I built a small browser engine from scratch in C++
Hi HN! Korean high school senior here, about to start CS in college. I built a browser engine from scratch in C++ to understand how browsers work. First time using C++, 8 weeks of development, lots of debugging—but it works! Features: - HTML parsing with error correction - CSS cascade and inheritance - Block/inline layout engine - Async image loading + caching - Link navigation + history Hardest parts: - String parsing(html, css) - Rendering - Image Caching & Layout Reflowing What I learned (beyond code): - Systematic debugging is crucial - Ship with known bugs rather than chase…
I built a small browser engine from scratch in C++ launched on January 28, 2026 with 146 votes, #213 of 14,585 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches.
In plain words
A browser engine written in C++ from scratch implements HTML parsing with error correction, CSS cascade and inheritance, block and inline layout rendering, asynchronous image loading with caching, and link navigation with history. Built over eight weeks as a learning project, it comprises approximately 3,000 lines of C++17 and Qt6 code. The project is designed for developers and computer science students interested in understanding how browsers work and is intended to demonstrate core browser engine functionality rather than production capability.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Contribute to beginner-jhj/mini_browser development by creating an account on GitHub.
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hi HN! Korean high school senior here, about to start CS in college. I built a browser engine from scratch in C++ to understand how browsers work. First time using C++, 8 weeks of development, lots of debugging—but it works! Features: - HTML parsing with error correction - CSS cascade and inheritance…
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Source: Show HN post ↗ · launch text quoted in part
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