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Welcome to Time Capsule Documentation

Step back into the 1990s Unix workstation era. Explore a fully interactive CDE desktop experience running in your browser — complete with authentic applications, virtual filesystem, and customizable themes.

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Time Capsule Logo

Quick start

Get up and running with Time Capsule in minutes

1

Visit the application

Open debian.com.mx in a modern browser. Watch the authentic Debian boot sequence initialize the system.
2

Explore the desktop

Click the desktop icons to launch applications: XEmacs, Terminal Lab, File Manager, Netscape Navigator, and more. Try right-clicking anywhere to access context menus.
Use Ctrl+Alt+1-4 to switch between the four virtual workspaces.
3

Customize your experience

Open the Style Manager from the front panel to choose from 76 authentic CDE color palettes and 168 original XPM backdrops. Your theme can be shared via URL.
  1. Click Style Manager on the front panel
  2. Navigate to the Palette or Backdrop section
  3. Select your preferred theme
  4. Click Share Theme to generate a shareable URL
4

Install as a PWA

For the best experience, install Time Capsule as a Progressive Web App. Click the Install PWA icon in your browser, and it will run like a native desktop application with offline support.

Explore by topic

Everything you need to master Time Capsule

XEmacs editor

Real Emacs keybindings, interactive minibuffer, and GNU splash screen

Terminal Lab

22 interactive Unix lessons — learn by doing, from ls to pipes

Virtual filesystem

Create files, make directories, navigate with context menus

Style Manager

Customize colors, fonts, backdrops — and share themes via URL

Workspaces

Organize applications across four virtual desktops

Keyboard shortcuts

Navigate like a power user with 20+ keyboard shortcuts

Key features

What makes Time Capsule special

🎨

76 Authentic palettes

From iconic Platinum to warm Broica — authentic Motif themes that transform your desktop

🖼️

168 Original backdrops

Dithered XPM textures from the 90s — CircuitBoards, BrokenIce, Afternoon

💾

Persistent filesystem

IndexedDB-powered virtual filesystem with real file operations

🌐

Netscape & Lynx

Browse the modern web with retro compatibility and text-based navigation

📱

Works everywhere

Desktop, tablet, mobile — touch gestures and keyboard shortcuts adapt

🔧

Built with Astro

TypeScript, Astro, and authentic CDE design principles

Technical resources

Understand how Time Capsule works under the hood

Architecture overview

Modular design, event-driven system, and core components

Window Manager

Focus, drag, minimize, maximize, and Z-index management

Virtual filesystem

IndexedDB-powered storage with POSIX-like operations

Contributing

Add themes, improve accessibility, or refactor code

Ready to explore the past?

Experience a fully functional 1990s Unix workstation — running entirely in your browser with modern web technologies.

Get StartedView on GitHub