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Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

pdfwithlove.netlify.app

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Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#21

Post by throwaway290 »

makes it difficult to verify that it runs locally. unobfuscated source is not available. important actions, like open a PDF, save edited PDF, will be stuck or error if you cut the internet after opening the site and only unstuck after you reenable internet. I get it's probably for speed

anyway, if you save the page in Chrome and serve it on a local server, it works even with internet disabled, so there's that.

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#22

Post by Bigpet »

Was this done heavily LLM assisted? Especially the PDF Edit tools have user-interaction quirks and bugs that a human developer would catch immediately during the regular manual testing when developing.

I'd suggest you at least try and mitigate that by having the LLM do extensive e2e testing if you aren't interested in using your own product.

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#23

Post by vunderba »

Seems like Clientside PDF editors are the new "hello world" app these days. From the last couple months on Show HN alone:

Show HN: PDF Quick – Free PDF tools with 100% client-side processing

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46094734

Show HN: A privacy-first, client-side toolbox (PDF, Imgs, Dev) no server uploads

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46018221

Show HN: FileZen – Client-side PDF and Video tools using WebAssembly

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46339833

Show HN: JW Tool Box – Free, privacy-first web tools (PDF, Image, Converters)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46065448

Show HN: PDFClear – Browser-based PDF tools with local AI (WASM+Transformers.js)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46036944

Show HN: Free PDF tools that run in the browser

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46315672

Show HN: Client-side file tools – PDF, images, crypto, all in-browser

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46209627

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#24

Post by pratik227 »

Bigpet wrote: post #22

Was this done heavily LLM assisted? Especially the PDF Edit tools have user-interaction quirks and bugs that a human developer would catch immediately during the regular manual testing when developing. I'd suggest you at least try and mitigate that by having the LLM do extensive e2e testing if you aren't interested in using your own product.

It’s still a work in progress. I used an LLM to speed up development, and I’ve done the testing, but I’ll keep improving it no doubt

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#25

Post by pratik227 »

vunderba wrote: post #23

Seems like Clientside PDF editors are the new "hello world" app these days. From the last couple months on Show HN alone: Show HN: PDF Quick – Free PDF tools with 100% client-side processing https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46094734 Show HN: A privacy-first, client-side toolbox (PDF, Imgs, Dev) no server uploads https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46018221 Show HN: FileZen – Client-side PDF and Video tools using…

During my college days, I used iLovePDF a lot, so I wanted to build an alternative to it. It’s not just about PDFs - I also have work in progress around image processing and related tools and Chrome Extetion as well

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#26

Post by wickedsight »

TZubiri wrote: post #8

Might be better to provide a downloadable executable instead of asking the user to trust that the browser isn't doing what the browser was designed to do.

I can easily check network monitor in the browser to see exactly what a web app is doing.

Running an executable is a risk by default and the way it interacts with my network is way less transparent. I honestly prefer this in the browser.

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#27

Post by pratik227 »

franze wrote: post #20
pratik227 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, I’m not sure. I’m not directly using their name, and it’s not related, right? It shouldn’t cause any issues, correct?

well you clearly state that your naming is based on their naming with this sentence "The Privacy-First Alternative to" even if it might not stand before court it is enough for a lawyer to write you a letter that is not 100% baseless.

I see

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#28

Post by pratik227 »

throwaway290 wrote: post #21

makes it difficult to verify that it runs locally. unobfuscated source is not available. important actions, like open a PDF, save edited PDF, will be stuck or error if you cut the internet after opening the site and only unstuck after you reenable internet. I get it's probably for speed anyway, if you save the page in Chrome and serve it on a local server, it works even with internet disabled, so there's that.

Thanks for pointing this out. You’re right - some assets are currently loaded at runtime, which can cause actions to hang if the internet is cut mid-session. All PDF processing itself happens locally in the browser, and as you noticed, serving the page locally works fully offline. Improving offline behavior and making this easier to verify is on the roadmap

Re: Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)

#30

Post by matsemann »

TZubiri wrote: post #8

Might be better to provide a downloadable executable instead of asking the user to trust that the browser isn't doing what the browser was designed to do.

Disagree, no way I'm downloading an executable from something unknown to modify a pdf.
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