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Posted by mitchivin 7 days ago

Show HN: I recreated Windows XP as my portfolio(mitchivin.com)
Years ago I stumbled across a basic version of this concept and it stuck with me. I knew if I was ever going to take on such a project, it would need to be flawless, but without coding experience it was just another idea that would never happen. By the end of 2024, as AI coding tools exploded everywhere, I finally had a way to make it real.

I started from zero knowledge and spent months collaborating with AI agents as a learning experience. Every pixel and every function went through me. The AI translated what I asked for into code, but every decision was human. I didn't use existing OS frameworks because the goal was learning how basic coding languages worked while also developing my skills with AI collaboration. Apart from basic libraries like xp.css and paint.js, it's all original code.

The result is a fully functional Windows XP recreation running in your browser. Complete experience with sounds, animations, and working applications. Even works properly on mobile, which required rebuilding everything to maintain the authentic feel without becoming unusable on touchscreens.

This project taught me more about coding and AI collaboration than I ever expected. Would love to hear your thoughts on the execution and any feedback on the technical approach.

1022 points | 319 commentspage 13
vpShane 6 days ago|
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skyzouwdev 6 days ago||
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fatata123 7 days ago||
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Abdullahkh 7 days ago||
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jheriko 6 days ago||
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henrygallen 6 days ago||
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oceanhaiyang 7 days ago|
> I started from zero knowledge and spent months collaborating with AI agents as a learning experience. Every pixel and every function went through me. The AI translated what I asked for into code, but every decision was human.

This is so absurdly cringe and absolutely not coding. It’s like saying I spent absolutely trying to get ChatGPT to write my college essay for me. At the end of the writing period, I wrote nothing but decided which ai goop I liked best.

ChrisArchitect 7 days ago||
+1

Who's hiring a graphic designer based on a Windows XP aesthetic that they didn't even produce? Of course novelty. But then what. Not really promoting the graphic design side. Not really promoting the development site. Bizarre noob accounts here loving it.

He cooked. (But not really) And we're all cooked.

oceanhaiyang 5 days ago||
Well said!
daemonologist 7 days ago|||
If OP were a front end engineer or something I might agree, but this is a graphic design portfolio. I think it's completely reasonable to rely on outside assistance for the scripting and interactive stuff.
BrS96bVxXBLzf5B 7 days ago|||
With Windows XP already being visually designed, this project not being "fully-functional" but just a visual wrapper of some portfolio pages where the code was written by AI, I'm left wondering what this piece actually represents.
rizky05 7 days ago||
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