Rethinking PDF Uploads: Why a Simpler Approach Wins

Sometimes progress doesn’t come from adding more — but from starting over with a better approach.

After struggling with unreliable PDF uploads, we made a fundamental change: we stopped trying to handle everything inside the extension popup.

The problem with popup-based uploads

At first, uploading PDFs directly through the popup seemed convenient.

But in practice, it created instability:

• Uploads could fail unexpectedly
• Complex files caused inconsistent behavior
• The environment was too limited for reliable processing

The result? A fragile experience that couldn’t scale.

A new approach: dedicated upload interface

So we changed direction.

Instead of forcing everything into the popup, we introduced a separate upload page داخل the extension — designed specifically for handling files.

This gave us:

• More control over the upload process
• Greater stability and reliability
• A foundation that can scale with future features

The goal was clear: make uploads work flawlessly — first.

Step one: make it reliable

We deliberately slowed down our approach.

Instead of solving everything at once, we focused on one question: Does the upload work perfectly?

Only when the answer is yes do we move forward.

This shift — from “build everything” to “build one thing right” — changed everything.

Focusing on text extraction

Once uploads became stable, the next challenge emerged: extracting usable text from PDFs.

We concentrated on the most common and reliable methods, assuming text-based PDFs as a starting point.

No edge cases. No over-engineering.

Just a clear, focused solution.

Building for future scale

Even at this early stage, we’re thinking ahead.

A robust upload system isn’t just about PDFs — it’s the foundation for:

• Additional file formats
• More complex processing
• Scalable workflows

But none of that matters if the core isn’t solid.

That’s why everything depends on getting this step right.

Proof through simplicity

The result?

The upload system now works reliably — at least for PDFs.

And that’s exactly what we wanted.

Not a half-working system with many features, but a fully working system with a clear purpose.

What comes next

With uploads and extraction in place, the next step is integration: connecting everything smoothly with DeepL.

And this time, we’re applying the same principle:

• Keep it simple
• Build step by step
• Validate before expanding

Which makes the next phase significantly easier.

The lesson

Trying to solve everything at once leads to failure.

Focusing on one thing — and doing it right — leads to progress.

A better workflow is built step by step

We’re not chasing complexity anymore.

We’re building a workflow that:

• Works reliably
• Scales naturally
• Feels simple to use

Because in the end, simplicity isn’t a limitation — it’s a competitive advantage.

Try a more reliable way to work

If you’ve ever struggled with unstable uploads or overly complex tools, you know how frustrating it can be.

Try a workflow designed for stability, clarity, and speed — and experience how much easier things become when everything just works as expected.