How to use Claude to build a goat themed notepad
An author used Claude Code to build Goatpad without opening an IDE, while handling repository setup, sprites, uploads and DNS manually. Goats eat notes, creating a loss risk the author says helped with focus.
news.ycombinator.com
Prompt to try
Editorial adaptation, not the source author’s exact prompt. Replace bracketed inputs and review tool permissions first.
Build [notepad-style app] with [goat sprite sheets]. Let goats eat the note at speeds selected through [modes], with permanent file loss after more than half is consumed. Add sprite credits in [About section]. Tell me when you need repository setup, asset uploads, styling direction or DNS changes.
Reach people exploring AI agents
See placements →What happened
The author reports a working goat-themed notepad and says the risk of permanent file loss reduced distraction during text-editor tasks more than expected.
Reported by martialg on Hacker NewsHow the agent did it
- Initialize the application repository manually.
- Try image generation tools for goat sprites.
- Select free existing sprites and credit them in About.
Where a person stepped in
The author manually initialized the repository, selected and uploaded sprites, handled DNS and provided styling guidance.
A person approved each step before the agent continued.
Goatpad began as a joke among friends and became an experiment in building a small application with Claude without opening an IDE. The author wanted to practice game-like visuals and chose a familiar notepad-style application as the basis for the project.
The author reports manually initializing the repository. Sprite creation also required intervention: several image generation tools failed to produce a satisfactory goat sprite, so the author selected free existing sprites and credited them in the About section. Uploading images and sprite sheets, as well as DNS work, remained manual tasks. Aside from occasional agent timeouts or hangs and some styling guidance, the author describes natural-language coding as straightforward and consistently accurate from end to end.
In the finished application, goats eat the user's note at a speed controlled by the selected mode. If they consume more than half, the file is lost forever. The author says that this risk helped reduce the tendency to become distracted while working on text-editor tasks, particularly when switching away from the application.
The author suspects that reproducing an existing, well-documented app style helped the coding process. The post describes personal experience rather than measured productivity or reliability results.
Who it's for: People experimenting with playful text tools who are comfortable with an intentionally destructive note-taking mechanic.
Prompt
Suggested prompt (written by Agents In Use, not the author's)
Source: Hacker News · martialg
Frequently asked questions
Which parts did the author handle manually?
The author lists repository initialization, finding suitable sprites after unsuccessful image generation attempts, uploading images and sprite sheets, and DNS work. Some styling guidance was also needed.
What happens when the goats eat a note?
The goats consume the note slowly or quickly depending on the mode. The author says that if they consume more than half of it, the file is lost forever.
Did the author report a focus benefit?
Yes. The author says the risk of losing the file when switching away reduced distraction more than expected. The post gives a personal observation, without productivity measurements.
More details
Remaining steps
- Upload images and sprite sheets manually.
- Guide styling and handle DNS during the Claude build.
About this account
Claude handled natural-language coding across the application, with occasional timeouts or hangs and human guidance on styling.
Platform: Hacker News. Attribution: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47182957. Prompt: Suggested (written by Agents In Use, not the author's). Sourced by the Agents In Use pipeline.
Credit: martialg on Hacker News
Source published 27 Feb 2026
Source checked 14 Oct 2026
Tools and topics
Claude Code · Image generation tools · Free goat sprites
Creative coding · Text editor · Sprites
Editorial completeness: 100/100. Measures documented fields, not agent performance or verified outcomes.