ILikePDF
Document tools
Hikaritech
A document workspace combining PDF tools that run on your device with optional accounts and saved files.
The live ILikePDF tool catalogue.
01 / The idea
Everyday PDF work. A little less effort.
ILikePDF is a document workspace for merging, splitting, organizing, converting, and protecting PDFs. Guest processing happens in the browser, while account features add saved files and activity history.
PDF tools should make a small task feel small: choose a file, make a change, and get the result. ILikePDF also needed a clear distinction between a quick local task and an account workspace where someone deliberately saves their documents.
My contribution
Design and development of the product experience, connecting a Rust web application with browser-based document processing, account infrastructure, and deployment.
Built with
- Rust
- Leptos
- Axum
- WebAssembly
- PostgreSQL
- SQLx
02 / The process
How I built it.
Build one workspace around many tasks
I connected a searchable tool catalogue to a reusable document workspace. File ordering, page selection, progress, cancellation, errors, and downloads follow a consistent pattern across the tools. The implemented catalogue includes merging, splitting, page organisation, image conversion, text extraction, OCR, and password protection.
Run document work on the device
Rust, Leptos, and Axum provide the web application and server. Browser PDF engines are connected through small JavaScript custom elements, with heavy tasks moved into disposable workers. Engines load when needed, and each task has input and output limits. Guest files remain in browser memory rather than being uploaded for processing.
Add accounts without blocking local processing
PostgreSQL and SQLx support accounts, sessions, saved-file metadata, and activity history. Signed-in visitors can explicitly choose to save a task to encrypted storage. Retention is checked when a file is read as well as during cleanup, and account requests do not hold up work that can run locally.
03 / The result
What it brings together.
The product combines everyday PDF operations with an optional saved workspace. Processing, account storage, and publishing have distinct responsibilities. Conversion tools describe their limits; full Office layout reconstruction and production paid billing remain outside the implemented scope described here.
- A searchable catalogue of PDF tools
- Document processing on the user’s device
- Account workspaces with encrypted file storage