Generating PDF documents sucks - How to make it simpler?
Hi community,
I'm coming up with another product today, and I would like to get your feedback.
During the past years, I've often been pushed to generate PDF for different products (whether it was sales, accounting, or generic document writing automation). For me, it was hell: none of the systems that I tried were easy to use, and all my PDF were always looking strange.
So, I built www.gendoc.io
It's a simple API that you can use right now: just write a template (for instance, an invoicing template), add some data (in JSON format), and you're done, your PDF is ready to print (or distribute).
And, I'm wondering: am I the only one that got this problem, or, would it be something that you could use? Is the website clear, and the way to use it also?
I think this could benefit many people, from early-stage startups wanting quick and affordable PDF generation system to more established ones, wanting to automate their document workflow.
It's already live, you can use it (and it scales pretty well). So, you can also ping me if you would like to use it in your product, I'd be more than happy to help to automate your PDFs :) (and forget about the pricing; let's make a discussion if you would like to use it to launch a new product)
Best,
After 19,314 lines of code, i'm shutting down my project
Need feedback for my product.
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Thanks for the share.
I myself can't relate to the problem, I do a lot in marketing and usually make reports like the example you give on your website in an excel sheet and then export it to PDF. Call it old-school but it works.
The website looks good, although the "see pricing" button could be changed to "get started" for example.
In between the header and the code example I would include a short description of what you do, how you do it and why. Short and simple, now I have no clue what is going on if I had not read your post here on IH.
The website feels like it is build from your point of view, that you are trying to sell me something. And although that is what your are trying to do, you should make it feel like you are solving a problem for me and I am happy to be able to pay you to do it. Try looking at the website like that!
Good luck! If you have some time could you also give some feedback on my idea? Thanks! https://www.indiehackers.com/post/validation-a-wireless-time-machine-backup-saas-3e3555e130
Hi, indeed, got also that feedback that the value proposition was unclear and the "see pricing" is not very good. Is that better now for you?
I'll have a look at your idea just right now :)
Thanks for the help
Looks better already! When you have enough visitors you should try A/B testing these things, gives pretty cool insights.
Thanks a lot and good luck!
Thanks for sharing.
I'm not sure if the "See Pricing" button on the home screen is appealing - I don't even know what this is yet. The pricing information does not make it clear to me what you offer either.
Just speaking for myself here... First, I didn't expect HTML here as a template choice. Second, how do you handle typos and missing information in the JSON data?
Personally, I'd rather see someone offer good LaTeX templates for this kind of stuff.
Pandoc is another good open source choice.
The idea is interesting, but probably needs to be tweaked.
Also, check for typos on the pricing section.
I like the logo.
Hi, nice feedback. Thanks a lot.
I've improved the website to improve the points you've highlighted. Is that better now? I've also adapted the pricing structure to make it simpler to understand.
Btw, thanks for the compliment on the logo :)
However, I don't get your point about LaTeX. The goal of the website is to help writing PDF documents for salespersons, and for products that want to introduce PDF generations from fancy HTML templates. I believe that making great-looking stuff in latex is quite complex. Wouldn't it be a problem for you?
Best,
I think this is much better, yes.
I do not think that producing great-looking pdfs is any more complex in LaTeX than HTML.