Show HN: Free, in-browser PDF editor (breezepdf.com)

by philjohnson 43 comments 54 points
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43 comments

[−] maxloh 48d ago
Several open-source alternatives already exist. All are powered by pdf-lib, with the first two also utilizing PyMuPDF.

- BentoPDF (12.3k stars): https://github.com/alam00000/bentopdf

- PDFCraft (3.6k stars): https://github.com/PDFCraftTool/pdfcraft

- PDFLince (31 stars): https://github.com/GSiesto/pdflince

Since this project likely uses the same stack, I’m not sure what the selling point of a more limiting product is.

[−] philjohnson 48d ago
Well, if you aren't a developer you're not going install a PDF editor by going to GitHub, especially if having a desktop app means downloading the code yourself. Also, all of these you listed were created within the last 6 months, which is after when BreezePDF was initially created anyways. Lots of options out there, everyone can choose however they see fit!
[−] npilk 48d ago
Just for competitive reference, note that e.g. BentoPDF has a website as well, not just a GitHub repo: https://www.bentopdf.com/
[−] ramon156 48d ago
These aren't real arguments for/against your project. The body is also AI generated. I do not see a reason why I would want to try out your version, seeing as you don't care about writing a welcoming body.
[−] thangalin 48d ago
Related: My FOSS tool allows uploading PDF files to a private server for annotating within a browser. Annotations are saved server-side in JSON format, which can be viewed and modified by anyone with the URL.

https://repo.autonoma.ca/repo/notanexus/blob/HEAD/README.md

The software uses PHP and PDF.js for displaying and annotating. Screenshot:

https://i.ibb.co/gL39qGdc/notanexus.png

[−] zemlyansky 48d ago
"You've used all 3 free downloads this month" much free very no signup
[−] fabioz 48d ago
I usually go for https://simplepdf.com/ (gets the job done, files never leave the browser either).
[−] souvlakee 48d ago

>This will use 1 of your free monthly downloads. You have 3 remaining.

If this is in [my] browser, why should I pay?

[−] bl4kers 48d ago
Not interested in using a tool like this unless it's open source and we can verify it is privacy respecting
[−] beh 48d ago
Is this any different from your other submission of the same tool[0] or simply a duplicate?

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43880962

[−] raphman 48d ago
Looks nice.

Redacting text seems to actually work. However, editing existing text results in both the original text and the edited version being shown in the PDF after download.

(The page downloads mupdf (WASM) for rendering the PDF. When "downloading" (= saving) the PDF, the page first checks whether the allowed three downloads have been reached via a POST request (no PDF data uploaded), then it downloads PyIodide and some Python wheels (pdfrw, defusedxml) before creating the PDF file.

[−] hackernewds 48d ago
Bit bummed to see many posts pitching their own products (often paid) rather than give OP feedback which is the spirit of a ShowHN. There should be a blanket policy of disallowing that.
[−] kykat 48d ago
Tried to convert to docx, got failed to import js module error.
[−] madhacker 48d ago
my goto -> pdf24