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98.css

A CSS stylesheet that makes plain HTML look like Windows 98 interface elements.

GitHub Download 0.1.18
Stars
11.6k
Forks
381
Licence
MIT
Language
CSS
Last update
1.2 years ago
Type
Library

No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.

What it is

98.css is a CSS file that styles standard HTML elements so they resemble the classic Windows 98 user interface. It contains no JavaScript, so it can be used alongside any frontend framework. People use it to build retro-styled windows, dialogs, and buttons for websites or design projects.

  • Style a dialog box with a title bar, window body, and buttons using a single CSS file
  • Recreate an old Windows 98 program window inside a web page
  • Prototype a retro-themed interface in plain HTML before adding a framework

Great for

  • Web developers making a retro or nostalgic website
  • Designers who want Windows 98-style mockups in HTML
  • Developers who want a stylesheet with no JavaScript dependency
  • Anyone building a novelty or joke app in an old Windows look

Not ideal for

  • Projects needing a modern, general-purpose UI kit, since it only mimics the Windows 98 look
  • Teams that need accessibility guarantees, since the README does not discuss accessibility
Step-by-step guide: how to use 98.cssInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
98.css alternatives98.css vs daisyUI98.css vs Primer CSS98.css vs HyperUI

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    Install from npm

    npm install 98.css
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install the package with npm, or link the stylesheet from unpkg in your HTML head.
    • Create an HTML file with a div using class "window", containing a "title-bar" and a "window-body".
    • Open the file in a browser to see the Windows 98 styling applied.
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Read the documentation page for instructions on each component.
    • Use the React and vanilla JavaScript examples linked in the README as starting points.
    • Check the magnified screenshots in the README to see how pixel-level borders are matched.
    • Look at XP.css and 7.css if you want related styles for other Windows versions.

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease 0.1.18Release notes and sourceOfficial website & docsjdan.github.io/98.css

Strengths

  • Single CSS file with no JavaScript, so it fits into any frontend stack
  • Available via unpkg, npm, and GitHub releases
  • MIT licensed

Trade-offs

  • Only covers the Windows 98 visual style, not general layout or components beyond what it styles
  • The README is brief on component details and points to an external documentation site for those

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
98.css (this)11.6kLibrarybeginner1.2 years agoWeb developers making a retro or nostalgic website
daisyui42.7kLibraryintermediate6 days agoDevelopers already using Tailwind CSS who want prebuilt components
css13.1kLibraryintermediate5 days agoDevelopers who want to match GitHub's visual style in an existing web project
hyperui12.3kLibrarybeginner11 days agoDevelopers building marketing sites with Tailwind CSS
bootstrap175kLibrarybeginner4 days agoDevelopers building responsive websites or web app interfaces quickly
material-ui99.3kLibraryintermediate4 days agoReact developers who want a consistent, prebuilt set of UI components

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.