About Practical Web Tools

The Short Version

I'm Joseph Orduna — a software engineer who got tired of watching people unknowingly hand their sensitive files to random servers on the internet. So I built something different.

Every tool on this site processes your files locally, in your browser, using WebAssembly. Your documents never touch my servers because there are no servers handling your files. That's not a marketing line. That's the architecture.

Why I Built This

Here's what frustrates me about most "free" online converters:

You upload a PDF containing your tax returns, medical records, or business contracts to some website. That file gets sent to a server you know nothing about, processed by software you can't inspect, and stored for... how long? Under what security? By whom?

Most people don't think about this. I do. It's an occupational hazard.

I've spent my career building software across the full stack — from low-level embedded systems in C/C++ to web applications in Python and JavaScript. I've worked on robotics, control systems, and AI. I led the development of a gesture-controlled drone controller that went from concept to MVP to actually being sold on Amazon (KD Interactive's Aura Drone with Glove Controller — that was my team's IP).

When you understand how systems work at every level — from the hardware up through the application layer — you develop a healthy paranoia about where your data goes.

That paranoia became Practical Web Tools.

My Background

Full Stack Software Engineer with concentrations in Artificial Intelligence and Software Engineering.

Technical Expertise:

  • Embedded Systems & Control Systems — Most proficient in C and C++, building the low-level systems that actually run hardware
  • Web Architecture — Python for APIs and backend logic, JavaScript for frontend applications
  • AI & Machine Learning — Both cloud-based and local model deployment
  • Robotics — Developed embedded systems connecting mobile robots to web applications

Notable Work:

  • Led software development of a gesture-controlled drone controller from initial concept to MVP — intellectual property acquired by KD Interactive (now sold on Amazon)
  • Built embedded systems bridging web applications to mobile robotics platforms
  • Developed educational software and 3D modeling tools for K-12 STEM programs
  • Wrote comprehensive software testing frameworks for production robotics ecosystems

Why Local Processing Matters

The FBI issued warnings about malicious online file converters. Data breaches cost companies an average of $4.88 million in 2024. GDPR fines have exceeded €4 billion.

But beyond the headlines, there's a simpler truth: if your file doesn't leave your device, it can't be intercepted, stored, or misused.

That's the philosophy behind every tool here:

  • WebAssembly powers our file converters — your PDFs, images, and audio files are processed entirely in your browser
  • Ollama integration enables AI chat that runs on your hardware, not ours
  • Zero server uploads means zero server breaches affecting your data

I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to trust physics. Data that never leaves your machine can't be compromised on mine.

What This Site Is (And Isn't)

This is:

  • 50+ file conversion tools that process locally
  • A free AI chat interface powered by local models (via Ollama)
  • Comprehensive guides on privacy-first workflows
  • A resource for people who care about data sovereignty

This isn't:

  • A company with VC funding and a growth-at-all-costs mandate
  • A service that mines your documents for training data
  • Another privacy policy that says "we care about your privacy" while doing the opposite

A Final Note

I built this site because I needed these tools myself. I wanted file converters I could trust with client documents. I wanted AI assistance without feeding my work to cloud servers. I wanted the convenience of web apps without the surveillance economy tradeoffs.

If that resonates with you, welcome. Use the tools. Read the guides. And if you're technical, verify the claims yourself — view source is right there.

Your files are your business. They should stay that way.

Contact

Got questions? Found a bug? Want to tell me I'm paranoid?

Joseph Orduna

— Joseph Orduna

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