Show HN: Dinoki – Privacy-First Desktop AI with Pixel Pets (6MB Native)
See it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_pv2BU0CZA
What makes it different:
- 6MB native app (SwiftUI for macOS, WPF for Windows) – starts instantly
- Zero telemetry – your API keys and data stay local
- Pixel art companions with physics-based behaviors
- Flexible AI support – OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter (300+ models), or Ollama (offline)
Why pixel pets in an AI assistant? Beyond being fun, pixel art is incredibly efficient – minimal CPU usage for animations while adding personality to your workspace. After months of testing, users tell us the companions make long work sessions feel less isolating. They develop behaviors, respond to your activity, and yes, they bounce around thanks to physics-based movement.
The serious features:
- 20+ productivity tools: web research, Slack automation, screenshot OCR
- MCP (Model Context Protocol) support for custom integrations
- Agent mode for autonomous task execution
- Persistent conversation memory
- Instant startup (not Electron!)
Real use cases from our users:
- Developer running local RAG with Qwen3 via Ollama – a private knowledge base with a pixel companion
- Home lab enthusiast who set up an AI server for their family – each member has their own Dinoki instance
- Remote engineers using Agent mode to monitor Slack channels while their pixel buddy reflects their mood
- Researchers who love that their sensitive data never leaves their machine, yet they get GPT-4-level assistance
Pricing:
- Free: Full chat, one Dinoki character, bring-your-own provider
- Pro ($25 lifetime): All 4 characters, automation tools, multi-instance support
We're a two-person team that believes AI tools should be powerful, private, and enjoyable to use. The 6MB size isn't just a flex—it's proof that modern software doesn't need to be bloated.
Happy to answer any questions about implementation, how we got the size so small, or why we think personality matters in productivity tools!
P.S. Something big is coming for retro pixel art fans. Current users will get it free.