Open-source bulk printing for web applications.

PrintBridge enables web applications to print documents directly to local printers without browser dialogs, certificate management, or memory-bloating base64 transfers. Print 100 invoices with one click. Send shipping labels directly to thermal printers. Automate overnight print jobs.

Web applications need to print documents programmatically - shipping labels, invoices, receipts, reports - but browsers have severe limitations:

PrintBridge provides:

• Batch printing - Print hundreds of documents with a single API call
• Zero configuration - Install the agent and go. No certificates, no firewall rules
• Memory efficient - URL passthrough means the browser never loads document content
• Real status feedback - Know exactly what printed, what failed, and why
• Raw printing - Send ESC/POS, ZPL, EPL directly to receipt and label printers
• Configurable error handling - Stop on error, continue anyway, or retry failed jobs
• Open source - MIT licensed, no vendor lock-in

┌─────────────────┐     WebSocket      ┌─────────────────┐
│   Your Web App  │◀──────────────────▶│ PrintBridge     │───▶ Printer
│   + JS SDK      │   localhost:9718   │ Agent           │
└─────────────────┘                    └─────────────────┘

1. User installs the lightweight PrintBridge agent (runs in system tray)
2. Your web app includes the JavaScript SDK (~8KB gzipped)
3. SDK connects to agent via localhost WebSocket (port 9718)
4. Send print jobs with document URLs - agent downloads and prints
5. Receive real-time status updates

Windows:

# Download installer from GitHub Releases
# https://github.com/mattpilott/PrintBridge/releases

npm install printbridge

Or via CDN:

<script src="https://unpkg.com/printbridge@latest/dist/printbridge.min.js"></script>

import { PrintBridge } from 'printbridge';

const bridge = new PrintBridge();
await bridge.connect();

// Print a single document
const job = await bridge.print({
  url: 'https://api.example.com/invoices/12345.pdf',
  headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer your-token' },
  printer: 'HP LaserJet Pro'
});

job.on('completed', () => console.log('Printed!'));
job.on('failed', (err) => console.error('Failed:', err));

// Print 100 invoices with progress tracking
const batch = await bridge.printBatch(
  invoiceIds.map(id => ({
    url: `https://api.example.com/invoices/${id}.pdf`,
    headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer your-token' },
    printer: 'HP LaserJet Pro'
  })),
  {
    onError: 'continue',  // Keep printing even if some fail
    onProgress: ({ completed, failed, total }) => {
      console.log(`Progress: ${completed}/${total}, Failed: ${failed}`);
    }
  }
);

const results = await batch.wait();
console.log(`Completed: ${results.completed}, Failed: ${results.failed}`);

// Browser just sends the URL - agent downloads directly
// No base64 bloat, no memory spikes
await bridge.print({
  url: 'https://api.example.com/large-document.pdf',
  headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer xxx' }
});

// Send raw commands to receipt/label printers
await bridge.printRaw({
  data: zplLabelCommands,
  printer: 'Zebra ZT410',
  contentType: 'application/x-zpl'
});

const printers = await bridge.getPrinters();
printers.forEach(p => {
  console.log(`${p.name} - ${p.status}`);
  console.log(`  Color: ${p.capabilities.color}`);
});

const batch = await bridge.printBatch(documents, {
  onError: 'stop',      // Stop on first error (default)
  onError: 'continue',  // Skip failures, continue with rest
  onError: 'retry',     // Retry failed jobs
  maxRetries: 3
});

Rendered Documents:

• PDF (via SumatraPDF)
• Images (PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF)

Raw Protocols:

• ESC/POS (receipt printers)
• ZPL (Zebra label printers)
• EPL (Eltron label printers)

PrintBridge consists of two components:

• Built with Tauri (Rust + WebView)
• Runs in system tray, minimal resource usage (~30MB)
• Handles downloads, caching, print queue
• Interfaces with OS print spooler

• Lightweight (~8KB gzipped)
• TypeScript with full type definitions
• Promise-based API with event emitters
• Works in all modern browsers

• Rust 1.70+
• Node.js 18+
• Windows 10/11 with Visual Studio Build Tools

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/mattpilott/PrintBridge.git
cd PrintBridge

# Build agent
cd agent
cargo build --release

# Build SDK
cd ../sdk
npm install
npm run build

# Agent tests
cd agent && cargo test

# SDK tests
cd sdk && npm test

• Core agent with WebSocket server
• JavaScript SDK
• PDF and image printing
• Raw printing (ESC/POS, ZPL, EPL)
• Batch printing with error handling
• Windows support

• macOS support
• Print spooler status monitoring
• React hooks package

• Linux support
• Plugin system

Contributions welcome! Please see CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

• Bug reports: Open an issue with reproduction steps
• Feature requests: Describe the use case
• Code: Fork, branch, PR

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

• GitHub Issues - Bug reports and feature requests
• Discussions - Questions and community chat