The latest articles on DEV Community by lian (@liulian637). https://dev.to/liulian637 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3940646%2F3281241c-d2e4-4251-8a8c-2c69cdaf06f8.png https://dev.to/liulian637 en lian Sun, 24 May 2026 01:00:31 +0000 https://dev.to/liulian637/i-built-a-privacy-first-pdf-toolbox-that-runs-entirely-in-your-browser-1b93 https://dev.to/liulian637/i-built-a-privacy-first-pdf-toolbox-that-runs-entirely-in-your-browser-1b93 <h1>I Built a Privacy-First PDF Toolbox That Runs Entirely in Your Browser</h1> <h2>The Problem</h2> <p>We've all been there — you need to merge a few PDFs, extract some pages, or add a watermark. So you search for "free PDF tool" and land on a site that:</p> <ol> <li>Asks you to upload your files to <strong>their server</strong> </li> <li>Limits you to <strong>2 files per day</strong> unless you pay</li> <li>Shows <strong>ads everywhere</strong> </li> <li>Makes you wonder who now has a copy of your contract/resume/medical form</li> </ol> <p>I wanted something better.</p> <h2>The Solution</h2> <p>Meet <strong><a href="https://pdf8.vip" rel="noopener noreferrer">PDF8</a></strong> — a completely free, privacy-first PDF toolbox that runs <strong>100% in your browser</strong>. Your files never touch a server.</p> <p>Built with Next.js and powered by <code>pdf-lib</code>, everything happens client-side using WebAssembly and native JavaScript. Once the page loads, you can even go offline and it still works.</p> <h2>8 Tools, All Free</h2> <h3>1. Merge PDFs</h3> <p>Combine multiple PDFs into one file. Drag-and-drop, reorder, done.</p> <h3>2. Extract Pages</h3> <p>Pull out specific pages by number (e.g. <code>1, 3-5</code>) into a new PDF. Perfect for splitting large documents.</p> <h3>3. Delete Pages</h3> <p>Remove covers, blank pages, or anything you don't need.</p> <h3>4. Rotate Pages</h3> <p>Fix scanned documents that came out sideways or upside down. Supports 90°, 180°, and 270° rotation.</p> <h3>5. Add Watermark</h3> <p>Overlay translucent text (e.g. "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT") on every page.</p> <h3>6. Add Page Numbers</h3> <p>Automatically number pages at the bottom center. Configurable starting number.</p> <h3>7. Images to PDF</h3> <p>Turn JPG/PNG images into a single PDF document. Great for receipts, ID scans, or photo collections.</p> <h3>8. Clear Metadata</h3> <p>Strip document metadata like title, author, subject, and keywords. Note: this is not content redaction — visible text stays intact.</p> <h2>Why I Built This</h2> <p>I handle a lot of PDFs for work — contracts, proposals, scanned documents. Every time I used an online tool, I felt uneasy about uploading sensitive files to some unknown server. Self-hosting solutions existed but required setup. Desktop software was overkill.</p> <p>So I built a middle ground: <strong>a zero-setup web app that respects your privacy by design</strong>. No accounts, no uploads, no limits.</p> <h2>Tech Stack</h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Framework:</strong> Next.js 16 (App Router)</li> <li> <strong>PDF Engine:</strong> pdf-lib (client-side only)</li> <li> <strong>Styling:</strong> Tailwind CSS v4</li> <li> <strong>Deployment:</strong> Vercel (static export)</li> <li> <strong>Language:</strong> TypeScript</li> </ul> <h2>What's Next</h2> <ul> <li>PDF compression</li> <li>Form filling</li> <li>Annotation tools</li> <li>More export formats</li> </ul> <p>Check it out at <strong><a href="https://pdf8.vip" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://pdf8.vip</a></strong> — it's free, it's fast, and your data stays yours.</p> <p><em>Built with ❤️ for the open web. No tracking, no uploads, no nonsense.</em></p> ai webdev programming productivity lian Tue, 19 May 2026 15:58:01 +0000 https://dev.to/liulian637/i-built-a-pdf-tool-that-runs-entirely-in-your-browser-no-upload-no-privacy-concerns-34p5 https://dev.to/liulian637/i-built-a-pdf-tool-that-runs-entirely-in-your-browser-no-upload-no-privacy-concerns-34p5 <h1>I Built a PDF Tool That Runs Entirely in Your Browser — No Upload, No Privacy Concerns</h1> <p>A few weeks ago, I needed to merge some PDF files. I went to one of those "free online PDF tools" sites, uploaded my documents, and then it hit me — I just sent my personal files to some server I know nothing about.</p> <p>That's when I decided to build <a href="https://pdf8.vip" rel="noopener noreferrer">pdf8.vip</a>.</p> <h2>The Problem</h2> <p>Almost every "free" PDF tool requires uploading your files to their cloud. You have to trust them with your documents —<br> contracts, resumes, personal forms. And for what? A simple merge or compress operation.</p> <p>Some charge for basic features. Others impose file size limits. Many are riddled with ads.</p> <h2>The Solution</h2> <p><a href="https://pdf8.vip" rel="noopener noreferrer">pdf8.vip</a> is different — everything runs inside your browser. Files never leave your<br> computer.</p> <p>Here's what it does right now:</p> <p>✅ Merge PDFs — Combine multiple files into one, drag to reorder pages<br><br> ✅ 100% free — No sign-up, no credit card, no hidden limits<br><br> ✅ Privacy first — Client-side processing, zero upload<br><br> ✅ No ads — Clean, distraction-free UI<br><br> ✅ Up to 50MB per file — Generous limits for most use cases</p> <h2>How It Works</h2> <p>1. Open pdf8.vip<br></p> <ol> <li>Drag and drop your PDF files (or click to select) </li> <li>Reorder pages by dragging </li> <li>Click merge — done</li> </ol> <p>The file never touches a server. Using pdf-lib, the entire merge process happens in your browser via WebAssembly.</p> <h2>What's Coming</h2> <p>🔜 PDF Split<br><br> 🔜 PDF Compress<br><br> 🔜 PDF to JPG / JPG to PDF<br><br> 🔜 More format conversions</p> <h2>Tech Stack</h2> <p>Next.js 16 — App Router, Turbopack<br><br> pdf-lib — Client-side PDF processing<br><br> Tailwind CSS — Styling<br><br> Vercel — Hosting</p> <h2>Why I'm Sharing This</h2> <p>I believe basic PDF tools should be free and private. No uploads. No data collection. Just a tool that works in your<br> browser.</p> <p>I'd love your feedback — feature requests, bug reports, or just a star on what you'd like to see next.</p> <p><strong>Try it here → <a href="https://pdf8.vip" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a><a href="https://pdf8.vip" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://pdf8.vip</a></strong></p> <p><em>Built with Next.js, deployed on Vercel. Source feedback welcome in the comments!</em></p> webdev javascript privacy