BentoPDF puts common PDF jobs in a browser interface you can host yourself. The project documents client-side file processing, avoiding a document-upload service for routine merges, page edits, and conversions.

  • Handle everyday paperwork. Merge or split files, reorder pages, fill forms, add annotations, and extract text or tables.
  • Make scans searchable. Optical character recognition turns page images into searchable text using Tesseract assets loaded by the browser.
  • Choose a simple deployment. The README recommends the bentopdf-simple Docker or Podman image for internal use. It keeps the PDF tools while removing the marketing interface.
  • Serve static files if preferred. Prebuilt release archives avoid a source build. Development uses Node.js and npm; Office conversion also needs browser-isolation headers and HTTPS, except on localhost.

This is a useful shared utility for small teams that repeatedly need one-off document fixes. The hosting guide covers deployment options. Source is AGPL-3.0, with a separate commercial option; processing libraries retain their own licence terms.

Caveat: browser-local processing still depends on network downloads in the default setup. Advanced engines and OCR assets need explicit self-hosting or bundling for fully offline use, as the README’s offline guide explains.

Discovered through the maintainer’s r/BestGitHubRepos post. Feature and deployment details come from current first-party documentation.