Create a Virtual Desktop Pet App with Zero Coding Skills
Use OpenAI's free Codex CLI to generate a complete desktop app in 10 minutes - just describe your pet in words
- 1.Install Node.js version 22 or higher - it is the runtime environment required for Codex CLI to work. Download the installer for your OS, run it, and click «Next» through the installation.
After installation, open a terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type node -v - you should see v22.x.x or higher.
Node.js ↗ - 2.Install Codex CLI by running this command in the terminal: npm install -g @openai/codex. Wait for the successful installation message.
If you get a permissions error on macOS/Linux, add sudo before the command: sudo npm install -g @openai/codex.
Codex CLI ↗ - 3.Sign in to Codex using your OpenAI account. Type codex in the terminal - a browser will open prompting you to log in. Use the same account you use for ChatGPT.
The free ChatGPT plan gives a limited number of Codex requests per day. A paid ChatGPT Plus/Pro subscription offers more requests and access to a more powerful model. No credit card is needed for the free path.
Codex CLI ↗ - 4.Create a project folder and navigate into it. In the terminal, type: mkdir desktop-pet && cd desktop-pet. Launch Codex in full file-editing mode with: codex --full-auto.
The --full-auto flag lets Codex create and edit files on its own without confirming each step. This is convenient for a first project.
Codex CLI ↗ - 5.Paste the following prompt in English into the terminal and press Enter. Codex will create the project structure, write Python code using the Tkinter library, and launch the app.
Tkinter is included with Python - no extra installation needed. Codex will detect whether Python is installed and, if necessary, prompt you to install it.
Codex CLI ↗PromptCreate a desktop pet application using Python and Tkinter. Requirements: 1) A small always-on-top window (200x200 px) shaped like a cute [ANIMAL] (draw it with colored shapes - circles, ovals). 2) The pet has three stats shown as text: hunger, happiness, energy - each starts at 100. 3) Every 5 seconds stats decrease by 2-5 points randomly. 4) Three buttons below the pet: «Feed» (restores hunger to 100), «Play» (restores happiness to 100), «Sleep» (restores energy to 100). 5) The pet changes facial expression: happy face when all stats above 60, sad face when any stat below 40. 6) Window has no title bar and stays on top of all windows. 7) Make it draggable by clicking anywhere on the pet. Save everything to the current folder as desktop_pet.py, then run it.
What this prompt doesThis prompt asks Codex to create a pet window drawn from colored shapes, with three stats (hunger, happiness, energy) and three buttons. Replace [ANIMAL] with any animal, such as cat, dog, hamster, or dragon. At the end of the prompt is a command to run the app immediately after creation. - 6.Wait for Codex to create the files and launch the app. A window with your pet will appear on screen - you can drag it around with your mouse, and use buttons to feed, play with, and put it to sleep.
If the app does not launch automatically, type in the terminal: python desktop_pet.py (on macOS/Linux: python3 desktop_pet.py). To close the pet - press Escape or Alt+F4.
Python ↗ - 7.To modify the pet later, run codex --full-auto again in the same folder and describe what you want, for example: «Make the pet bigger - 300x300 px, add a fourth button 'Walk' that restores all stats by 20 points, and play a short beep sound when any stat drops below 20.».
Codex will edit the existing file while preserving all previous changes. Each refinement session counts toward your plan's request quota.
Codex CLI ↗
- freeCodex CLI (via free OpenAI account)A free OpenAI account provides a limited number of Codex requests per day - enough to build the app and make a few refinements.
- freeNode.js LTSA completely free runtime environment, needed only to install Codex CLI.
- freePythonA free open-source programming language - installation is free forever.
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