Pros of PyMuPDF

• Faster performance for large PDF operations
• More comprehensive PDF manipulation capabilities
• Better support for complex PDF structures and annotations

Cons of PyMuPDF

• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
• Less intuitive for simple PDF creation tasks
• Requires external dependencies (MuPDF library)

Code Comparison

PyMuPDF example:

import fitz
doc = fitz.open("input.pdf")
page = doc[0]
text = page.get_text()
doc.close()

borb example:

from borb.pdf import Document
from borb.pdf.pdf import PDF

with open("input.pdf", "rb") as pdf_file_handle:
    doc = Document.load(pdf_file_handle)
    page = doc.get_page(0)
    text = page.get_text()

Both libraries offer PDF manipulation capabilities, but PyMuPDF generally provides more advanced features and better performance for complex operations. borb, on the other hand, offers a simpler API and is easier to get started with for basic PDF tasks. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of your project and the level of PDF manipulation needed.

Pros of pdfminer.six

• More established project with longer history and larger community
• Focused specifically on PDF extraction, potentially more specialized
• Supports both Python 2 and Python 3

Cons of pdfminer.six

• Less active development compared to borb
• Limited to PDF extraction, while borb offers more comprehensive PDF manipulation

Code Comparison

pdfminer.six:

from pdfminer.high_level import extract_text

text = extract_text('sample.pdf')
print(text)

borb:

from borb.pdf import Document

doc = Document.load("sample.pdf")
page = doc.get_page(0)
print(page.get_text())

Both libraries offer straightforward methods for extracting text from PDFs, with borb providing a more object-oriented approach. pdfminer.six uses a high-level function, while borb works with document and page objects.

borb offers additional features for PDF creation and manipulation, making it more versatile for comprehensive PDF handling tasks. pdfminer.six, on the other hand, specializes in extraction and parsing, which may be preferable for projects focused solely on these aspects.

Pros of iText

• More mature and widely adopted in enterprise environments
• Extensive documentation and community support
• Offers both open-source and commercial licensing options

Cons of iText

• Commercial licensing can be expensive for some use cases
• Learning curve can be steeper due to its comprehensive feature set
• More complex API compared to Borb's simpler approach

Code Comparison

iText example:

PdfWriter writer = new PdfWriter(dest);
PdfDocument pdf = new PdfDocument(writer);
Document document = new Document(pdf);
document.add(new Paragraph("Hello World!"));
document.close();

Borb example:

pdf = Document()
page = Page()
pdf.add_page(page)
page.add(Paragraph("Hello World!"))
with open("output.pdf", "wb") as pdf_file_handle:
    PDF.dumps(pdf_file_handle, pdf)

Key Differences

• Language: iText is primarily Java-based, while Borb is Python-based
• API Design: iText offers a more comprehensive but complex API, whereas Borb aims for simplicity
• Feature Set: iText provides a broader range of features, while Borb focuses on core PDF manipulation tasks
• Community: iText has a larger user base and more extensive third-party resources

Both libraries offer powerful PDF manipulation capabilities, but they cater to different user needs and preferences. The choice between them depends on factors such as programming language preference, project requirements, and licensing considerations.

Pros of pikepdf

• More focused on low-level PDF manipulation and parsing
• Faster performance for certain operations due to C++ core
• Extensive documentation and examples available

Cons of pikepdf

• Less user-friendly for high-level PDF creation tasks
• Requires more code for common operations like adding text or images
• Steeper learning curve for beginners

Code Comparison

pikepdf example (adding text to a PDF):

import pikepdf
from pikepdf import Pdf, Page, Rectangle

pdf = Pdf.new()
page = pdf.add_blank_page()
font = pdf.add_resource(pikepdf.Name.Font, pikepdf.Name.F1, pikepdf.Dictionary(
    Type=pikepdf.Name.Font,
    Subtype=pikepdf.Name.Type1,
    BaseFont=pikepdf.Name.Helvetica
))
page.Contents = pikepdf.Stream(pdf, b"BT /F1 12 Tf 72 720 Td (Hello World) Tj ET")
pdf.save("output.pdf")

borb example (adding text to a PDF):

from borb.pdf import Document, Page, Paragraph, PDF

doc = Document()
page = Page()
doc.add_page(page)
page.add(Paragraph("Hello World"))
with open("output.pdf", "wb") as pdf_file_handle:
    PDF.dumps(pdf_file_handle, doc)