What is fs-pdf-compressor?

gitlares/fs-pdf-compressor — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-26

★ 1PythonAudience · generalComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Shrinks PDF files
      Runs locally offline
      Drag and drop
    How it works
      Uses Ghostscript
      Bundled inside app
      Three quality profiles
    Platforms
      macOS Apple Silicon
      Linux AppImage x86_64
      Signed and notarized
    License and Contributing
      AGPL v3 open source
      Welcomes contributions
      Optional PayPal donations

mindmap root((repo)) What it does Shrinks PDF files Runs locally offline Drag and drop How it works Uses Ghostscript Bundled inside app Three quality profiles Platforms macOS Apple Silicon Linux AppImage x86_64 Signed and notarized License and Contributing AGPL v3 open source Welcomes contributions Optional PayPal donations

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Compress large PDFs to save disk space or make them easier to email.

USE CASE 2

Reduce PDF sizes locally for confidential documents without uploading them online.

USE CASE 3

Choose different compression quality levels to balance file size and readability.

USE CASE 4

Keep original files safe by creating compressed copies instead of replacing them.

What is it built with?

PythonGhostscriptQtHomebrew

How does it compare?

	gitlares/fs-pdf-compressor	0xustaz/streamgate	a-bissell/unleash-lite
Stars	1	1	1
Language	Python	Python	Python
Setup difficulty	easy	hard	hard
Complexity	2/5	4/5	4/5
Audience	general	developer	researcher

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Just download the ready-made app for macOS or Linux, building from source requires an Apple Silicon Mac, Homebrew, and Python 3.12.

Free to use and modify, but if you distribute a modified version over a network you must share the source code under the same license.

So what is it?

FS PDF Compressor is a small desktop application for macOS and Linux that shrinks PDF file sizes. The name stands for Fast and Simple, which describes the intended experience: you drag a PDF onto the window, the app compresses it, and you get a smaller file back. Everything happens on your own computer, so your documents are never uploaded anywhere. The app uses Ghostscript, an established open-source tool for processing PDFs, to do the actual compression work. Ghostscript is bundled directly inside the application, which means you do not need to install any extra software or deal with command-line tools yourself. By default, the app applies a balanced compression setting, and there are two additional quality profiles you can choose from if you want different results. One nice detail: the app only replaces your original file if the compressed version is actually smaller, and there is an optional mode that keeps your original intact and creates a separate compressed copy instead. On macOS, the app requires version 14 or newer and runs on Apple Silicon. The download is a signed and notarized disk image, meaning Apple has verified it, so it will open without security warnings. For Linux, there is a self-contained AppImage file for x86_64 systems. You can also run an installer script that verifies the download, adds the app to your applications menu, and handles updates without requiring administrator privileges. If you want to build the app yourself from source, the repository includes instructions for both platforms. Building on macOS requires an Apple Silicon Mac, Homebrew, and Python 3.12. The build process bundles Ghostscript and its libraries into the final application. The Linux edition uses the same compression engine but has an interface built with Qt to match the macOS version. The project is open source under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0. The developer welcomes contributions such as bug reports, translations, accessibility improvements, and code changes. An optional PayPal donation link is available for people who find the app useful and want to support its continued development.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

Write a Python script using Ghostscript that compresses a PDF file locally, replacing the original only if the compressed version is smaller.

Prompt 2

Create a simple drag-and-drop desktop GUI in Python and Qt that accepts a PDF and saves a compressed version with a choice of three quality profiles.

Prompt 3

Explain how to bundle the Ghostscript binary inside a Python desktop application for macOS and Linux so users don't need to install it separately.

Frequently asked questions