Show HN: Pets for Cursor

[bearware]

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.

[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?

[easton]

Very cool. I have VSCode pets in my editor, it’s usually minimized but I like knowing clippy is in there jumping around.

[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).

[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!

[pure-developer]

This is pretty awesome!

[hackermanai]

This is cool! ...and probably very annoying after a while :P

[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.

[rideontime]

Thank you.

[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".

[ofirtwo]

Haha I love it!

[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.

[jillyboel]

Why...? As if "vibe coding" wasn't useless garbage to begin with...