Refactor `QPDFWriter` to consolidate `write*` methods into parameterized `write`…

… overloads, streamline QDF handling, and simplify string and trailer writes.

Refactor `QPDFWriter` to consolidate `write*` methods into parameterized `write`…
… overloads, streamline QDF handling, and simplify string and trailer writes.
m-holger
1 parent 7d1ba7da
Showing 3 changed files with 199 additions and 246 deletions
include/qpdf/QPDFWriter.hh
libqpdf/QPDFWriter.cc
libqpdf/qpdf/Pipeline_private.hh
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <qpdf/Types.h>
 #include <bitset>
+#include <concepts>
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <functional>
 #include <list>
@@ -481,10 +482,13 @@ class QPDFWriter
     unsigned int bytesNeeded(long long n);
     void writeBinary(unsigned long long val, unsigned int bytes);
-    void writeString(std::string_view str);
-    void writeStringQDF(std::string_view str);
-    void writeStringNoQDF(std::string_view str);
-    void writePad(size_t nspaces);
+    QPDFWriter& write(std::string_view str);
+    QPDFWriter& write(size_t count, char c);
+    QPDFWriter& write(std::integral auto val);
+    template <typename... Args>
+    QPDFWriter& write_qdf(Args&&... args);
+    template <typename... Args>
+    QPDFWriter& write_no_qdf(Args&&... args);
     void assignCompressedObjectNumbers(QPDFObjGen og);
     void enqueueObject(QPDFObjectHandle object);
     void writeObjectStreamOffsets(std::vector<qpdf_offset_t>& offsets, int first_obj);
@@ -832,32 +832,45 @@ QPDFWriter::writeBinary(unsigned long long val, unsigned int bytes)
     m->pipeline->write(data, bytes);
 }
-void
-QPDFWriter::writeString(std::string_view str)
+QPDFWriter&
+QPDFWriter::write(std::string_view str)
 {
-    m->pipeline->write(reinterpret_cast<unsigned char const*>(str.data()), str.size());
+    m->pipeline->write(str);
+    return *this;
 }
-void
-QPDFWriter::writeStringQDF(std::string_view str)
+QPDFWriter&
+QPDFWriter::write(std::integral auto val)
 {
-    if (m->qdf_mode) {
-        m->pipeline->write(reinterpret_cast<unsigned char const*>(str.data()), str.size());
-    }
+    m->pipeline->write(std::to_string(val));
+    return *this;
 }
-void
-QPDFWriter::writeStringNoQDF(std::string_view str)
+QPDFWriter&
+QPDFWriter::write(size_t count, char c)
 {
-    if (!m->qdf_mode) {
-        m->pipeline->write(reinterpret_cast<unsigned char const*>(str.data()), str.size());
+    m->pipeline->write(count, c);
+    return *this;
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+QPDFWriter&
+QPDFWriter::write_qdf(Args&&... args)
+{
+    if (m->qdf_mode) {
+        m->pipeline->write(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
     }
+    return *this;
 }
-void
-QPDFWriter::writePad(size_t nspaces)
+template <typename... Args>
+QPDFWriter&
+QPDFWriter::write_no_qdf(Args&&... args)
 {
-    writeString(std::string(nspaces, ' '));
+    if (!m->qdf_mode) {
+        m->pipeline->write(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+    }
+    return *this;
 }
 Pipeline*
@@ -1005,8 +1018,7 @@ QPDFWriter::openObject(int objid)
         objid = m->next_objid++;
     }
     m->new_obj[objid].xref = QPDFXRefEntry(m->pipeline->getCount());
-    writeString(std::to_string(objid));
-    writeString(" 0 obj\n");
+    write(objid).write(" 0 obj\n");
     return objid;
 }
@@ -1014,8 +1026,7 @@ void
 QPDFWriter::closeObject(int objid)
 {
     // Write a newline before endobj as it makes the file easier to repair.
-    writeString("\nendobj\n");
-    writeStringQDF("\n");
+    write("\nendobj\n").write_qdf("\n");
     auto& new_obj = m->new_obj[objid];
     new_obj.length = m->pipeline->getCount() - new_obj.xref.getOffset();
 }
@@ -1114,8 +1125,7 @@ QPDFWriter::unparseChild(QPDFObjectHandle child, int level, int flags)
         enqueueObject(child);
     }
     if (child.isIndirect()) {
-        writeString(std::to_string(m->obj[child].renumber));
-        writeString(" 0 R");
+        write(m->obj[child].renumber).write(" 0 R");
     } else {
         unparseObject(child, level, flags);
     }
@@ -1129,78 +1139,63 @@ QPDFWriter::writeTrailer(
     if (xref_stream) {
         m->cur_data_key.clear();
     } else {
-        writeString("trailer <<");
+        write("trailer <<");
     }
-    writeStringQDF("\n");
+    write_qdf("\n");
     if (which == t_lin_second) {
-        writeString(" /Size ");
-        writeString(std::to_string(size));
+        write(" /Size ").write(size);
     } else {
         for (auto const& [key, value]: trailer.as_dictionary()) {
             if (value.null()) {
                 continue;
             }
-            writeStringQDF("  ");
-            writeStringNoQDF(" ");
-            writeString(Name::normalize(key));
-            writeString(" ");
+            write_qdf("  ").write_no_qdf(" ").write(Name::normalize(key)).write(" ");
             if (key == "/Size") {
-                writeString(std::to_string(size));
+                write(size);
                 if (which == t_lin_first) {
-                    writeString(" /Prev ");
+                    write(" /Prev ");
                     qpdf_offset_t pos = m->pipeline->getCount();
-                    writeString(std::to_string(prev));
-                    writePad(QIntC::to_size(pos - m->pipeline->getCount() + 21));
+                    write(prev).write(QIntC::to_size(pos - m->pipeline->getCount() + 21), ' ');
                 }
             } else {
                 unparseChild(value, 1, 0);
             }
-            writeStringQDF("\n");
+            write_qdf("\n");
         }
     }
     // Write ID
-    writeStringQDF(" ");
-    writeString(" /ID [");
+    write_qdf(" ").write(" /ID [");
     if (linearization_pass == 1) {
         std::string original_id1 = getOriginalID1();
         if (original_id1.empty()) {
-            writeString("<00000000000000000000000000000000>");
+            write("<00000000000000000000000000000000>");
         } else {
             // Write a string of zeroes equal in length to the representation of the original ID.
             // While writing the original ID would have the same number of bytes, it would cause a
             // change to the deterministic ID generated by older versions of the software that
             // hard-coded the length of the ID to 16 bytes.
-            writeString("<");
             size_t len = QPDF_String(original_id1).unparse(true).length() - 2;
-            for (size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i) {
-                writeString("0");
-            }
-            writeString(">");
+            write("<").write(len, '0').write(">");
         }
-        writeString("<00000000000000000000000000000000>");
+        write("<00000000000000000000000000000000>");
     } else {
-        if ((linearization_pass == 0) && (m->deterministic_id)) {
+        if (linearization_pass == 0 && m->deterministic_id) {
             computeDeterministicIDData();
         }
         generateID();
-        writeString(QPDF_String(m->id1).unparse(true));
-        writeString(QPDF_String(m->id2).unparse(true));
+        write(QPDF_String(m->id1).unparse(true)).write(QPDF_String(m->id2).unparse(true));
     }
-    writeString("]");
+    write("]");
     if (which != t_lin_second) {
         // Write reference to encryption dictionary
         if (m->encryption) {
-            writeString(" /Encrypt ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(m->encryption_dict_objid));
-            writeString(" 0 R");
+            write(" /Encrypt ").write(m->encryption_dict_objid).write(" 0 R");
         }
     }
-    writeStringQDF("\n");
-    writeStringNoQDF(" ");
-    writeString(">>");
+    write_qdf("\n>>").write_no_qdf(" >>");
 }
 bool
@@ -1326,14 +1321,12 @@ QPDFWriter::unparseObject(
         // Note: PDF spec 1.4 implementation note 121 states that Acrobat requires a space after the
         // [ in the /H key of the linearization parameter dictionary.  We'll do this unconditionally
         // for all arrays because it looks nicer and doesn't make the files that much bigger.
-        writeString("[");
+        write("[");
         for (auto const& item: object.as_array()) {
-            writeString(indent);
-            writeStringQDF("  ");
+            write(indent).write_qdf("  ");
             unparseChild(item, level + 1, child_flags);
         }
-        writeString(indent);
-        writeString("]");
+        write(indent).write("]");
     } else if (tc == ::ot_dictionary) {
         // Handle special cases for specific dictionaries.
@@ -1474,14 +1467,11 @@ QPDFWriter::unparseObject(
             }
         }
-        writeString("<<");
+        write("<<");
         for (auto const& [key, value]: object.as_dictionary()) {
             if (!value.null()) {
-                writeString(indent);
-                writeStringQDF("  ");
-                writeString(Name::normalize(key));
-                writeString(" ");
+                write(indent).write_qdf("  ").write(Name::normalize(key)).write(" ");
                 if (key == "/Contents" && object.isDictionaryOfType("/Sig") &&
                     object.hasKey("/ByteRange")) {
                     QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFWriter no encryption sig contents");
@@ -1493,25 +1483,19 @@ QPDFWriter::unparseObject(
         }
         if (flags & f_stream) {
-            writeString(indent);
-            writeStringQDF("  ");
-            writeString("/Length ");
+            write(indent).write_qdf("  ").write("/Length ");
             if (m->direct_stream_lengths) {
-                writeString(std::to_string(stream_length));
+                write(stream_length);
             } else {
-                writeString(std::to_string(m->cur_stream_length_id));
-                writeString(" 0 R");
+                write(m->cur_stream_length_id).write(" 0 R");
             }
             if (compress && (flags & f_filtered)) {
-                writeString(indent);
-                writeStringQDF("  ");
-                writeString("/Filter /FlateDecode");
+                write(indent).write_qdf("  ").write("/Filter /FlateDecode");
             }
         }
-        writeString(indent);
-        writeString(">>");
+        write(indent).write(">>");
     } else if (tc == ::ot_stream) {
         // Write stream data to a buffer.
         if (!m->direct_stream_lengths) {
@@ -1535,18 +1519,18 @@ QPDFWriter::unparseObject(
         adjustAESStreamLength(m->cur_stream_length);
         unparseObject(stream_dict, 0, flags, m->cur_stream_length, compress_stream);
         char last_char = stream_data.empty() ? '\0' : stream_data.back();
-        writeString("\nstream\n");
+        write("\nstream\n");
         {
             PipelinePopper pp_enc(this);
             pushEncryptionFilter(pp_enc);
-            writeString(stream_data);
+            write(stream_data);
         }
         if ((m->added_newline =
                  m->newline_before_endstream || (m->qdf_mode && last_char != '\n'))) {
-            writeString("\nendstream");
+            write("\nendstream");
         } else {
-            writeString("endstream");
+            write("endstream");
         }
     } else if (tc == ::ot_string) {
         std::string val;
@@ -1580,9 +1564,9 @@ QPDFWriter::unparseObject(
         } else {
             val = object.unparseResolved();
         }
-        writeString(val);
+        write(val);
     } else {
-        writeString(object.unparseResolved());
+        write(object.unparseResolved());
     }
 }
@@ -1596,14 +1580,13 @@ QPDFWriter::writeObjectStreamOffsets(std::vector&lt;qpdf_offset_t&gt;&amp; offsets, int fi
         if (is_first) {
             is_first = false;
         } else {
-            writeStringQDF("\n");
-            writeStringNoQDF(" ");
+            write_qdf("\n").write_no_qdf(" ");
         }
-        writeString(id);
+        write(id);
         util::increment(id, 1);
-        writeString(std::to_string(offset));
+        write(offset);
     }
-    writeString("\n");
+    write("\n");
 }
 void
@@ -1639,20 +1622,18 @@ QPDFWriter::writeObjectStream(QPDFObjectHandle object)
                 first_obj = new_obj;
             }
             if (m->qdf_mode) {
-                writeString(
-                    "%% Object stream: object " + std::to_string(new_obj) + ", index " +
-                    std::to_string(count));
+                write("%% Object stream: object ").write(new_obj).write(", index ").write(count);
                 if (!m->suppress_original_object_ids) {
-                    writeString("; original object ID: " + std::to_string(obj.getObj()));
+                    write("; original object ID: ").write(obj.getObj());
                     // For compatibility, only write the generation if non-zero.  While object
                     // streams only allow objects with generation 0, if we are generating object
                     // streams, the old object could have a non-zero generation.
                     if (obj.getGen() != 0) {
                         QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFWriter original obj non-zero gen");
-                        writeString(" " + std::to_string(obj.getGen()));
+                        write(" ").write(obj.getGen());
                     }
                 }
-                writeString("\n");
+                write("\n");
             }
             offsets.push_back(m->pipeline->getCount());
@@ -1698,7 +1679,7 @@ QPDFWriter::writeObjectStream(QPDFObjectHandle object)
             activatePipelineStack(pp_ostream, stream_buffer_pass2);
         }
         writeObjectStreamOffsets(offsets, first_obj);
-        writeString(stream_buffer_pass1);
+        write(stream_buffer_pass1);
         stream_buffer_pass1.clear();
         stream_buffer_pass1.shrink_to_fit();
     }
@@ -1706,46 +1687,37 @@ QPDFWriter::writeObjectStream(QPDFObjectHandle object)
     // Write the object
     openObject(new_stream_id);
     setDataKey(new_stream_id);
-    writeString("<<");
-    writeStringQDF("\n ");
-    writeString(" /Type /ObjStm");
-    writeStringQDF("\n ");
+    write("<<").write_qdf("\n ").write(" /Type /ObjStm").write_qdf("\n ");
     size_t length = stream_buffer_pass2.size();
     adjustAESStreamLength(length);
-    writeString(" /Length " + std::to_string(length));
-    writeStringQDF("\n ");
+    write(" /Length ").write(length).write_qdf("\n ");
     if (compressed) {
-        writeString(" /Filter /FlateDecode");
+        write(" /Filter /FlateDecode");
     }
-    writeString(" /N " + std::to_string(offsets.size()));
-    writeStringQDF("\n ");
-    writeString(" /First " + std::to_string(first));
+    write(" /N ").write(offsets.size()).write_qdf("\n ").write(" /First ").write(first);
     if (!object.isNull()) {
         // If the original object has an /Extends key, preserve it.
         QPDFObjectHandle dict = object.getDict();
         QPDFObjectHandle extends = dict.getKey("/Extends");
         if (extends.isIndirect()) {
             QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFWriter copy Extends");
-            writeStringQDF("\n ");
-            writeString(" /Extends ");
+            write_qdf("\n ").write(" /Extends ");
             unparseChild(extends, 1, f_in_ostream);
         }
     }
-    writeStringQDF("\n");
-    writeStringNoQDF(" ");
-    writeString(">>\nstream\n");
+    write_qdf("\n").write_no_qdf(" ").write(">>\nstream\n");
     if (m->encryption) {
         QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFWriter encrypt object stream");
     }
     {
         PipelinePopper pp_enc(this);
         pushEncryptionFilter(pp_enc);
-        writeString(stream_buffer_pass2);
+        write(stream_buffer_pass2);
     }
     if (m->newline_before_endstream) {
-        writeString("\n");
+        write("\n");
     }
-    writeString("endstream");
+    write("endstream");
     m->cur_data_key.clear();
     closeObject(new_stream_id);
 }
@@ -1755,8 +1727,8 @@ QPDFWriter::writeObject(QPDFObjectHandle object, int object_stream_index)
 {
     QPDFObjGen old_og = object.getObjGen();
-    if ((object_stream_index == -1) && (old_og.getGen() == 0) &&
-        (m->object_stream_to_objects.count(old_og.getObj()))) {
+    if (object_stream_index == -1 && old_og.getGen() == 0 &&
+        m->object_stream_to_objects.contains(old_og.getObj())) {
         writeObjectStream(object);
         return;
     }
@@ -1765,19 +1737,15 @@ QPDFWriter::writeObject(QPDFObjectHandle object, int object_stream_index)
     auto new_id = m->obj[old_og].renumber;
     if (m->qdf_mode) {
         if (m->page_object_to_seq.contains(old_og)) {
-            writeString("%% Page ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(m->page_object_to_seq[old_og]));
-            writeString("\n");
+            write("%% Page ").write(m->page_object_to_seq[old_og]).write("\n");
         }
         if (m->contents_to_page_seq.contains(old_og)) {
-            writeString("%% Contents for page ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(m->contents_to_page_seq[old_og]));
-            writeString("\n");
+            write("%% Contents for page ").write(m->contents_to_page_seq[old_og]).write("\n");
         }
     }
     if (object_stream_index == -1) {
         if (m->qdf_mode && (!m->suppress_original_object_ids)) {
-            writeString("%% Original object ID: " + object.getObjGen().unparse(' ') + "\n");
+            write("%% Original object ID: ").write(object.getObjGen().unparse(' ')).write("\n");
         }
         openObject(new_id);
         setDataKey(new_id);
@@ -1786,17 +1754,17 @@ QPDFWriter::writeObject(QPDFObjectHandle object, int object_stream_index)
         closeObject(new_id);
     } else {
         unparseObject(object, 0, f_in_ostream);
-        writeString("\n");
+        write("\n");
     }
-    if ((!m->direct_stream_lengths) && object.isStream()) {
+    if (!m->direct_stream_lengths && object.isStream()) {
         if (m->qdf_mode) {
             if (m->added_newline) {
-                writeString("%QDF: ignore_newline\n");
+                write("%QDF: ignore_newline\n");
             }
         }
         openObject(new_id + 1);
-        writeString(std::to_string(m->cur_stream_length));
+        write(m->cur_stream_length);
         closeObject(new_id + 1);
     }
 }
@@ -2274,46 +2242,36 @@ QPDFWriter::writeEncryptionDictionary()
     auto& enc = *m->encryption;
     auto const V = enc.getV();
-    writeString("<<");
+    write("<<");
     if (V >= 4) {
-        writeString(" /CF << /StdCF << /AuthEvent /DocOpen /CFM ");
-        writeString(m->encrypt_use_aes ? ((V < 5) ? "/AESV2" : "/AESV3") : "/V2");
+        write(" /CF << /StdCF << /AuthEvent /DocOpen /CFM ");
+        write(m->encrypt_use_aes ? ((V < 5) ? "/AESV2" : "/AESV3") : "/V2");
         // The PDF spec says the /Length key is optional, but the PDF previewer on some versions of
         // MacOS won't open encrypted files without it.
-        writeString((V < 5) ? " /Length 16 >> >>" : " /Length 32 >> >>");
+        write((V < 5) ? " /Length 16 >> >>" : " /Length 32 >> >>");
         if (!m->encryption->getEncryptMetadata()) {
-            writeString(" /EncryptMetadata false");
+            write(" /EncryptMetadata false");
         }
     }
-    writeString(" /Filter /Standard /Length ");
-    writeString(std::to_string(enc.getLengthBytes() * 8));
-    writeString(" /O ");
-    writeString(QPDF_String(enc.getO()).unparse(true));
+    write(" /Filter /Standard /Length ").write(enc.getLengthBytes() * 8);
+    write(" /O ").write(QPDF_String(enc.getO()).unparse(true));
     if (V >= 4) {
-        writeString(" /OE ");
-        writeString(QPDF_String(enc.getOE()).unparse(true));
+        write(" /OE ").write(QPDF_String(enc.getOE()).unparse(true));
     }
-    writeString(" /P ");
-    writeString(std::to_string(enc.getP()));
+    write(" /P ").write(enc.getP());
     if (V >= 5) {
-        writeString(" /Perms ");
-        writeString(QPDF_String(enc.getPerms()).unparse(true));
+        write(" /Perms ").write(QPDF_String(enc.getPerms()).unparse(true));
     }
-    writeString(" /R ");
-    writeString(std::to_string(enc.getR()));
+    write(" /R ").write(enc.getR());
     if (V >= 4) {
-        writeString(" /StmF /StdCF /StrF /StdCF");
+        write(" /StmF /StdCF /StrF /StdCF");
     }
-    writeString(" /U ");
-    writeString(QPDF_String(enc.getU()).unparse(true));
+    write(" /U ").write(QPDF_String(enc.getU()).unparse(true));
     if (V >= 4) {
-        writeString(" /UE ");
-        writeString(QPDF_String(enc.getUE()).unparse(true));
+        write(" /UE ").write(QPDF_String(enc.getUE()).unparse(true));
     }
-    writeString(" /V ");
-    writeString(std::to_string(enc.getV()));
-    writeString(" >>");
+    write(" /V ").write(enc.getV()).write(" >>");
     closeObject(m->encryption_dict_objid);
 }
@@ -2327,17 +2285,16 @@ QPDFWriter::getFinalVersion()
 void
 QPDFWriter::writeHeader()
 {
-    writeString("%PDF-");
-    writeString(m->final_pdf_version);
+    write("%PDF-").write(m->final_pdf_version);
     if (m->pclm) {
         // PCLm version
-        writeString("\n%PCLm 1.0\n");
+        write("\n%PCLm 1.0\n");
     } else {
         // This string of binary characters would not be valid UTF-8, so it really should be treated
         // as binary.
-        writeString("\n%\xbf\xf7\xa2\xfe\n");
+        write("\n%\xbf\xf7\xa2\xfe\n");
     }
-    writeStringQDF("%QDF-1.0\n\n");
+    write_qdf("%QDF-1.0\n\n");
     // Note: do not write extra header text here.  Linearized PDFs must include the entire
     // linearization parameter dictionary within the first 1024 characters of the PDF file, so for
@@ -2351,7 +2308,7 @@ QPDFWriter::writeHintStream(int hint_id)
     std::string hint_buffer;
     int S = 0;
     int O = 0;
-    bool compressed = (m->compress_streams && !m->qdf_mode);
+    bool compressed = m->compress_streams && !m->qdf_mode;
     QPDF::Writer::generateHintStream(m->pdf, m->new_obj, m->obj, hint_buffer, S, O, compressed);
     openObject(hint_id);
@@ -2359,20 +2316,17 @@ QPDFWriter::writeHintStream(int hint_id)
     size_t hlen = hint_buffer.size();
-    writeString("<< ");
+    write("<< ");
     if (compressed) {
-        writeString("/Filter /FlateDecode ");
+        write("/Filter /FlateDecode ");
     }
-    writeString("/S ");
-    writeString(std::to_string(S));
+    write("/S ").write(S);
     if (O) {
-        writeString(" /O ");
-        writeString(std::to_string(O));
+        write(" /O ").write(O);
     }
-    writeString(" /Length ");
     adjustAESStreamLength(hlen);
-    writeString(std::to_string(hlen));
-    writeString(" >>\nstream\n");
+    write(" /Length ").write(hlen);
+    write(" >>\nstream\n");
     if (m->encryption) {
         QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFWriter encrypted hint stream");
@@ -2381,13 +2335,13 @@ QPDFWriter::writeHintStream(int hint_id)
     {
         PipelinePopper pp_enc(this);
         pushEncryptionFilter(pp_enc);
-        writeString(hint_buffer);
+        write(hint_buffer);
     }
     if (last_char != '\n') {
-        writeString("\n");
+        write("\n");
     }
-    writeString("endstream");
+    write("endstream");
     closeObject(hint_id);
 }
@@ -2412,29 +2366,25 @@ QPDFWriter::writeXRefTable(
     qpdf_offset_t hint_length,
     int linearization_pass)
 {
-    writeString("xref\n");
-    writeString(std::to_string(first));
-    writeString(" ");
-    writeString(std::to_string(last - first + 1));
+    write("xref\n").write(first).write(" ").write(last - first + 1);
     qpdf_offset_t space_before_zero = m->pipeline->getCount();
-    writeString("\n");
+    write("\n");
+    if (first == 0) {
+        write("0000000000 65535 f \n");
+        ++first;
+    }
     for (int i = first; i <= last; ++i) {
-        if (i == 0) {
-            writeString("0000000000 65535 f \n");
-        } else {
-            qpdf_offset_t offset = 0;
-            if (!suppress_offsets) {
-                offset = m->new_obj[i].xref.getOffset();
-                if ((hint_id != 0) && (i != hint_id) && (offset >= hint_offset)) {
-                    offset += hint_length;
-                }
+        qpdf_offset_t offset = 0;
+        if (!suppress_offsets) {
+            offset = m->new_obj[i].xref.getOffset();
+            if ((hint_id != 0) && (i != hint_id) && (offset >= hint_offset)) {
+                offset += hint_length;
             }
-            writeString(QUtil::int_to_string(offset, 10));
-            writeString(" 00000 n \n");
         }
+        write(QUtil::int_to_string(offset, 10)).write(" 00000 n \n");
     }
     writeTrailer(which, size, false, prev, linearization_pass);
-    writeString("\n");
+    write("\n");
     return space_before_zero;
 }
@@ -2532,27 +2482,18 @@ QPDFWriter::writeXRefStream(
     }
     openObject(xref_id);
-    writeString("<<");
-    writeStringQDF("\n ");
-    writeString(" /Type /XRef");
-    writeStringQDF("\n ");
-    writeString(" /Length " + std::to_string(xref_data.size()));
+    write("<<").write_qdf("\n ").write(" /Type /XRef").write_qdf("\n ");
+    write(" /Length ").write(xref_data.size());
     if (compressed) {
-        writeStringQDF("\n ");
-        writeString(" /Filter /FlateDecode");
-        writeStringQDF("\n ");
-        writeString(" /DecodeParms << /Columns " + std::to_string(esize) + " /Predictor 12 >>");
+        write_qdf("\n ").write(" /Filter /FlateDecode").write_qdf("\n ");
+        write(" /DecodeParms << /Columns ").write(esize).write(" /Predictor 12 >>");
     }
-    writeStringQDF("\n ");
-    writeString(" /W [ 1 " + std::to_string(f1_size) + " " + std::to_string(f2_size) + " ]");
-    if (!((first == 0) && (last == size - 1))) {
-        writeString(
-            " /Index [ " + std::to_string(first) + " " + std::to_string(last - first + 1) + " ]");
+    write_qdf("\n ").write(" /W [ 1 ").write(f1_size).write(" ").write(f2_size).write(" ]");
+    if (!(first == 0 && last == (size - 1))) {
+        write(" /Index [ ").write(first).write(" ").write(last - first + 1).write(" ]");
     }
     writeTrailer(which, size, true, prev, linearization_pass);
-    writeString("\nstream\n");
-    writeString(xref_data);
-    writeString("\nendstream");
+    write("\nstream\n").write(xref_data).write("\nendstream");
     closeObject(xref_id);
     return space_before_zero;
 }
@@ -2726,37 +2667,28 @@ QPDFWriter::writeLinearized()
         qpdf_offset_t pos = m->pipeline->getCount();
         openObject(lindict_id);
-        writeString("<<");
+        write("<<");
         if (pass == 2) {
             std::vector<QPDFObjectHandle> const& pages = m->pdf.getAllPages();
             int first_page_object = m->obj[pages.at(0)].renumber;
-            int npages = QIntC::to_int(pages.size());
-            writeString(" /Linearized 1 /L ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(file_size + hint_length));
+            write(" /Linearized 1 /L ").write(file_size + hint_length);
             // Implementation note 121 states that a space is mandatory after this open bracket.
-            writeString(" /H [ ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(m->new_obj[hint_id].xref.getOffset()));
-            writeString(" ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(hint_length));
-            writeString(" ] /O ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(first_page_object));
-            writeString(" /E ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(part6_end_offset + hint_length));
-            writeString(" /N ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(npages));
-            writeString(" /T ");
-            writeString(std::to_string(space_before_zero + hint_length));
-        }
-        writeString(" >>");
+            write(" /H [ ").write(m->new_obj[hint_id].xref.getOffset()).write(" ");
+            write(hint_length);
+            write(" ] /O ").write(first_page_object);
+            write(" /E ").write(part6_end_offset + hint_length);
+            write(" /N ").write(pages.size());
+            write(" /T ").write(space_before_zero + hint_length);
+        }
+        write(" >>");
         closeObject(lindict_id);
         static int const pad = 200;
-        writePad(QIntC::to_size(pos - m->pipeline->getCount() + pad));
-        writeString("\n");
+        write(QIntC::to_size(pos - m->pipeline->getCount() + pad), ' ').write("\n");
         // If the user supplied any additional header text, write it here after the linearization
         // parameter dictionary.
-        writeString(m->extra_header_text);
+        write(m->extra_header_text);
         // Part 3: first page cross reference table and trailer.
@@ -2793,20 +2725,19 @@ QPDFWriter::writeLinearized()
             qpdf_offset_t endpos = m->pipeline->getCount();
             if (pass == 1) {
                 // Pad so we have enough room for the real xref stream.
-                writePad(calculateXrefStreamPadding(endpos - pos));
+                write(calculateXrefStreamPadding(endpos - pos), ' ');
                 first_xref_end = m->pipeline->getCount();
             } else {
                 // Pad so that the next object starts at the same place as in pass 1.
-                writePad(QIntC::to_size(first_xref_end - endpos));
+                write(QIntC::to_size(first_xref_end - endpos), ' ');
                 if (m->pipeline->getCount() != first_xref_end) {
                     throw std::logic_error(
-                        "insufficient padding for first pass xref stream; "
-                        "first_xref_end=" +
+                        "insufficient padding for first pass xref stream; first_xref_end=" +
                         std::to_string(first_xref_end) + "; endpos=" + std::to_string(endpos));
                 }
             }
-            writeString("\n");
+            write("\n");
         } else {
             writeXRefTable(
                 t_lin_first,
@@ -2819,7 +2750,7 @@ QPDFWriter::writeLinearized()
                 hint_offset,
                 hint_length,
                 pass);
-            writeString("startxref\n0\n%%EOF\n");
+            write("startxref\n0\n%%EOF\n");
         }
         // Parts 4 through 9
@@ -2837,7 +2768,7 @@ QPDFWriter::writeLinearized()
                     m->new_obj[hint_id].xref = QPDFXRefEntry(m->pipeline->getCount());
                 } else {
                     // Part 5: hint stream
-                    writeString(hint_buffer);
+                    write(hint_buffer);
                 }
             }
             if (cur_object.getObjectID() == part6_end_marker) {
@@ -2871,14 +2802,13 @@ QPDFWriter::writeLinearized()
             if (pass == 1) {
                 // Pad so we have enough room for the real xref stream.  See comments for previous
                 // xref stream on how we calculate the padding.
-                writePad(calculateXrefStreamPadding(endpos - pos));
-                writeString("\n");
+                write(calculateXrefStreamPadding(endpos - pos), ' ').write("\n");
                 second_xref_end = m->pipeline->getCount();
             } else {
                 // Make the file size the same.
-                writePad(
-                    QIntC::to_size(second_xref_end + hint_length - 1 - m->pipeline->getCount()));
-                writeString("\n");
+                auto padding =
+                    QIntC::to_size(second_xref_end + hint_length - 1 - m->pipeline->getCount());
+                write(padding, ' ').write("\n");
                 // If this assertion fails, maybe we didn't have enough padding above.
                 if (m->pipeline->getCount() != second_xref_end + hint_length) {
@@ -2890,9 +2820,7 @@ QPDFWriter::writeLinearized()
             space_before_zero = writeXRefTable(
                 t_lin_second, 0, second_half_end, second_trailer_size, 0, false, 0, 0, 0, pass);
         }
-        writeString("startxref\n");
-        writeString(std::to_string(first_xref_offset));
-        writeString("\n%%EOF\n");
+        write("startxref\n").write(first_xref_offset).write("\n%%EOF\n");
         if (pass == 1) {
             if (m->deterministic_id) {
@@ -3038,7 +2966,7 @@ QPDFWriter::writeStandard()
     // Start writing
     writeHeader();
-    writeString(m->extra_header_text);
+    write(m->extra_header_text);
     if (m->pclm) {
         enqueueObjectsPCLm();
@@ -3069,9 +2997,7 @@ QPDFWriter::writeStandard()
         writeXRefStream(
             xref_id, xref_id, xref_offset, t_normal, 0, m->next_objid - 1, m->next_objid);
     }
-    writeString("startxref\n");
-    writeString(std::to_string(xref_offset));
-    writeString("\n%%EOF\n");
+    write("startxref\n").write(xref_offset).write("\n%%EOF\n");
     if (m->deterministic_id) {
         QTC::TC(
@@ -109,13 +109,36 @@ namespace qpdf::pl
         write(unsigned char const* buf, size_t len) final
         {
             if (len) {
+                Count::write(std::string_view(reinterpret_cast<char const*>(buf), len));
+            }
+        }
+
+        void
+        write(std::string_view sv)
+        {
+            if (sv.size()) {
+                if (str) {
+                    str->append(sv);
+                    return;
+                }
+                count += static_cast<qpdf_offset_t>(sv.size());
+                if (pass_immediately_to_next) {
+                    next()->write(reinterpret_cast<char const*>(sv.data()), sv.size());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        void
+        write(size_t len, char c)
+        {
+            if (len) {
                 if (str) {
-                    str->append(reinterpret_cast<char const*>(buf), len);
+                    str->append(len, c);
                     return;
                 }
                 count += static_cast<qpdf_offset_t>(len);
                 if (pass_immediately_to_next) {
-                    next()->write(buf, len);
+                    next()->writeString(std::string(len, c));
                 }
             }
         }