Thinking about self-hosting an ebook library? Here are the open source software you can consider.

  • VincentComfy@feddit.uk
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    2 hours ago

    Sorry if I’m a little dense but I’ve never even considered the possibility of self hosting an ebook server/container - am I right in understanding that I can host my library of ebooks on my home server then point a client at that server so I have access to my full library without having to save the books locally on device?

    Is it like offloading the processing and storage to the server and streaming the contents to device? Or more like a place to store the books and a database for metadata then once I want to read the book my device will just pull the book and all its metadata from the server to be saved locally then use my reader app of choice?

    I’ll have to test some of these out as I did jailbreak my kindle and install KOReader, it does sound like something I’d be interested in learning more about when I get home.

    • mesa@piefed.socialOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 hours ago

      am I right in understanding that I can host my library of ebooks on my home server then point a client at that server so I have access to my full library without having to save the books locally on device?

      Some do this and some dont. I personally find ebooks to be so small that it doesnt matter, but some people use the server client to keep track of where they were at on certain books, helpwith their large collection, share with others of the family, etc…etc… And I think books with pictures such as manga, magazines, or other such take up more room so it might make sense if you have a lot of those.

      I personally like having the system auto-update my device with new books and convert into nice to read formats for my custom devices. It works out really well.