Neko (software)
Neko, also known as Oneko, is a cross-platform open-source[1][2] screenmate application that creates an animated sprite of a cursor-chasing cat, which has been ported across a wide variety of systems.
History
[edit]
Neko was originally a TSR written for the NEC PC-9801 called NEKO.COM made by Naoshi Watanabe (若田部 直).[3][4] It utilized the PC-98's separate graphics and text layers to draw a cat on the graphics layer, letting CLI apps run while Neko chased the text cursor. It only moved in the cardinal directions, lacking diagonal movement. When it reached the cursor it would paw at it, eventually falling asleep when left idle.[5]
In 1989 it was ported as a Desk Accessory for the Macintosh by Kenji Gotoh (後藤寿庵) as NekoDA. It featured a new sprite-sheet, the ability to change the cat's speed, and to change the cursor into prey for the cat; a bird, mouse, or fish. The cat was restrained to a window, when the cursor was outside of it Neko would scratch at the borders.[6] The name NekoDA has a double meaning, "DA" both being an acronym for Desk Accessory; and "だ" as in the verb "to be",[7] Nekoだ meaning "It's a cat!".
Kenji Gotoh was approached by IBM during the development of OS/2 2.1, selling non-exclusive rights to the Neko sprites for ¥300,000, used in their own version of the application, called Cat and Mouse, releasing in 1991.[8]
A version for the X Window System was made in 1990 by Masayuki Koba (古場正行) called xneko which allowed you to change the cat's color and size.[9] Later that year Tatsuya Kato ported xneko to Unix systems as oneko, letting it roam around the entire desktop instead of inside a window, notify the user of received emails, and hide underneath a kotatsu.[10]
In 1997 David Harvey ported xneko to Windows 95 and 98 with Neko for Windows, or Neko95/Neko98. This version could run multiple nekos at once, play sound effects, change the sprite-sheet, lay footprints; and behave differently, like running away from the mouse or wandering the desktop on its own.[11]
Other versions
[edit]The NekoDA sprites made by Gotoh and the code of many of its following ports are free to use, modify, and redistribute.[12] As such Neko has been ported to many other systems.
Windows, Linux, and Mac OS
[edit]- Two Windows 3.x versions were made in 1991, Michael Bankstahl's WNEKO;[13] and Dara T. Khani's Neko Runs Free.[14]
- A shareware port titled Cat! or Cat95! was made for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 by Robert Dannbauer in 1991, it cost $5 to register the shareware after the 30 day trial period, which also granted extra features.[15]
- Neko98 was recompiled for x64 Windows in 2010.[16]
- A Wayland port is available called Wayneko for Linux [17]
- A Neko character is available for the Linux toy AMOR (Amusing Misuse Of Resources).[18]
- A Neko desktop accessory for the Apple II Desktop v1.3 is available[19]
- It has been ported to Mac OS X.[20] There is also a screensaver called Neko.saver.[21]
Mobile
[edit]Web
[edit]- In 2004 Gregory Bell made WebNeko in Javascript for people to add to their websites.[26] An iPhone port of WebNeko was made in 2010.[27]
- Another JavaScript version named Oneko.js was made in 2022 and is used on various personal websites,[28] as well as having been used to bring Oneko to Firefox as an extension,[29] the modded Spotify client Spicetify,[30] the modded Discord client Vencord,[31] and more.
- An Opera GX mod of Neko as a virtual pet is available.[32]
Other
[edit]- A Java Swing port is available.[33]
- Neko was available on Acorn Computers' RISC OS.[34]
- A port was made by Carl Revell for the Amiga Computer called Ameko in 1997, based on Neko Runs Free.[35]
- There is also a Neko screensaver for NEXTSTEP.[36]
- A BeOS version using their replicants feature called Neko the Replicat exists.[37]
- There is version for the Arduino micro controller touchscreen boards.[38]
Other appearances
[edit]- In 1995, a shareware game for the Macintosh called Kitten Shaver had used sprites that looked similar to Neko. The object of the game was cruel but humorous, as the player would have to shave the cats, with various layers of fur, as they ran across the screen within a limited time. The game was a parody of a game called Bunny Killer. Kitten Shaver was such a success, that a sequel called Kitten Shaver 2: Kitty's Revenge was released in 1997.[39]
- Neko appears as an animated, directional paintbrush in Tux Paint.
- In 2007, after Todd Goldman admitted to committing plagiarism by copying a webcomic panel into a painting and labeling the painting as his work, other bloggers accused Goldman of copying Neko and using it as "Goodbye Kitty." Goldman denies these allegations.[40][41][42]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "oneko-sakura". daidouji.com. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
- ↑ "oneko - snapshot.debian.org". snapshot.debian.org. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
- ↑ The copyright notice inside NEKO.COM reads "Copyright(c) by <tenten> & naoshi"
- ↑ "作者: 若田部 直". www.vector.co.jp. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ "NEKO.COM について". metanest.jp. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ "neko DA - Macintosh Repository". www.macintoshrepository.org. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "だ", Wiktionary, the free dictionary, 2026-03-06, retrieved 2026-09-03
- ↑ juangotoh (2022-12-26). "Nekoの契約に来たIBMパシフィックのえらいさんは安楽亭の会計をアメリカン・エキスプレスで支払った". 仮想と現実 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ Gigabyte 03 (Computer Magazine) (in Italian) (03 ed.). Xenia Edizioni. 1994. pp. 86–87.
- ↑ "Oneko pop up to your E-Mail with mew". www.3bit.co.jp. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ "Neko Information Page". Archived from the original on 2002-02-17. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ "Regarding the copyright of Oneko-2.0". 1997-08-09. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ Michael Bankstahl (1991), Windows 3.1 Shareware: WNEKO, retrieved 2026-09-04
- ↑ Dara T. Khani (1992), Neko v2.0, retrieved 2026-09-04
- ↑ "Software CTD". www.software-ctd.com. Archived from the original on 2002-04-03. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "Neko x64! | Virtually Fun". 2010-03-27. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ "wayneko". SourceHut. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ↑ KDE/amor, KDE GitHub Mirror, 2026-05-16, retrieved 2026-09-05
- ↑ "A2Desktop 1.3 Release Notes". GitHub. 2023-07-01.
- ↑ Donoughe, Matthew (2026-06-29), mdonoughe/neko-mac, retrieved 2026-09-05
- ↑ "Download Neko.saver for Mac | MacUpdate". nekosaver.macupdate.com. Retrieved 2026-09-05.
- ↑ "ANeko: Screen Pet - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "Xnekodroid (Neko for Android) 1.1j Free Download". xnekodroid.soft112.com. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "Neko for Windows Mobile 6.5 (ONLY!!)". Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
- ↑ "NekoCat". PalmDB. Archived from the original on 2025-09-06. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "*NEKO* Welcome to the Web Neko Server!". webneko.net. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "WebNeko". App Store. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ adryd (2025-01-22), adryd325/oneko.js, retrieved 2025-01-22
- ↑ "oneko – Get this Extension for 🦊 Firefox (en-CA)". addons.mozilla.org. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ Anh, Nam (2023-09-14), Spicetify Oneko, retrieved 2023-09-18
- ↑ "oneko". Vencord. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
- ↑ "Neko Virtual Pet - Mod your browser". store.gx.me. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "Fun Overview". www.randelshofer.ch. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "The RISC OS Products Directory - Software Products - Mouse". www.riscos.com. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "util/wb/Ameko.lha". Aminet. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- ↑ "ftp.nice.ch NeXTSTEP/OpenStep Archive: /pub/next/games/fun/_Neko.1.3.N.bs". ftp.nice.ch. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "replicat - PulkoMandy's project hosting". pulkomandy.tk. Retrieved 2026-09-05.
- ↑ "Arduino KS0108 touchscreen Neko program | Walf|EE". ee.walfas.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "Kitten Shaver 2 - Macintosh Repository". www.macintoshrepository.org. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ Peterson, Kristen (April 12, 2007). "Fur flies over squirrel". The Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
- ↑ "Todd Goldman issues apology." Archived "The Beat." Publishers Weekly. April 12, 2007.
- ↑ Rosenbaum, S.I. (May 8, 2007). "Artist's work looked familiar". The St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
External links
[edit]- Neko games - Online games employing Neko
- Neko x64 - Links to Windows x64, Dec Alpha & MIPS version of Neko
- http://users.frii.com/suzannem/neko/ - A Neko kitty collection (and download)
- Neko in Golang - A cross-platform open-source version write in Go (programming language).