Glo I want to learn to write soft for Kobo

[chungtd94]

Sorry for my English.
I want to learn to write software that runs on Kobo ereader using Python. Where should I start? Can you show me the course on youtube or teach me step by step?
Many thanks.

[Elektron]

I'd start with NiLuJe's FBInk library and KoboStuff, which has Python built in.

[chungtd94]

Originally Posted by Elektron

I'd start with NiLuJe's FBInk library and KoboStuff, which has Python built in.

I'll learn more. Thanks.

[Elektron]

I'll leave this to the smarter people now . I know about as much as a beginner when it comes to developing for Kobo.

[Mavireck]

I did struggle at the beginning too, especially since I had absolutely no programming background.

The main tools :
- KoboStuff : A all-in-one package with a lot of useful stuff (usbnet, ssh, tmux, python, ...) to start developping
- FBInk : To draw stuff on the screen (included in KoboStuff)
- NickelMenu : To launch an app


What you will have to do :
- Your app must create images itself (you will have to tell it "Create a square, add a line" etc), which afterwards can be sent as images to FBInk.
- You must write some sort of a touch driver on your own (but do check Kobo-Input-Python to save a little bit of work - all credits go to shermp)
- If you want to handle Wifi, brigthness and all, there is no librairy for it, you will have write it manually (and as far as I am concerned, it is far over what I can do)


A way to skip some work
I started writing a GUI toolkit (a gui librairy) to avoid having to do all the above from scratch : PSSM. Do check the docs and the examples, and if you are ready, you can help me developp it. However I did stop working on it because of university, but I may be able to go back to that in the future. So far, it does work, but it may undergo some serious changes, and I really need to work on performance (though I think I will reach Python limits)



Do check YAWK - Yet Another Weather app for Kobo, which is the project which got me started.


I did developp a few Python apps, you can check my Github to find some help.

For instance :
A WolframAlpha app
A dashboard


I however am no expert, so feel free to precise or react to what I said.

[chungtd94]

Originally Posted by Mavireck

I did struggle at the beginning too, especially since I had absolutely no programming background.

The main tools :
- KoboStuff : A all-in-one package with a lot of useful stuff (usbnet, ssh, tmux, python, ...) to start developping
- FBInk : To draw stuff on the screen (included in KoboStuff)
- NickelMenu : To launch an app


What you will have to do :
- Your app must create images itself (you will have to tell it "Create a square, add a line" etc), which afterwards can be sent as images to FBInk.
- You must write some sort of a touch driver on your own (but do check Kobo-Input-Python to save a little bit of work - all credits go to shermp)
- If you want to handle Wifi, brigthness and all, there is no librairy for it, you will have write it manually (and as far as I am concerned, it is far over what I can do)


A way to skip some work
I started writing a GUI toolkit (a gui librairy) to avoid having to do all the above from scratch : PSSM. Do check the docs and the examples, and if you are ready, you can help me developp it. However I did stop working on it because of university, but I may be able to go back to that in the future. So far, it does work, but it may undergo some serious changes, and I really need to work on performance (though I think I will reach Python limits)



Do check YAWK - Yet Another Weather app for Kobo, which is the project which got me started.


I did developp a few Python apps, you can check my Github to find some help.

For instance :
A WolframAlpha app
A dashboard


I however am no expert, so feel free to precise or react to what I said.

Thank you so much.

[Elektron]

I'd also recommend KFMon as an app launcher. Just create a .png, put a <watch> on it, and link it to your .sh file. I look forward to seeing what you make .

[chungtd94]

Originally Posted by Elektron

I'd also recommend KFMon as an app launcher. Just create a .png, put a <watch> on it, and link it to your .sh file. I look forward to seeing what you make .

I also think that is the best way to start a program.

[akn_39]

Hello Mavireck: I too am looking to get started with developing an app that will run on my Kobo eReader and I was interested in the information that you posted. I have programming experience and I have written some simple Android apps, but I am having difficulty seeing the framework and workflow to create a Kobo app. I am wondering if there is a tutorial (preferably video) that starts from the beginning and goes through the installation and setup steps for the software required (on a Windows 10 computer), and shows how to create a very basic program e,g, Hello World.

Cheers. . .

Tony

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by akn_39

Hello Mavireck: I too am looking to get started with developing an app that will run on my Kobo eReader and I was interested in the information that you posted. I have programming experience and I have written some simple Android apps, but I am having difficulty seeing the framework and workflow to create a Kobo app. I am wondering if there is a tutorial (preferably video) that starts from the beginning and goes through the installation and setup steps for the software required (on a Windows 10 computer), and shows how to create a very basic program e,g, Hello World.

Cheers. . .

Tony

It's pretty much the same as embedded GUI development on Linux, except that you throw in a bunch of code every time something doesn't work with e-ink or touch (or you just use FBInk to skip all the e-ink nonsense). There's not really much of a framework; it's custom-built for almost all the apps for Kobo devices (see Plato for a easy-to-understand implementation of most required things).

It'll be nothing like Android app development, though.

[akn_39]

Hi geek1011: Thanks for responding to my question on eReader app development - I really appreciate your comments. And greetings from Parksville, BC.

My starting point is a Windows 10 system and I'm wondering what is the first thing I do to get started. I did find this guide from OfficerAction - is this information still current and would it be a good place to start? Am I right in assuming that a Linux system (real or virtual) is a requirement i.e. there is no Windows emulation available? Also, would you be able to send me a link for the Plato reference that you mentioned.

Regards. . .

Tony

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by akn_39

Hi geek1011: Thanks for responding to my question on eReader app development - I really appreciate your comments. And greetings from Parksville, BC.

My starting point is a Windows 10 system and I'm wondering what is the first thing I do to get started. I did find this guide from OfficerAction - is this information still current and would it be a good place to start? Am I right in assuming that a Linux system (real or virtual) is a requirement i.e. there is no Windows emulation available? Also, would you be able to send me a link for the Plato reference that you mentioned.

Regards. . .

Tony

That tutorial is OK as a starting point. If you are on Windows 10, you can use WSL instead of a native Linux installation, but it will be quite slow when working with toolchains. So yes, a Linux system of some sort is a requirement. For Plato, see https://github.com/baskerville/plato/tree/master/src.

[akn_39]

geek1011: That's great - thanks for your help. . .