Hi everyone! If you’ve been using Dictionariez, you probably know that I’ve been working on this project as a solo developer for quite some time now. Over the years, one of the most requested features has been PDF support. Many of you have reached out, asking for a way to use Dictionariez with PDFs—whether for reading eBooks, studying papers, or reviewing work documents.

I’m excited to share that the wait is finally over! I’ve built a PDF Reader Web Application that works seamlessly with Dictionariez. It’s lightweight, secure, and designed to make your reading experience as smooth as possible. And for language learners, this is a productive tool—especially if you’re studying books, academic papers, or other materials in PDF format.

What’s New?

Here’s what the new PDF Reader Web Application brings to the table:

Dictionariez Integration
Highlight words or phrases in your PDF and instantly look them up or translate them using Dictionariez. It works just like it does on web pages.

Drag-and-Drop Simplicity
You can drag and drop your PDF files into the app, and they’ll load instantly. No extra steps, no hassle.

Privacy First
Your files never leave your browser. Everything is processed locally, so you don’t have to worry about your data being uploaded to a server.

Integration with PNL Reader
If you’re already using PNL Reader, my browser extension that enhances the reading experience on any webpage, you’ll love this integration. When you open a PDF directly in your browser, you can click on the PNL Reader extension, and it will automatically redirect the PDF to the PDF Reader Web Application. This makes opening PDFs locally a more seamless experience.

Responsive Design
Whether you’re on a desktop, tablet, or phone, the app adapts to give you the best experience.

Advanced PDF Viewer
Powered by ngx-extended-pdf-viewer and PDF.js, the app supports zooming, text selection, and even searching within your PDFs.

Why This is Perfect for Language Learners

If you’re learning a new language, reading is one of the best ways to improve your vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. But let’s face it—reading in a foreign language can be tough, especially when you’re constantly looking up words. That’s where this new feature shines.

Here’s why the PDF Reader Web Application is especially helpful for language learners:

Study Authentic Materials
Many language learners rely on textbooks or graded readers, but real-world materials like novels, academic papers, or even manuals are often in PDF format. Now, you can read these materials while using Dictionariez to look up unfamiliar words instantly.

Build Vocabulary Faster
Highlighting and translating words directly in the PDF saves time and keeps you focused. You can even create flashcards or notes from the words you look up.

Learn in Context
Seeing words in their natural context (like in a book or article) helps you understand how they’re used in sentences, making it easier to remember them.

Perfect for Students
If you’re a student studying in a foreign language, you probably deal with a lot of PDFs—textbooks, research papers, lecture notes, and more. This tool makes it easier to navigate those materials without constantly switching between apps.

Immersive Learning
By reading full texts in your target language, you’re immersing yourself in the language, which is one of the most effective ways to learn.

Language Learning Tips for Using the PDF Reader

Here are a few tips to get the most out of the PDF Reader Web Application as a language learner:

Start with Materials at Your Level
Choose PDFs that are slightly above your current level. This way, you’ll encounter new words without feeling overwhelmed.

Create a Vocabulary List
Use Dictionariez to look up unfamiliar words and write them down in a notebook or app. Review them regularly to reinforce your learning.

Focus on Context
Instead of translating every word, try to understand the meaning of sentences based on context. Use Dictionariez only for words or phrases that are critical to understanding the text.

Revisit Texts
After reading a PDF once, come back to it later. You’ll be surprised at how much more you understand the second time around.

Combine with Other Tools
Use the words you’ve learned in flashcard apps like Anki to reinforce your memory.

Set Goals
For example, aim to read one chapter of a book or one article per week. Setting small, achievable goals will keep you motivated.

How It Works

Using the PDF Reader Web Application is super straightforward:

Upload Your PDF
Drag and drop your file into the app, or click to select it from your device.

Start Reading
The PDF loads instantly, and you can scroll, zoom, and search through it.

Use Dictionariez
Highlight any word or phrase in the PDF to look it up or translate it, just like you would on a webpage.

Redirect PDFs with PNL Reader
If you open a PDF directly in your browser, just click on the PNL Reader extension, and it will redirect the PDF to the PDF Reader Web Application. No need to download the file or manually open the app—it’s all handled seamlessly.

Stay Secure
All file processing happens locally in your browser. Your data stays with you—always.

Why It Took Time

As a solo developer, I’ve always tried to prioritize features that matter most to you, the users. Adding PDF support wasn’t just about displaying files—it was about making sure the experience was smooth, secure, and worked seamlessly with Dictionariez and PNL Reader.

I wanted to get it right, and that meant taking the time to ensure:

Privacy: No file uploads, no servers—just local processing in your browser. Performance: Fast and responsive, even with large PDF files. Integration: A seamless experience with Dictionariez and PNL Reader, so you can use the tools you love without interruption. What’s Next?

This is just the beginning! Here are a few features I’m planning to add in the future:

Annotations: Highlight text, add notes, and mark up your PDFs. Bookmarks: Save your place in long documents for easy navigation. Dark Mode: A more comfortable reading experience for night-time use. Try It Out

The PDF Reader Web Application is live and ready for you to use. Click here to check it out! Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who loves reading, this tool is here to make your life easier.

Wrapping Up

As a solo developer, every feature I build is a labor of love, and this one is no exception. I’ve poured a lot of time and effort into making PDF support a reality because I know how much it means to so many of you.

If you’ve been waiting for this feature, give it a try and let me know what you think! Your feedback is what keeps me going, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on how I can make it even better.

Thank you for supporting Dictionariez and for being part of this journey. I’m excited to see how you’ll use the new PDF feature!

Spread the Word

If you love the new PDF feature, share it with your friends and colleagues. Every bit of support helps me continue improving Dictionariez for all of you.

Dear Netizens and Web Novel Enthusiasts,

I’m excited to announce that PNL Reader is finally here! After a week of development sprint, it just hits the first milestone, and I’m already using it to read a novel myself. It’s a browser extension designed to make your reading experience smoother, more enjoyable, and relaxing. Whether you're diving into articles, novels, or any other web content, PNL Reader has your back with its simple yet elegant features.

This all started from a thread discussing the frustration many face when looking for a no-nonsense, simple reader mode that also plays nice with Dictionariez and respects privacy. So, I decided to create my own solution. Keep in mind this is the first version, so please be patient if you encounter any bugs.

Here’s a quick rundown of the features based on my own experience as an novel reader online:

Key Features

Dictionariez Compatibility
Instantly look up any word on a webpage by simply clicking on it. PNL Reader is fully compatible with Dictionariez for seamless word lookup.

Privacy-First Approach
Your privacy is a priority. PNL Reader only requires the ActiveTab permission to enable reader mode on the current webpage you’re on, with no additional host permissions required.

Dark & Light Mode
Switch between dark and light modes depending on your preference, so you can reduce eye strain and read comfortably at any time of day.

Navigation Shortcuts
Easily navigate through your favorite web novel websites, like Scribble and RoyalRoad, using convenient keyboard shortcuts for next and previous pages.

Open Source
Full transparency is key. PNL Reader is open source, so it’s available for anyone to review, contribute to, or scrutinize as they wish.

Download Links

Chrome: PNL Reader on Chrome Web Store
Firefox: PNL Reader on Mozilla Add-ons

Getting Started

To see PNL Reader in action, check out our introduction video.
PNL Reader Introduction

Your Feedback Is Important!

I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and any issues you might encounter. Please reach out at the Programming N' Language Community.

As I am preparing for the second version of PNL Reader, here are a few specific areas where your feedback would be incredibly helpful:

Which websites would you like to use the reader mode on? What more themes (beyond just dark or light) would you like? Are there any additional features you’d like to see in the toolbar? In your opinion, what are the essential features every reader must have?

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to improving PNL Reader based on your valuable feedback!

🎉 Hi everyone, I hope you're having an amazing week!

Great news—Dictionariez v5.4.0 is out, and it comes with a brand-new feature that I'm personally loving: "Help Me Refine", which utilizes AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. 🤖✨

AI is everywhere these days, and instead of just using it to look up word meanings, I’ve found something even more exciting—it can help refine my writing! 📝💡 Before I send a tweet on BlueSky, write an email, or draft documentation for my projects, I always ask ChatGPT to polish my text. It's become a go-to tool for me!

That’s why I decided to build this feature into Dictionariez as a first prototype. 🛠️ Here’s how it works:

✅ Type your text in a web editor (like on BlueSky)
✅ Select your text
✅ Click the Dictionariez icon (or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + X by default)
✅ Let the AI tool refine your message instantly! ✨

It’s amazing how helpful AI tools like ChatGPT can be in this situation! 🔥

This feature works seamlessly on GitHub, Gmail, BlueSky, and even within our Programming & Language community. 🌍 I hope it will work across all web editors, everywhere!

💬 Give it a try and let me know what you think! Your feedback will help make this feature even better. 🚀😊

Screenshot 2025-03-11 185824.png

I recently took a detour to develop an intriguing tool for Chrome's side panel, which is an impressive new feature in Chrome that I believe many people will find it quite useful. In some cases, it could even be more straightforward and convenient compared to Dictionariez, which uses a popup window to display results. SidePal is designed to work seamlessly within the side panel, showing dictionaries that integrate perfectly with this feature.

Here is how it looks.

image1

It's works well with Google Translate too.
image2

Isn't it handy to have ChatGPT on the sideline ready to answer any questions from you?
image 3

Unfortunately, not all web dictionaries work in the side panel because they need to be embedded in an iframe, and some websites don't allow this. For example, my favorite dictionary, Longman English, doesn’t support iframe embedding.

You can still try adding more dictionaries to your collection from this site, just as you would with Dictionariez. If you receive a warning that the dictionary couldn’t be loaded, it means it’s not supported on SidePal, so I recommend using Dictionariez instead.

In this sense, SidePal is a lighter version of Dictionariez. It has its own advantages and can be used alongside Dictionariez. I hope you find it useful.