BongoCat

MEDIA

WHO USES ITStreamer · Live2D creator · C developer

Install to use

Puts a Live2D desktop pet on screen that reacts to every key and click.

★ 764▲ +90 / 7dlast 14 days · stars per dayhollow = no dataAs of 09-16 21:00 UTC

764 stars · checked on GitHub 09-15 19:34 UTC GitHub check 30 h late · incl. +2 observed via GH Archive since then · 7-day +90 observed via GH Archive (as of 09-16 21:00 UTC)

BongoCat radial menu: a character at a keyboard in the centre over a sea backdrop, ringed by icons and an Add Model button.

TESIGN TAKE

The story here is that something this cute was rewritten in C and OpenGL.

INSTALL

AT A GLANCE

LICENSE: AGPL-3.0
USAGE: Release source if you redistribute or host it as a service.
LANGUAGE: C
PLATFORM: windows · macos · linux
ACTIVITY: last commit 1 day ago (2026-09-15) · latest release v1.8.0 (2026-09-11) · 4 releases As of 09-15 19:34 UTC
COMMUNITY: 12 contributors · 13 open issues (incl. PRs) · made by: an individual As of 09-15 19:34 UTC
SOURCES: GitHub
OPEN SOURCE: YES
FIRST SEEN: 2026-09-13 07:43 UTC
CATEGORY: MEDIA

A summary, not legal advice.

WHY IT MATTERS

Desktop pets tend to sit on a heavy runtime or exist for one OS only. BongoCat is rewritten as a native app in C, SDL3 and OpenGL: it reads keyboard, mouse and gamepad input locally to drive a Live2D model, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The README states that it records and uploads no input and carries no ads or analytics, and downloads are on the Microsoft Store and GitHub Releases. Source is AGPL-3.0; the default model assets are MIT.

BUILD FROM THIS

A reactive mascot in the corner of a stream layout
A branded desktop pet running your own character model
A C study piece on SDL3 and OpenGL input handling

WHO IT'S FOR

Streamer: wants a mascot that reacts on screen
Live2D creator: needs a light runtime to try a model on
C developer: studying a desktop app built on SDL3 and OpenGL

START IN 5 MINUTES

# Download the latest build from the Microsoft Store or GitHub Releases
# Building from source needs CMake 3.24+, C11/C++17 compilers and OpenGL dev files
# Live2D rendering requires the Cubism SDK for Native, added separately

CAVEATS

Source is AGPL-3.0; check the terms for how you distribute
Built without the Cubism SDK, you get only a diagnostic backend
The first configure step downloads dependencies and needs network

RECEIPT

FIRST SEEN: 2026-09-13 07:43 UTC
AT SOURCE: 2026-08-22 21:06 UTC
KEPT: 2026-09-14 02:41 UTC
STAR DELTA: +2 ★ / 24h As of 09-16 21:00 UTC
CREATED → FIRST SEEN: 21d
WHEN FIRST SEEN: 571 ★
SOURCES: GitHub

The same facts in machine-readable form — View as Markdown · JSON

SIMILAR TOOLS

Up to five from MEDIA by ★ total: edited entries first, then repository cards; this entry is highlighted. Drawn from the same stored snapshot as the rankings — a comparison, not a recommendation. As of 09-16 21:00 UTC

NAME	★ TOTAL	▲ 7d	LICENSE	PLATFORM	LAST PUSH
OpenMontageVideo production via your coding agent	★ 59.3k	▲ +377	AGPL-3.0copyleft	macos · linux · windows	2026-09-06
BongoCatMEDIATHIS ENTRY	★ 764	▲ +90	AGPL-3.0copyleft	windows · macos · linux	2026-09-15
ffmpeg/ffmpegCARD	★ 64.2k	▲ +8	Licence unconfirmedunconfirmed	—	2026-09-13
mifi/lossless-cutCARD	★ 43.7k	▲ +6	GPL-2.0copyleft	—	2026-09-08
lizardbyte/sunshineCARD	★ 41.2k	▲ +10	GPL-3.0copyleft	—	2026-09-13

TIMELINE

2026-08-22 21:06 UTCRepository created
2026-09-13 07:43 UTCFIRST SEEN BY TESIGN
2026-09-14 02:41 UTCPublished on TESIGN

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