Dev tools · September 12, 2025
DWS OS, a Plan 9 Inspired Web “OS”
Hi HN, I've always loved the aesthetic, quirks, and concepts of Plan9, and I wanted to see how far I could vibe-code a web desktop/OS that resembled it. The result is DWS OS. My goal was to reach a point where I could build "userspace" apps for this OS, in the OS. DWS OS has a virtual filesystem, an approximation of the ACME editor, file browser, internet browser (just an iframe for fun), and a few other apps to discover. The environment supports uploading and downloading data from the virtual filesystem, along with support for JavaScript programming within ACME and an API for building…
In plain words
DWS OS is a web-based desktop environment inspired by Plan 9, featuring a virtual filesystem, ACME text editor approximation, file browser, and internet browser. Users can build applications within the environment using JavaScript, upload and download files from the virtual filesystem, and export or import the OS state as JSON. The system allows developers to create GUI apps that interact with the OS DOM, all accessible through a web browser.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hi HN, I've always loved the aesthetic, quirks, and concepts of Plan9, and I wanted to see how far I could vibe-code a web desktop/OS that resembled it. The result is DWS OS. My goal was to reach a point where I could build "userspace" apps for this OS, in the OS. DWS OS has a virtual filesystem, an approximation of the ACME editor, file browser, internet browser (just an iframe for fun), and a few other apps to discover. The environment supports uploading and downloading data from the virtual filesystem, along with support for JavaScript programming within ACME and an API for building GUI apps within DWS OS and interacting with the OS DOM. Lastly, you can export and import the state of your OS as a JSON to share with others! Check out the `examples/` directory! I'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions and see if you build anything interesting within the OS, thanks!
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