[SigmundA]

There are a lot of procedural tools for generating HTML, lots, if modern browsers fully supported print CSS then you could use them for complex PDF generation, or direct printing, either client side or on the server headless.

If your app is a web app this is a no brainer, the users browser could simply do the print or PDF conversion as needed.

I do see a use for more direct libraries in native apps, although if every native client had a browser control with full print CSS support even then it might not be such an issue.

[Scarbutt]

If your app is a web app this is a no brainer, the users browser could simply do the print or PDF conversion as needed.

That's arguable, IME (and also a better UX), most would prefer to just get the PDF file which just one click than to deal with additional browser dialogs. No everyone knows how to do print-to-pdf or even know it exists.

Or do you mean browsers expose print-to-pdf functionality as an API?

[SigmundA]

Hitting print in the browser or calling Window.print() if you want to force the dialog.

If you serve a PDF you still need to hit print or use dialog to save, you can use a headless browser server side to serve that if needed.

I do think browser could use better print API's but you not getting around that with server side PDF's unless the server direct prints to on site printers or something.

[MarcinZiabek]

I am not sure if it is a good idea to think about webpage and PDF content as the same. After all, they both serve different purpose and their layout shouldd be optimized for the use case.