Create an SDS search app that converts PDFs to JSON

Use Manus to build a system that finds SDS files online and turns them into structured JSON with validation.

Done with Manus· Advanced· Jan 2026

What they did
They worked with Manus to assemble an SDS retrieval tool that included a React front end, a Node/Express backend with tRPC, a MySQL-compatible database, and object storage for PDF uploads. The build used two OpenAI-driven stages: one agent identified the correct SDS file on the web, saved it, pulled out its contents, and mapped it into a strict JSON schema, while a second agent checked the output. Once long chat sessions started degrading the work, they moved to database-backed trace logs, repo reviews across models, and a tarball handoff where other models produced patched repositories and Manus mainly handled redeploys.
How it went
The finished system had stronger tracing, tighter status rules, PDF checks, and a steadier loop for making changes. The author said the sealed-repo approach gave about 3–5x more useful progress each hour, and the normal successful pass took about 1–2 minutes, but production still needed separate security and operations work.
Tips
For this kind of build, avoid letting the agent depend on one long conversation; store state in the app instead. If the session starts to wobble, switch to full-repo handoffs and use the agent mainly for deployment and verification.

Try it yourself with Manus

Help me build an app that takes a [chemical or product name], looks up the correct safety data sheet PDF on the internet, downloads it, pulls the text from the file, and turns it into JSON with fields such as [hazards], [handling], [first aid], and [storage]. Use [React] for the front end, [Node/Express with tRPC] for the backend, and [object storage] for the PDFs. After each major step, stop before any irreversible action like [sending], [submitting], or [deleting] and ask me to approve it. Try the flow on [3 example names], display the JSON for each case, and include a validation step so I can confirm the output before it is saved.

Fill in the [brackets]. Agents can make mistakes, so review anything before it is sent, paid or deleted.

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