Show HN: I built a hand-modeled 3D Windows 98 portfolio with Three.js

A developer called Abstract2D built an interactive 3D portfolio website styled as a Windows 98 desktop, using the Three.js JavaScript library to model the interface by hand. The project went live as a Show HN post on Hacker News on September 11, showing that the creator hand-modeled the 3D elements rather than using pre-built assets or AI generation.

The portfolio renders a fully navigable Windows 98 environment in the browser, letting visitors explore the creator's work through a nostalgic desktop metaphor. The technical implementation relies on Three.js, a popular WebGL library for 3D graphics in JavaScript, to build and display the model. The site is live at wesselsdesktop.com, making it immediately accessible to anyone curious about the retro aesthetic or the technical approach.

This kind of project sits at the intersection of web development and visual design—combining JavaScript 3D rendering with careful attention to period-accurate detail. Hand-modeling a full Windows 98 interface is labor-intensive, emphasizing craft over speed. The novelty of revisiting 1990s operating system design through a modern 3D web interface has resonated on Hacker News, where the post gathered early engagement from developers interested in both nostalgia and technical execution.

The post had accumulated just 2 points and 1 comment as of the submission snapshot, typical for an early Show HN post. Show HN is a community section on Hacker News for developers to share projects they've built, and projects often gain traction over time as more readers discover them. The work demonstrates the capabilities of modern web 3D tools while playing into broader interest in retro computing aesthetics in tech communities.