Top PDF Viewer Libraries

SumatraPDF is a free, open-source PDF reader for Windows, known for its simplicity and speed.

Pros

• Lightweight and fast, with minimal resource usage compared to many other PDF readers
• Supports a wide range of document formats beyond PDF, including EPUB, MOBI, and CBZ
• Offers a portable version that doesn't require installation, making it easy to use on different computers

Cons

• Limited annotation and editing features compared to more comprehensive tools like Xournal++
• Lacks advanced viewing options and customization found in some other PDF readers
• Windows-only, unlike cross-platform alternatives such as PDF.js-based viewers or Emacs-based solutions

Note: As SumatraPDF is a standalone application and not a code library, a code example is not applicable for this project.

Xournal++ is an open-source note-taking software with PDF annotation capabilities, designed as a more feature-rich alternative to Xournal.

Pros

• Offers a comprehensive set of note-taking and PDF annotation tools, unlike some PDF-only viewers or editors.
• Provides a native desktop application for Linux, Windows, and macOS, unlike web-based solutions.
• Supports pressure-sensitive input for stylus users, which is not available in many other PDF viewers.

Cons

• Lacks mobile support, unlike some projects like AndroidPdfViewer or react-pdf.
• May have a steeper learning curve compared to simpler PDF viewers like SumatraPDF.
• Does not offer collaborative editing features found in some office suites like ONLYOFFICE DocumentServer.

wojtekmaj/react-pdf is a React component library for rendering PDF files in web applications.

Code Example

import { Document, Page } from 'react-pdf';

<Document file="sample.pdf">
  <Page pageNumber={1} />
</Document>

Pros

• Specifically designed for React applications, offering seamless integration with React components
• Provides a high level of customization and control over PDF rendering
• Supports both client-side and server-side rendering

Cons

• Limited to React applications, unlike more versatile PDF viewers like SumatraPDF or Xournal++
• Lacks advanced annotation and editing features found in some other PDF tools
• May have a steeper learning curve compared to simpler PDF viewing solutions

DImuthuUpe/AndroidPdfViewer is an Android library for rendering PDF files using PdfiumAndroid.

Code Example

PDFView pdfView = findViewById(R.id.pdfView);
pdfView.fromAsset("sample.pdf")
       .load();

Pros

• Specifically designed for Android, making it easier to integrate into Android apps compared to cross-platform solutions like react-pdf or vue-pdf.
• Offers a simple API for basic PDF viewing functionality, which is more straightforward than some complex alternatives like ONLYOFFICE/DocumentServer.
• Lightweight compared to full-featured PDF readers like sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf or xournalpp/xournalpp.

Cons

• Limited to Android platform, unlike cross-platform solutions such as react-pdf-viewer or vue-office.
• Lacks advanced features like annotation support found in projects like elias-sundqvist/obsidian-annotator or agentcooper/react-pdf-highlighter.
• May not provide the same level of performance optimization as specialized viewers like ahrm/sioyek for large technical PDFs.

Sioyek is a PDF viewer designed for reading research papers and technical documents with features like synctex support and easy reference lookup.

Pros

• Specialized for academic and technical reading with features like reference jumping and table of contents navigation
• Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Lightweight and fast compared to some more feature-rich alternatives

Cons

• Limited file format support (primarily focused on PDFs) compared to more versatile document viewers
• Fewer annotation and editing capabilities compared to tools like Xournal++ or ONLYOFFICE DocumentServer
• Less integration with web technologies compared to React or Vue-based PDF viewers