Dr

Dropflow, a CSS layout engine for node or <canvas>

Hacker News

Dropflow, a CSS layout engine for node or <canvas>

For the last 5 years I've been working on a layout engine that targets CSS2 and some more modern properties. Live demo: https://chearon.github.io/dropflow/ It matches browsers in all cases I can find where they agree, and it's fast. It supports `position`, `inline-block`, `z-index`, and complex properties like `float` and `vertical-align`. It doesn't support high-level layout like flexbox or grid yet, but you can get intrinsics to easily divide space yourself and paint multiple layout trees. It has a great text layout implementation, and supporting non-Latin scripts is a top priority. I've wanted this to exist as far back as 2013, and the desire kept coming up: for a way to get detailed intrinsics, for high quality rich text layout to canvas and SVG, and for server-side rich text. We currently use it in CellEngine for our new canvas-based spreadsheet library to layout text in hundreds of thousands of cells, and will be using it soon to render PDFs with thousands of pages in a few seconds.

Share card

Actual performance

404points
137comments
Made the leaderboard

Launch Intel predictions

Analyze your own launch →
Product HuntOn track for Day 1 leaderboard · Strong signals: new, using · Missing: mac, agents, macos
76%76% predicted probability of success on Product Hunt, based on ML models trained on real launch data.
Hacker NewsStrong engagement from HN community · Strong signals: exist, ide, io · Missing: https docs, excited, just released
73%73% predicted probability of success on Hacker News, based on ML models trained on real launch data.
nativeThis product was originally launched on this platform.
Indie HackersFits the IH revenue-focused audience · Strong signals: supports · Missing: reddit linkedin, podcasting, created
64%64% predicted probability of success on Indie Hackers, based on ML models trained on real launch data.
AppSumoMay struggle as an AppSumo deal · Strong signals: soon · Missing: plus, platform, intuitive
41%41% predicted probability of success on AppSumo, based on ML models trained on real launch data.
TrustMRRLess likely to generate early MRR · Strong signals: way · Missing: mobile apps, ios, personal
38%38% predicted probability of success on TrustMRR, based on ML models trained on real launch data.
Acquire.comPre-revenue stage for this audience · Missing: arr, mrr, revenue
15%15% predicted probability of success on Acquire.com, based on ML models trained on real launch data.
BetaListMay not resonate with beta-testers · Missing: web3, chat, crypto
0%0% predicted probability of success on BetaList, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Correct prediction on native model

Similar products

Sc
Scrawl-canvas – a new text layout engine58%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Scrawl-canvas – a new text layout engine

Hacker News2
CS
CSSGrid – 2.7k LOC CSS-Grid layout engine targetting embedded (Nim)59%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

CSSGrid – 2.7k LOC CSS-Grid layout engine targetting embedded (Nim)

Hacker News4
Bl
Blunt – A CSS Layout Framework for Minimalists58%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Blunt – A CSS Layout Framework for Minimalists

Hacker News131
60
60GS – CSS Grid Layout57%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

60GS – CSS Grid Layout

Hacker News3
Fl
Flex Layout Attribute – layout helper based on CSS flexbox38%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Flex Layout Attribute – layout helper based on CSS flexbox

Hacker News3
no
node-scrunch42%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

node-scrunch

Hacker News1
Mo
MongoSync for Backbone/Node42%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

MongoSync for Backbone/Node

Hacker News2
No
Node Knockout 2013 entries28%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Node Knockout 2013 entries

Hacker News1
no
node-mongoose-fixtures42%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

node-mongoose-fixtures

Hacker News1
As
Assert.env: one fell swoop loading and asserting settings in node24%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Assert.env: one fell swoop loading and asserting settings in node

Hacker News2