Introduction to DuckSlide

What is DuckSlide?

DuckSlide transforms static PDF templates into dynamic documents by letting you define fields that get populated with your data during generation.

The Workflow

1. Upload Template - Design your document in any tool (Figma, Canva, InDesign) and export as PDF
2. Define Fields - Mark dynamic areas for text, images, tables, or AI-generated content
3. Generate via API - Call our API with your data to generate customized PDFs

const pdf = await duckslide.presentations.generate({
  templateId: 'invoice-template',
  fields: {
    customer_name: 'Acme Corporation',
    invoice_number: 'INV-2024-001',
    amount: '$1,250.00',
  },
});

console.log(`PDF generated: ${pdf.url}`);

Why DuckSlide?

Developer-Friendly

• Simple API - Clean, intuitive endpoints
• Multiple SDKs - TypeScript, Python, and more
• Great Documentation - Comprehensive guides and examples
• Quick Setup - Generate your first PDF in under 5 minutes

Scalable

• Automatic Scaling - Handles 1 to 1 million+ PDFs/day
• Fast Generation - Average generation time < 2 seconds
• Global CDN - Fast delivery worldwide
• 99.9% Uptime - Enterprise-grade reliability

Flexible

• Any Design Tool - Use Figma, Canva, InDesign, or any tool that exports PDF
• AI-Powered Content - Generate dynamic text with AI prompts
• Multiple Delivery Methods - Email, webhooks, direct download
• Rich Field Types - Text, images, tables, charts, barcodes, QR codes

Cost-Effective

• Usage-Based Pricing - Pay only for what you use
• No Infrastructure - No servers to manage or scale
• Free Tier - 100 PDFs/month free to get started

Core Concepts

Templates

Templates are PDF files with defined dynamic fields. Think of them as blueprints for your documents.

// Upload a template
const template = await duckslide.templates.upload({
  name: 'Invoice Template',
  file: templatePDF,
  fields: [
    { name: 'invoice_number', type: 'text', required: true },
    { name: 'customer_name', type: 'text', required: true },
    { name: 'line_items', type: 'table' },
  ],
});

Fields

Fields are placeholders in your template that get replaced with actual data during generation.

Field Types:

• Text - Any textual content
• Image - Photos, logos, graphics
• Table - Dynamic rows of data
• Chart - Bar, line, pie charts
• Barcode/QR - Generated codes
• AI - AI-generated content

Generation

Generation is the process of creating a PDF from a template and data.

const pdf = await duckslide.presentations.generate({
  templateId: 'template_id',
  fields: {
    /* your data */
  },
});

Quick Start

1. Sign Up

Join the waitlist to get invited to create an account

2. Get API Key

Find your API key in the dashboard under Settings → API Keys

3. Install SDK

npm install @duckslide/sdk

4. Generate Your First PDF

import { DuckSlide } from '@duckslide/sdk';

const client = new DuckSlide({
  apiKey: process.env.DUCKSLIDE_API_KEY,
});

const pdf = await client.presentations.generate({
  templateId: 'demo-template',
  fields: {
    name: 'Your Name',
    date: new Date().toLocaleDateString(),
  },
});

console.log(`PDF ready at: ${pdf.url}`);

That's it! You've generated your first PDF.

Common Use Cases

Invoices & Receipts

Automate billing documents for your customers:

const invoice = await duckslide.presentations.generate({
  templateId: 'invoice',
  fields: {
    invoice_number: order.invoiceNumber,
    customer: order.customer,
    items: order.items,
    total: order.total,
  },
  delivery: {
    method: 'email',
    recipients: [order.customer.email],
  },
});

Reports & Analytics

Generate data-driven reports:

const report = await duckslide.presentations.generate({
  templateId: 'monthly-report',
  fields: {
    revenue_chart: chartData,
    metrics: analyticsMetrics,
    insights: insights,
  },
  aiPrompts: {
    summary: "Summarize this month's performance",
  },
});

Certificates & Badges

Issue completion certificates:

const certificate = await duckslide.presentations.generate({
  templateId: 'certificate',
  fields: {
    student_name: student.name,
    course_title: course.title,
    completion_date: new Date().toLocaleDateString(),
    certificate_id: generateUniqueId(),
  },
});

Proposals & Quotes

Create personalized sales documents:

const proposal = await duckslide.presentations.generate({
  templateId: 'proposal',
  fields: {
    company_name: prospect.company,
    contact_name: prospect.name,
  },
  aiPrompts: {
    executive_summary: `Write a compelling summary for ${prospect.company}`,
    solution_overview: 'Explain how we solve their challenges',
  },
});

Authentication

All API requests require authentication using your API key:

// SDK (automatic)
const client = new DuckSlide({ apiKey: 'your_api_key' });

Important: Never expose your API key in client-side code or commit it to version control.

Rate Limits

DuckSlide enforces rate limits based on your plan:

Rate limit headers are included in every response:

X-RateLimit-Limit: 10000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 9850
X-RateLimit-Reset: 1640000000