sumatrapdf

Pros of pdf.js

• Cross-platform compatibility: Runs in any modern web browser
• Easy integration into web applications
• Continuous updates and improvements from a large open-source community

Cons of pdf.js

• Performance may be slower for large or complex PDFs
• Limited advanced features compared to native PDF readers
• Requires JavaScript to be enabled in the browser

Code Comparison

pdf.js (JavaScript):

PDFJS.getDocument(url).then(function(pdf) {
  pdf.getPage(1).then(function(page) {
    var scale = 1.5;
    var viewport = page.getViewport(scale);
    // Render page
  });
});

SumatraPDF (C++):

void DisplayModel::DisplayPage(int pageNo, float zoom, int rotation)
{
    PageInfo *pageInfo = GetPageInfo(pageNo);
    if (!pageInfo) return;
    // Display page logic
}

Summary

pdf.js is a web-based PDF viewer that offers cross-platform compatibility and easy integration into web applications. It benefits from a large open-source community but may have performance limitations for complex PDFs. SumatraPDF is a native Windows application with potentially better performance for large files and more advanced features, but lacks the cross-platform capabilities of pdf.js. The choice between the two depends on the specific use case and platform requirements.

Pros of pdf2htmlEX

• Converts PDF to HTML, making documents accessible on web browsers without plugins
• Preserves original layout and formatting, including fonts and images
• Supports batch processing for converting multiple PDFs at once

Cons of pdf2htmlEX

• Limited viewing features compared to dedicated PDF readers
• May not handle complex PDF structures or interactive elements as well
• Requires server-side processing, unlike client-side PDF viewers

Code Comparison

pdf2htmlEX (C++):

void HTMLRenderer::process(PDFDoc *doc) {
    xref = doc->getXRef();
    catalog = doc->getCatalog();
    for(int i = 1; i <= doc->getNumPages(); ++i) {
        doc->displayPage(this, i, 72.0, 72.0, 0, true, false, false);
    }
}

SumatraPDF (C):

void DisplayModel::DisplayPage(int pageNo, float zoom, int rotation, bool async) {
    PageInfo *pageInfo = GetPageInfo(pageNo);
    if (!pageInfo) return;
    RenderPage(pageInfo, zoom, rotation, async);
    UpdateScrollbars();
}

Both projects handle PDF processing, but pdf2htmlEX focuses on conversion to HTML, while SumatraPDF emphasizes rendering for display within its own viewer.

Pros of qpdf

• Command-line tool for PDF transformations, offering more flexibility for advanced users
• Extensive API for programmatic PDF manipulation in C++ applications
• Supports a wide range of PDF operations, including linearization and encryption

Cons of qpdf

• No graphical user interface, which may be less user-friendly for casual users
• Primarily focused on PDF manipulation rather than viewing or annotation
• Steeper learning curve for non-technical users

Code Comparison

qpdf (C++):

QPDF pdf;
pdf.processFile("input.pdf");
QPDFWriter w(pdf, "output.pdf");
w.setStreamDataMode(qpdf_s_compress);
w.write();

SumatraPDF (C):

Doc_LoadFromFile(&doc, L"input.pdf", NULL);
EngineBase *engine = doc.engine;
if (engine) {
    engine->SaveFileAs(&doc, L"output.pdf");
}

Summary

qpdf is a powerful command-line tool and library for PDF manipulation, offering extensive capabilities for advanced users and developers. SumatraPDF, on the other hand, is primarily a user-friendly PDF viewer with basic editing features. While qpdf excels in programmatic PDF operations, SumatraPDF provides a more accessible interface for everyday PDF viewing and annotation tasks.

Pros of pikepdf

• Python library for reading, manipulating, and writing PDF files
• Offers high-level API for PDF operations and metadata manipulation
• Supports both reading and writing PDF files

Cons of pikepdf

• Requires programming knowledge to use effectively
• Limited GUI functionality compared to SumatraPDF
• May have a steeper learning curve for non-developers

Code Comparison

pikepdf:

import pikepdf

pdf = pikepdf.Pdf.open("input.pdf")
pdf.save("output.pdf")

SumatraPDF:

// No direct code comparison available as SumatraPDF is primarily a GUI application
// and doesn't provide a programming API for PDF manipulation

Additional Notes

SumatraPDF is a standalone PDF viewer application with a user-friendly interface, while pikepdf is a Python library for programmatic PDF manipulation. SumatraPDF focuses on providing a fast and lightweight PDF reading experience, whereas pikepdf offers more flexibility for developers to work with PDF files programmatically.

SumatraPDF is better suited for end-users who need a simple PDF viewer, while pikepdf is ideal for developers and data scientists who need to automate PDF-related tasks or integrate PDF functionality into their Python applications.

Pros of PyMuPDF

• Cross-platform Python library for PDF manipulation
• Extensive API for document analysis, text extraction, and rendering
• Supports a wide range of document formats beyond PDF

Cons of PyMuPDF

• Requires programming knowledge to use effectively
• May have a steeper learning curve for non-developers
• Not a standalone PDF viewer application

Code Comparison

PyMuPDF:

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

SumatraPDF:

// SumatraPDF is a viewer, not a library
// No direct code comparison available

Summary

PyMuPDF is a powerful Python library for PDF and document manipulation, offering extensive programmatic control and cross-platform compatibility. It's ideal for developers and data analysts who need to work with PDFs programmatically.

SumatraPDF, on the other hand, is a lightweight, user-friendly PDF viewer application for Windows. It's designed for end-users who need a fast and simple way to read PDF documents without additional features for manipulation or analysis.

The choice between these two depends on the specific use case: PyMuPDF for programmatic PDF handling and analysis, or SumatraPDF for quick and efficient PDF viewing on Windows systems.