Directed　energy　deposition-arc　(DED-Arc)　technology　has　garnered　significant　attention　in　both　scientific　research　and　industrial　equipment　fields　due　to　its　exceptional　characteristics.　It　shows　immense　application　potential　in　equipment　manufacturing　sectors　such　as　aerospace　and　weaponry.　The　heat　source,　a　core　component　of　DED-Arc,　is　used　for　melting　metal　wires.　The　stability　and　control　precision　of　the　heat　source　directly　affect　the　melting　quality　of　the　metal　wires,　while　the　amount　of　heat　input　determines　the　forming　efficiency.　Path　planning　is　another　critical　core　technology,　directly　influencing　the　forming　quality　and　properties　of　the　components.　This　paper　outlines　the　recent　research　progress　in　heat　sources　of　DED-Arc,　including　multi-electrode　coupled,　actively　constrained,　and　multi-energy　field　composite　arcs,　as　well　as　advancements　in　path　planning.　Additionally,　it　provides　prospects　for　future　research　directions.　©　2024　Harbin　Research　Institute　of　Welding.　All　rights　reserved.