NyameBox, The Original NekoBox Rebranded, the cross-platform Qt proxy utility, empowered by sing-box and thrift
1.1k
Stars
51
Forks
90
Open issues
30
Contributors
AI Analysis
NyameBox is a Qt-based desktop GUI proxy utility for Windows and Linux that wraps the sing-box command-line tool, enabling users to manage multiple proxy protocols (Shadowsocks, VLESS, Trojan, WireGuard, and 15+ others) through a cross-platform graphical interface. It serves network administrators and privacy-conscious users who need a unified proxy management tool; it is not a general-purpose application suitable for casual users unfamiliar with proxy protocols.
Inferred from signals mentioned in the README (tests, CI, type safety) — not a review of the actual code.
AI's overall editorial judgment — not an average of the bars above, can weigh other factors too.
Desktop Qt GUI for sing-box proxy with broad Linux/Windows packaging and protocol support
NekoBox is a cross-platform desktop proxy utility that wraps the sing-box core engine behind a Qt graphical interface. It targets Windows 11/10 and Linux users who need a GUI alternative to command-line proxy management. The project is distributed across multiple Linux package repositories (OBS, COPR, AUR, PPA, openSUSE, FreeBSD) and Windows installers (WinGet, Chocolatey, Scoop), suggesting intentional focus on packaging reach. It supports 20+ protocols including Shadowsocks, Hysteria, VLESS, WireGuard, Tailscale, and emerging protocols like Mieru and Juicity. Adoption appears limited to proxy enthusiast and privacy-conscious user communities rather than enterprise or mainstream adoption.
NekoBox is a desktop rebranding/fork of the Android-origin NekoBoxForAndroid (21k stars). The repository was created 2025-12-06 and represents a rebrand of an earlier project. It leverages sing-box, a modular proxy framework, and Thrift for IPC. The branding shift from 'NekoBox' to 'NyameBox' suggests community governance or naming clarity efforts.
The project gained 17 stars in the last 7 days (as of 2026-06-29) and has maintained regular pushes, most recently 2026-06-29. Growth appears moderate and steady rather than viral. The extensive packaging availability (10+ Linux distribution channels, WinGet, Chocolatey, Scoop) suggests deliberate effort to maximize distribution reach rather than reliance on GitHub visibility. The project is only ~7 months old, making early-stage growth assessment premature.
Adoption not verified. No user testimonials, deployment case studies, or production usage metrics provided in README. Distribution across 10+ package repositories suggests packaging infrastructure investment, but this does not confirm production deployment. The similar Android project (NekoBoxForAndroid, 21k stars) has higher visibility, but desktop adoption remains undocumented.
Likely a C++ Qt application that wraps sing-box binary via Thrift RPC. Based on README, it accepts subscription URLs in multiple formats (sing-box JSON, v2rayN links, Shadowsocks/Clash subsets), manages proxy chains, and provides TUN mode tunneling. Architecture appears modular (referenced separate 'nekobox_core' binary), but source code structure is not visible from README.
Not documented in README. No mention of CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, or quality gates.
Last push 2026-06-29 (2 days before analysis date) indicates active maintenance. The repository is 7 months old, so historical pattern assessment is limited. Regular package updates across multiple distributions suggest ongoing upkeep, not abandonment. No evidence of large backlog or issue response time in README.
ADOPT IF: You are a Linux or Windows user who prefers GUI proxy management, require support for emerging protocols (Mieru, Juicity, AmneziaWG, TrustTunnel), use subscription-based proxies, and trust sing-box as your core engine. Package manager availability (WinGet, AUR, PPA, Chocolatey) lowers friction. AVOID IF: You require production-grade monitoring, remote management APIs, enterprise support, or macOS support (explicitly not planned). You need battle-tested, years-stable software with documented SLAs — this project is 7 months old. You prefer minimalist CLI-only workflows. MONITOR IF: You are evaluating proxy tooling for a user base that values protocol breadth and packaging convenience; the project shows signs of sustainable maintenance and intentional distribution strategy, but real-world adoption metrics remain opaque.
Independent dimensions
Mainstream potential
3/10
Technical importance
6/10
Adoption evidence
2/10
- Project is only 7 months old; long-term maintenance commitment unproven despite recent activity.
- Adoption metrics are opaque — package repository presence does not confirm actual deployment volume or user satisfaction.
- Dependency on sing-box binary; if upstream sing-box introduces breaking changes, NekoBox may lag in updates or require forking.
- No documented test coverage or CI/CD visible in README; quality assurance process unclear.
- macOS explicitly not planned despite sing-box and Qt having macOS support; narrows addressable market.
NekoBox will likely remain a niche desktop alternative for proxy-aware Linux and Windows users, with steady maintenance but limited mainstream adoption. Growth may accelerate if packaging becomes even easier (Flathub, snap store) or if it gains traction in specific communities (VPN resellers, privacy-focused Linux distros). Unlikely to compete with browser-based or proprietary VPN clients for consumer mass market.
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Languages
Information
- Language
- C++
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Last updated
- 1d ago
- Created
- 7mo ago
- Analyzed with
- anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5
Stars over time
Contributors over time
Top 100 contributors only — repos with more will plateau at 100.
Open issues
Open pull requests
No open pull requests.
Top contributors
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Android-only mobile proxy GUI. Desktop NekoBox appears to be complementary for desktop users rather than replacement; similar protocol support and UI philosophy but different platform focus.
Core proxy engine. NekoBox is a GUI consumer of sing-box, not a competing implementation. Separation of concerns is intentional.
Similar protocol coverage and subscription support. NekoBox README mentions 'limited support for Clash formats', suggesting coexistence rather than replacement.
Historical desktop proxy GUI. NekoBox appears positioned as a modernized successor focusing on sing-box rather than v2ray.
Browser-scoped proxy management. NekoBox is system-wide, addressing different use cases.
