Openpets by Alvinunreal is a free desktop companion platform built on Electron, primarily using JavaScript/TypeScript. It functions as an MCP server tool, connecting to local coding agents and AI assistants without requiring accounts or central AI servers. Distributed via GitHub Releases for macOS, Windows, and Linux, it also offers SDK and CLI tools as npm packages. Openpets emphasizes a local-first principle, allowing users to configure AI features directly on their machines using their own keys. It provides an animated desktop companion experience for various workflows.

What does Openpets connect to?

Openpets serves as a desktop companion platform, connecting to local coding agents and AI assistants. It operates as an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server tool. The platform supports stdio and TCP as transport protocols for its MCP server. It also exposes an HTTP endpoint, typically found at http://127.0.0.1:3001/mcp. Compatible AI clients include Claude Code, OpenCode, Cursor, Pi CLI, and other generic MCP-capable assistants, enabling diverse integration possibilities for users.

Core features and tools

Openpets exposes specific callable MCP tools to interact with its desktop companion. These include openpets_status to retrieve the target pet ID and check runtime connectivity, openpets_react for setting pet reaction animations such as thinking, editing, testing, success, and error states, and openpets_say to display a short speech bubble. The platform also offers a Plugin SDK v3, allowing developers to build new pet abilities using a sandboxed JavaScript/TypeScript runtime for custom companion behavior.

Who is it for?

Openpets is designed for developers, tinkerers, and plugin authors who want an animated desktop companion. It also appeals to general users seeking a customizable sidekick for productivity. The platform supports developers creating new pet abilities with its Plugin SDK and general users desiring focus timers, hydration nudges, and reminders through official plugins. This is not the right fit if you require a centralized AI service with managed accounts.

How to get started

No credentials are required for Openpets, as its authentication model relies on a local-first setup. Users configure their assistant or MCP client with the local MCP endpoint, such as "http://127.0.0.1:3001/mcp", which supports stdio and TCP transport.

Use cases

• Acting as a coding agent sidekick to display task progress, completion, review, waiting, and failure states through visible desktop animations and messages.
• Serving as a focus and reminder system through official plugins that provide features like focus timers, hydration nudges, and general reminders.
• Enabling custom companion behavior through its Plugin SDK v3, allowing developers to build new pet abilities with a sandboxed JavaScript/TypeScript runtime.

Openpets provides a local-first desktop companion for developers and users, integrating with AI assistants and offering customizable interactions. Its plugin SDK allows for expanding pet abilities, catering to various workflows from coding support to personal reminders. The platform's reliance on local configurations ensures user control over AI features. Try configuring an MCP client with Openpets' local endpoint to display coding agent task progress.