Dev Tools · 1h ago
New npm package xls-reader fills gap for old Excel files in Node
A developer created xls-reader, a zero-dependency npm package for reading legacy .xls files in Node.js, after finding that popular libraries like SheetJS are no longer maintained on npm. The package is 4KB, typed, and supports BIFF8 format with provenance. It addresses a gap for developers needing to parse old Excel files without compromising security alerts.
Meridian48 take
The story highlights a common pain point in the Node ecosystem where abandoned packages create security blind spots, but xls-reader's narrow scope may limit its long-term utility.
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I needed to read an old .xls file in Node and it was harder than it should be →
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