Oxy2K is a passion project born from a love of early‑2000s design. We’re building LinX OS and the Oxyde Desktop as a lightweight, modern Linux experience with a nostalgic look and feel.

Our goals include:

• Keep memory use under 1 GB while still delivering blur and glass.
• Bring back the fun and flair of the Aqua / Frutiger Aero design languages.
• Provide a desktop environment that’s lightweight but not boring.

This site is hand‑coded with classic HTML and CSS. No frameworks, no generators—just raw markup like it’s 2003.

The desktop is themed in C for nostalgia, and powered by Rust for modernity.

Special thanks to the retro computing and Linux communities that keep the old ways alive.

I am working on this project in my minimal free time, so please be patient between updates.

Want to get in touch?

Send me an email.

My name is Nick Chiaravalle, and this is one of my many passion projects. I’m 27 years old and work full-time in a field completely unrelated to computers. Despite having no formal education in computer science, I’ve taught myself everything I know through curiosity, experimentation, and hands-on experience. This project serves as both a creative outlet and a personal challenge—to deepen my understanding of Rust and C while bringing together all of my knowledge to build a fully functional operating system from the ground up.

I’ve always missed the simplicity and charm of the early 2000s—when computers felt personal, interfaces were clean and purposeful, and systems weren’t weighed down by ads, telemetry, and unnecessary bloat. While modern “retro” themes try to recapture that aesthetic, they never quite replicate the experience. That’s what inspired me to start this project: to revive the feeling and usability of classic operating systems, but with modern performance, stability, and security—powered entirely by Linux. I want something like Windows XP, but not Windows XP.

My goal is straightforward: to create a highly optimized operating system that looks and feels retro, yet performs like a modern OS. The desktop environment—developed primarily in Rust and complemented by C for system-level control—aims to capture the spirit of early Windows and Linux desktops. It will feature a nostalgic taskbar with a window manager and “Start” menu, an integrated file manager, a custom system settings suite, and a unique power/reboot interface—all designed with both performance and aesthetics in mind.

Under the hood, the OS is built on Manjaro Linux for its speed, security, and rolling updates. It’s powered by a custom-tuned kernel, the Lynx Kernel—a performance-optimized variant of the XanMod 6.16 kernel, fine-tuned to prioritize desktop responsiveness and real-time user input. Every component is designed to bring back the joy of using a computer that feels fast, focused, and truly yours.

Contributions are always welcome! If you’d like to help improve this project, simply fork the repository, create a new branch, and submit a pull request. I review submissions as time allows and appreciate any effort that helps move the project forward. For collaboration inquiries or to officially join the development effort, please reach out via the contact information listed above.

The current development goals are focused on refining both the technical foundation and user experience of the system. These include:

• Desktop Environment: Develop a fully functional environment using a custom-modified Wayland compositor.
• User Interface: Implement a cohesive visual theme and desktop styling through C, inspired by early-2000s design principles.
• System Icons: Design custom system icons remniscent of early 2000s glass/aero/transparent style, and custom unique Oxyde icons.
• Core Components: Build a responsive taskbar, “Start” menu, file manager, and power/reboot interface with Rust and C integration.
• Kernel Optimization: Continue tuning the Lynx Kernel to prioritize user input, reduce latency, and eliminate unnecessary modules for maximum efficiency.
• System Aesthetics: Design and implement a consistent icon set and system artwork that reinforces the retro aesthetic.
• Compatibility: Deeply integrate Wine to ensure seamless performance for legacy and Windows-compatible applications.
• Future Development: Introduce a custom login and session management system as part of the long-term roadmap.

Whether you’re contributing code, artwork, documentation, or ideas, your input is valued and helps bring this vision of a modern-retro Linux experience to life.

THIS IS NOT WINDOWS.

This project is an independent, community-driven effort designed to recreate the look and feel of early-2000s desktop environments while maintaining full compatibility with modern Linux systems. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with Microsoft Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.

All trademarks, product names, and brand references used within this project are the property of their respective owners. Any resemblance to existing operating systems or software is purely for artistic, educational, and nostalgic purposes.

This software is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Use at your own discretion and risk.