alt Hacker NewsSeems 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
Replies
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
Half of them also have a very obviously vibecoded front-end that looks exactly the same
Also, PdfTk has existed for decades and is very solid (but Windows only, I think).
Not even couple of months. Just within last month.
All with similar design, similar implementation, similar HN post. Literally AI slop.
Also:
Show HN: BentoPDF is a privacy first PDF Toolkit
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46657892 (this one just yesterday)
Show HN: NoUploadTools – Free Tools that don't upload your files
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46516400
Show HN: TechRex – client-side PDF editor (no upload, no watermark)
Good point! I don't understand why this link received so many points.
Due to pdf popularity there is a lot of demand for pdf processing tools. And the format is so complex that there are many nontrivial and creative ways to do pdf processing. That's why these "Hello World" projects usually make Top 5 on HN, and one of the upvotes is usually from me.