convkit is a single-command CLI for offline file conversion that maps input and output formats to expert-tuned invocations of ffmpeg, ImageMagick, LibreOffice, pandoc and Typst. It supports 115 conversion pairs across 27 formats, runs locally (files never leave the machine), and auto-selects remux versus re-encode: when codecs already fit a target container it stream-copies losslessly and much faster (measured 3.3× to 71.7× speedups on sample clips). Common workflows include simple format swaps, batch globs, merging images into multi-page PDFs, a max-size mode that compresses video to fit an upload cap while balancing resolution/frame rate/bitrate, and dry-run mode that prints the exact backend commands.
Distribution includes prebuilt binaries for Windows, macOS (x64/arm64) and Linux, a Homebrew tap, an MSI, or cargo install from source (Rust + C toolchain required). Conversions prompt to install missing backends; failures report clear fixes and exit codes for scripting (0 success, 1 failure, 2 usage error, 3 missing backend, 4 partial batch failure). Tunable flags include resize/quality/colors for images, fps/crf for video/GIF, and upscale (resize never enlarges unless requested). Multi-step recipes (e.g., md→pdf via pandoc then LibreOffice) are automatic, dry-run reveals exact commands, and notes explain when operations re-encode, flatten transparency, or otherwise alter output.
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