@shrr

DEVLOG #2
Finally started building the first real application for Pocket Lab OS: Pixel Painter.
The goal wasn’t to make a full art program straight away, but to create a solid first version that fits naturally into the desktop. I built the interface directly inside the existing app window instead of creating a separate page, keeping everything consistent with the rest of the operating system.
Most of the work went into setting up the drawing canvas, toolbar, colour palette, and making sure the application matched the Pocket Lab OS aesthetic. I also spent some time wiring everything into the existing desktop so the app opens inside its own window rather than breaking the overall OS experience.
As always, a surprising amount of time went into debugging. A few small CSS and JavaScript issues prevented parts of the interface from loading correctly, and I also fixed some asset paths while getting the app integrated into the project structure.
Pixel Painter is now officially the first functional app inside Pocket Lab OS. Next, I want to keep expanding the operating system by building out the Microscope Viewer and Experiment Log so the desktop starts feeling like a complete digital biology workstation.

DEVLOG #1
Spent today building the foundation of Pocket Lab OS. I finished writing the HTML structure for the desktop, including the top bar, desktop icons, taskbar, and placeholder windows for each app.
I then moved on to the CSS, where I set up the overall colour palette using CSS variables, styled the desktop layout with Flexbox, designed the application windows, and switched the title bar controls to a macOS-inspired style. I also added hover animations for the desktop icons and built the initial taskbar layout.
Finally, I connected everything with JavaScript. Application windows can now open, close, minimize, maximize, be dragged around the desktop, and automatically appear in the taskbar when opened. I also added a live clock and a simple window stacking system using z-index.
Ended the session debugging a file path issue that prevented the CSS and JavaScript from loading. After fixing the links, the desktop framework finally came to life.
Next up: create the custom pixel-art assets and start building the individual applications..