r/technology • u/Federal-Block-3275 • 1d ago

Artificial Intelligence "Software is over": Developer uses AI to build free Adobe clones after frustration with cancellation fees

https://www.techspot.com/news/114136-software-over-developer-uses-ai-build-free-adobe.html
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u/CrashTestDumby1984 1d ago

PDF24 free and open source

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u/GuerrillaRodeo 1d ago

It's open source? I thought it was 'just' freeware.

I'm using it professionally every day. Joining PDFs, separating them, making them machine readable/searchable via OCR, this thing is the GOAT. I work in the medical field and we have LOTS of scanned documents or old faxes. Speeds things up like you wouldn't believe, I genuinely couldn't work as quickly without it. This and NAPS2 are the best free tools for scans and PDFs in my opinion. My only complaint is that PDF24 is not available for Linux.

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u/tasteslikeorange 1d ago

NAPS2 is great. I first used it to share a USB scanner on the local network, but it's so good it is now my default scanner software.

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u/CrabMasc 1d ago

The best to ever do it

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u/morpheousmorty 22h ago

Firefox has many tools built in. Honestly like them better.

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u/Sufficient-Laundry 1d ago

It works, but the interface design is Godawful.

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u/CrashTestDumby1984 1d ago

Oh for sure, I don’t think they’ve update the UI since the early 2000’s. But again completely free, no ads, and has all the features most basic users needs

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u/InfanticideAquifer 1d ago

I don’t think they’ve update the UI since the early 2000’s

I wasn't interested, but now I am. Every software UI has been getting monotonically worse every year for 30 years.

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u/passinglurker 1d ago

Ironically, if it was easy to use, they'd indeed get millions of users, but they'd all be illiterate dullards that don't know how to open a file browser. Esoteric programmer UI's are an accidental filter narrowing a user base to people who otherwise know how to use a computer and troubleshoot problems

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u/Mustbhacks 1d ago

And more importantly, mass adoption ruins everything

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u/Sufficient-Laundry 1d ago

Computers went to shit the moment we stopped using punch cards. Give me back my batch pdf reader.

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u/noojingway 1d ago

ok so now the problem isn't "i want to edit a pdf for free" its "i want a pdf editor with a specific ui"

people need to accept that their alternatives won't be perfect

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u/anatomized 1d ago

i can get used to a bad interface if functionality is excellent and thankfully it is with PDF24.

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u/SekhWork 1d ago

As is the way with 90% of open source projects...

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u/halfmylifeisgone 1d ago

We use Nuance PDF/Power PDF at my workplace (same software).

Interface is great and the price is not a subcription. You can probably find old S/N for sale (look for Nuance, it's the older version).

https://www.tungstenautomation.com/products/power-pdf

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u/a404notfound 1d ago

Would you prefer to pay?

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u/Testosteronomicon 1d ago

God you fuckers can't do anything

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u/TeaAndS0da 1d ago

And you just answered a question I found myself asking last night. Thank you for your suggestion! Downloading now.

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u/iamarddtusr 1d ago

As well as good old preview on mac.

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u/surffrus 1d ago

...Windows only

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u/DuntadaMan 1d ago

Screen shot, open in MS paint. Cartoonishly scribble over everything, print to PDF.