What is this?
The complete Windows 95 operating system, packaged as a desktop app that runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux — the whole thing, boots and all.
The complete Windows 95 operating system, packaged as a desktop app that runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux — the whole thing, boots and all.Is it the real Windows 95 or a modern lookalike?The real thing: the entire OS boots inside the app, with the PC hardware emulated in JavaScript rather than virtualized by your machine.
The real thing: the entire OS boots inside the app, with the PC hardware emulated in JavaScript rather than virtualized by your machine.How do I get it running?Grab a prebuilt installer from the GitHub releases page — Windows 32/64-bit, macOS Apple Silicon or Intel, Linux x64/ARM64/ARM — and run it; there are no other setup steps.
Grab a prebuilt installer from the GitHub releases page — Windows 32/64-bit, macOS Apple Silicon or Intel, Linux x64/ARM64/ARM — and run it; there are no other setup steps.Do I need VirtualBox or a Windows 95 license for it to work?No. The app emulates the PC itself, and the packaged release already includes the Windows 95 disk image, so a single download is the whole install.
No. The app emulates the PC itself, and the packaged release already includes the Windows 95 disk image, so a single download is the whole install.How well does it actually run?Surprisingly well — the author says it works quite well on macOS, Windows, and Linux — but it is all JavaScript emulation, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
Surprisingly well — the author says it works quite well on macOS, Windows, and Linux — but it is all JavaScript emulation, so adjust your expectations accordingly.Is this official Microsoft software, or is there a licensing catch?It is provided for educational purposes only and is not affiliated with or approved by Microsoft. GitHub lists no standard license, so treat it as a curiosity rather than something to build on.
It is provided for educational purposes only and is not affiliated with or approved by Microsoft. GitHub lists no standard license, so treat it as a curiosity rather than something to build on.Does it run Doom and my other old DOS-era favorites?Yes — the README's short answer is yes, though you'll likely be better served by an actual virtualization app. A few games even come preinstalled. Before starting DOS games, switch to 640x480 @ 256 colors, just like in the old days.
Yes — the README's short answer is yes, though you'll likely be better served by an actual virtualization app. A few games even come preinstalled. Before starting DOS games, switch to 640x480 @ 256 colors, just like in the old days.Can I install my own apps and games inside it?Yes — more games and applications can be found on the Internet, with archive.org suggested as a source, and the README has a dedicated section on installing additional apps or games.
Yes — more games and applications can be found on the Internet, with archive.org suggested as a source, and the README has a dedicated section on installing additional apps or games.Why is it an Electron app instead of a native one?The author fully agrees it should have been — his entire answer to that question is one word: 'Absolutely.' The whole project is a nostalgia toy, and the Electron wrapper is part of the joke.
The author fully agrees it should have been — his entire answer to that question is one word: 'Absolutely.' The whole project is a nostalgia toy, and the Electron wrapper is part of the joke.Can I run it on a server or in the cloud?Yes — the README covers running it in Docker, and even in an online VM with Kubernetes and Gitpod.
Yes — the README covers running it in Docker, and even in an online VM with Kubernetes and Gitpod.What are similar projects?exodium, sharpemu, Wind-Waker-Recomp, romm, OpenEmu, Ridge-Racer-Collection, mame, chinese-dos-games
exodium, sharpemu, Wind-Waker-Recomp, romm, OpenEmu, Ridge-Racer-Collection, mame, chinese-dos-gamesWhich topics is it in?retro, fun, retrogaming, emulator, arm64, gaming, apple-silicon, electron, kubernetes, gui, react, npm
retro, fun, retrogaming, emulator, arm64, gaming, apple-silicon, electron, kubernetes, gui, react, npm