PDF Max
A document tool that grows with you.


More than a PDF reader.
I rebuilt PDF Max for Apple and Android around a shared document engine, with native editing, annotation, OCR, and voice notes.
On Apple, Research Workspace and Study link notes and questions to source documents.
Behind the build
I started PDF Max in 2011 and published it in 2012 after six months of hand-coding.
In June 2026, after leaving Xero as a Senior Software Engineer, I co-built an all-new version with Claude, Codex, and Cursor. It returned to the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Google removed the Android app in 2019 when I couldn’t maintain it. I brought it back to Google Play in September 2026.
Under the hood
I built native platform bridges, editing interfaces, and document handling around a shared C++ and JavaScript engine.
SwiftUI powers the Apple experience. Android uses Kotlin, WebView, and JNI. Apple-specific tools include on-device transcription, Research Workspace, and Study.








