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Cover image for Aurora OS.js : I built a web-tech OS. It’s kinda an OS. Fine... it’s a hacking game.
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mental.os()

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Aurora OS.js : I built a web-tech OS. It’s kinda an OS. Fine... it’s a hacking game.

#webdev #gamedev #reactnative #opensource

Aurora OS.js isn't just a web-based OS. It's a portal.

Born from the intersection of digital art and cyberpunk culture, this project reimagines the operating system as an immersive game world. It is a high-fidelity hacking simulator built on modern web technologies (React, Vite, Electron), designed to blur the line between utility and gameplay.

Currently in its pre-Alpha stage, it serves as the foundation for a future MMO hacking universe - a persistent world where you script, hack, and uncover the lore of an emerging game universe.

Aurora OS.js gameplay screenshot

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ɆӾł₴₮₴ Ɽł₲Ⱨ₮ ₦Ø₩

Key features:

  • High-Fidelity Desktop Environment: Pixel-perfect window manager with snapping, z-indexing, and a global menu bar that feels exactly like a real OS.
  • True Virtual Filesystem (VFS): A persistent, permission-aware (rwx) filesystem. Create, delete, and modify files in /home, /etc, and /var.
  • Fully Functional Terminal:
    • Core Utils: ls, cd, cat, grep, pwd, cp, mv, rm, mkdir, touch.
    • Advanced: sudo, su, piping (|), redirection (>), and environment variables.
  • Network & Hacking Simulation:
    • WiFi: Realistic signal strength and bandwidth simulation (WEP/WPA/WPA2/WPA3).
    • DNS: Browser respects /etc/hosts for local domain spoofing.
  • Gamified System Resources:
    • Memory: Apps consume virtual RAM; opening too many apps triggers launch gates.
    • Internet speed: Realistic internet speed simulation based on WiFi signal strength, bandwidth, and security.
    • Battery: Detailed battery health and discharge simulation.
  • Included Applications:
    • Browser: Tabbed browsing, history, bookmarks, and offline state simulation.
    • Notepad: VS Code-like editor with syntax highlighting for multiple languages (JS, TS, HTML, CSS, JSON, and more).
    • DevCenter: Real-time system diagnostics, process manager, and filesystem explorer.
    • Mail: Email client with attachment downloads and HTML sanitization.
    • Calendar: Event management with drag & drop support.
    • Messages: Chat interface simulation.
    • Media: Photos and Music apps with binary metadata parsing.

Aurora OS.js gameplay screenshot

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Aurora OS.js is developed in clear evolutionary steps:

  • Stage 0 (0.x.x) → Foundation & Usability: Functional desktop OS with real applications and natural usability.
  • Stage 1 (1.x.x) → Single-Player Hacking Game: Playable single-player hacking experience (Steam Early Access).
  • Stage 2 (2.x.x) → Multiplayer Hacking World: Persistent multiplayer hacking environment (Steamworks).

The long‑term vision is a MMO hacking simulator based on a high-fidelity OS (Aurora OS.js) that lets you engage in scripting (JS/TS/bash), PvP, PvE, and lots of social aspects, while discovering the lore behind an extensive universe.

View full roadmap

₩ⱧɎ THł₴ ɆӾłST₴?

I'm an artist with over 15 years for multidisciplinary digital art & design. The topics I cover in my art are usually borderline technology, psychology, philosophy, and the human condition - all, in the context of the digital age and the future that we are building - you can discover more on my Instagram page.

With my personality deeply influenced by the hacking culture and the cyberpunk aesthetic, I've always been fascinated by the idea of a world where technology and humanity are intertwined in a way that blurs the lines between the two.

Having my art evolved over the years from artworks, to full-blown ARG's, to interactive experiences, and now to a full-blown OS simulation, I've always wanted to create something that would allow people to experience the world I've built in a more immersive way. This is the right medium to do that: the next step in my artistic evolution.

I’m deeply inspired by hacking and programming‑driven games:

Each of them nailed something important - and each of them also felt like they stopped just short of broader reach or replayability.

When I discovered OS.js back in 2020, a thought clicked instantly:

What if the OS itself is the game engine and the portal to the mental.os() word?

Now is the time to make it happen.

₵ɄRⱤɆ₦T ₴₮₳₮US (Contributors wanted)

This is a work in progress. The project is still under development and may contain bugs and unfinished features.

  • High-fidelity OS simulation inspired by MacOS, Windows, and Linux
  • Functional system and core apps
  • Proto-gameplay elements
  • Looking for early testers, contributors, and curious minds

This is the ideal phase to influence direction, architecture, and gameplay systems.

Ⱡł₵ENSɆ & Ø₮ⱧɆRS

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