Documents and knowledge · Independent · 22 Oct 2026

storytold/pdfcraft

PdfCraft: An open-source PDF reader and editor written by scratch in pure Rust

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PdfCraft: PDF workbench in Rust. Read, organize, combine, split and secure PDFs.

In simple English

This app lets you read, organize, combine, split, and secure PDF files on your computer. It runs offline and collects no data about what you do. You do not need an account to use it, and it costs no money. It is young software, so some advanced editing features are still missing.

What it is

PdfCraft is a native PDF workbench written from scratch in the Rust programming language. It provides a desktop interface, a command-line tool, and an automated server for AI agents.

What it is good for

It helps solo builders organize pages, merge documents, fill out forms, and automate PDF tasks without sending files to third-party cloud services.

Stars17k
LicenceApache-2.0
Latestv0.11.0 (2026-10-21)checked 22 Oct 2026
Last code change2026-10-22
Written inRust
Setup effort
2 / 5
Payoff
4 / 5
Good
  • Works completely offline with no account or telemetry needed.
  • Includes a command-line tool and an AI agent control interface.
  • Preserves original file bytes by appending incremental saves safely.
Watch for
  • Currently in alpha stage, so parity with commercial PDF apps is incomplete.
  • Office document import and export features are still weak or missing.
  • Requires a modern Rust toolchain if you choose to build it from source.
Replaces

Adobe Acrobat

Works well with

cargo

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Install
git clone https://github.com/storytold/pdfcraft
cd pdfcraft
cargo run --release -p pdfcraft -- document.pdf

Independent: reviewed for Repo Radar outside the daily editions. Every independent repository

On Stack Radar: Productivity & Collaboration › Documents, Notes & Knowledge › PDF Tools.

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