When comparing Jarnal (Java, cross-platform) vs Xournal (Linux), the Slant community recommends Jarnal (Java, cross-platform) for most people. In the question“What is the best software to annotate a PDF?” Jarnal (Java, cross-platform) is ranked 4th while Xournal (Linux) is ranked 7th. The most important reason people chose Jarnal (Java, cross-platform) is:
It is possible to connect multiple Jarnal clients to a single Jarnal server for collaboration on the same document. However, only one person can make changes at a time.
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Pros
Pro Collaboration over network (although limited)
It is possible to connect multiple Jarnal clients to a single Jarnal server for collaboration on the same document. However, only one person can make changes at a time.
Pro Free and open-source (GPL license)
Pro Open-source and free software (GPL license)
Pro Supports Wacom tablets and similar input devices
Detects the pressure applied to the pen and adjusts the line thickness, creating more natural-looking drawings.
Cons
Con Some actions are not intuitive
Opening a PDF into Jarnal is not intuitive. The only way I found is by using the supplied shell script. I could not find how to do it from within the UI.
Con Written in Java using Swing toolkit
As with most Java apps, the UI looks alien to all operating systems.
Con Importing a PDF can be a lossy process
Upon importing some PDF files, each page becomes a raster picture. Features of the original PDF, such as vector graphics or selectible text, are completely lost.
For other PDFs, this problem does not happen.