A 90s Unix workstation desktop recreated in the browser
The Common Desktop Environment rebuilt as a browser PWA with windows, workspaces and retro apps, developed with AI agents including Claude Code.
The full story
This recreates the look and feel of a 1990s Unix workstation, inspired by the Common Desktop Environment, inside a browser tab. It has draggable windows, multiple virtual workspaces, a virtual filesystem with persistence, a Vim-style editor, XEmacs and retro browsers such as Netscape and Lynx.
It also has Motif-style themes, XPM backdrops and a boot sequence inspired by old Debian systems. The poster says AI agents were used extensively during development and asks Claude Code users for their views.
How it was done
Tools
Themes
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Sources
From a short post by the maker, so the details are as they tell them.
- Reddit: I used AI agents to help build a browser-based Unix workstation (CDE) — curious what Claude Code use
The maker's post on r/ClaudeCode.
The poster has deleted it, but the original is still readable (it can take a few seconds to load): archived copy of Reddit: I used AI agents to help build a browser-based Unix workstation (CDE) — curious what Claude Code use (opens in a new tab)
- The project: debian.com.mx
Linked in the post.
- Reddit: Common Desktop Environment experience in your browser
The poster has deleted it, but the original is still readable (it can take a few seconds to load): archived copy of Reddit: Common Desktop Environment experience in your browser (opens in a new tab)