James's Retro Corner
Developer • System Designer • Technology Enthusiast
Welcome!
My name is James, and this is my website! I'm a middle schooler in Seattle, WA who loves to program quite a bit, so I made this site!
I'm passionate about technology - from games and websites to exploring the future of operating systems. Currently working on some exciting projects including AltOS, a revolutionary Linux distribution that's going to change how we think about desktop environments.
Feel free to explore my projects, read my blog, or learn about what I'm building. Thanks for stopping by!
Website Roadmap
BlogComplete!
AltOS ShowcaseComing Soon
Interactive DemosPlanned
Project GalleryIn Progress
About
I'm James, a middle schooler from Seattle who really likes to tinker with hardware and program stuff. I have experience with C, Python, GDScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL. I'm currently working on building a Linux distribution from scratch (AltOS), a terminal emulator written in C, and a retro-style FPS game in Godot.
I also really enjoy thinking about philosophy and politics. I read lots of Sci-Fi, including (but not limited to) Dune, Foundation, and most anything Ray Bradbury. I have great interest in Physics and Space, too. This website is a dedication to all of these things. On here are projects I'm working on, articles, and more!
What I Work With
Programming
I know C (for low-level stuff like AlTerm), Python (scripting and automation), GDScript (game development in Godot), HTML/CSS/JavaScript (this site!), and SQL for databases.
Tools
I use Godot 4.4.1 for game development, Linux Mint as my daily OS, Git for version control, and Libresprite for pixel art. Currently learning Wayland for AltOS's window manager.
Hardware
I built and maintain my own gaming PC, have a ThinkPad X220 for development work, and an Anycubic Kobra 2 Neo 3D printer. I like building and fixing things.
Other Stuff
Water Polo
I'm a Junior Olympic water polo player. I compete pretty seriously and got 21st place overall at a tournament in LA. It's intense but I love it.
Reading & Gaming
Big sci-fi fan. Dune, Foundation, Ray Bradbury - anything with good world-building and speculative ideas. Currently playing Dune: Awakening and loving the deep lore. Also play retro FPS games like Marathon via AlephOne.
Other Interests
I'm fascinated by physics and space, think a lot about philosophy and political systems, and love VR gaming. Also into retro computing and understanding how things work at a fundamental level.
What This Site Is
This website is where I document my projects and share what I'm learning. You'll find development blogs about AltOS, technical write-ups about game development and systems programming, and occasional posts about books or other interests.
I made this site from scratch (no frameworks or templates) because I wanted to learn how modern web design works. It's fully responsive, works on phones and tablets, and is hosted on Neocities.
Thanks for visiting. Check out the Projects and AltOS tabs to see what I'm building!
Projects
In Progress:
AltOS Operating System
I'm building a Linux distribution from scratch that fixes the biggest problems with desktop Linux. Everything configurable in one place, container-based packages that never break your system, and true customization of every aspect of the desktop.
AlTerm Terminal Emulator
Wayland terminal built from scratch in C. Full 256-color support, copy/paste, text rendering with FreeType, dynamic resizing. NeoFetch runs in full color. Production-quality terminal emulator.
Retro FPS Game
Marathon/Doom-inspired first-person shooter in Godot. Working player movement, pistol with reload mechanics, billboard sprites for that retro aesthetic. Still early but the foundation is solid.
Done:
Website Redesign
Complete overhaul of this site. Built from scratch with modern responsive design, tab-based navigation, and actual content about what I'm working on.
Gaming PC Repair
Diagnosed and fixed my gaming PC. Turns out it was a power supply issue. Now it's running perfectly for both development and gaming.
Planned:
Gaming PC Upgrade
Planning a major hardware refresh - new case, motherboard, CPU, RAM, and SSD. Hoping AltOS will be stable enough to run on it by the time I do this upgrade.
AltOS - A Better Linux Distribution
AltOS is a Linux distribution I'm building that fixes the biggest problems with desktop Linux. Unified configuration, container-based packages, and actual customization of everything.
The Problems I'm Solving
Configuration is a Mess
Want to change a setting on most Linux systems? Good luck finding where it's stored. Is it in /etc? Maybe ~/.config? Wait, some apps use ~/.local/share. Others have their own hidden folders. There's no unified system - you're just digging through layers hoping to find the right file.
AltOS puts everything in /altos/config/. One directory. TOML format. Version controllable. If you want to change your theme, edit /altos/config/desktop/theme.toml. Every application reads from the same config files. Changes apply instantly.
Dependency Hell
Traditional Linux package managers share dependencies to save disk space. Great idea in 2005 when hard drives were expensive. Not worth it in 2026 when breaking your system costs way more than 2GB of storage.
AltOS uses container-based .alp packages. Each application bundles its dependencies. Yes, this uses 20-40% more disk space. But updates never break your system because each app has exactly the library versions it needs.
Desktop Environments Are Rigid
GNOME says "this is how panels work." KDE says "this is how widgets work." They give you customization within their predetermined constraints. You can change colors and move panels around, but you can't fundamentally change how the desktop works.
AltOS doesn't force a desktop philosophy on you. Want Windows-style panels? Done. macOS-style menu bar? Easy. Both? Sure. Neither? Go for it. Everything is configurable because everything reads from the same theming system.
What I've Designed
AltWM (Window Manager)
Custom Wayland compositor with advanced window snapping, custom zones, multiple desktop workspaces, and smooth animations. It's designed to give you the best multitasking experience possible.
AlTerm (Terminal Emulator)
Ground-up terminal built in C. FreeType text rendering, PTY shell integration, ANSI escape sequences, 256-color palette, copy/paste (Ctrl+Shift+C/V), dynamic window resizing. NeoFetch works in full color. Production-quality - could be my daily driver.
alp Package Manager
Container-based package system with a smart App Center. Updates are reliable, rollbacks are easy, and dependency conflicts are impossible.
Themes Store
Community marketplace for desktop customizations. Download complete desktop makeovers or individual assets. Share your own themes with other users.
Design Philosophy
"AltOS adapts to the machine, not the machine adapts to it."
Older hardware? AltOS automatically simplifies visual effects and disables resource-intensive features. Gaming rig? Full desktop effects and smooth animations. The system detects your hardware and configures itself accordingly.
Current Status
Deep in the design phase. I've created 9+ comprehensive specification documents covering desktop environment architecture, Wayland compositor design, package format specification, unified configuration system, and more.
AlTerm has working text rendering, shell integration, 256-color support, and all the professional features (copy/paste, resizing). Production-quality terminal emulator.
Next up: AltWM prototype and .alp package tooling.
Blog
AltOS Development Blog #1: The Vision
February 22, 2026
Why I'm building a new Linux distribution from scratch, what problems I'm trying to solve, and what I've designed so far.
Website Redesign & New Direction
February 22, 2026
Complete overhaul of this website. New design, mobile-responsive layout, and regular blog updates starting now.