I got tired of fighting with PDFs, so I built my own API
I kept running into the same problem: generating PDFs sounds simple until it is not.
HTML to PDF worked fine, but the moment I needed things like fillable fields, structured documents, or consistent output, everything broke down. I tried different tools, stitched together libraries, and still ended up spending way too much time fixing edge cases instead of building my product.
So I stopped patching solutions and started building one.
PDFGate is what I wish existed when I was dealing with this.
It handles not just PDF generation, but the parts that usually turn into a mess, like fillable fields, document structure, and reliable output, so you do not have to rebuild the same logic over and over again.
It is still early, but it is already being used in production, and I am continuing to improve it every week.
Curious to hear from others building in this space. What has been the most frustrating part of working with PDFs for you?
It is an absolute nightmare when you realize that a simple "Save as PDF" task suddenly requires handling complex layers like embedded fonts or specific form field metadata that most libraries just ignore.
The real advantage of a dedicated API is that it abstracts away the "rendering drift" where a document looks perfect in one viewer but completely breaks in another because of how different PDF engines interpret the document structure.
Are you finding that users are using the API more for automated invoice generation or are they pushing more toward complex document signing workflows with interactive fields?
Hey!
Most of our clients are using the API for invoice generation and similar structured documents.
The digital signature feature is very recent, but a few existing clients have already started using it. It’s still early, but that’s the direction I’m pushing toward.
Focusing on structured documents like invoices is a smart foundation because those users care most about the "rendering drift" you’ve already addressed.
Pushing toward digital signatures and interactive fields elevates the product from a simple utility to a core piece of business infrastructure, especially for teams that need to automate legal or compliance documents.
I emphasize this kind of technical reliability in my work with high-tier PR and media placement where we use precision-formatted reports to build brand authority on major news outlets.
Since you are moving into signatures, are you planning to add "Audit Trails" to your metadata so users can track exactly when and where a document was signed?
Yes, audit trails are essential for digital-signature compliance, so PDFGate supports them from the initial release of the feature.
For each document, we track key signing events such as when it was viewed and signed, along with the relevant signer details. I wanted this to be part of the foundation from day one, rather than something added later.