Mate-Engine is a 3D desktop avatar engine designed to render interactive characters that float on the desktop and react to system events. It functions as a virtual assistant platform, combining an interactive character renderer with an interface that connects local language models to 3D avatars for desktop conversations.
The engine features a custom 3D model loader that imports third-party humanoid models using standard rigging and bone naming conventions. It includes an audio-reactive animation system that monitors live audio output from applications to automatically trigger dance sequences and movements.
The system manages character behavior through a looping state machine and interactive controls, such as gaze tracking that follows the mouse cursor and gestures triggered by defined touch regions. It renders content on a transparent window overlay that can be anchored to the system taskbar or active windows.
Users can adjust visual performance settings, including lighting, bloom, and animation speed, to optimize the engine for different hardware.