Why our website looks like an operating system (posthog.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the redesign of PostHog's website to resemble an operating system, allowing users to multitask and open multiple articles simultaneously. The author explains that this design decision was made to solve the problem of having multiple indistinguishable tabs open at the same time. The new design features window snapping, keyboard shortcuts, and a bookmark app, making it more engaging and interactive. The author also shares the technical highlights of the redesign, including the separation of visual layer from content and the use of JSON files to power product pages.

Main themes

• Website design
• User experience
• Operating system interface
• Multitasking
• Technical implementation

What commenters say

• Some commenters appreciate the nostalgic feel of the new design and find it useful for multitasking, while others prefer a more traditional website layout.
• The use of a multi-document interface is seen as unnecessary and inferior to a good window manager by some, while others argue that it is necessary for certain applications.
• The discussion highlights the trade-offs between having a single window with a complex UI and having multiple windows with a simpler UI, with some preferring the former and others the latter.
• Some commenters argue that the problem of window management is not solved by applications building their own window managers, but rather by improving the operating system's window manager.
• The use of tabs and multiple browser windows is seen as a viable alternative to a multi-document interface by some, while others prefer a more integrated approach.
• The technical implementation of the redesign, including the use of JSON files and separation of visual layer from content, is seen as a key factor in its success by some commenters.