to this?
Before you install
- Only download from the official GitHub page. Copies with similar names exist for many popular projects.
- License (MIT): Very permissive: free to use, change and share, including for business.
- Keep your API key private. Never paste it into websites or share it, and set a spending limit with the AI service.
- More on staying safe