diff --git a/src/common/file_system.cpp b/src/common/file_system.cpp
index 79613628e..5212287e7 100644
--- a/src/common/file_system.cpp
+++ b/src/common/file_system.cpp
@@ -1401,9 +1401,9 @@ s64 FileSystem::GetPathFileSize(const char* Path)
   return sd.Size;
 }
 
-std::optional<std::vector<u8>> FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(const char* filename, Error* error)
+std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(const char* filename, Error* error)
 {
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ret;
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> ret;
 
   ManagedCFilePtr fp = OpenManagedCFile(filename, "rb", error);
   if (!fp)
@@ -1413,9 +1413,9 @@ std::optional<std::vector<u8>> FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(const char* filename,
   return ret;
 }
 
-std::optional<std::vector<u8>> FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(std::FILE* fp, Error* error)
+std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(std::FILE* fp, Error* error)
 {
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ret;
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> ret;
 
   if (FSeek64(fp, 0, SEEK_END) != 0) [[unlikely]]
   {
@@ -1445,7 +1445,7 @@ std::optional<std::vector<u8>> FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(std::FILE* fp, Error*
     return ret;
   }
 
-  ret = std::vector<u8>(static_cast<size_t>(size));
+  ret = DynamicHeapArray<u8>(static_cast<size_t>(size));
   if (size > 0 && std::fread(ret->data(), 1u, static_cast<size_t>(size), fp) != static_cast<size_t>(size)) [[unlikely]]
   {
     Error::SetErrno(error, "fread() failed: ", errno);
diff --git a/src/common/file_system.h b/src/common/file_system.h
index 0a4ebb16d..f4f9303f2 100644
--- a/src/common/file_system.h
+++ b/src/common/file_system.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "heap_array.h"
 #include "types.h"
 
 #include <cstdio>
@@ -171,8 +172,8 @@ private:
 };
 #endif
 
-std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ReadBinaryFile(const char* filename, Error* error = nullptr);
-std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ReadBinaryFile(std::FILE* fp, Error* error = nullptr);
+std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> ReadBinaryFile(const char* filename, Error* error = nullptr);
+std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> ReadBinaryFile(std::FILE* fp, Error* error = nullptr);
 std::optional<std::string> ReadFileToString(const char* filename, Error* error = nullptr);
 std::optional<std::string> ReadFileToString(std::FILE* fp, Error* error = nullptr);
 bool WriteBinaryFile(const char* filename, const void* data, size_t data_length, Error* error = nullptr);
diff --git a/src/common/heap_array.h b/src/common/heap_array.h
index 9075a982a..3e0befc99 100644
--- a/src/common/heap_array.h
+++ b/src/common/heap_array.h
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "common/assert.h"
-
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cstdlib>
@@ -117,18 +115,20 @@ private:
     {
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
       m_data = static_cast<T*>(_aligned_malloc(SIZE * sizeof(T), ALIGNMENT));
-      if (!m_data)
-        Panic("Memory allocation failed.");
+      assert(m_data);
+      if (!m_data) [[unlikely]]
+        std::abort();
 #else
-      if (posix_memalign(reinterpret_cast<void**>(&m_data), ALIGNMENT, SIZE * sizeof(T)) != 0)
-        Panic("Memory allocation failed.");
+      if (posix_memalign(reinterpret_cast<void**>(&m_data), ALIGNMENT, SIZE * sizeof(T)) != 0) [[unlikely]]
+        std::abort();
 #endif
     }
     else
     {
       m_data = static_cast<T*>(std::malloc(SIZE * sizeof(T)));
-      if (!m_data)
-        Panic("Memory allocation failed.");
+      assert(m_data);
+      if (!m_data) [[unlikely]]
+        std::abort();
     }
   }
   void deallocate()
@@ -377,11 +377,12 @@ private:
     {
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
       m_data = static_cast<T*>(_aligned_realloc(prev_ptr, size * sizeof(T), alignment));
+      assert(m_data);
       if (!m_data) [[unlikely]]
-        Panic("Memory allocation failed.");
+        std::abort();
 #else
       if (posix_memalign(reinterpret_cast<void**>(&m_data), alignment, size * sizeof(T)) != 0) [[unlikely]]
-        Panic("Memory allocation failed.");
+        std::abort();
 
       if (prev_ptr)
       {
@@ -393,8 +394,9 @@ private:
     else
     {
       m_data = static_cast<T*>(std::realloc(prev_ptr, size * sizeof(T)));
+      assert(m_data);
       if (!m_data) [[unlikely]]
-        Panic("Memory allocation failed.");
+        std::abort();
     }
 
     m_size = size;
diff --git a/src/core/bios.cpp b/src/core/bios.cpp
index fc69686f3..39302a624 100644
--- a/src/core/bios.cpp
+++ b/src/core/bios.cpp
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ std::optional<BIOS::Image> BIOS::LoadImageFromFile(const char* filename, Error*
   }
 
   // We want to hash the whole file. That means reading the whole thing in, if it's a larger BIOS (PS2).
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(fp.get(), error);
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(fp.get(), error);
   if (!data.has_value() || data->size() < BIOS_SIZE)
     return ret;
 
diff --git a/src/core/bios.h b/src/core/bios.h
index 59ce9dbc3..86bfbe75f 100644
--- a/src/core/bios.h
+++ b/src/core/bios.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include "types.h"
 
+#include "common/heap_array.h"
 #include "common/small_string.h"
 
 #include <array>
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ struct Image
 {
   const ImageInfo* info;
   ImageInfo::Hash hash;
-  std::vector<u8> data;
+  DynamicHeapArray<u8> data;
 };
 
 #pragma pack(push, 1)
diff --git a/src/core/bus.cpp b/src/core/bus.cpp
index c06c7356c..91246ae28 100644
--- a/src/core/bus.cpp
+++ b/src/core/bus.cpp
@@ -1034,15 +1034,15 @@ bool Bus::SideloadEXE(const std::string& path, Error* error)
   if (const std::string libps_path = Path::BuildRelativePath(path, "libps.exe");
       FileSystem::FileExists(libps_path.c_str()))
   {
-    const std::optional<std::vector<u8>> exe_data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(libps_path.c_str(), error);
-    okay = (exe_data.has_value() && InjectExecutable(exe_data.value(), false, error));
+    const std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> exe_data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(libps_path.c_str(), error);
+    okay = (exe_data.has_value() && InjectExecutable(exe_data->cspan(), false, error));
     if (!okay)
       Error::AddPrefix(error, "Failed to load libps.exe: ");
   }
   if (okay)
   {
-    const std::optional<std::vector<u8>> exe_data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(System::GetExeOverride().c_str(), error);
-    okay = (exe_data.has_value() && InjectExecutable(exe_data.value(), true, error));
+    const std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> exe_data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(System::GetExeOverride().c_str(), error);
+    okay = (exe_data.has_value() && InjectExecutable(exe_data->cspan(), true, error));
     if (!okay)
       Error::AddPrefixFmt(error, "Failed to load {}: ", Path::GetFileName(path));
   }
diff --git a/src/core/gdb_server.cpp b/src/core/gdb_server.cpp
index aebbfe3ba..59282107d 100644
--- a/src/core/gdb_server.cpp
+++ b/src/core/gdb_server.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "cpu_core_private.h"
 #include "system.h"
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/log.h"
 #include "common/small_string.h"
 #include "common/string_util.h"
diff --git a/src/core/memory_card_image.cpp b/src/core/memory_card_image.cpp
index 2c44082e9..0beedde81 100644
--- a/src/core/memory_card_image.cpp
+++ b/src/core/memory_card_image.cpp
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ const T* GetFramePtr(const DataArray& data, u32 block, u32 frame)
 }
 
 static std::optional<u32> GetNextFreeBlock(const DataArray& data);
-static bool ImportCardMCD(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error);
-static bool ImportCardGME(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error);
-static bool ImportCardVGS(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error);
-static bool ImportCardPSX(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error);
+static bool ImportCardMCD(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error);
+static bool ImportCardGME(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error);
+static bool ImportCardVGS(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error);
+static bool ImportCardPSX(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error);
 static bool ImportSaveWithDirectoryFrame(DataArray* data, const char* filename, const FILESYSTEM_STAT_DATA& sd,
                                          Error* error);
 static bool ImportRawSave(DataArray* data, const char* filename, const FILESYSTEM_STAT_DATA& sd, Error* error);
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ReadFile(const DataArray& data, const FileInfo& fi, std::v
   return true;
 }
 
-bool MemoryCardImage::WriteFile(DataArray* data, std::string_view filename, const std::vector<u8>& buffer, Error* error)
+bool MemoryCardImage::WriteFile(DataArray* data, std::string_view filename, const std::span<const u8> buffer, Error* error)
 {
   if (buffer.empty())
   {
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::UndeleteFile(DataArray* data, const FileInfo& fi)
   return true;
 }
 
-bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardMCD(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error)
+bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardMCD(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error)
 {
   if (file_data.size() != DATA_SIZE)
   {
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardMCD(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::
   return true;
 }
 
-bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardGME(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error)
+bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardGME(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error)
 {
 #pragma pack(push, 1)
   struct GMEHeader
@@ -529,15 +529,27 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardGME(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::
   {
     WARNING_LOG("GME memory card '{}' is too small (got {} expected {}), padding with zeroes", filename,
                 file_data.size(), expected_size);
-    file_data.resize(expected_size);
+    if (file_data.size() > sizeof(GMEHeader))
+    {
+      const size_t present = file_data.size() - sizeof(GMEHeader);
+      std::memcpy(data->data(), file_data.data() + sizeof(GMEHeader), present);
+      std::memset(data->data() + present, 0, DATA_SIZE - present);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      std::memset(data->data(), 0, DATA_SIZE);
+    }
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    // we don't actually care about the header, just skip over it
+    std::memcpy(data->data(), file_data.data() + sizeof(GMEHeader), DATA_SIZE);
   }
 
-  // we don't actually care about the header, just skip over it
-  std::memcpy(data->data(), file_data.data() + sizeof(GMEHeader), DATA_SIZE);
   return true;
 }
 
-bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardVGS(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error)
+bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardVGS(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error)
 {
   constexpr u32 HEADER_SIZE = 64;
   constexpr u32 EXPECTED_SIZE = HEADER_SIZE + DATA_SIZE;
@@ -560,7 +572,7 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardVGS(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::
   return true;
 }
 
-bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardPSX(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error)
+bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardPSX(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error)
 {
   constexpr u32 HEADER_SIZE = 256;
   constexpr u32 EXPECTED_SIZE = HEADER_SIZE + DATA_SIZE;
@@ -583,7 +595,7 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCardPSX(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::
   return true;
 }
 
-bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error)
+bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error)
 {
   const std::string_view extension = Path::GetExtension(filename);
   if (extension.empty())
@@ -597,19 +609,19 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vec
       StringUtil::EqualNoCase(extension, "psm") || StringUtil::EqualNoCase(extension, "ps") ||
       StringUtil::EqualNoCase(extension, "ddf"))
   {
-    return ImportCardMCD(data, filename, std::move(file_data), error);
+    return ImportCardMCD(data, filename, file_data, error);
   }
   else if (StringUtil::EqualNoCase(extension, "gme"))
   {
-    return ImportCardGME(data, filename, std::move(file_data), error);
+    return ImportCardGME(data, filename, file_data, error);
   }
   else if (StringUtil::EqualNoCase(extension, "mem") || StringUtil::EqualNoCase(extension, "vgs"))
   {
-    return ImportCardVGS(data, filename, std::move(file_data), error);
+    return ImportCardVGS(data, filename, file_data, error);
   }
   else if (StringUtil::EqualNoCase(extension, "psx"))
   {
-    return ImportCardPSX(data, filename, std::move(file_data), error);
+    return ImportCardPSX(data, filename, file_data, error);
   }
   else
   {
@@ -620,11 +632,11 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vec
 
 bool MemoryCardImage::ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, Error* error)
 {
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> file_data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(filename, error);
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> file_data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(filename, error);
   if (!file_data.has_value())
     return false;
 
-  return ImportCard(data, filename, std::move(file_data.value()), error);
+  return ImportCard(data, filename, file_data->cspan(), error);
 }
 
 bool MemoryCardImage::ExportSave(DataArray* data, const FileInfo& fi, const char* filename, Error* error)
@@ -724,7 +736,7 @@ bool MemoryCardImage::ImportRawSave(DataArray* data, const char* filename, const
   if (save_name.length() > DirectoryFrame::FILE_NAME_LENGTH)
     save_name.erase(DirectoryFrame::FILE_NAME_LENGTH);
 
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> blocks = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(filename, error);
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> blocks = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(filename, error);
   if (!blocks.has_value())
     return false;
 
diff --git a/src/core/memory_card_image.h b/src/core/memory_card_image.h
index 0f254c1b0..6a0398547 100644
--- a/src/core/memory_card_image.h
+++ b/src/core/memory_card_image.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <array>
+#include <span>
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
 #include <vector>
@@ -51,11 +52,11 @@ bool IsValid(const DataArray& data);
 u32 GetFreeBlockCount(const DataArray& data);
 std::vector<FileInfo> EnumerateFiles(const DataArray& data, bool include_deleted);
 bool ReadFile(const DataArray& data, const FileInfo& fi, std::vector<u8>* buffer, Error* error);
-bool WriteFile(DataArray* data, std::string_view filename, const std::vector<u8>& buffer, Error* error);
+bool WriteFile(DataArray* data, std::string_view filename, std::span<const u8> buffer, Error* error);
 bool DeleteFile(DataArray* data, const FileInfo& fi, bool clear_sectors);
 bool UndeleteFile(DataArray* data, const FileInfo& fi);
 bool ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, Error* error);
-bool ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::vector<u8> file_data, Error* error);
+bool ImportCard(DataArray* data, const char* filename, std::span<const u8> file_data, Error* error);
 bool ExportSave(DataArray* data, const FileInfo& fi, const char* filename, Error* error);
 bool ImportSave(DataArray* data, const char* filename, Error* error);
 } // namespace MemoryCardImage
diff --git a/src/core/pine_server.cpp b/src/core/pine_server.cpp
index 0adb50e75..1d5720696 100644
--- a/src/core/pine_server.cpp
+++ b/src/core/pine_server.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2002-2024 PCSX2 Dev Team, Connor McLaughlin <stenzek@gmail.com>
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0+
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0)
+// NOTE: File has been rewritten completely compared to the original, only the enums remain.
 
 #include "pine_server.h"
 #include "cpu_core.h"
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@
 
 #include "util/sockets.h"
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/binary_reader_writer.h"
 #include "common/error.h"
 #include "common/file_system.h"
diff --git a/src/core/pine_server.h b/src/core/pine_server.h
index 4f2f1842c..c234b16eb 100644
--- a/src/core/pine_server.h
+++ b/src/core/pine_server.h
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2002-2024 PCSX2 Dev Team, Connor McLaughlin <stenzek@gmail.com>
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0+
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0)
 
-/* A reference client implementation for interfacing with PINE is available
- * here: https://code.govanify.com/govanify/pine/ */
+// A reference client implementation for interfacing with PINE is available here:
+// https://code.govanify.com/govanify/pine/
 
 #pragma once
 
diff --git a/src/core/psf_loader.cpp b/src/core/psf_loader.cpp
index 8ed3fcd97..c4fc37e60 100644
--- a/src/core/psf_loader.cpp
+++ b/src/core/psf_loader.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ float PSFLoader::File::GetTagFloat(const char* tag_name, float default_value) co
 
 bool PSFLoader::File::Load(const char* path, Error* error)
 {
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> file_data(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path, error));
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> file_data(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path, error));
   if (!file_data.has_value() || file_data->empty())
     return false;
 
diff --git a/src/core/system.cpp b/src/core/system.cpp
index 628121553..d5c14fff5 100644
--- a/src/core/system.cpp
+++ b/src/core/system.cpp
@@ -900,12 +900,12 @@ bool System::GetGameDetailsFromImage(CDImage* cdi, std::string* out_id, GameHash
 
 System::GameHash System::GetGameHashFromFile(const char* path)
 {
-  const std::optional<std::vector<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path);
+  const std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path);
   if (!data)
     return 0;
 
   const std::string display_name = FileSystem::GetDisplayNameFromPath(path);
-  return GetGameHashFromBuffer(display_name, data.value(), IsoReader::ISOPrimaryVolumeDescriptor{}, 0);
+  return GetGameHashFromBuffer(display_name, data->cspan(), IsoReader::ISOPrimaryVolumeDescriptor{}, 0);
 }
 
 std::string System::GetExecutableNameForImage(IsoReader& iso, bool strip_subdirectories)
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/autoupdaterdialog.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/autoupdaterdialog.cpp
index 44b860589..5c0e7fff0 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/autoupdaterdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/autoupdaterdialog.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #include "util/http_downloader.h"
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/error.h"
 #include "common/file_system.h"
 #include "common/log.h"
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistmodel.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistmodel.cpp
index ce7d1e71c..99bd8f613 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistmodel.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 #include "core/system.h"
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/file_system.h"
 #include "common/path.h"
 #include "common/string_util.h"
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp
index c5dfd43c8..83bd51aff 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp
@@ -1950,10 +1950,10 @@ bool Host::ResourceFileExists(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override)
   return FileSystem::FileExists(path.c_str());
 }
 
-std::optional<std::vector<u8>> Host::ReadResourceFile(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override)
+std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> Host::ReadResourceFile(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override)
 {
   const std::string path = QtHost::GetResourcePath(filename, allow_override);
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ret(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path.c_str()));
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> ret(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path.c_str()));
   if (!ret.has_value())
     ERROR_LOG("Failed to read resource file '{}'", filename);
   return ret;
diff --git a/src/duckstation-regtest/regtest_host.cpp b/src/duckstation-regtest/regtest_host.cpp
index 705fce6f1..78de0df27 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-regtest/regtest_host.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-regtest/regtest_host.cpp
@@ -212,10 +212,10 @@ bool Host::ResourceFileExists(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override)
   return FileSystem::FileExists(path.c_str());
 }
 
-std::optional<std::vector<u8>> Host::ReadResourceFile(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override)
+std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> Host::ReadResourceFile(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override)
 {
   const std::string path(Path::Combine(EmuFolders::Resources, filename));
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ret(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path.c_str()));
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> ret(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(path.c_str()));
   if (!ret.has_value())
     ERROR_LOG("Failed to read resource file '{}'", filename);
   return ret;
diff --git a/src/util/cd_image_mds.cpp b/src/util/cd_image_mds.cpp
index 3c9d72454..23aaaa22d 100644
--- a/src/util/cd_image_mds.cpp
+++ b/src/util/cd_image_mds.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ bool CDImageMds::OpenAndParse(const char* filename, Error* error)
     return false;
   }
 
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> mds_data_opt(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(mds_fp));
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> mds_data_opt(FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(mds_fp));
   std::fclose(mds_fp);
   if (!mds_data_opt.has_value() || mds_data_opt->size() < 0x54)
   {
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ bool CDImageMds::OpenAndParse(const char* filename, Error* error)
     return false;
   }
 
-  const std::vector<u8>& mds = mds_data_opt.value();
+  const DynamicHeapArray<u8>& mds = mds_data_opt.value();
   static constexpr char expected_signature[] = "MEDIA DESCRIPTOR";
   if (std::memcmp(&mds[0], expected_signature, sizeof(expected_signature) - 1) != 0)
   {
diff --git a/src/util/d3d11_pipeline.cpp b/src/util/d3d11_pipeline.cpp
index f39d8f927..d8d293cf9 100644
--- a/src/util/d3d11_pipeline.cpp
+++ b/src/util/d3d11_pipeline.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "d3d11_device.h"
 #include "d3d_common.h"
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/error.h"
 #include "common/hash_combine.h"
 
diff --git a/src/util/d3d11_texture.cpp b/src/util/d3d11_texture.cpp
index b015d572e..66f36cce1 100644
--- a/src/util/d3d11_texture.cpp
+++ b/src/util/d3d11_texture.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "d3d11_device.h"
 #include "d3d_common.h"
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/log.h"
 #include "common/string_util.h"
 
diff --git a/src/util/d3d12_device.cpp b/src/util/d3d12_device.cpp
index 7c4089ea4..f37ef4f74 100644
--- a/src/util/d3d12_device.cpp
+++ b/src/util/d3d12_device.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2019-2024 Connor McLaughlin <stenzek@gmail.com>
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0)
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR PolyForm-Strict-1.0.0)
 
 #include "d3d12_device.h"
 #include "d3d12_builders.h"
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ static std::mutex s_instance_mutex;
 static constexpr GPUTexture::Format s_swap_chain_format = GPUTexture::Format::RGBA8;
 
 // We just need to keep this alive, never reference it.
-static std::vector<u8> s_pipeline_cache_data;
+static DynamicHeapArray<u8> s_pipeline_cache_data;
 
 #ifdef _DEBUG
 #include "WinPixEventRuntime/pix3.h"
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ void D3D12Device::DestroyDevice()
   DestroyCommandLists();
 
   m_pipeline_library.Reset();
-  std::vector<u8>().swap(s_pipeline_cache_data);
+  s_pipeline_cache_data.deallocate();
   m_fence.Reset();
   if (m_fence_event != NULL)
   {
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ void D3D12Device::DestroyDevice()
 
 bool D3D12Device::ReadPipelineCache(const std::string& filename)
 {
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(filename.c_str());
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(filename.c_str());
 
   HRESULT hr =
     m_device->CreatePipelineLibrary(data.has_value() ? data->data() : nullptr, data.has_value() ? data->size() : 0,
diff --git a/src/util/d3d12_device.h b/src/util/d3d12_device.h
index 697dcd82b..495d3b723 100644
--- a/src/util/d3d12_device.h
+++ b/src/util/d3d12_device.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2019-2024 Connor McLaughlin <stenzek@gmail.com>
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0)
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR PolyForm-Strict-1.0.0)
 
 #pragma once
 
diff --git a/src/util/gpu_framebuffer_manager.h b/src/util/gpu_framebuffer_manager.h
index 6fb7b910b..5663637dd 100644
--- a/src/util/gpu_framebuffer_manager.h
+++ b/src/util/gpu_framebuffer_manager.h
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2019-2023 Connor McLaughlin <stenzek@gmail.com>
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2019-2024 Connor McLaughlin <stenzek@gmail.com>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0)
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
+
 #include "gpu_device.h"
 #include "gpu_texture.h"
 
diff --git a/src/util/gpu_texture.cpp b/src/util/gpu_texture.cpp
index 95669d26d..af8191f85 100644
--- a/src/util/gpu_texture.cpp
+++ b/src/util/gpu_texture.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "gpu_device.h"
 
 #include "common/align.h"
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/bitutils.h"
 #include "common/log.h"
 #include "common/string_util.h"
diff --git a/src/util/host.h b/src/util/host.h
index 8028975a2..19a730f66 100644
--- a/src/util/host.h
+++ b/src/util/host.h
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "common/types.h"
+#include "common/heap_array.h"
 
 #include <ctime>
 #include <optional>
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
-#include <vector>
 
 namespace Host {
 /// Returns true if the specified resource file exists.
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ bool ResourceFileExists(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override);
 
 /// Reads a file from the resources directory of the application.
 /// This may be outside of the "normal" filesystem on platforms such as Mac.
-std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ReadResourceFile(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override);
+std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> ReadResourceFile(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override);
 
 /// Reads a resource file file from the resources directory as a string.
 std::optional<std::string> ReadResourceFileToString(std::string_view filename, bool allow_override);
diff --git a/src/util/image.cpp b/src/util/image.cpp
index 336ea6ab8..419164027 100644
--- a/src/util/image.cpp
+++ b/src/util/image.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "image.h"
 
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/bitutils.h"
 #include "common/fastjmp.h"
 #include "common/file_system.h"
@@ -518,7 +519,7 @@ static bool WrapJPEGDecompress(RGBA8Image* image, T setup_func)
 bool JPEGBufferLoader(RGBA8Image* image, const void* buffer, size_t buffer_size)
 {
   return WrapJPEGDecompress(image, [buffer, buffer_size](jpeg_decompress_struct& info) {
-    jpeg_mem_src(&info, static_cast<const unsigned char*>(buffer), buffer_size);
+    jpeg_mem_src(&info, static_cast<const unsigned char*>(buffer), static_cast<unsigned long>(buffer_size));
   });
 }
 
@@ -763,7 +764,7 @@ bool WebPBufferSaver(const RGBA8Image& image, std::vector<u8>* buffer, u8 qualit
 
 bool WebPFileLoader(RGBA8Image* image, std::string_view filename, std::FILE* fp)
 {
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(fp);
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> data = FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(fp);
   if (!data.has_value())
     return false;
 
diff --git a/src/util/image.h b/src/util/image.h
index adb2266cc..91bd3602c 100644
--- a/src/util/image.h
+++ b/src/util/image.h
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/types.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
diff --git a/src/util/imgui_fullscreen.cpp b/src/util/imgui_fullscreen.cpp
index 2d04b425d..4390148a0 100644
--- a/src/util/imgui_fullscreen.cpp
+++ b/src/util/imgui_fullscreen.cpp
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ std::optional<RGBA8Image> ImGuiFullscreen::LoadTextureImage(std::string_view pat
   }
   else
   {
-    std::optional<std::vector<u8>> data = Host::ReadResourceFile(path, true);
+    std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> data = Host::ReadResourceFile(path, true);
     if (data.has_value())
     {
       image = RGBA8Image();
diff --git a/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp b/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp
index 294c83206..ce6421074 100644
--- a/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2019-2024 Connor McLaughlin <stenzek@gmail.com>
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR PolyForm-Strict-1.0.0)
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: (GPL-3.0 OR CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0)
 
 #include "imgui_manager.h"
 #include "gpu_device.h"
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ static ImFont* s_fixed_font;
 static ImFont* s_medium_font;
 static ImFont* s_large_font;
 
-static std::vector<u8> s_standard_font_data;
-static std::vector<u8> s_fixed_font_data;
-static std::vector<u8> s_icon_fa_font_data;
-static std::vector<u8> s_icon_pf_font_data;
+static DynamicHeapArray<u8> s_standard_font_data;
+static DynamicHeapArray<u8> s_fixed_font_data;
+static DynamicHeapArray<u8> s_icon_fa_font_data;
+static DynamicHeapArray<u8> s_icon_pf_font_data;
 
 static float s_window_width;
 static float s_window_height;
@@ -482,9 +482,9 @@ bool ImGuiManager::LoadFontData()
 {
   if (s_standard_font_data.empty())
   {
-    std::optional<std::vector<u8>> font_data = s_font_path.empty() ?
-                                                 Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf", true) :
-                                                 FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(s_font_path.c_str());
+    std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> font_data = s_font_path.empty() ?
+                                                      Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf", true) :
+                                                      FileSystem::ReadBinaryFile(s_font_path.c_str());
     if (!font_data.has_value())
       return false;
 
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ bool ImGuiManager::LoadFontData()
 
   if (s_fixed_font_data.empty())
   {
-    std::optional<std::vector<u8>> font_data = Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/RobotoMono-Medium.ttf", true);
+    std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> font_data = Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/RobotoMono-Medium.ttf", true);
     if (!font_data.has_value())
       return false;
 
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ bool ImGuiManager::LoadFontData()
 
   if (s_icon_fa_font_data.empty())
   {
-    std::optional<std::vector<u8>> font_data = Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/fa-solid-900.ttf", true);
+    std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> font_data = Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/fa-solid-900.ttf", true);
     if (!font_data.has_value())
       return false;
 
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ bool ImGuiManager::LoadFontData()
 
   if (s_icon_pf_font_data.empty())
   {
-    std::optional<std::vector<u8>> font_data = Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/promptfont.otf", true);
+    std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> font_data = Host::ReadResourceFile("fonts/promptfont.otf", true);
     if (!font_data.has_value())
       return false;
 
diff --git a/src/util/media_capture.cpp b/src/util/media_capture.cpp
index bd5043adc..3de04ac89 100644
--- a/src/util/media_capture.cpp
+++ b/src/util/media_capture.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "host.h"
 
 #include "common/align.h"
+#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/dynamic_library.h"
 #include "common/error.h"
 #include "common/file_system.h"
diff --git a/src/util/postprocessing_shader_fx.cpp b/src/util/postprocessing_shader_fx.cpp
index 3b3921566..a76c32c15 100644
--- a/src/util/postprocessing_shader_fx.cpp
+++ b/src/util/postprocessing_shader_fx.cpp
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ bool PostProcessing::ReShadeFXShader::CreatePasses(GPUTexture::Format backbuffer
       {
         // Might be a base file/resource instead.
         const std::string resource_name = Path::Combine("shaders/reshade/Textures", source);
-        if (std::optional<std::vector<u8>> resdata = Host::ReadResourceFile(resource_name.c_str(), true);
+        if (std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> resdata = Host::ReadResourceFile(resource_name.c_str(), true);
             !resdata.has_value() || !image.LoadFromBuffer(resource_name.c_str(), resdata->data(), resdata->size()))
         {
           Error::SetString(error, fmt::format("Failed to load image '{}' (from '{}')", source, image_path).c_str());
diff --git a/src/util/vulkan_device.cpp b/src/util/vulkan_device.cpp
index 907bf6519..a2b830c77 100644
--- a/src/util/vulkan_device.cpp
+++ b/src/util/vulkan_device.cpp
@@ -2244,7 +2244,7 @@ void VulkanDevice::FillPipelineCacheHeader(VK_PIPELINE_CACHE_HEADER* header)
 
 bool VulkanDevice::ReadPipelineCache(const std::string& filename)
 {
-  std::optional<std::vector<u8>> data;
+  std::optional<DynamicHeapArray<u8>> data;
 
   auto fp = FileSystem::OpenManagedCFile(filename.c_str(), "rb");
   if (fp)