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Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

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Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#21

Post by marttt »

prlambert wrote: post #5
hatf0 wrote: post #2

I used this library as part of a major redesign for my personal website ( https://hat.fo ), and thought that others might get a kick out of it. Fun little components library :-)

Nice work! The most surprising part for me was that your websites says you are 20 years old – so I gotta ask, what was the motivation? I'm 39, born in 1983, so I have serious nostalgia around Windows 95. I was 12 when it came out, my parents bought a Dell when it was new and those years were very formative for me. I assumed that nostalgia would be the only driver to do this... But you weren't born until ~8 years afte…

+1, came here to ask this same question. Interestingly, even though I started with DOS and Windows 3.1, I have no nostalgia whatsoever for the latter. I often very much miss the simplicity of DOS and still enjoy the aesthetics of DOS programs, but not so with Win 3.1.

Looking back, Win95-2000 was indeed an excellent UI. Looks as though ReactOS has recently moved away from having that look as its default, though: https://reactos.org/gallery/

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#22

Post by creata »

rezmason wrote: post #10

Another great resource to create web experiences that look like old versions of Windows is 98.css by Jordan Scales: https://jdan.github.io/98.css/ With it, you don't need to use React to get decent results, see? https://rezmason.github.io/excel_97_egg/about.html

> https://jdan.github.io/98.css/

Subpixel antialiasing (I think) turns the text on that site green.

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#23

Post by farazzz »

prlambert wrote: post #5
hatf0 wrote: post #2

I used this library as part of a major redesign for my personal website ( https://hat.fo ), and thought that others might get a kick out of it. Fun little components library :-)

Nice work! The most surprising part for me was that your websites says you are 20 years old – so I gotta ask, what was the motivation? I'm 39, born in 1983, so I have serious nostalgia around Windows 95. I was 12 when it came out, my parents bought a Dell when it was new and those years were very formative for me. I assumed that nostalgia would be the only driver to do this... But you weren't born until ~8 years afte…

Not the person you’re asking, but I’m 22 and personally I just love the pixelated OS aesthetic

I love pixel art, and Windows 95 looks so cute!

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#26

Post by rezmason »

kristopolous wrote: post #15
rezmason wrote: post #10

Another great resource to create web experiences that look like old versions of Windows is 98.css by Jordan Scales: https://jdan.github.io/98.css/ With it, you don't need to use React to get decent results, see? https://rezmason.github.io/excel_97_egg/about.html

That one is better. These fonts need work. They were true type without subpixel rendering, hinting, anti aliasing, etc, but at size 32, they weren't just bigger boxes. The thing I used on https://bootstra386.com/ is more faithful. In fact, it's written in the HTML of the time. Also they weren't using off-black greys back then. EGA-16, web-216 or bust. Greys exist, but not those. https://www1.udel.edu/cookbook/web/web…

I readily admit I'm taking some pixeliberties with it. :) The font's because of me, and the purple title bar, but I think I grabbed those grays from 98.css. I might change them to values in my own color lookup table.

...God DAMN dude, don't bury the lede! You made this? http://kristopolous.github.io/BOOTSTRA.386/demo.html This is gorgeous!

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#27

Post by swyx »

rezmason wrote: post #10

Another great resource to create web experiences that look like old versions of Windows is 98.css by Jordan Scales: https://jdan.github.io/98.css/ With it, you don't need to use React to get decent results, see? https://rezmason.github.io/excel_97_egg/about.html

I collect niche Operating System CSS!

- [98.css](https://github.com/jdan/98.css): A Windows 98 inspired framework for building faithful recreations of old UIs.

- [Office 97 clipart in svg format](https://archive.org/details/mso97clipart)

- [XP.css](https://github.com/botoxparty/XP.css): A Windows XP inspired framework for building faithful recreations of operating system GUIs. An extension of 98.css.

- [7.css](https://khang-nd.github.io/7.css/)

- [System.css](https://sakofchit.github.io/system.css/) Retro Apple-inspired UI

- [Puppertino](https://github.com/codedgar/Puppertino) meant to mimic the look of macOS. [demo](https://codedgar.github.io/Puppertino/)

- [Commodore 64 CSS](http://pixelambacht.nl/2013/css3-c64/)

- DOS: [BOOTSTRA.386](https://github.com/kristopolous/BOOTSTRA.386): A vintage 1980s DOS inspired Twitter Bootstrap theme

- [a2k](https://a2000-docs.netlify.app/): A Windows 2000 inspired web component library

more at https://github.com/swyxio/spark-joy/tree/master

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#29

Post by marttt »

farazzz wrote: post #23
prlambert wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nice work! The most surprising part for me was that your websites says you are 20 years old – so I gotta ask, what was the motivation? I'm 39, born in 1983, so I have serious nostalgia around Windows 95. I was 12 when it came out, my parents bought a Dell when it was new and those years were very formative for me. I assumed that nostalgia would be the only driver to do this... But you weren't born until ~8 years afte…

Not the person you’re asking, but I’m 22 and personally I just love the pixelated OS aesthetic I love pixel art, and Windows 95 looks so cute!

We must also not forget the most relevant add-on for the Windows 95 UI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_screen_of_death#/media/Fi...

BTW, it is quite enjoyable how the linked Wikipedia article illustrates the evolution of BSOD into the polished, polite and careful error screen of current Windows. "We're always getting everything ready for you" vs "Dude, your data is surely gone; maybe get a different job? Error code for your brain: BFF9B3D4".

I still prefer the brutality, though. Like a bucket of cold water.

Re: Show HN: React95 – A React components library recreating the look of Windows 95

#30

Post by kristopolous »

rezmason wrote: post #26
kristopolous wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That one is better. These fonts need work. They were true type without subpixel rendering, hinting, anti aliasing, etc, but at size 32, they weren't just bigger boxes. The thing I used on https://bootstra386.com/ is more faithful. In fact, it's written in the HTML of the time. Also they weren't using off-black greys back then. EGA-16, web-216 or bust. Greys exist, but not those. https://www1.udel.edu/cookbook/web/web…

I readily admit I'm taking some pixeliberties with it. :) The font's because of me, and the purple title bar, but I think I grabbed those grays from 98.css. I might change them to values in my own color lookup table. ...God DAMN dude, don't bury the lede! You made this? http://kristopolous.github.io/BOOTSTRA.386/demo.html This is gorgeous!

It has bugs. I need to go back and fix it.

Your actual Easter egg is really solid. You got lots of small details right on about that one.

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