I missed the era of "desktop buddies" from the early 2000s, but I wanted something that felt modern and, more importantly, private. I just released Mel-Low, a transparent desktop overlay for Windows that "listens" to your system audio and reacts in real-time.
Unlike most apps today, Mel-Low doesn't need an internet connection, doesn't use a microphone, and has zero accounts or telemetry. It uses WASAPI loopback to detect the energy of whatever you’re playing (Spotify, YouTube, etc.) and shifts between five different moods—from "Silence" to "Intense."
It’s got a bit of a personality, too. It’ll comment on the time of day, and it actually remembers how you treat it—if you poke it or drag it around too much, it might have something to say about it later. I built this in Unity and kept it fully open source because I wanted to share how the audio-reactive transparent overlay works.
Features:
- Reactive Animation: Head-bobs and mood shifts based on your music's energy.
- 100% Local: Everything runs on your machine. No data is sent anywhere, ever.
- Personality: Dynamic chat bubbles that change based on mood, time, and interaction history.
- Customizable: Adjust colors and settings to match your desktop aesthetic.
Download on itch.io: https://malikchildish.itch.io/mel-low
