Student Developer Shifts from Mockups to Real Code for AI-First Desktop OS

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A software development student has moved from planning and UI design to actively building MaxOS, a personal project envisioned as an AI-first desktop workspace. After spending too much time on mockups generated with Google Stitch, the developer rebuilt the interface using React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS for a more maintainable codebase. The project currently has a foundational design system in place, though most functionality still runs on mock data by design. Upcoming milestones include integrating local filesystem access to give MaxOS practical utility beyond its interface. The developer is building the project publicly, acknowledging they will likely make mistakes and revisions along the way.

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