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Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

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Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#21
> I learned about how Plan 9 C code had non-traditional scheme of #include files where they don't put #ifdef wrappers in each .h file to allow multiple inclusion and .h files don't include other .h files. As a result .c files have to include every .h file they need and in the right order. It's a bit of a pain and no other modern C++ codebase I know of maintains such discipline.

I've always thought this is exactly how headers should be treated. Effectively they should be interfaces importing functionality locally, and each header should make it explicit what is imported from name alone.

Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#22
SumatraPDF, JPEGView [0], ShareX [1] are some great Windows open source softwares

0, https://github.com/sylikc/jpegview

1, https://getsharex.com/

ShareX is the nr1 software I wish was available under Linux. It does so much and perfectly. But I guess the whole X11/Wayland + different UI toolkits makes it complicated.

Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#24
post #2

I use SumatraPDF almost every day and I love it. It is very rare these days to have an application that is all of the following: - Small and fast - Hand-crafted for a particular platform - Not bloated with oddly specific UI menus and configuration settings It has one job and it does it very well. Thank you for it.

Sumatra is the best PDF Reader. It's sad that the developer isn't making much money from that excellent product.

Why is it sad? Every time I see a piece of software that provides a lot of value and it’s not focused on money-making (ublock for example) it gives me a warm feeling.

Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#25
post #22

SumatraPDF, JPEGView [0], ShareX [1] are some great Windows open source softwares 0, https://github.com/sylikc/jpegview 1, https://getsharex.com/ ShareX is the nr1 software I wish was available under Linux. It does so much and perfectly. But I guess the whole X11/Wayland + different UI toolkits makes it complicated.

Don't forget Notepad++.

And honourable mention: voidtools Everything. It's freeware, not open-source, but it's the best search utility for Windows around. It beats the Windows Explorer / startmenu built-in search on every single axis, to a comical degree.

Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sumatra is the best PDF Reader. It's sad that the developer isn't making much money from that excellent product.

Why is it sad? Every time I see a piece of software that provides a lot of value and it’s not focused on money-making (ublock for example) it gives me a warm feeling.

Because there is something ironic about people (in general, including those here) dreaming about well paying jobs, but then wanting high quality products that have been worked on by people without compensation, when that time could have been invested by the worker (developer in this case) working another paid job, spending time with loved ones, and the like.

Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#28
post #2

I use SumatraPDF almost every day and I love it. It is very rare these days to have an application that is all of the following: - Small and fast - Hand-crafted for a particular platform - Not bloated with oddly specific UI menus and configuration settings It has one job and it does it very well. Thank you for it.

It’s missing dark mode that other low-key projects have adopted. It’s an app that’s lovely to use, but it sure does give your eyeballs a suntan when it’s open.

Yes, there are custom settings you can set, but for simple software, I just want a simple switch.

Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#29
post #28
post #2

I use SumatraPDF almost every day and I love it. It is very rare these days to have an application that is all of the following: - Small and fast - Hand-crafted for a particular platform - Not bloated with oddly specific UI menus and configuration settings It has one job and it does it very well. Thank you for it.

It’s missing dark mode that other low-key projects have adopted. It’s an app that’s lovely to use, but it sure does give your eyeballs a suntan when it’s open. Yes, there are custom settings you can set, but for simple software, I just want a simple switch.

You can invert colors with a command line option, usually that does the trick

Re: Lessons learned from 15 years of SumatraPDF, an open source Windows app (2021)

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sumatra is the best PDF Reader. It's sad that the developer isn't making much money from that excellent product.

Why is it sad? Every time I see a piece of software that provides a lot of value and it’s not focused on money-making (ublock for example) it gives me a warm feeling.

It's great that it's not money-focused. It's sad that it doesn't make money despite of that.
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