pdfmake vs. Apache Usergrid

pdfmake is an adaptable library designed for the creation of PDF documents, compatible with both server-side and client-side applications through standard JavaScript. You can easily generate PDFs within the browser or delegate the process to your NodeJS server, employing the same document templates for either method. No longer will you need to engage in the cumbersome chore of manual coordinate adjustments; instead, you can sketch out your document's layout and allow pdfmake to manage the detailed aspects. The library accommodates a variety of components such as paragraphs, columns, lists, tables, and canvas, providing extensive design freedom. You have the ability to establish your own styles, use custom fonts, develop a domain-specific language (DSL), and tailor the framework to fit your specific requirements. Notable features include line wrapping, multiple text alignments (left, right, center, justified), and support for both numbered and bulleted lists, along with customizable margins, images, and vector graphics. Furthermore, the library provides user-friendly styling options, style inheritance, and the capability to create custom style dictionaries. You can also define column widths as auto, fixed, star-sized, or percentage-based, manage colspans and rowspans effectively, and ensure that headers are automatically repeated during page breaks. It preserves the integrity of your layout by utilizing non-breaking rows and sections, which maintain alignment between headers and content, accommodating both static and dynamic data. Additionally, the framework includes features for page numbers and total page counts, enhancing the polished look of the final document. Overall, pdfmake not only simplifies the PDF creation process but also equips users with the tools necessary to produce high-quality documents with ease, making it an invaluable resource for developers.

Usergrid acts as a versatile backend solution, suitable for managing both single and multiple applications seamlessly. It streamlines operations similar to a LAMP stack but is tailored specifically for mobile applications. By leveraging Usergrid, you can expedite the launch of your applications, significantly reducing the time spent on server-side coding. The platform supports an extensive range of SDKs for different programming languages and frameworks, such as iOS, Android, HTML5/JS, Node.js, Ruby, Java, .NET, and PHP, and has been open source since 2011. User management processes, including user registration, login, and password resets, can be executed through a single API call, enhancing efficiency markedly. Moreover, it facilitates functionalities like user grouping, role assignments, and social features such as following, all managed via OAuth 2.0, thus eliminating the need for server-side programming. If your data is in JSON format, Usergrid can store it effectively. The underlying data structure is based on a standard Cassandra instance, which allows for SQL-like queries and management of different collections and relationships among entities. Its asset storage capabilities are extensive, supporting a diverse array of file types, from simple text documents to large video files that can reach terabyte sizes, alongside features for automatic content detection and thorough URL access controls. Ultimately, Usergrid empowers developers to concentrate on crafting their applications without the hassle of backend intricacies, thereby enhancing productivity and innovation. Additionally, this focus on ease of use and flexibility makes Usergrid an appealing choice for modern developers.