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Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

mozilla.github.com

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Re: Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

#11

Post by mrb »

ianb wrote: post #7

I use this a lot, and it really does work. It renders everything, and renders it well. The one thing that doesn't work is maps – just too many vectors, and Javascript/Canvas/etc just can't keep up. Otherwise I'm very happy and don't feel nearly as much resentment towards PDFs as I used to.

(I assume you are you mentally comparing pdf.js to Adobe Reader.)

Have we reached the point where Adobe Reader is so resource-guzzling that people prefer a JavaScript (gasp!) PDF interpreter to Reader? Wow.

Re: Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

#13

Post by winter_blue »

I used to use PDF.js for a while (on Linux), until I switched to KParts because it was having difficulty rendering certain kinds of PDF documents. KParts uses the same underlying engine that powers Okular (KDE's default PDF reader.) It renders everything properly and is much faster than PDF.js. It reminded me of Foxit on Windows. KParts might be only available on Linux though...

Re: Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

#14

Post by jcheng »

jpallen wrote: post #9

I'm really excited for this for http://www.sharelatex.com and other similar sites that are actually generating a PDF for you. With native PDF viewers there is no way to interact with the viewer via javascript and even just having the viewer stay on the same page when your reload a document (with minor changes) is impossible. Pdf.js means that we'll be able to do this easily, as well as other cool things like letting…

Our web-based IDE[1] does exactly this, including syncing between source and PDF, using PDF.js. Works great for the most part!

[1] http://rstudio.org

Re: Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

#15

Post by Swizec »

jowiar wrote: post #3

1) From a technical perspective, this is damn cool - exceedingly well done. Color me very impressed. 2) I hope I never actually see anyone using this on a website, attempting to make things "easier." Between Scribd and Slideshare, and Adobe trying to force its hideous crash-prone plugins into my browser, there are already enough people making a mess out of what is one of the more well-thought-out aspects of OS X. Giv…

A few months after this was first shown on HN Chrome started shipping with a built-in pdf reader that looks exactly the same on both MacOS and Linux.

I always assumed it was pdf.js

Re: Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

#16

Post by wlesieutre »

Swizec wrote: post #15
jowiar wrote: post #3

1) From a technical perspective, this is damn cool - exceedingly well done. Color me very impressed. 2) I hope I never actually see anyone using this on a website, attempting to make things "easier." Between Scribd and Slideshare, and Adobe trying to force its hideous crash-prone plugins into my browser, there are already enough people making a mess out of what is one of the more well-thought-out aspects of OS X. Giv…

A few months after this was first shown on HN Chrome started shipping with a built-in pdf reader that looks exactly the same on both MacOS and Linux. I always assumed it was pdf.js

I believe Chrome's pdf plugin is based on Foxit

Re: Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

#18

Post by fafner »

Swizec wrote: post #15
jowiar wrote: post #3

1) From a technical perspective, this is damn cool - exceedingly well done. Color me very impressed. 2) I hope I never actually see anyone using this on a website, attempting to make things "easier." Between Scribd and Slideshare, and Adobe trying to force its hideous crash-prone plugins into my browser, there are already enough people making a mess out of what is one of the more well-thought-out aspects of OS X. Giv…

A few months after this was first shown on HN Chrome started shipping with a built-in pdf reader that looks exactly the same on both MacOS and Linux. I always assumed it was pdf.js

No, Chrome has its own binary plugin. IIRC it is closed source and not available in Chromium.

Pdf.js is developed by Mozilla and now shipped with Firefox and it works quite well so far.

Re: Pdf.js: PDF Reader in JavaScript

#19

Post by fafner »

ianb wrote: post #7

I use this a lot, and it really does work. It renders everything, and renders it well. The one thing that doesn't work is maps – just too many vectors, and Javascript/Canvas/etc just can't keep up. Otherwise I'm very happy and don't feel nearly as much resentment towards PDFs as I used to.

Yes, I really love PDF.js. I was consider switching to Chrome just because of the (proprietary) pdf viewer. But the Chrome PDF viewer even lacks the concept of pages! I had already kicked out the Adobe Reader plugin but using an external viewer every time makes PDF just so more annoying.

Mozilla is also working on something similar for Flash: https://github.com/mozilla/shumway . I'm a bit sceptical but with the success of PDF.js I can't wait to use it.

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