Windows 96 v2

Windows 96 version 2.0 default desktop. Note that this is an older build and might not have the latest features.

Windows 96 v2 is a version of Windows 96 and was completely rewritten from scratch. Therefore, it only bears visual similarity to its predecessor.

You can visit this release at https://rel2.windows96.net.

Why the rewrite?

• The code was not well optimized and it was impossible to do so due to the inefficient source code structure.
• It became spaghetti code due to all the OS logic being fitted into one file.
• As a result of this, it became near impossible to make the code modular and the effort would be better spent rewriting the OS from scratch.
• Windows 96 v1 had a synchronous design all round, which meant that any async operations would not fit in well and make the spaghetti code situation even worse.
• WebFS's mixed asynchronous model still imposed annoying file limits often reached by regular users, and also generally made the experience feel much slower.
• Cross browser support was not 1:1 due to the lack of CSS normalization/use of browser specific functionality. This meant that Windows 96 would not have a consistent look across browsers.
• A more efficient OS architecture was proposed, where the pros of rewriting the OS eventually outweighed the cons of not rewriting it.
• To allow more than 1 developer to work on the source code without losing their mind.

Version Highlights

• Too many to count (TODO)

Trivia

• The rewrite took around 6 months to be somewhat useable. During this time, the original Windows 96 community died out completely and many fans left without a trace.
• The COVID-19 pandemic also made it a pain to stay motivated to keep developing Windows 96.
• The project reached an extent were more than 1 developer was needed.