Show HN: I built a small browser engine from scratch in C++
Hacker News (score: 96)
Found: January 28, 2026
ID: 3144
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Show HN: 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 perfection
- The Power of "Why?"
~3,000 lines of C++17/Qt6. Would love feedback on code architecture and C++ best practices!
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