FAQ

What macOS version do I need?

macOS 15.6 (Sequoia) or later.

Does it run on Intel Macs?

No. GOKIs requires Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, or M4). The simulation relies on Metal compute features that target Apple Silicon GPUs.

Is it free?

Yes. Free on the Mac App Store. No subscription, no in-app purchase, no account.

Do I need to grant any permissions?

No. GOKIs runs as an accessory menu bar app with a transparent overlay window. It does not need Accessibility, Screen Recording, or any other macOS privacy permission. It only reads the public mouse cursor position.

Will the critters get in my way?

No. The overlay sits below every normal window, so critters appear behind the apps you are using. Mouse events pass straight through the overlay, so other apps stay fully clickable. The one exception is Hunt Mode: while you turn it on, the overlay captures clicks on purpose so you can squash the critters. Turn it back off and clicks pass through again.

Can I squash them?

Yes. Turn on Hunt Mode from the menu bar and the desktop becomes a hunting ground — a click squashes any critters it lands on. Pick your reach with Hunt Weapon: Fingertip for a pinpoint 25-pixel hit, or Slipper for a wide 80-pixel swat. See Hunt Mode for the details.

Is it actually cockroaches?

It can be. On first launch GOKIs asks “Do you know GOKI?” — pick I don’t know for the friendly Keseran Pasaran mascot, or Yes, show me GOKI for the realistic cockroach sprite. You can switch any time from the menu bar.

Does it collect any data?

No. There is no analytics, no telemetry, no account. The app runs entirely on your Mac.

Does it drain the battery?

GOKIs pauses drawing when nothing is visible to draw. When a fullscreen app covers the overlay, or when the display goes to sleep, the render loop stops until the overlay is on screen again. So there is no work happening in the background while you are focused on a fullscreen app or your Mac’s display is off.

Which display do the critters appear on?

The main display only. The overlay covers a single screen, and critters do not spawn on secondary monitors.

Can I run 100,000 of them?

Yes — that is the maximum count. The simulation runs on a Metal compute shader with triple-buffered command submission, so even at the top of the scale Apple Silicon stays comfortable. Performance will vary by Mac model.

Where does the name “GOKIs” come from?

GOKIs is short for gokiburi — Japanese for cockroach. The internal project codename is Scuttle (from “scuttle away”, a nod to how the critters move), but the public app name on the Mac App Store and across the web is always GOKIs.