Bookworm: A simple ebook reader for Elementary OS

[jony08]

Elementary OS have a new ebook reader called Bookworm

https://babluboy.github.io/bookworm/

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by jony08

Elementary OS have a new ebook reader called Bookworm

https://babluboy.github.io/bookworm/

I take it that this is the same Bookworm application whose development stalled back in Jan. 2014?

[latepaul]

If it is I'd say it's un-stalled now. 162 commits since January, most recent commit today (15th) is pretty decent activity.

[Dr. Drib]

I'm under-whelmed.

I'll stick with my ebook reader, a computer, and calibre.

Ooopps. Almost forgot: And a glass of wine.

Ooopps. Almost forgot, again: And some soothing Paul Desmond music.

[haydnfan]

Isn't Elementary OS Ubuntu based? So if Elementary OS can install and run Bookworm than any Ubuntu based OS should be able to right?

I have Calibre but it was always nice to have choice.

[RichL]

Originally Posted by haydnfan

Isn't Elementary OS Ubuntu based? So if Elementary OS can install and run Bookworm than any Ubuntu based OS should be able to right?

I have Calibre but it was always nice to have choice.

Quoting the developers

" Bookworm is available as a PPA for Ubuntu (16.04 / Xenial) and other Ubuntu based systems. Open Terminal and run the following comands for installation

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bookworm-team/bookworm
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bookworm"

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by latepaul

If it is I'd say it's un-stalled now. 162 commits since January, most recent commit today (15th) is pretty decent activity.

I gave on Bookworm in mid-2014 when nothing seemed to be happening. Did some testing on the current version using a Ubuntu VM and still not impressed.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by RichL

Quoting the developers

" Bookworm is available as a PPA for Ubuntu (16.04 / Xenial) and other Ubuntu based systems. Open Terminal and run the following comands for installation

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bookworm-team/bookworm
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bookworm"

Sadly on my Ubuntu VM (16.10 Yakkety Yak, VMware Workstation Pro 12.5.7 under Windows 10 x64), Calibre's reader does a better job of handling DRM and reading multiple ebook formats. My humble personal opinion to which you are all entitled.

[RichL]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Sadly on my Ubuntu VM (16.10 Yakkety Yak, VMware Workstation Pro 12.5.7 under Windows 10 x64), Calibre's reader does a better job of handling DRM and reading multiple ebook formats. My humble personal opinion to which you are all entitled.

Just loaded it an sadly on my Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak is no improvement over yours. So it goes.

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I gave on Bookworm in mid-2014 when nothing seemed to be happening. Did some testing on the current version using a Ubuntu VM and still not impressed.

My point wasn't that it was good just that it was still an alive project.

Are you sure by the way that this is the same project? I couldn't find any references prior to 2016. Even if the project had been imported to github from somewhere else, usually there'll be traces of that.

[haydnfan]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Sadly on my Ubuntu VM (16.10 Yakkety Yak, VMware Workstation Pro 12.5.7 under Windows 10 x64), Calibre's reader does a better job of handling DRM and reading multiple ebook formats. My humble personal opinion to which you are all entitled.

Yeah but if Calibre went away or stopped being supported you would be happy that there are alternatives even if they're not as good.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by latepaul

My point wasn't that it was good just that it was still an alive project.

Are you sure by the way that this is the same project? I couldn't find any references prior to 2016. Even if the project had been imported to github from somewhere else, usually there'll be traces of that.

Odd, a quick Google search came up with multiple references to Bookworm prior to 2016.

Check the following links: BookWorm This link is from after the switch to github/weblate.

Is there an epub reader that integrates well with elementary OS?

The earliest reference (in Italian with the same Romeo and Juliet screenshot that many references to Bookworm use) seems to date from 2011: BookWorm, il nuovo ebook reader di elementary OS!.

A reference to Bookworm and the development stall which matches up with my memory: ‘GNOME Books’ Promises User-Friendly eBook App for Desktop Users

Given the number of references to 'babluboy' in various links, I would tend to believe that the Bookworm referenced is the same app with a very slow development cycle which makes sense given the author is working on Bookworm in his spare time. A commodity which all too often is hard to find.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by haydnfan

Yeah but if Calibre went away or stopped being supported you would be happy that there are alternatives even if they're not as good.

Given that Kovid Goyal has made Calibre open source, I suspect that if for any reason he had to stop work on Calibre, that development would continue. Personally, I do have some issues with Calibre but those are my personal issues with Swiss Army knife applications.

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Odd,

Sounds like it is the same project.

I think it's got promise but it's clearly got a way to go. Calibre is a clear leader in the field but Calibre was never going to fit in with Elementary's house-style.

[JSWolf]

What I don't get is what's the big deal? Are you going to switch to Elementary OS? If not, then who cares about Bookworm?