DesktopFly - A 3D fruit fly with a real connectome brain
Show HN: A desktop fly drawn to the scent of vibecode
DesktopFly is a macOS desktop pet that simulates a fruit fly with a live spiking neural network based on the real FlyWire connectome. It walks, grooms, sleeps, and reacts to your cursor using 23,210 real neuron positions and a 668-neuron circuit with ~19,000 synaptic connections. The fly can sense your coding projects through agent markers like AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md, turning them into odor sources that attract it. The brain window lets you click to stimulate neurons and see real behavioral responses. It's a fascinating blend of neuroscience and desktop whimsy, offering a unique way to explore how a real brain drives behavior.
Escape is not scripted. Your cursor's approach becomes looming input to the real LC4/LPLC2 cells; the fly takes off only when the Giant Fiber actually spikes through its real synapses.