externalizable/bongo.cat

Bongo Cat is the source code for the website at bongo.cat, a small interactive toy based on an internet meme. The meme originated in 2018 when an artist called DitzyFlama animated a cat drawing by StrayRogue to show it playing bongo drums. The website lets you press keys on your keyboard to trigger the cat's paws and play bongo sounds in sync. The site is a JavaScript project in the browser. It uses two audio libraries, lowLag.js and SoundManager 2, to play sounds with minimal delay across a wide range of devices, since timing matters when you are tapping along to music. Beyond the core interaction, the project has a community aspect. The README includes several song examples showing which number keys to press to tap out recognizable melodies, including Happy Birthday, Ode to Joy, In the End by Linkin Park, and Come as You Are by Nirvana. Users can browse and submit additional songs via GitHub Discussions. The repository gained attention quickly after launch. It was noticed and shared by both the original meme creator and the artist whose cat drawing was used, and later appeared in a YouTube reaction video by a major channel. The project is licensed under MIT. Permission to use the cat artwork was granted in writing by the original artist at the time the site launched.