Dec 26, 2025

Bolt Rebuilds: macOS-style portfolio website

A tutorial for creating a portfolio website that truly sets you apart. In this edition of Bolt Rebuilds, we replicate PostHog's unique OS-style website.

Educational

This is the fourth installation of our Bolt Rebuilds series. If you want to see our other Bolt Rebuilds, check out #1 (adding assets to your project) , # 2 (import and customize open source components), and #3 (hand tracking).

The best portfolio sites on the internet are way more than just a list of past projects. They’re unique, quirky snapshots of who you are as a creative, a thinker, and a builder.

In this edition of Bolt Rebuilds, designer and power-user Jakub Skrzypczak walks through how to create a portfolio that truly stands out in a sea of static sites.

Instead of building a traditional homepage with a few links to previous work, Jakub built a personal operating system that runs entirely in the browser. The finished product includes a desktop view, folders, apps, a terminal, mini games, settings, Easter eggs, and achievements. It’s surprisingly simple to build and a lot more interesting than a resume.

The inspiration for this tutorial comes from the new generation of unconventional websites taking both B2B and B2C audiences by storm, including PostHog and Oatly. These sites are playful, opinionated, and relentlessly engaging.

One note: In this rebuild, our goal wasn’t to copy any one site directly. Rather, we're channeling their spirit into a format that feels interactive, discoverable, and memorable.

The core idea: A portfolio disguised as an operating system

Fundamentally, of course, this is still a portfolio website. So it includes all the expected content:

  • About
  • Experience
  • Projects
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Resume

But instead of presenting that content as sections on a page, Jakub repackaged it as an operating system. Visitors can peruse folders and open apps rather than click through a list of links.

Step 1: A single, high-level prompt

The first prompt is quite long.

Jakub dropped it into Plan Mode to give Bolt a chance to map out the first iteration.

Prompt 1:

Create a macOS-inspired desktop operating system simulator that serves as an interactive portfolio website. Build a full-screen desktop environment where all portfolio content is presented through folders, files, and applications within the OS interface.

Core Requirements:

Desktop Environment:

Full-screen desktop with subtle monochrome wallpaper (gradient/grain texture)

Draggable desktop icons with selection states and hover feedback

Double-click to open functionality

Top menu bar with custom logo (left), dynamic app name (center), and system icons/clock (right)

Centered floating dock at bottom with app icons, running app indicators, and hover magnification

Window System:

Draggable windows with proper z-index stacking

macOS-style chrome: traffic light buttons, centered titles, rounded corners, subtle shadows

Smooth open/close animations (scale + fade)

Semi-transparent/blurred header bars

Portfolio Content as Desktop Items:

About Me - folder containing bio.txt and values.md files

Experience - folder with subfolders for each role/company

Projects - individual project files opening as custom apps or rich previews

Playground - experimental items and easter egg triggers

cv.pdf - opens in PDF viewer with download functionality

Trash - functional with drag-and-drop, empty animation

Email Client App - displays testimonials as emails with inbox interface

Terminal Application (Critical Feature):

Dark theme with monospace font and blinking cursor

Command history navigation (up/down arrows)

Discoverable help system listing all commands

Essential commands: help, about, projects, open <item>, ls, cat <file>, whoami, clear, cv, email, minesweeper, easter_eggs

Commands should open apps, focus windows, and trigger surprises

Additional Apps:

Finder: Grid view with navigation, breadcrumbs, back button

Image Viewer: Clean interface for project screenshots

PDF Viewer: Full CV display with scrolling and download

Minesweeper: Complete game with difficulty levels, timer, scoring

Visual Design:

2025 minimal aesthetic with subtle neobrutalist elements (5/10 intensity)

Monochrome palette (whites, grays, blacks) with restrained accent colors

SF Pro or Inter font family

Smooth micro-interactions and transitions throughout

Ensure full content visibility in windows without unnecessary clipping

Easter Eggs & Interactions:

Multiple hidden discoveries through keyboard shortcuts, terminal commands, UI element clicks

Secret modes and visual changes

Rewards for curious exploration without blocking main functionality

Technical Specifications:

Implement proper folder navigation with sidebar (like macOS Finder)

Maintain consistent navigation patterns throughout

Prioritize animation quality, visual polish, and smooth performance

Focus on delightful micro-interactions over flashy effects

Success Criteria:

The final product should feel like discovering someone's personality through their custom operating system - playful yet professional, creative yet polished, surprising yet intuitive. Users should think "This person built a thoughtful system" rather than "This is just another portfolio site."

Build this as a fully functional web-based desktop simulator with placeholder content that demonstrates the complete portfolio experience.

Final result: A portfolio that takes personalization and interactivity to a new level

OS-style websites are both scroll-stopping and undeniably engaging. And because almost everything is clickable, visitors have a clear incentive to explore and spend a little extra time on your site.

While a portfolio site is one of the more obvious use cases for this hyper-personalized approach to design, it may also make sense for your digital storefront if your brand is especially creative or playful.

Starting from a single prompt, Bolt helped us build:

  • A desktop environment
  • File-based navigation
  • Apps and games
  • Settings and themes
  • Achievements and Easter eggs

We ended up with a portfolio website brimming with personality and ingenuity, which is perfect for those advertising their services in a competitive talent market.

Want to create your own OS-style portfolio or website? Build it with Bolt.