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…
DWS OS, a Plan 9 Inspired Web “OS” launched on September 12, 2025 with 48 votes, #444 of 8,160 launches that month and more than 90% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.
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
DWS builds independent internet infrastructure on our own ASN, our own IP space, with BGP anycast across 5 countries. No cloud. No tracking. No compromises. IPv4 anycast: 157.254.184.53. DoH, DoT, DoQ, DNSSEC. 190K domains blocked. One of the only public DoQ resolvers. IPv4 anycast: 157.254.184.123. Stratum 2, synced to Netnod atomic clocks. Roughtime on time.dws.rip. All services use BGP anycast — one IP announced from multiple locations. Internet routing delivers your packet to the nearest node automatically. Four BGP speakers across three transit providers: Vultr AS20473, Virtua AS35661, bgp.exchange AS24381. 9 nodes across 5 countries. US-04, US-05, US-07, US-08, UK-01, SK-02,…from dws.rip
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…
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