Why the PostHog Website Looks Like an Operating System Problem with Traditional Websites Many large, technical websites lead users to open many tabs due to lack of distinguishable favicons. PostHog.com faced similar challenges as it expanded from a few products to over a dozen. Common website patterns encourage excessive scrolling, large footers, and whitespace without improving content engagement. The New Approach: OS-Like Interface PostHog redesigned its website to resemble an operating system within a browser. Allows multitasking by opening multiple articles, moving windows around. Features window snapping, keyboard shortcuts, and a bookmark app. Users can, for example, read newsletters, watch demo videos, and play a game simultaneously. Initially jarring but becomes intuitive and engaging over time. Key Features Embedded in the Site Windows File Explorer clone used as the user interface for the merch store. Product pages resemble PowerPoint presentations. Editable document editor. Forums styled to feel like reading newsgroups in Outlook Express. QuickTime clone for demos. Many pages designed as spreadsheets. Screensaver and a library of desktop backgrounds. Extensive keyboard shortcuts. Technical Highlights Content and Visual Separation Product pages are powered by JSON files that dictate layout, presentation, competitor comparisons, and screenshots for both light and dark modes. Plans to share this data repository with the PostHog app for unified content management. Theming and Styling Supports light and dark modes along with multiple accent color schemes (primary, secondary, tertiary) that work harmoniously. Customer Database A single customer record in code includes: Products used Quotes from individuals about products SVG logos compatible with light and dark modes Enables dynamic quoting across product pages without hardcoding. Development Process and Insights The website was designed and built iteratively in a production-level environment using TypeScript and Tailwind CSS. Prototyping included quick mockups with tools like Balsamiq for ideation. The new design acts as an MVP with room for future enhancements. Usage Invitation Users are encouraged to explore the new OS-style website, enjoy multitasking features, and engage deeply with content. Additional technical details of the website’s workings are available here. --- Author: Cory Watilo Date: September 10, 2025