AnimeWaifu: My Most Ambitious Project

Some projects start with a clear plan. Others begin with a simple idea and evolve into something much bigger than you ever imagined. AnimeWaifu is the latter.

It started as a simple web app. Swipe to get anime waifu images. No limits, no restrictions, just pure fun. But over time, it became so much more than that.

The Beginning

The core concept was straightforward. I wanted to create something fun and aesthetic that combined my love for anime with web development. A simple swipe interface that fetches random waifu images from an API. Clean UI, smooth animations, and instant gratification.

I built the initial web version with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It was hosted on GitHub Pages. People could visit the site, swipe through images, and enjoy the aesthetic. I also created comprehensive installation documentation to help users get started with all the different versions.

From Web to Apps

But then I thought, why stop at the web? What if people could have this experience as a dedicated app on their phones and computers?

So I started building. I created Android APKs using web technologies wrapped in native containers. I built Windows executables using Electron. I made the app available on itch.io for easy distribution.

Then I started experimenting with different versions. AnimeWaifu Basic with a modern notification system and extended features. AnimeWaifu Lite for people who just wanted the core swipe functionality with minimal bloat. AnimeWaifu Cloud for running the entire experience in the cloud with minimal storage requirements.

The Side Projects

Once I had the infrastructure in place, ideas started flowing. What else could I build on top of this foundation?

I created QuickChat, a dedicated chat app that spawned from a feature in AnimeWaifu. I built AnimeWaifu Pixel Terminal, a CLI tool that brings waifus to your terminal in pixel art style. I created syswaifu, which combined system information fetching with anime aesthetics.

Each side project taught me something new. CLI development, system APIs, cross-platform compatibility, package management, npm distribution.

The PowerShell Installer

One of my favorite features is the PowerShell installer. You can run a single command in PowerShell as administrator, and it handles the entire installation process. It downloads the right version, sets everything up, and gets you running in seconds.

I also built a Node.js CLI installer that you can install globally with npm. Type animewaifu-installer and follow the prompts to get the app installed on your system.

What I Learned

This project taught me more about software development than any tutorial ever could. I learned about cross-platform development, building and distributing desktop and mobile apps, writing CLI tools, managing releases, handling updates, and creating multiple installation methods.

But more importantly, I learned how a simple idea can evolve into an entire ecosystem of projects if you keep building and experimenting.

The License

AnimeWaifu is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. You can share and redistribute it, but you can't modify or create derivative works. I want to protect the integrity of what I've built while still making it freely available.

Try It Yourself

The project is available on GitHub, you can find detailed installation guides at AnimeWaifu Docs, and you can download the apps from itch.io.

Whether you install the app, try one of the side projects, or check out the documentation, I hope you enjoy what I've built. It's been a journey, and I'm proud of how far it's come.