How to create our own PDF viewer for Android?

Question

I want to build a PDF reader/viewer that could be used in my Android application, but I can't use Google docs to read my content. I can't use any PDF reader already installed in my device. It should be within my app and do not expose my secure content over the Internet.

What could I possibly use? Do I have to use the Android native dev kit to create my own viewer?

Answer 1

I'd recommend considering MuPDF which has already been ported for use on Android several times without reliance on Java. MuPDF is optimized for lightweight on-screen PDF rendering, making it perfect for mobile use.

Please note that MuPDF and all the derived projects are not suitable for the commercial use and you should consider alternatives if you are not developing an open source GPL project.