IP Linux: I built a browser-based desktop environment with React, Vite and local-first apps
I built a browser-based desktop environment with React, Vite and local-first apps
I have been working on a project called IP Linux: a browser-based desktop environment that runs as a static web app.
Live site: https://ip-os-linux.vercel.app/
GitHub: https://github.com/ikerperez12/IP-OS-LINUX
It is not a real Linux distribution, and it does not run native binaries. The idea is different: I wanted to explore how far a polished desktop-like experience can go inside a normal browser tab.
The result is a small web OS-style environment with:
- A splash / entry screen
- A desktop with icons, folders and widgets
- A top panel with system controls
- A dock and app launcher
- Resizable and draggable windows
- Virtual workspaces
- Snap assist
- A global search / Spotlight-style command palette
- Local-first apps
- Reactive wallpapers
- Glass UI and visual effects
- A public GitHub repo and Vercel deployment
Why I built it
Most web demos are landing pages, dashboards or small single-purpose apps. I wanted to build something that feels more like an environment.
I was interested in questions like:
- Can a web app feel physical and desktop-like?
- How should windows behave inside a browser viewport?
- How do you organize many small apps without making the UI messy?
- How far can local-first storage go before a backend is actually needed?
- How do you publish a visual project publicly without exposing secrets or overcomplicating the stack?
IP Linux became a way to test all of that in one project.
What is inside
The app includes a catalog of built-in apps and tools: Files, Terminal, Browser, Settings, App Store, Music Player, Matrix Rain, games, developer tools, productivity apps and visual utilities.
The apps are loaded lazily, so the initial shell does not need to download every app upfront. The virtual file system and user preferences are stored locally in the visitor's browser with IndexedDB/localStorage. There is no backend, no account system and no required environment variables for the public release.
What I focused on
The main focus was the shell experience:
- Window resizing and dragging
- Dock behavior
- Desktop icon grid
- App launcher workflow
- Keyboard shortcuts that do not interfere with inputs or the terminal
- Responsive behavior for compact viewports
- Wallpaper rendering that respects reduced motion and tab visibility
- Public-safe security posture
- A README that presents the project like a real product
There were also a few important constraints. For example, a full YouTube page cannot be embedded in an iframe because YouTube blocks that for security reasons. So IP Linux includes a YouTube Lite / embed-aware fallback instead of pretending that every website can load inside the internal browser.
Stack
The project is built with:
- React
- TypeScript
- Vite
- Tailwind CSS
- Radix UI primitives
- Lucide / React Icons
- DOMPurify
- IndexedDB via idb-keyval
- Vercel static hosting
- Vercel Web Analytics
The repo also includes a public release setup:
- README with screenshots and GIF
- MIT license
- SECURITY.md
- Vercel config
- Security headers
- Robots and sitemap
- Manifest
- GitHub Actions CI for audit, lint and build
What I learned
The biggest lesson was that a desktop UI is mostly about small interaction details.
A window that opens slightly too small feels broken.
A dock icon that scales inside a clipped container feels wrong.
Desktop icons that can overlap make the whole shell feel unfinished.
Keyboard shortcuts that steal Tab from the terminal are frustrating immediately.
Fixing those details made the project feel much more real than adding another decorative effect.
I also learned that public release work matters. A project can look good locally but still feel unfinished if the repo has a generic README, no security notes, no screenshots, no CI and no clear deploy story.
Feedback welcome
I am sharing it because I think browser-based desktop interfaces are a fun area for frontend experimentation.
I would especially appreciate feedback on:
- Window management
- Desktop organization
- Accessibility
- Performance
- App ideas
- Whether the repo presentation is useful for other developers
Live: https://ip-os-linux.vercel.app/
Code: https://github.com/ikerperez12/IP-OS-LINUX