History of PDF is basically: We need a standard format to get print jobs over there > Postscript > let’s add feature X > also feature y > make it do thing too! > uh oh, it’s gotten too powerful, security galore > reboot and slim it down > PDF > let’s add feature X > also feature y > …
Comment on Total fabrication
lime@feddit.nu 2 hours ago
pdf is a print and typesetting format for printers. what’s crazy is that we’re using it for something other than that.
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 1 hour ago
floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 hours ago
It’s not? The p stands for portable, which implies a digital format for software use. Maybe you’re thinking of postscript?
lime@feddit.nu 2 hours ago
pdf is a postscript container format, yes.
floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 hours ago
Yep, but mainly meant for computer screens rather than paper, no?
mogoh@lemmy.ml 2 hours ago
No. It is designed for print. It is used for screens (that’s the crazy part). Something like HTML or epub is designed for screens. PDF later got extended with some features, that only make sense on screen but the original design is for print and it shows. For example everything has a fixed layout size (like paper). And most of the time the order of words got lost so you can not select text in a meaningful way (something that would not matter if it is printed).
TrickDacy@lemmy.world 1 hour ago
Confidently incorrect.
lime@feddit.nu 1 hour ago
actually, you’re kinda right! didn’t know this before, but pdf started as a slimmed-down version of postscript that didn’t support all print features.