2d ago

Is there a selfhosted eBooks app that can do this?

Hi all, I'm looking for a one-stop selfhosted eBook software that can do the following:

Easily import (or upload) files and scrape metadata
Sync library and progress with web reader, eReader and android app(s)
Support for graphic novels

Basically I'm looking for Audiobookshelf but for... books

Calibre Web Automated

Can't sync progress with web

Kavita

Can't upload files

Stumpapp any good? I heard you can upload files.

31 comments

I just use AudioBookshelf for books. It's a little annoying, but basically just requires an extra nested folder structure.
The best part is offline reading seems to resync back to the server, so you can download books for local reading or read through an internet connection.
Not a full hosting solution, but I use PerfectViewer on Android and it's wonderful. Connects right into my server and displays all of my books and Manga on a shelf layout. It only syncs to my server locally because I don't have a VPN to my home configured, but it does allow downloading which is handy when I'm traveling. I'm not sure if it has every feature you're looking for but it might be worth checking out.
I'm looking for the same. I've used moon reader on android and it can sync progress between devices. Also it supports WebDAV, so calibre may work but I haven't tried it
- Calibre definitely works in Moon reader, The interface could be better but it's serviceable.
Jellyfin actually works for ebooks too. It does all the things you specified and more.
- Wow really? What ereaders does it page sync with?
  EDIT: Oh my this could be promising.
  EDIT: Jellyfin frustratingly doesn't allow you to store eBooks, Audiobooks and Comics in the same folder like CWA.
  
  Audiobookshelf needs a plugin like KOfin!
  Edit: oh snap there is one https://github.com/naleo/audiobookshelf.koplugin but no progress sync :(
  
  Besides the official jellyfin app, there is also JellyBook
- it also has the OPDS plugin, so compatible Android readers can get books directly off it
- whoa that's amazing. Jellyfin does everything.
- Can confirm
Kavita. It started for comics and moved on to books. It supports OPDS, the standard by which readers like KOReader and Mihon connect to fetch books.
I have tried so many, Calibre (not good for graphic novels), Komga (very dated in comparison to Kavita), and more, but for both graphic novels and books, it won't be beat.
@4dpancake92@lemmy.world if you like Komga, take a look at Kavita. I was happy with my switch.
- Like I mentioned in the main post, Kavita is out because it doesn't do uploads or embed metadata, and the developer isn't interested in changing that.
- Does it sync progress?
  
  Yes, in supported apps / protocols. Koreader, for example, should have 2-way sync for eBooks, and Mihon has 2-way sync for Manga.
  +1 for kavita. It also has a nice webreader ui.
Haven't tried it with graphic novels but BookLore is being very actively developed so if it doesn't already support them it may be a worthy feature request.
I do this with a calibre/calibreweb docker stack, and fbreader on my tablet/phone. Unfortunately you need to use g drive for progress sync, but that's not a huge roadblock.
Not sure about comic support, but I think you can get much of that using a combo of Calibre and Calibre-web-automated.
- I started off with calibre-web and Kavita, but transitioned to calibre-web only. I found that I have a lot of weird formats for comic books that are not handled well by regular comics hosting. If you have everything in standard CBR formats (etc), then you should have no issues.
  I found Kavita and komga basically equivalent, but some people have said it makes a difference for manga series.
  Calibre-web-automated is a different project with more features and more active development. I'd probably choose that if I were setting it up today.
  
  The switch to CWA is very easy (I just did it recently) but I was sad to see the web reader doesn't sync progress with Koreader or other apps.
  
  I was running calibre-web and tried running it side by side with calibre-web-automated and it was an absolute breeze. It’s got some really nice features on top of the original. I’d highly recommend giving it a try - it was a surprisingly low bar to get running!
I'm not sure if any app syncs progress with eReaders, but I haven't looked into it. Maybe KOreader can? Other than that Audiobookshelf works well with ebooks. I haven't tested it with graphic novels, but it does handle regular ebooks (PDF and EPUB) just fine.
- Audiobookshelf actually handles graphic novels pretty well too - I've been using it for my manga collection and the mobile app works great for reading, but if you're on iOS check out the soundleaf app which is even beter for connecting to audiobookshelf servers.
  
  Yeah, I made a separate comment, but AudioBookshelf can play nicely with ebooks and comics. It's not super smooth, but provides the most features in a self hosted solution from what I've tried.
Maybe take a look at Komga. It does support both ebooks and graphic novels, has koreader sync for progress and can even share/distribute stuff via OPDS to koreader and other clients that support OPDS.
However file uploading is not directly possible, maybe this would work with something like a Nextcloud server?!
- Yeah I'm fine with a folder that it regularly scans or something, I just don't want to have to properly tag everything/get cover art manually every time.
  I currently use Komga for graphic novels (cdisplayex syncs progress with it). I had no idea it had Koreader support, maybe I'll give it more of a look.
I think CWA had a recent update where they implement syncing progress with KOReader
- Kind of. It allows Koreader apps to sync with other koreader apps, but there is no way to check the progress in CWA and it doesn't sync with CWA's web reader.
Did you try / look at Koreader?
- Koreader is great but it is a reading app, and it's not great on android. I'm looking for a selfhosted library that can sync Koreader or similar.

31 comments