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Show HN: PDFMergely – In-browser PDF tools that never upload your files

pdfmergely.com

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Re: Show HN: PDFMergely – In-browser PDF tools that never upload your files

#2

Post by pdfmergely »

Author here. Quick note on how the "no upload" claim actually works, since it deserves scrutiny.

There's no upload endpoint to send files to. When you pick a file, the browser hands the app the bytes directly; the work runs in a Web Worker on your device, with WebAssembly for the heavier parts like encryption. The finished PDF is built locally and downloaded. The page is also locked down with a strict CSP so file data has no network path out — you can open the Network tab and confirm nothing leaves while you work. After the first load it works fully offline, which is the easiest proof.

The honest tradeoff: because everything runs on your device, very large files depend on your machine's memory and a phone won't match a desktop. We process a page at a time to keep memory in check.

Tools today: merge, split, reorder, rotate, delete/extract pages, compress, watermark, page numbers, protect/unlock. Free, no sign-up. Would love feedback on what to add next.

Re: Show HN: PDFMergely – In-browser PDF tools that never upload your files

#4

Post by pdfmergely »

sscaryterry wrote: post #3

Where is the company registered? None of these details are on your website.

Fair point, I'll add an About/Contact page with who's behind it.

It's a small solo project; there's no company entity yet, but also no account or server, so nothing of yours is collected — files are processed in your browser and never leave your device (verifiable in the Network tab).

Re: Show HN: PDFMergely – In-browser PDF tools that never upload your files

#6

Post by sscaryterry »

pdfmergely wrote: post #4
sscaryterry wrote: post #3

Where is the company registered? None of these details are on your website.

Fair point, I'll add an About/Contact page with who's behind it. It's a small solo project; there's no company entity yet, but also no account or server, so nothing of yours is collected — files are processed in your browser and never leave your device (verifiable in the Network tab).

No one is going to take your word at face value. Assume people don't know how to open the developer tools.

Re: Show HN: PDFMergely – In-browser PDF tools that never upload your files

#7

Post by pdfmergely »

sscaryterry wrote: post #6
pdfmergely wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair point, I'll add an About/Contact page with who's behind it. It's a small solo project; there's no company entity yet, but also no account or server, so nothing of yours is collected — files are processed in your browser and never leave your device (verifiable in the Network tab).

No one is going to take your word at face value. Assume people don't know how to open the developer tools.

A good point . open the Network tab" isn't a real answer for most people, and "trust me" isn't either.

Two things that don't depend on either: (1) the offline test is something anyone can do ,load the page, turn off your wifi, and the tools keep working, which they couldn't if they relied on a server; (2) the site ships a Content-Security-Policy that blocks outbound connections, so it's the browser enforcing it, not my word. The real fix for trust is open-sourcing it and getting a third-party audit, which is on my list.

Appreciate you pushing on this.

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