HN Explorer

Show HN: Pets for Cursor

93 points by bearware ↗ HN
I created an extension which adds a custom pet to your editor (Cursor/ VS Code/ Windsurf compatible).

https://github.com/blairjordan/codachi

As you type, your pet hatches, acquires XP and evolves.

A playing card is generated when your pet evolves.

All pixel art is original and hand/ mouse drawn.

28 comments

[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 73.2 ms ] thread
hackermanai
This is cool! ...and probably very annoying after a while :P
thih9
> Your pet will gain XP as you code in either mode.

Feature request: the pet gets extra experience in certain situations, e.g.:

* when a failing build gets fixed

* when a previously red test gets green

* when the typing speed is sufficiently high

* when a commit is made that removes a lot of code

* when a commit is made that increases code coverage

* etc…

TrueGeek
These are great ideas. It'd be fun to make virtual pets that only lived / grew through GitHub actions and then were updated in the project readme
bearware
I really like these - I have an XP boost/ buff PR in the works which activates when you reach a typing velocity (and adds a cool swirling effect around your character).

Git integration would be low hanging fruit so could def add that in. (build/ testing/ ci integrations would be trickier I suspect?)

_puk
Something on my ideas list was some interactive game type thing for when cursor is busy "thinking".

This should fit the bill nicely!

bearware
This is a cool idea actually, even for a separate extension. Cursor doesn’t offer an API yet (so I’m not sure how to detect when Cursor itself is “thinking”), but it could be always-on.

I recall a site adding Memory Match minigame while a build was running (was it Vercel?), and I couldn’t help playing it every time.

Add in tic-tac-toe and a few others and you have yourself a cool extension.

Maybe a more constructive game also: a multiple choice quiz about your code to make sure you understand it?

mbf
This seems perfect for streaming while vibe coding before an audience like Twitch or maybe sharing screen in a classroom setting.
38
Why anyone would want to watch vibe coding is beyond me.
dcsan
Learning prompting? Or how to set up your environment with a readme? I think they're are ways to be more productive with riding the vibe!
jillyboel
Why...? As if "vibe coding" wasn't useless garbage to begin with...
easton
Very cool. I have VSCode pets in my editor, it’s usually minimized but I like knowing clippy is in there jumping around.
apgwoz
Clippy? Bonsai Buddy? Is that you?
lagniappe
It's spelled BonziBUDDY
apgwoz
My mistake. I am sorry that early 2000s memories of Windows malware disguised as virtual friends is failing me.
bearware
Somebody actually requested an interactive “desktop version” with features akin to bonzibuddy.

I carry the scars of 90s internet to know better.

upghost
This may have converted me to AI coding.
nobodywasishere
This is just a normal VS Code extension, AI coding not required
upghost
This may have converted me to VS coding.
rf15
what's that japanese? ペジト ( pejito)? why is it not コダチ (kodachi)?
zx321
ペット？ So it's "petto".
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
eltonlin
I really love this idea but I'm having such a hard time using it. After hatching the egg with Ctrl + Shift + P, I have no idea how to "type" on that blank panel (I use Cursor). When I open new files, the egg disappears. Frustrating.
bearware
Ah sorry to hear it’s frustrating - You could switch to the Explorer mode in settings which might be a better option.

In panel mode: The panel is treated like another open file tab, so needs to be manually positioned alongside your open code (so that both are visible simultaneously).