Ugne Sipaviciute
The aim of this project was to construct a system which would allow the user to easily customise the appearance of their Windows desktops by creating, sharing, and installing designs such as wallpapers, icons, icon themes and full desktop themes. The rationale for the application comes from the need for a centralised platform that simplifies desktop customisation, allowing users to find, install and share desktop appearance designs effortlessly and all in one place.
- Research Windows Operating Systems and .NET Frameworks
- Develop Project Requirements
- Develop Design and Architecture
- Create a Back-End System - Web API with Express.js, Node.js, MongoBD, and AWS s3
- Create a Front-End System - WinForm Application with .NET, and C#
As the developer of DesktopStudio, I’m proud of what I accomplished, even though the project is not yet fully complete. My goal was to create a user-friendly platform where Windows users could customise their desktops with wallpapers, icons, and full themes, and I successfully built the backend infrastructure and a working desktop client that connects to it. The backend API is efficient, secure, and scalable, supporting user authentication, content creation, file uploads to AWS S3, and moderation tools with role-based access.
On the frontend, I was able to establish key functionalities such as user registration, login, content upload, and navigation across the application. However, due to time constraints and my inexperience with .NET and Windows Forms, I wasn’t able to fully implement the installation features that would apply wallpapers or icon themes directly to the user’s system. Despite this, the project serves as a strong foundation for further development. I learned a tremendous amount about .NET, C#, system-level programming, and cloud integration, and I now feel confident taking this project further, refining the UI, and completing the features that will make DesktopStudio a full customisation experience.
The aim of this project was to construct a system which would allow the user to easily customise the appearance of their Windows desktops by creating, sharing, and installing designs such as wallpapers, icons, icon themes and full desktop themes. The rationale for the application comes from the need for a centralised platform that simplifies desktop customisation, allowing users to find, install and share desktop appearance designs effortlessly and all in one place.
The steps involved in the development were as follows, find and research the technology that will be used, create a project proposal, gather requirements, design a community-based, user-friendly system, develop a powerful and efficient back-end API, and design and develop a user-friendly front-end application. The application features a content library, a user profile system, and community interaction tools such as the ability to follow creators, report inappropriate content, request new designs and personalize their desktop environment without modifying core system settings, ensuring both security and ease of use.
