# How to Use Slash Commands in Deep Code and DeepSeek-TUI: A Complete Guide > Master slash commands in Deep Code and DeepSeek-TUI. Learn to execute actions, manage conversations, and use custom Agent Skills with this complete guide. - Repository: [DeepSeek/awesome-deepseek-agent](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-15 --- **Both Deep Code and DeepSeek-TUI expose a slash-command interface—activated by pressing `/`—that opens a searchable overlay for executing built-in actions, managing conversations, and invoking custom Agent Skills defined in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/SKILL.md) files.** The `deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agents` repository provides two terminal-based AI coding assistants that share a unified command architecture. Learning how to use slash commands in Deep Code and DeepSeek-TUI enables you to navigate sessions, trigger agent workflows, and extend functionality without leaving the terminal interface. ## Slash Command Fundamentals Both applications implement a lightweight command overlay that maps the `/` key to actionable operations. When activated, the interface performs runtime discovery of available commands by scanning predefined skill directories, then presents results in a fuzzy-searchable list. This architecture ensures consistent interaction patterns across both tools while supporting dynamic extensibility through user-defined skills. ## Deep Code Slash Commands Deep Code implements its interface through a **skill/command picker** that appears immediately when you type `/` during an active session. ### Opening the Skill Picker Pressing `/` inside Deep Code triggers the picker overlay. This interface displays built-in commands such as `/new` to start a fresh chat or `/resume` to continue previous conversations, alongside any discovered custom skills. According to the Deep Code source code, the picker uses fuzzy-search logic to filter entries as you type, allowing rapid navigation through large skill libraries. ### Skill Discovery and Loading Deep Code discovers skills by scanning two directory structures at runtime: `~/.agents/skills//SKILL.md` for user-level definitions and `./.deepcode/skills//SKILL.md` for project-specific configurations. When you select a skill from the picker, Deep Code injects the skill's prompt template directly into the current conversation context, enabling the model to execute the task immediately. ```text # Inside a Deep Code session / # → skill picker appears # Type the name of your skill, e.g. `skill-writer` # Press Enter ``` ## DeepSeek-TUI Slash Commands DeepSeek-TUI extends the slash-command paradigm with a full-featured terminal application that integrates operational modes and configuration settings. ### The Slash-Command Menu Pressing `/` in DeepSeek-TUI opens the **slash-command menu**, which surfaces both built-in subcommands and user-defined skills. Unlike Deep Code's minimalist picker, this menu routes selections through a command dispatcher capable of spawning complex agent chains and tool invocations based on the selected entry. ### Built-in Subcommands The menu exposes system subcommands including `doctor` for health checks, `mcp list` for enumerating Model Context Protocol servers, and `serve --http` for launching HTTP services. When you select an entry, DeepSeek-TUI parses the command and routes it through the internal dispatcher, which then executes the appropriate tool chain or agent workflow. ### Mode and Reasoning Effort Integration DeepSeek-TUI's slash-command interface respects the current **mode** (Plan, Agent, or YOLO) and **reasoning effort** settings defined in `~/.deepseek/config.toml`. Before executing a command, cycle modes using `Tab` and adjust reasoning effort with `Shift+Tab`. The executed command inherits these parameters, controlling whether side-effectful tools may be invoked during execution. ```text # Cycle mode (Plan → Agent → YOLO) with Tab Tab # Cycle reasoning effort (off → high → max) with Shift+Tab Shift+Tab # Now press '/' and execute the desired command; it will respect the chosen mode and effort. ``` ## Creating Custom Skills Both tools support extension through [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/SKILL.md) files, though they maintain separate directory structures. For **Deep Code**, place skills in: - `~/.agents/skills//SKILL.md` (user-level) - `./.deepcode/skills//SKILL.md` (project-level) For **DeepSeek-TUI**, use: - `~/.deepseek/skills//SKILL.md` (user-level) - `./.deepseek/skills//SKILL.md` (project-level) Once placed, these skills appear automatically in the respective slash-command interfaces without requiring application restarts. ```text # Place a SKILL.md at ~/.deepseek/skills/quickfix/ # Then, inside the TUI: / # The new skill `quickfix` appears in the list # Select it to let the model generate a patch ``` ## Summary - **Activate the interface** by pressing `/` in either Deep Code or DeepSeek-TUI. - Deep Code uses a **skill picker** that scans `~/.agents/skills/` and `./.deepcode/skills/` for [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/SKILL.md) files, injecting selected prompts directly into context. - DeepSeek-TUI provides a **command menu** with built-in subcommands (`doctor`, `mcp list`, `serve --http`) plus user skills from `~/.deepseek/skills/`. - DeepSeek-TUI commands respect **operational modes** (Plan/Agent/YOLO) and **reasoning effort** settings controlled via `Tab` and `Shift+Tab`. - Both tools support hot-reloading of skills from [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/SKILL.md) files located in user or project-specific directories. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I use the same custom skills in both Deep Code and DeepSeek-TUI? Not without duplication. While both tools parse [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/SKILL.md) files, they scan different directories. Deep Code looks in `~/.agents/skills/` and `./.deepcode/skills/`, whereas DeepSeek-TUI checks `~/.deepseek/skills/` and `./.deepseek/skills/`. You must copy or symlink skill definitions to both locations to share them across applications. ### How do I prevent a slash command from executing tools in DeepSeek-TUI? Set the operational mode to **Plan** before executing the command. Press `Tab` to cycle to Plan mode, then press `/` to open the menu and select your command. In Plan mode, the agent describes what it would do without invoking side-effectful tools, regardless of the command selected. ### Where does Deep Code store project-specific skill configurations? Deep Code discovers project-level skills in `./.deepcode/skills//SKILL.md` relative to the current working directory. These project-specific definitions take precedence over user-level skills in `~/.agents/skills/` when filename conflicts occur, allowing repository-specific agent behaviors. ### Do slash commands work when DeepSeek-TUI runs as an HTTP server? The TUI slash-command interface remains available in the terminal when running `deepseek` with the `serve --http` subcommand. However, HTTP clients interact through the REST API endpoints rather than slash commands. Terminal users can still press `/` to access the menu, while API consumers send JSON payloads to the configured HTTP port.