Developer Builds Fully Functional Windows 98-Themed Portfolio Without AI or Frameworks

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A developer has hand-coded a Windows 98-themed portfolio website using only vanilla JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, deliberately avoiding AI tools and modern frameworks. The project features a working applet system that stores mini-applications in the browser's localStorage, mimicking the experience of installing software on a 90s PC. Applets include a playable DOOM integration via WebGL, a Half-Life soundboard using the HTML5 Audio API, and a 3D maze screensaver built with Canvas. The creator argues that AI-generated code cannot authentically replicate the imperfections — such as jagged icons and inconsistent spacing — that defined the Windows 98 aesthetic. While the approach increases debugging complexity and faces storage constraints from localStorage's 5MB limit, it reflects a deliberate effort to preserve the DIY ethos of early internet culture.

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