BugBoo
A lightweight, event-driven pixel-art ghost companion docked directly beneath the Explorer file tree in VS Code, Cursor, and Antigravity.
BugBoo provides real-time ambient feedback based on editor events, file navigation, typing cadence, AI prompts, and syntax diagnostics. It features a dynamic Chaos Meter, 7 customizable color themes, and 8 responsive emotional states—built without polling intervals or background performance penalties.
Showcase
📹 Click here to watch the full 1080p video with audio on GitHub (BugBoo.mp4).
(Click the preview GIF or link above to open GitHub's native video player with sound).
Overview
BugBoo resides natively in the primary Explorer sidebar, ensuring continuous visibility without consuming space in your main editor workspace or requiring manual switching between activity tabs.
Core Highlights
- Native Explorer Docking: Integrated directly into the primary file tree view container.
- Hardware-Accelerated Rendering: Utilizes isolated CSS 3D transforms (
translate3d) and GPU compositing.
- Resource Efficient: Operates with zero polling loops; diagnostics are debounced and animations sleep when the view is collapsed or hidden.
- Local & Offline: Zero network calls, zero external model queries, and zero telemetry. All state is maintained locally within VS Code's extension storage.
Key Features
1. Multi-State Emotional Engine
BugBoo dynamically expresses 8 distinct emotional states driven by real-time development activity:
| State |
Trigger Context |
Description |
| Idle |
Inactivity / Resting |
BugBoo sleeps quietly when user is away from keyboard. |
| Happy |
Productive Flow |
Gentle hovering during continuous coding sessions. |
| Curious |
File Navigation |
Observes file switching and project directory browsing. |
| Panicked |
Syntax / Build Errors |
High-alert expression triggered by diagnostics failures. |
| Celebrating |
Error Resolution |
Commemorative party animation upon fixing broken code. |
| Rage |
High Chaos Spike |
Fiery reaction when editor error rate exceeds threshold. |
| Smug |
Clean Build |
Relaxed satisfaction when tests and linting succeed. |
| Dizzy |
File Thrashing |
Disoriented reaction when switching rapidly between files. |
2. AI Prompt Awareness
BugBoo detects when AI assistance tools (such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor Composer, or Antigravity) are active, providing context-aware remarks and reactions as prompts are composed and executed.
3. Real-Time Diagnostic Reactions & Chaos Meter
When compiler errors or linter warnings occur, BugBoo responds immediately with visual panic cues and updates the real-time Chaos Meter:
- Chill (0% – 24%): Normal development conditions with clean diagnostics.
- Suspicious (25% – 49%): Minor warnings or rapid code modifications.
- Chaotic (50% – 74%): Multiple syntax errors or failing test runs.
- Maximum Drama (75% – 100%): Critical compiler breakage across multiple files.
4. Avatar Color Customization
Choose between 7 sleek ghost color themes directly from the sidebar or via the Command Palette:
- Lavender (Default soft purple)
- Mint (Vibrant cyber-green)
- Cyberpunk (Electric neon cyan)
- Rose (Bubblegum pastel pink)
- Midnight (Deep moody violet)
- Sunshine (Warm golden amber)
- Spectral (Classic spooky off-white)
Quick Start & Usage
- Install BugBoo directly from the VS Code Extensions Marketplace (
Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X → search for BugBoo).
- Open your project Explorer panel (
Ctrl+Shift+E / Cmd+Shift+E). BugBoo is docked right under your workspace files!
- Click the buttons in the dock to customize your experience:
✨ Mood: Preview BugBoo's 8 expressions.🎨 Color: Toggle the color palette and switch between 7 avatar themes.📊 Stats: Check your session Chaos rating and active configuration.
Extension Settings
Customize BugBoo through VS Code Settings (Ctrl+, or Cmd+, searching for bugboo):
| Setting |
Type |
Default |
Description |
bugboo.avatarColor |
string |
"lavender" |
Theme color (lavender, mint, cyberpunk, rose, midnight, sunshine, spectral) |
Command Palette Reference
All features are also accessible via Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS) by typing BugBoo:
| Command |
Identifier |
Function |
BugBoo: Summon |
bugboo.summon |
Reveals and focuses the BugBoo companion view in the Explorer. |
BugBoo: Change Mood |
bugboo.changeMood |
Cycles and previews emotional expressions. |
BugBoo: Customize Avatar Color |
bugboo.changeColor |
Quick-pick menu to choose an avatar color theme. |
BugBoo: Show Stats |
bugboo.showStats |
Displays session Chaos percentage, current mood, and active theme. |
BugBoo: Reset Progress |
bugboo.resetProgress |
Resets the Chaos meter and restores BugBoo to a chilled state. |
- 100% Local & Offline: BugBoo makes zero network calls, requires no API keys, sends no analytics, and collects zero telemetry.
- Ultra-Low Overhead: Diagnostics are debounced, rendering uses CSS hardware transforms, and all timers enter sleep mode when the sidebar view is collapsed or hidden.
Development & Contributing
Looking to build from source, run tests, or contribute to BugBoo? Check out our detailed Development & Contribution Guide.
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License.
