File to CAR Converter Web App 📦

This web app allows you to select a file from your local device, convert it into a CAR (Content Addressable Archive) file compatible with Filecoin, and download the resulting CAR file directly from the browser.

Features

• Upload any file and convert it to CAR format.
• Download the CAR file instantly.
• Optimized for production with Webpack.
• Lightweight and works with any simple HTTP server.

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Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js and npm installed on your machine.

• Install http-server globally or as a dev dependency:

  npm install -g http-server

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Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <your-repo-url>
   cd filecoin-car-app

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

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Development

1. Run the development server:

   npm start

2. Open your browser at http://localhost:8080.

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Production Build

1. Create the production build:

   npm run build

2. Serve the build with http-server:

   npm run serve

3. Visit http://localhost:8080 to see the running app.

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Project Structure

filecoin-car-app/
│
├── public/
│   └── index.html         # HTML template for Webpack
├── src/
│   └── index.js           # JavaScript logic
├── dist/                  # Generated build files (gitignored)
├── webpack.config.js      # Webpack configuration
├── package.json           # Project metadata and dependencies
├── .gitignore             # Files and folders to ignore in Git
└── README.md              # Documentation (this file)

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Troubleshooting

• If the app doesn’t run, try clearing the cache and reinstalling dependencies:

  rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
  npm cache clean --force
  npm install

• If http-server isn’t found, install it globally:

  npm install -g http-server

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Technologies Used

• JavaScript (ES6+)
• Webpack for bundling.
• HTMLWebpackPlugin for injecting JS into HTML.
• IPLD CAR library for CAR file creation.
• Multiformats for CID generation.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

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Contributing

Feel free to submit pull requests or open issues to suggest improvements.

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Acknowledgments

• Inspired by Filecoin and IPFS technologies.
• Special thanks to the @ipld/car and multiformats teams.