{
  "schema": "tesign-radar/item/1",
  "generated_at": "2026-09-17T01:56:13.055Z",
  "lang": "en",
  "slug": "bongocat",
  "url": "https://tesign.com/en/item/bongocat/",
  "alternates": {
    "ko": {
      "html": "https://tesign.com/item/bongocat/",
      "json": "https://tesign.com/item/bongocat/index.json",
      "markdown": "https://tesign.com/item/bongocat/index.md"
    },
    "en": {
      "html": "https://tesign.com/en/item/bongocat/",
      "json": "https://tesign.com/en/item/bongocat/index.json",
      "markdown": "https://tesign.com/en/item/bongocat/index.md"
    }
  },
  "name": "BongoCat",
  "use_label": "MEDIA",
  "one_liner": "Puts a Live2D desktop pet on screen that reacts to every key and click.",
  "text": {
    "why": "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.",
    "take": "The story here is that something this cute was rewritten in C and OpenGL.",
    "build": [
      "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": [
      {
        "role": "Streamer",
        "situation": "wants a mascot that reacts on screen"
      },
      {
        "role": "Live2D creator",
        "situation": "needs a light runtime to try a model on"
      },
      {
        "role": "C developer",
        "situation": "studying a desktop app built on SDL3 and OpenGL"
      }
    ],
    "start": [
      {
        "command": false,
        "text": "Download the latest build from the Microsoft Store or GitHub Releases"
      },
      {
        "command": false,
        "text": "Building from source needs CMake 3.24+, C11/C++17 compilers and OpenGL dev files"
      },
      {
        "command": false,
        "text": "Live2D rendering requires the Cubism SDK for Native, added separately"
      }
    ],
    "caveat": [
      "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"
    ]
  },
  "cta": {
    "type": "install",
    "label": "INSTALL",
    "url": "https://bongocat.pet/"
  },
  "ready": "install",
  "categories": [
    "media"
  ],
  "categories_confirmed": true,
  "tags": [
    "desktop-pet",
    "live2d",
    "sdl3",
    "c"
  ],
  "platform": [
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "linux"
  ],
  "license": {
    "spdx": "AGPL-3.0",
    "scope": "copyleft",
    "scope_text": "Release source if you redistribute or host it as a service.",
    "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/AGPL-3.0.html",
    "note": null,
    "open_source": true
  },
  "language": "C",
  "source_urls": {
    "canonical": "https://bongocat.pet/",
    "github": "https://github.com/vladelaina/bongocat",
    "huggingface": null,
    "app_store": null,
    "sightings": [
      {
        "source": "github",
        "url": "https://github.com/vladelaina/bongocat",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-13T00:00:00.000Z",
        "hn_url": null
      }
    ]
  },
  "numbers": {
    "as_of": "2026-09-16T21:00:00.000Z",
    "stars": 764,
    "stars_unit": "GitHub stars",
    "stars_checked_at": "2026-09-15T19:34:10.347Z",
    "stars_observed_since_check": 2,
    "star_delta_24h": 2,
    "star_delta_7d": 90,
    "star_delta_30d": 98,
    "star_delta_unit": "GitHub stars gained in the window, GH Archive events summed to as_of",
    "spark_14d": [
      null,
      4,
      null,
      2,
      2,
      null,
      null,
      null,
      null,
      39,
      47,
      null,
      2,
      2
    ],
    "hf_likes": null,
    "hf_likes_observed_at": null,
    "hn_points": null,
    "hn_points_observed_at": null,
    "store": null,
    "method": "Star total = the value last checked on GitHub (stars_checked_at) + increases observed via GH Archive since. The 24h · 7d · 30d gains are GH Archive hourly events summed to the reference time (as_of). No score of ours."
  },
  "ranks": null,
  "activity": {
    "pushed_at": "2026-09-15T09:04:01.000Z",
    "owner_type": "User",
    "open_issues": 13,
    "contributors": 12,
    "releases_count": 4,
    "latest_release": {
      "tag": "v1.8.0",
      "published_at": "2026-09-11T16:41:04.000Z",
      "prerelease": false
    },
    "checked_at": "2026-09-15T19:34:10.347Z",
    "core_checked_at": "2026-09-15T19:34:10.347Z"
  },
  "signals": [],
  "images": {
    "og": "https://tesign.com/img/bongocat-fb532fb534.png",
    "cover": "https://tesign.com/img/bongocat-fb532fb534.png",
    "cover_width": 1149,
    "cover_height": 904,
    "gallery": [
      "https://tesign.com/img/bongocat-fb532fb534.png",
      "https://tesign.com/img/bongocat-4bf3fce8f5.webp",
      "https://tesign.com/img/bongocat-ef0c1a174c.png"
    ],
    "alt": "BongoCat radial menu: a character at a keyboard in the centre over a sea backdrop, ringed by icons and an Add Model button.",
    "tier": 2
  },
  "dates": {
    "first_seen_at": "2026-09-13T07:43:34.171Z",
    "source_created_at": "2026-08-22T21:06:36.000Z",
    "discovery_hours": 514.6161586111111,
    "launch_signal_at": "2026-09-13T00:00:00.000Z",
    "kept_at": "2026-09-14T02:41:59.009Z",
    "first_published_at": "2026-09-14T02:41:59.484Z",
    "updated_at": "2026-09-15T04:36:56.808Z",
    "ingestion_mode": "live"
  },
  "notes": [
    "This file was produced by the same build, from the same data, as the tesign.com item page. The text is editorial; the numbers are stored observations.",
    "null in the JSON means not observed — never zero. The Markdown writes [unconfirmed] for it.",
    "Star total = the value last checked on GitHub (stars_checked_at) + increases observed via GH Archive since. The 24h · 7d · 30d gains are GH Archive hourly events summed to the reference time (as_of). No score of ours.",
    "A summary, not legal advice."
  ]
}