Papalotl.exe is a lightweight and portable Screen Capture application that is meant to address my own issues when trying to capture footage.
It remains closed source, and the code is NOT AI GENERATED, nor utilizes other people's code for the functionality.
It only utilizes ffmpeg.exe as an external dependency for Video capture and processing.
I've only been utilizing Gemini to get proper and direct explanation on how to debug/improve performance.
This project began as a simple "Timelapse Recorder & Exporter" Plug-In for GIMP 2.8.22, but after realizing the capabilities of the Plug-In, I decided to turn it into a "full fledged" proper Screen Recorder that would work outside of GIMP.
This application has been in constant/active development since March 6th 2026... and it's made for personal use and learning purposes.
Currently, the application sits at version 3.2.5... this provided version is one version earlier (3.2.4) with less features than the "Pro" option, which is focused not only to be lightweight, but also addresses more functions and tools that I feel should belong to a portable screen recorder.
This free trial software is provided "as is". It is a final evaluation build and will not receive future updates, bug fixes, patches, or technical support.
Features like Pause/Resume are somewhat functional right now but are considered experimental in this build and it might or might now work correctly for you.
These are screenshots that shows version differences:
- Papalotl Trial Version:
Like the screenshot shows, Papalotl Trial Version is capped at 720p.
It can identify any open window if you select "Target Window" and will record that area only. This means, if you have a non-maximized window, and you select that window, Papalotl will grab the total area and will record exactly that.
Full Screen automatically identifies your screen's resolution and records that.
Custom Area brings a cursor selector if you want to omit information, or record a certain area of your monitor.
- Papalotl can record audio via USB MICS or INTEGRATED MICS.
I ran across many issues during the implementation of this features, mainly because I'm developing with a so called "Slabtop" (A Notebook with no screen) and I when I took that part apart (after hardware failure) I didn't realized that I took my MIC with it.
Papalotl thus, has an identifier that outputs every single Audio Driver in your system. If you see "too many options" and don't know which to choose, you can alternatively open your Sound Options and check the name of your device.
Papalotl Trial Version can:
- Record your Screen at 12, 24, 30 and 60 FPS.
- Three "Target Modes" that works as expected.
- Record External Audio via Integrated Mic or USB Mics.
- Option to choose where to save your recodings + audio files.
- Option to merge Video + Audio into a single file.
- Option to delete temporal files after the Merge Process.
- By default, Papalotl uses two hotkeys, one to STOP RECORDING and the PAUSE/RESUME which are by default mapped to ESC and F10 respectively, but you can totally change these hotkeys in the Hotkey Tab, into literally any combination of two or three keyboard keys. These will be registered in a json file, and you can reset back to defaults via Hotkey tab.
- Papalotl can record video even if you do not checkbox Internal Audio.
- Even if you choose "Full Screen" your video output will be limited to 1280x720p...
- A Tray Icon has been added, with the function to STOP and PAUSE/RESUME from your Taskbar. As long as you see the Papalotl Tray Icon, you'll know Papalotl is recording. This is in order to avoid the utilization of extra libraries that, in my tests influenced the performance of Papalotl while recording. This feature is being addressed currently.
Papalotl, by design, records AUDIO and VIDEO as separated files (.mp4 + .wav)... this is an idea I had because I often try to record tutorials and many things can happen during the recording process, such as unwanted noise during capture due to bad quality mics or external noises that are out of my contro. This is why I designed Papalotl to capture Video + Audio as separate files, in case your audio needs cleaning, and it's the main reason why those two checkboxes exists in the first place if you're super confident that you won't have any problems during the production of your video.
Papalotl has currently an experimental phase option to PAUSE / RESUME recording.
This is still being in development, and it won't be addressed if it bugs in Trial version, but will continue to be developed on in the Pro version.
Papalotl PRO is still under active development at the time of this post, and it will receive updates until I personally choose to stop working on the app.
Please, have in mind that if you run across any bugs/glitches with the Trial Version, these bugs/glitches won't be addressed.
I've rigorously tested Papalotl 3.2.4 in my PC's and it's stable, so you shouldn't have any issues according to my tests... I can't guarantee though:
- Compatibility with Windows 8, 8.1, 11
- Compatibility with Linux / MacOS
- Stability / Performance in other PC's that are not mine.
Papalotl does NOT include:
- GPU Recording Methods
- Malicious Code.
- Telemetry Code.
- Activation / Identifiers / Registry Code.
- Bloatware.
- Ads.
NOTE: Some Antivirus / Browsers / Virus Total might flag as Malware, but it's a flase positive due to the utilization of Nuitka to build this binary.
I designed Papalotl to be a truly portable app. It does not requires Installation. You can run it from any location in your pc, external hardrives, thumbsticks, usb, etc... as long as there's "ffmpeg.exe" present in the same directory you're trying to run Papalotl.exe from.
Otherwise, Papalotl.exe will let you know to place "ffmpeg.exe" next to it in order for this to function.
In theory, Papalotl should work with any OS, because I'm not utilizing system exclusive API's or Libraries.
Papalotl has been designed under my own hardware limitations:
- Windows 10 "Notebook" HP Pavilion x360: Intel N3700, 4GB RAM.
- Windows 7 PC HP Compaq 8200 Elite USDT: Intel i3-2120, 6GB RAM.
- SSD IS HIGLY ADVICED...
Feel free to download and try Papalotl if you're looking for a simple screen recorder for "Potato Devices" such as mine.
If it's not for you, simply delete the .exe, since it's designed to be truly portable and doesn't requires installation, you can safely delete the application.
Thanks for using my program!
The file for download is too big for the site.
Download: https://ko-fi.com/s/4fec4f2e1e
It remains closed source, and the code is NOT AI GENERATED, nor utilizes other people's code for the functionality.
It only utilizes ffmpeg.exe as an external dependency for Video capture and processing.
I've only been utilizing Gemini to get proper and direct explanation on how to debug/improve performance.
This project began as a simple "Timelapse Recorder & Exporter" Plug-In for GIMP 2.8.22, but after realizing the capabilities of the Plug-In, I decided to turn it into a "full fledged" proper Screen Recorder that would work outside of GIMP.
This application has been in constant/active development since March 6th 2026... and it's made for personal use and learning purposes.
Currently, the application sits at version 3.2.5... this provided version is one version earlier (3.2.4) with less features than the "Pro" option, which is focused not only to be lightweight, but also addresses more functions and tools that I feel should belong to a portable screen recorder.
This free trial software is provided "as is". It is a final evaluation build and will not receive future updates, bug fixes, patches, or technical support.
Features like Pause/Resume are somewhat functional right now but are considered experimental in this build and it might or might now work correctly for you.
These are screenshots that shows version differences:
- Papalotl Trial Version:
Like the screenshot shows, Papalotl Trial Version is capped at 720p.
It can identify any open window if you select "Target Window" and will record that area only. This means, if you have a non-maximized window, and you select that window, Papalotl will grab the total area and will record exactly that.
Full Screen automatically identifies your screen's resolution and records that.
Custom Area brings a cursor selector if you want to omit information, or record a certain area of your monitor.
- Papalotl can record audio via USB MICS or INTEGRATED MICS.
I ran across many issues during the implementation of this features, mainly because I'm developing with a so called "Slabtop" (A Notebook with no screen) and I when I took that part apart (after hardware failure) I didn't realized that I took my MIC with it.
Papalotl thus, has an identifier that outputs every single Audio Driver in your system. If you see "too many options" and don't know which to choose, you can alternatively open your Sound Options and check the name of your device.
Papalotl Trial Version can:
- Record your Screen at 12, 24, 30 and 60 FPS.
- Three "Target Modes" that works as expected.
- Record External Audio via Integrated Mic or USB Mics.
- Option to choose where to save your recodings + audio files.
- Option to merge Video + Audio into a single file.
- Option to delete temporal files after the Merge Process.
- By default, Papalotl uses two hotkeys, one to STOP RECORDING and the PAUSE/RESUME which are by default mapped to ESC and F10 respectively, but you can totally change these hotkeys in the Hotkey Tab, into literally any combination of two or three keyboard keys. These will be registered in a json file, and you can reset back to defaults via Hotkey tab.
- Papalotl can record video even if you do not checkbox Internal Audio.
- Even if you choose "Full Screen" your video output will be limited to 1280x720p...
- A Tray Icon has been added, with the function to STOP and PAUSE/RESUME from your Taskbar. As long as you see the Papalotl Tray Icon, you'll know Papalotl is recording. This is in order to avoid the utilization of extra libraries that, in my tests influenced the performance of Papalotl while recording. This feature is being addressed currently.
Papalotl, by design, records AUDIO and VIDEO as separated files (.mp4 + .wav)... this is an idea I had because I often try to record tutorials and many things can happen during the recording process, such as unwanted noise during capture due to bad quality mics or external noises that are out of my contro. This is why I designed Papalotl to capture Video + Audio as separate files, in case your audio needs cleaning, and it's the main reason why those two checkboxes exists in the first place if you're super confident that you won't have any problems during the production of your video.
Papalotl has currently an experimental phase option to PAUSE / RESUME recording.
This is still being in development, and it won't be addressed if it bugs in Trial version, but will continue to be developed on in the Pro version.
Papalotl PRO is still under active development at the time of this post, and it will receive updates until I personally choose to stop working on the app.
Please, have in mind that if you run across any bugs/glitches with the Trial Version, these bugs/glitches won't be addressed.
I've rigorously tested Papalotl 3.2.4 in my PC's and it's stable, so you shouldn't have any issues according to my tests... I can't guarantee though:
- Compatibility with Windows 8, 8.1, 11
- Compatibility with Linux / MacOS
- Stability / Performance in other PC's that are not mine.
Papalotl does NOT include:
- GPU Recording Methods
- Malicious Code.
- Telemetry Code.
- Activation / Identifiers / Registry Code.
- Bloatware.
- Ads.
NOTE: Some Antivirus / Browsers / Virus Total might flag as Malware, but it's a flase positive due to the utilization of Nuitka to build this binary.
I designed Papalotl to be a truly portable app. It does not requires Installation. You can run it from any location in your pc, external hardrives, thumbsticks, usb, etc... as long as there's "ffmpeg.exe" present in the same directory you're trying to run Papalotl.exe from.
Otherwise, Papalotl.exe will let you know to place "ffmpeg.exe" next to it in order for this to function.
In theory, Papalotl should work with any OS, because I'm not utilizing system exclusive API's or Libraries.
Papalotl has been designed under my own hardware limitations:
- Windows 10 "Notebook" HP Pavilion x360: Intel N3700, 4GB RAM.
- Windows 7 PC HP Compaq 8200 Elite USDT: Intel i3-2120, 6GB RAM.
- SSD IS HIGLY ADVICED...
Feel free to download and try Papalotl if you're looking for a simple screen recorder for "Potato Devices" such as mine.
If it's not for you, simply delete the .exe, since it's designed to be truly portable and doesn't requires installation, you can safely delete the application.
Thanks for using my program!
The file for download is too big for the site.
Download: https://ko-fi.com/s/4fec4f2e1e
