The latest articles on DEV Community by Ariel (@terabold). https://dev.to/terabold https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3863525%2Fb3ff791f-d92a-4976-9e6d-61b131e47131.jpeg https://dev.to/terabold en Ariel Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:56:45 +0000 https://dev.to/terabold/how-i-built-a-100-client-side-media-converter-using-react-and-ffmpeg-wasm-3bfh https://dev.to/terabold/how-i-built-a-100-client-side-media-converter-using-react-and-ffmpeg-wasm-3bfh <p>I’ve always been hesitant to use online file converters. Uploading personal videos or sensitive documents to a random server just to change a format felt like a privacy nightmare.</p> <p>So, I decided to build PrivateUtils.com – a suite of 34 tools that process everything locally in the browser.</p> <p>The Tech Stack:</p> <p>Frontend: React + Vite + Tailwind CSS.</p> <p>The Engine: FFmpeg WASM for media conversion.</p> <p>Privacy: Web Crypto API for local file encryption.</p> <p>The Biggest Challenge: Memory<br> Working with WebAssembly means the browser has to handle the file in RAM. I had to implement strict memory management and staging limits to prevent tabs from crashing on lower-end devices.</p> <p>Why I built it:<br> I wanted a "Swiss Army Knife" for files that works even if you're offline. Once the page loads, you can literally turn off your WiFi and it still converts your files.</p> <p>Check it out here: <a href="https://privateutils.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://privateutils.com</a></p> <p>I’d love to hear your thoughts on the performance or suggestions for more tools!</p> webdev opensource beginners react