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Posted by mitchivin 6 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.

1021 points | 319 commentspage 6
supermatt 6 days ago|
Looks great, but you probably don't want to be serving copyrighted music mp3s directly from your site: e.g. https://mitchivin.com/assets/apps/musicPlayer/audio/song2.mp...
supermatt 6 days ago||
Any reason I get downvoted for this?
kstonekuan 6 days ago||
The mobile experience is really well done too!
kragen 6 days ago||
What was the worst part of the Win32 API to implement? Offhand I'm guessing CreateToolhelp32Snapshot or StretchBlt.
zx8080 6 days ago||
Consider using the display/monitor icon in tray to manage CRT effect on/off instead of the Windows Defender icon.
mitchivin 6 days ago|
fair call! the CRT toggle was fairly recent in comparison to the full screen toggle so it was a case of seniority haha but I'm at the point now were I can spend time on things like that and the icons will be getting a refresh at some stage so i'll remember this.

thanks

l8again 6 days ago||
Looking at your resume, I am curious how you are intimately familiar with XP. Seems like it should be before your time.
mitchivin 6 days ago|
It should be based on my resume, you're right haha - a peak behind the curtain reveals a decade of struggles finding my place in the world before saying fuck it and following my gut. I'm 30, whoooops - if you do the math on my graduation you should be able to get there, not hiding it - but didn't want to shout it from the rooftops either haha
ghoshbishakh 6 days ago||
I salute your tenacity.
mitchivin 6 days ago|
it can't be understated, truly - people would think im insane
broast 6 days ago||
My mobile device is a square aspect ratio and thus there is no portrait mode to check this out :(
mitchivin 6 days ago||
I will get around to it, sorry! Thanks for letting me know
sejje 6 days ago||
Weird, what phone?

How often does that aspect ratio ruin things?

broast 5 days ago||
It's the cover screen of my zflip 5 with the inner screen being broken. It's surprisingly usable and I find myself wishing more phones were purposefully built at this size and shape.
amsterdorn 6 days ago||
> Apart from basic libraries like xp.css and paint.js, it's all original code.

I wouldn't say this constitutes "original code". AI agents are trained on open-source software; to apply them and present this project as your own work is misleading.

iLoveOncall 6 days ago||
I've seen a lot of similar projects, but never ones that worked well on mobile, and this one works perfectly, quite impressive.

That said, I wonder if it makes sense for a graphic designer to have a portfolio with a design that just copies someone else's (Microsoft's)?

wild_pointer 6 days ago|
Wasted opportunity: shut down -> orange "now it's safe to turn off your computer"
jonathanlb 6 days ago|
Wasn't that just Windows 95 and 98? I think I remember XP having the Windows logo and the "It is now safe to turn off your computer" text in white.
abanana 6 days ago|||
No, I recall once being surprised at seeing it in XP back in the day, on a particularly old PC that had had its OS upgraded from 9x.

Older AT power supplies were entirely mechanically controlled using the power button. ATX power supplies added the ability to turn on or off via software. That screen was shown on PCs using an AT PSU because Windows couldn't shut it down itself, it had to ask the user to do it.

xp84 6 days ago|||
Evidence you’re right: this video at 1:10

https://youtu.be/1N8MSI0mB04

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