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Posted by mitchivin 9/7/2025

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.

1032 points | 323 commentspage 7
tristanMatthias 9/7/2025|
Wait! Was your score big for LIGR? Also hi from someone who comes from Brizzy! (SF now)
cylemons 9/7/2025||
Works very smoothly on my phone
mitchivin 9/7/2025|
love to hear it :)
celeritascelery 9/7/2025||
I love the little things, like the paint program and music player. This was so fun.
santah 9/7/2025||
This reminds me a of a very faithful (in browser) recreation of Windows XP I stumbled upon recently, may've even been on HN:

https://win32.run/

Good times.

jolmg 9/7/2025||
Extreme nitpick, but the progress bar animation on bootup was stepped, IIRC.
mitchivin 9/7/2025|
the site is built on extreme nitpicking my friend, its welcomed and encouraged. I'll look into it!
meq1986 9/7/2025||
There’s even a command line where you can run commands, that’s really nice!
srini_reddy 9/7/2025||
Windows XP is an emotion for me. You have rekindled the memories of 2005 .
mautty 9/10/2025||
This is super cool, I’m really impressed by how well it works on mobile, it feels very strange to be “using” windows on a phone but the whole experience is very smooth
muststopmyths 9/7/2025||
very cool !

On my dell XPS13 (Windows) the high DPI scaling makes the page display "please rotate your device back to portrait mode" . If I zoom out a few steps (ctrl-minus in the browser), it loads fine.

mitchivin 9/7/2025|
thanks for letting me know! i've had someone else mention that it didnt work on folding devices, but considering i've never even held one this makes more sense to me so ill look into it
turblety 9/7/2025|
The mobile experience was actually really good. Pleasantly surprised.
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