Life & fun · February 19, 2026
How far can you push file conversion into the browser?
Hi HN, I’ve been experimenting with how much file conversion can realistically be pushed into the browser. Last year I tried compiling LibreOffice headless to WASM. The smallest build I could get was ~150MB — far too large just to convert a DOCX to PDF. That’s when I shifted to a hybrid approach. Today ~90% of conversions run client-side using WASM (FFmpeg, PDF/image tooling, spreadsheets, etc.). The heavier edge cases fall back to a small server pipeline (LibreOffice, Pandoc, Poppler). The main challenges weren’t the libraries themselves, but: browser memory ceilings handling large…
How far can you push file conversion into the browser? launched on February 19, 2026 with 5 votes, #1,882 of 16,627 launches that month and more than 75% of that year's launches.
What it does
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hi HN, I’ve been experimenting with how much file conversion can realistically be pushed into the browser. Last year I tried compiling LibreOffice headless to WASM. The smallest build I could get was ~150MB — far too large just to convert a DOCX to PDF. That’s when I shifted to a hybrid approach. Today ~90% of…
Does a similar job
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- FCFile converters and 75 tools that run in the browserMar 2026 · ▲6
Most file converter sites upload your files to their servers. File Converter Free runs everything client-side using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device. 215+ formats across conversion and compression, 75+ browser-based tools for PDF, dev utilities, text, calculators and network diagnostics — all available in 9 languages. Built this solo. What tools do you wish ran client-side but currently don't? https://file-converter-free.com/en/tools
ConvertiZenJun 2026 · convertizen.netlify.app · ▲3Free file converter that runs 100% in your browser
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