Imagine having a tiny digital companion sitting beside your code editor, reacting whenever Codex thinks, processes code, or completes a task. With Codex's custom pet feature, you can create your own unique coding buddy in just a few steps.
Step 1: Download the Codex Desktop App
Visit codex.openai.com and download the Codex Desktop App. The custom pet feature is available in the desktop application, not the web version.
Step 2: Install the Pet Skill
Open the Codex chat and run the following command:
$skill-installer hatch-pet
This installs the skill required to generate custom animated pets.
Step 3: Reload the Skills
Press:
- Ctrl + K (Windows)
- Cmd + K (Mac) Then click Force Reload Skills to activate the newly installed skill.
Step 4: Describe Your Pet
Now it's time to get creative. Simply type a prompt describing your dream coding companion.
Example:
Hatch Pet: create a tiny cyberpunk fox with neon blue eyes, floating hologram tail, and gaming headphones.
You can describe any style—robots, dragons, cats, owls, fantasy creatures, or completely original ideas.
Step 5: Let Codex Do the Work
After submitting your prompt, wait a few minutes while Codex automatically generates:
- Animated sprites
- Sprite atlas
- Character animations
- Pet package No graphic design or animation experience is required.
Step 6: Activate Your Pet
Navigate to:
Settings → Appearance + Pets → Custom Pets
Select your newly created pet from the list to make it your active coding companion.
Step 7: Enjoy Your New Coding Buddy
Start coding, and watch your pet come to life. It reacts to Codex activities such as:
- 🤔 Thinking
- ⚙️ Processing
- 😴 Idle
- ❌ Errors These animations make your coding sessions more interactive and fun.
Final Thoughts
Custom Codex pets add a playful, personalized touch to your development workflow. Whether you create a futuristic fox, a pixel-art dragon, or a tiny AI robot, your coding buddy will react alongside you as you build your next project.
What kind of coding companion would you create?
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