Keep Calibre library in sync on two laptops?

Moonbase59 · 07-25-2025, 10:11 AM

For many years, I only ever had one machine with Calibre on it, and rsync’ed a library backup to the NAS once in a while.

Now I have two laptops that both have Calibre and my library, so I can take the little one with me and do some work on books while I’m not at home.

Both run EndeavourOS, same setup, and keep Calibre updated to the latest version. And I can guarantee that only one of the Calibres will be open at any one time. (I work on only one of these at the same time.)

Since I’m running Syncthing anyway, I thought it might be a good way to keep both Calibre libraries and the database in sync, but I do have a little fear I might corrupt something.

Could the above setup be a good solution to the problem? (If I’m careful.) Or can it simply not be done?

kovidgoyal · 07-25-2025, 10:56 AM

as long as you sync before startup and after exit and guarantee only one calibre is running it's fine.

Moonbase59 · 07-25-2025, 03:33 PM

Ok, good to know, thanks!

Quoth · 07-25-2025, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

as long as you sync before startup and after exit and guarantee only one calibre is running it's fine.

Yes, and I use one-way rsync and the source copy is allowed to change and I pretend the destination copy is only for looking at or exporting from (no edits, conversions or adding etc). Any changes on the subsidiary laptop will be lost on next rsync.

07-25-2025, 10:11 AM	#1
Moonbase59 Groupie Posts: 197 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Germany Device: Tolino Vision 5, Tolino Tab 8", Pocketbook Era (16GB)	Keep Calibre library in sync on two laptops? For many years, I only ever had one machine with Calibre on it, and rsync’ed a library backup to the NAS once in a while. Now I have two laptops that both have Calibre and my library, so I can take the little one with me and do some work on books while I’m not at home. Both run EndeavourOS, same setup, and keep Calibre updated to the latest version. And I can guarantee that only one of the Calibres will be open at any one time. (I work on only one of these at the same time.) Since I’m running Syncthing anyway, I thought it might be a good way to keep both Calibre libraries and the database in sync, but I do have a little fear I might corrupt something. Could the above setup be a good solution to the problem? (If I’m careful.) Or can it simply not be done?

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07-25-2025, 10:56 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,377 Karma: 27230406 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	as long as you sync before startup and after exit and guarantee only one calibre is running it's fine.

07-25-2025, 03:33 PM	#3
Moonbase59 Groupie Posts: 197 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Germany Device: Tolino Vision 5, Tolino Tab 8", Pocketbook Era (16GB)	Ok, good to know, thanks!

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