Desktop Pet App (Steam Release)

OVERVIEW

I am seeking an experienced desktop application developer to build a lightweight, cross-platform desktop “pet” app.

The pet app is a calm, ambient desktop companion that sits on the user’s screen and reacts to basic user behaviour (keyboard/mouse activity and idle time). It is designed to be emotionally calming, unobtrusive, and lightweight — not a game or heavy application.

The final product will be released on Steam (PC first, macOS preferred).

CORE CONCEPT

The app is a small animated panda that:
• Sits on the desktop (corner overlay or movable window)
• Reacts to user activity (typing, idle time, focus state)
• Changes moods (idle, sleeping, focused, happy, calm)
• Displays a daily “calm reflection message” (fortune-cookie style insight based on behaviour patterns)

The goal is to create a lightweight, emotionally calming desktop companion that runs in the background without affecting performance.

PLATFORMS

• Windows 10/11 (must-have)
• macOS (preferred, if feasible without major architectural rewrite)
• Steam-compatible build

CORE FEATURES REQUIRED

1. Desktop Pet System

a. Always-on-top or desktop overlay character
b. Smooth animation system using a finite state machine (FSM) approach
c. Core animation states:
(i) Idle
(ii) Sleep
(iii) Focused / Active
(iv) Interaction response (click/drag reactions)
(v) System event reaction
(vi) Calm ambient movement (stretching/walking)
Must be designed so new animations can be added without rewriting core logic.

2. Behaviour Tracking (Local Only)
No cloud, no backend.
Must detect locally:
• keyboard activity (typing frequency / intensity)
• mouse movement activity
• idle time detection
• active application focus changes
Important constraints:
• Must be event-driven where possible (avoid continuous polling loops)
• Must be lightweight and battery-friendly

3. Mood / State Engine
Rule-based system that determines panda behaviour based on:
• activity level
• idle duration
• focus session length
• interaction patterns
Must be modular and easy to extend.

4. Daily “Reflection Message” System
Once per day:
• app generates a short calming message based on user behaviour patterns
• “fortune cookie” style insights (rule-based, no AI required)
Example:
“Today felt steady and focused, like quiet snowfall.”
Must ensure:
• only one message per 24 hours
• stored locally

5. Performance Requirements
Must be extremely lightweight:
• <3% CPU usage in idle state (near 0%)
• minimal memory usage
• no noticeable impact on gaming, video playback, or productivity apps
• battery-friendly for laptops
• frame rate capped (30–60 FPS max depending on settings)
• must reduce activity when system is under high load

6. UI / UX
Minimal settings panel:
• enable/disable pet
• start on system boot
• optional sensitivity settings
• tray icon for quick controls
• exit / pause functionality
Startup Behaviour (IMPORTANT)
The app must support optional “Start on system boot”
• User-controlled toggle (enabled/disabled)
• Must not require admin privileges
• Must be stable and not delay system startup significantly

7. Packaging & Distribution
• Steam-ready build
• Installer or packaged executable (.exe / .dmg)
• Versioned release structure
• No admin rights required for installation or runtime

ADD ON

• Seasonal themes (winter / spring based on local system date or config)
• Panda click interactions (small reactions)
• Smooth physics-based movement (subtle only)
• Very light ambient sound effects (optional)

TECHNICAL PREFERENCES

Open to suggestions, but please specify your approach.
Preferred:
• Tauri (preferred – lightweight)
• Electron (acceptable if properly optimised)
• Native C++ / C# (premium option)
Avoid heavy game engines (Unity/Unreal) unless strongly justified.

SCOPE LIMITATIONS

• No cloud services or backend
• No AI/LLM integration
• No login/account system
• No blockchain or token integration in this phase
• Must remain a lightweight desktop companion application

DELIVERABLES

• Working Windows desktop application
• macOS version (if included)
• Clean, well-structured and commented source code
• Steam-ready build package
• README including:
o architecture overview
o animation system explanation
o how to add new animations/events
o build & release instructions

TIMELINE

• MVP: 3–5 weeks
• Full version: 5–10 weeks

BUDGET

USD $4,000 – $8,000

We prefer fixed-price, milestone-based delivery:
• Milestone 1: Core prototype (30%)
• Milestone 2: Behaviour + animation system (30%)
• Milestone 3: Polish + Steam build (40%)

IMPORTANT NOTES

This is NOT a game engine project and NOT a heavy AI system.
It is a: lightweight, always-on desktop companion app focused on smooth animations, behavioural state logic, and emotional user experience.
The goal is psychological calmness, ambient presence — not interaction-heavy software.