Stirling-PDF/docs/frontend-tool-dependency.md

Frontend tool dependency overview

This document summarises how each Stirling PDF frontend tool currently executes its work, identifying whether the implementation already runs entirely in the browser or relies on backend REST APIs.

Key observations

• With the exception of a handful of tools, the React hooks delegate processing to useToolOperation, which ultimately posts the selected files to backend endpoints via apiClient.post.【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolOperation.ts†L213-L267】【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/shared/useToolApiCalls.ts†L19-L103】
• Automation flows rely on the same backend-driven operations through the shared executor, which performs direct Axios POST requests and ZIP handling.【F:frontend/src/utils/automationExecutor.ts†L52-L127】
• Adjust Contrast and Remove Annotations remain pure client-side processors today, and Rotate now offers an optional browser-based mode powered by pdf-lib, while Swagger UI is a static documentation viewer. All other PDF manipulations depend on backend services.

Tool matrix

Tool	Operation Hook(s)	Endpoint(s)	Frontend-only viability
AddAttachments	AddAttachments: frontend/src/hooks/tools/addAttachments/useAddAttachmentsOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/addAttachments/useAddAttachmentsOperation.ts†L2-L33】	AddAttachments: /api/v1/misc/add-attachments【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/addAttachments/useAddAttachmentsOperation.ts†L2-L33】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
AddPageNumbers	AddPageNumbers: frontend/src/components/tools/addPageNumbers/useAddPageNumbersOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/components/tools/addPageNumbers/useAddPageNumbersOperation.ts†L2-L31】	AddPageNumbers: /api/v1/misc/add-page-numbers【F:frontend/src/components/tools/addPageNumbers/useAddPageNumbersOperation.ts†L2-L31】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
AddPassword	AddPassword: frontend/src/hooks/tools/addPassword/useAddPasswordOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/addPassword/useAddPasswordOperation.ts†L2-L39】	AddPassword: /api/v1/security/add-password【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/addPassword/useAddPasswordOperation.ts†L2-L39】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
AddStamp	AddStamp: frontend/src/components/tools/addStamp/useAddStampOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/components/tools/addStamp/useAddStampOperation.ts†L2-L65】	AddStamp: /api/v1/misc/add-stamp【F:frontend/src/components/tools/addStamp/useAddStampOperation.ts†L2-L65】	Toggle between backend processing and new browser stamping pipeline using pdf-lib【F:frontend/src/components/tools/addStamp/useAddStampOperation.ts†L2-L65】【F:frontend/src/utils/pdfOperations/addStamp.ts†L1-L120】
AddWatermark	AddWatermark: frontend/src/hooks/tools/addWatermark/useAddWatermarkOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/addWatermark/useAddWatermarkOperation.ts†L2-L65】	AddWatermark: /api/v1/security/add-watermark【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/addWatermark/useAddWatermarkOperation.ts†L2-L65】	Toggle between backend processing and new browser watermarking pipeline using pdf-lib【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/addWatermark/useAddWatermarkOperation.ts†L2-L65】【F:frontend/src/utils/pdfOperations/addWatermark.ts†L1-L99】
AdjustContrast	AdjustContrast: frontend/src/hooks/tools/adjustContrast/useAdjustContrastOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/adjustContrast/useAdjustContrastOperation.ts†L2-L89】	—	Already frontend-only (client-side implementation)
AdjustPageScale	AdjustPageScale: frontend/src/hooks/tools/adjustPageScale/useAdjustPageScaleOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/adjustPageScale/useAdjustPageScaleOperation.ts†L2-L25】	AdjustPageScale: /api/v1/general/scale-pages【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/adjustPageScale/useAdjustPageScaleOperation.ts†L2-L25】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
AutoRename	AutoRename: frontend/src/hooks/tools/autoRename/useAutoRenameOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/autoRename/useAutoRenameOperation.ts†L2-L38】	AutoRename: /api/v1/misc/auto-rename【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/autoRename/useAutoRenameOperation.ts†L2-L38】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Automate	Automate: frontend/src/hooks/tools/automate/useAutomateOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/automate/useAutomateOperation.ts†L1-L45】	—	Requires backend API for PDF processing
BookletImposition	BookletImposition: frontend/src/hooks/tools/bookletImposition/useBookletImpositionOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/bookletImposition/useBookletImpositionOperation.ts†L2-L33】	BookletImposition: /api/v1/general/booklet-imposition【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/bookletImposition/useBookletImpositionOperation.ts†L2-L33】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
CertSign	CertSign: frontend/src/hooks/tools/certSign/useCertSignOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/certSign/useCertSignOperation.ts†L2-L67】	CertSign: /api/v1/security/cert-sign【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/certSign/useCertSignOperation.ts†L2-L67】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
ChangeMetadata	ChangeMetadata: frontend/src/hooks/tools/changeMetadata/useChangeMetadataOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/changeMetadata/useChangeMetadataOperation.ts†L2-L66】	ChangeMetadata: /api/v1/misc/update-metadata【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/changeMetadata/useChangeMetadataOperation.ts†L2-L66】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
ChangePermissions	ChangePermissions: frontend/src/hooks/tools/changePermissions/useChangePermissionsOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/changePermissions/useChangePermissionsOperation.ts†L2-L37】	ChangePermissions: /api/v1/security/add-password【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/changePermissions/useChangePermissionsOperation.ts†L2-L37】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Compress	Compress: frontend/src/hooks/tools/compress/useCompressOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/compress/useCompressOperation.ts†L2-L37】	Compress: /api/v1/misc/compress-pdf【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/compress/useCompressOperation.ts†L2-L37】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Convert	Convert: frontend/src/hooks/tools/convert/useConvertOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/convert/useConvertOperation.ts†L6-L156】	—	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Crop	Crop: frontend/src/hooks/tools/crop/useCropOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/crop/useCropOperation.ts†L2-L45】	Crop: /api/v1/general/crop【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/crop/useCropOperation.ts†L2-L45】	Toggle between backend processing and new browser cropping pipeline using pdf-lib【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/crop/useCropOperation.ts†L2-L45】【F:frontend/src/utils/pdfOperations/crop.ts†L1-L33】
ExtractImages	ExtractImages: frontend/src/hooks/tools/extractImages/useExtractImagesOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/extractImages/useExtractImagesOperation.ts†L3-L36】	ExtractImages: /api/v1/misc/extract-images【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/extractImages/useExtractImagesOperation.ts†L3-L36】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Flatten	Flatten: frontend/src/hooks/tools/flatten/useFlattenOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/flatten/useFlattenOperation.ts†L2-L27】	Flatten: /api/v1/misc/flatten【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/flatten/useFlattenOperation.ts†L2-L27】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Merge	Merge: frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation.ts†L2-L34】	Merge: /api/v1/general/merge-pdfs【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation.ts†L2-L34】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
OCR	OCR: frontend/src/hooks/tools/ocr/useOCROperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/ocr/useOCROperation.ts†L4-L124】	OCR: /api/v1/misc/ocr-pdf【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/ocr/useOCROperation.ts†L4-L124】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
OverlayPdfs	OverlayPdfs: frontend/src/hooks/tools/overlayPdfs/useOverlayPdfsOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/overlayPdfs/useOverlayPdfsOperation.ts†L2-L38】	OverlayPdfs: /api/v1/general/overlay-pdfs【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/overlayPdfs/useOverlayPdfsOperation.ts†L2-L38】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
PageLayout	PageLayout: frontend/src/hooks/tools/pageLayout/usePageLayoutOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/pageLayout/usePageLayoutOperation.ts†L2-L25】	PageLayout: /api/v1/general/multi-page-layout【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/pageLayout/usePageLayoutOperation.ts†L2-L25】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Redact	Redact: frontend/src/hooks/tools/redact/useRedactOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/redact/useRedactOperation.ts†L2-L46】	Redact: /api/v1/security/auto-redact【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/redact/useRedactOperation.ts†L2-L46】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
RemoveAnnotations	RemoveAnnotations: frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeAnnotations/useRemoveAnnotationsOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeAnnotations/useRemoveAnnotationsOperation.ts†L2-L92】	—	Already frontend-only (client-side implementation)
RemoveBlanks	RemoveBlanks: frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeBlanks/useRemoveBlanksOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeBlanks/useRemoveBlanksOperation.ts†L3-L34】	RemoveBlanks: /api/v1/misc/remove-blanks【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeBlanks/useRemoveBlanksOperation.ts†L3-L34】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
RemoveCertificateSign	RemoveCertificateSign: frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeCertificateSign/useRemoveCertificateSignOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeCertificateSign/useRemoveCertificateSignOperation.ts†L2-L25】	RemoveCertificateSign: /api/v1/security/remove-cert-sign【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeCertificateSign/useRemoveCertificateSignOperation.ts†L2-L25】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
RemoveImage	RemoveImage: frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeImage/useRemoveImageOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeImage/useRemoveImageOperation.ts†L2-L22】	RemoveImage: /api/v1/general/remove-image-pdf【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removeImage/useRemoveImageOperation.ts†L2-L22】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
RemovePages	RemovePages: frontend/src/hooks/tools/removePages/useRemovePagesOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removePages/useRemovePagesOperation.ts†L2-L47】	RemovePages: /api/v1/general/remove-pages【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removePages/useRemovePagesOperation.ts†L2-L47】	Toggle between backend processing and new browser page removal pipeline using pdf-lib【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removePages/useRemovePagesOperation.ts†L2-L47】【F:frontend/src/utils/pdfOperations/removePages.ts†L1-L27】
RemovePassword	RemovePassword: frontend/src/hooks/tools/removePassword/useRemovePasswordOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removePassword/useRemovePasswordOperation.ts†L2-L26】	RemovePassword: /api/v1/security/remove-password【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/removePassword/useRemovePasswordOperation.ts†L2-L26】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
ReorganizePages	ReorganizePages: frontend/src/hooks/tools/reorganizePages/useReorganizePagesOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/reorganizePages/useReorganizePagesOperation.ts†L2-L28】	ReorganizePages: /api/v1/general/rearrange-pages【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/reorganizePages/useReorganizePagesOperation.ts†L2-L28】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Repair	Repair: frontend/src/hooks/tools/repair/useRepairOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/repair/useRepairOperation.ts†L2-L25】	Repair: /api/v1/misc/repair【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/repair/useRepairOperation.ts†L2-L25】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
ReplaceColor	ReplaceColor: frontend/src/hooks/tools/replaceColor/useReplaceColorOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/replaceColor/useReplaceColorOperation.ts†L2-L34】	ReplaceColor: /api/v1/misc/replace-invert-pdf【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/replaceColor/useReplaceColorOperation.ts†L2-L34】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Rotate	Rotate: frontend/src/hooks/tools/rotate/useRotateOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/rotate/useRotateOperation.ts†L1-L35】	Rotate: /api/v1/general/rotate-pdf【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/rotate/useRotateOperation.ts†L18-L25】	Toggle between backend processing and new frontend pdf-lib implementation【F:frontend/src/utils/pdfOperations/rotate.ts†L1-L38】【F:frontend/src/components/tools/rotate/RotateSettings.tsx†L1-L121】
Sanitize	Sanitize: frontend/src/hooks/tools/sanitize/useSanitizeOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/sanitize/useSanitizeOperation.ts†L2-L35】	Sanitize: /api/v1/security/sanitize-pdf【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/sanitize/useSanitizeOperation.ts†L2-L35】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
ScannerImageSplit	ScannerImageSplit: frontend/src/hooks/tools/scannerImageSplit/useScannerImageSplitOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/scannerImageSplit/useScannerImageSplitOperation.ts†L3-L60】	ScannerImageSplit: /api/v1/misc/extract-image-scans【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/scannerImageSplit/useScannerImageSplitOperation.ts†L3-L60】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Sign	Sign: frontend/src/hooks/tools/sign/useSignOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/sign/useSignOperation.ts†L2-L55】	Sign: /api/v1/security/add-signature【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/sign/useSignOperation.ts†L2-L55】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
SingleLargePage	SingleLargePage: frontend/src/hooks/tools/singleLargePage/useSingleLargePageOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/singleLargePage/useSingleLargePageOperation.ts†L2-L25】	SingleLargePage: /api/v1/general/pdf-to-single-page【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/singleLargePage/useSingleLargePageOperation.ts†L2-L25】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
Split	Split: frontend/src/hooks/tools/split/useSplitOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/split/useSplitOperation.ts†L3-L96】	Split: getSplitEndpoint【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/split/useSplitOperation.ts†L3-L96】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
SwaggerUI	None	N/A	Already frontend-only (documentation viewer)
UnlockPdfForms	UnlockPdfForms: frontend/src/hooks/tools/unlockPdfForms/useUnlockPdfFormsOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/unlockPdfForms/useUnlockPdfFormsOperation.ts†L2-L25】	UnlockPdfForms: /api/v1/misc/unlock-pdf-forms【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/unlockPdfForms/useUnlockPdfFormsOperation.ts†L2-L25】	Requires backend API for PDF processing
ValidateSignature	ValidateSignature: frontend/src/hooks/tools/validateSignature/useValidateSignatureOperation.ts【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/validateSignature/useValidateSignatureOperation.ts†L5-L91】	ValidateSignature: /api/v1/security/validate-signature【F:frontend/src/hooks/tools/validateSignature/useValidateSignatureOperation.ts†L5-L91】	Requires backend API for PDF processing