NotDeskling

The other desktop pet. Not the Claude Code one.

NotDeskling is actually called Deskling. I built it as a lightweight Windows desktop pet for my son, then decided to share it.

Important: How to use .pet files

You need Deskling.exe to open .pet files!

A .pet file is a character file, not a standalone app. It will not run by itself and is not compatible with other desktop pet applications.

You don't need to create a pet to get started. Deskling already includes Sprout!

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Why I shared it

While I originally made Deskling for my son, I decided to share it because of its tiny footprint.

439 KB executable and approximately 1.6 MB of RAM at runtime.

If you can find a lighter desktop pet, let me know in the comments! I genuinely want to see how small these things can get.

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Getting started

Just want a desktop pet?

1. Download the Windows ZIP below.
2. Extract the ZIP into a folder.
3. Run Deskling.exe.
4. Meet Sprout!

Want to create your own?

1. Open the browser-based pet creator.
2. Import your sprites and configure animations.
3. Export your character as a .pet file.
4. Import the .pet file into Deskling.

The creator runs locally in your browser. No account or uploads required.

Need some sprites?

Try Brackeys' Platformer Bundle . It's a free-to-use CC0 asset pack with animated pixel-art characters.

My son currently uses sprites from this pack for his own desktop pet!

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Why NotDeskling?

After publishing Deskling, I discovered another unrelated application with the same name. That one tracks Claude Code sessions.

Rather than rename a finished personal project, I've called this itch.io listing NotDeskling to avoid confusion.

The application itself is still called Deskling, and the executable is still Deskling.exe.

Other details

• Free Windows desktop pet
• Portable, no installation required
• No accounts or telemetry
• Includes Sprout
• Supports custom .pet characters
• Closed source for now, possibly open source later

Just a little friend for your desktop.