formepdf

Python SDK for Forme — the page-native PDF rendering engine. Two ways to use it:

1. API client — calls the hosted API at api.formepdf.com (requires API key)
2. Local rendering — runs the WASM engine locally via wasmtime (no API key needed)

Installation

# API client only (zero dependencies)
pip install formepdf

# Local rendering with component DSL (adds wasmtime)
pip install formepdf[local]

API Client

Setup

from formepdf import Forme

client = Forme("forme_sk_...")

Render

Render a template (created in the dashboard) with data:

pdf = client.render("invoice", {"customer": "Acme", "total": 245})

with open("invoice.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(pdf)

Async render

job = client.render_async("report", data, webhook_url="https://example.com/hook")

result = client.get_job(job["jobId"])
if result["status"] == "complete":
    pdf_b64 = result["pdfBase64"]

Certify

Apply a PKCS#7 digital signature to an existing PDF:

with open("document.pdf", "rb") as f:
    pdf = f.read()

certified = client.certify(
    pdf,
    certificate=open("cert.pem").read(),
    private_key=open("key.pem").read(),
    reason="Approved",
    location="New York",
)

with open("certified.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(certified)

Or use a saved certificate on the hosted API:

certified = client.certify(pdf, certificate_id="cert_abc123")

Redact

Remove sensitive content from a PDF — true redaction (text operators removed, not just covered):

# By text pattern
redacted = client.redact(pdf, patterns=[
    {"pattern": "Jane Doe", "pattern_type": "Literal"},
    {"pattern": r"\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{4}", "pattern_type": "Regex"},
])

# By built-in presets
redacted = client.redact(pdf, presets=["ssn", "email", "phone"])

# By coordinate regions
redacted = client.redact(pdf, redactions=[
    {"page": 0, "x": 100, "y": 200, "width": 150, "height": 20},
])

# By saved redaction template
redacted = client.redact(pdf, template="hipaa-patient-record")

Merge

Combine multiple PDFs into one:

merged = client.merge([pdf1_bytes, pdf2_bytes, pdf3_bytes])

with open("merged.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(merged)

Extract embedded data

data = client.extract(pdf)  # returns dict or None

Error handling

from formepdf import Forme, FormeError

try:
    pdf = client.render("invoice", data)
except FormeError as e:
    print(f"Error {e.status}: {e.message}")

Local Rendering (WASM)

Build PDF documents in Python with a component DSL that mirrors the JSX API. Renders locally via the WASM engine — no API key or network calls needed.

Basic example

from formepdf import Document, Page, View, Text, Image

doc = Document(
    Page(
        View(
            Text("Invoice #001", font_size=24, font_weight="bold"),
            Text("Acme Corp", font_size=14, color="#666"),
            flex_direction="column", gap=8,
        ),
    ),
    title="Invoice #001",
)

pdf = doc.render()

with open("invoice.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(pdf)

Components

Certify locally

from formepdf.wasm import certify_pdf

with open("document.pdf", "rb") as f:
    pdf = f.read()

import json
config = json.dumps({
    "certificate_pem": open("cert.pem").read(),
    "private_key_pem": open("key.pem").read(),
    "reason": "Approved",
})

certified = certify_pdf(pdf, config)

Requirements

• Python 3.8+
• No external dependencies for the API client (stdlib only)
• wasmtime for local rendering (pip install formepdf[local])