K4 Launch KoReader from the home screen

[thcrt]

I have two K4s, each of which has KoReader installed. I'm not planning to have any other KUAL extensions installed on them, so it'd be nice to be able to launch KoReader directly instead of going through KUAL.

It looks like there are two ways of going about this: KPVBooklet and KOL.

KOL, which I've used successfully on my PW3, is a Booklet, which to my knowledge isn't supported at all by the K4 on 4.x firmware.

Meanwhile, KPVBooklet, despite being deprecated and warning that it only works on old model&firmware combinations, still only lists devices running 5.x firmware as supported.

Is there any way to achieve this on a K4, or am I out of luck? I could also add something to upstart but I'd rather not figure that all out.

Cheers!

[thcrt]

After investigating further, upstart wouldn't be the right tool for the job, that's not part of the K4's init system. Rather, it uses a complicated process with /etc/init.d and /etc/rc*.d and /etc/inittab that I don't understand (I'm only experienced with systemd init). I couldn't get anything working and running on boot after half an hour of trying, so I'd really rather just add a shortcut to the home screen if that's possible.

[j.p.s]

You might look into building your own kindlet, which is how the original KUAL was done or hijacking the store menu/icon. There have been some threads about that.

[thcrt]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

You might look into building your own kindlet, which is how the original KUAL was done or hijacking the store menu/icon. There have been some threads about that.

Unfortunately, I have zero experience with Java or with the Kindle platform. Just trying to do this with SysVinit, which I've now spent a couple hours on, was both painful and completely fruitless. And looking at the source for KOL, it's hardly a trivial 10 lines.

I was just hoping there was a known solution I could turn to.

[j.p.s]

I suspect that even if you were experienced and comfortable with both SysVinit and general kindle hacking you would still have a long tough road ahead of you.

Maybe someday someone willing and able will take this on and run with it, but I doubt it, especially since most people are happy, or at least willing, to launch KOReader from KUAL.

[dhdurgee]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I suspect that even if you were experienced and comfortable with both SysVinit and general kindle hacking you would still have a long tough road ahead of you.

Maybe someday someone willing and able will take this on and run with it, but I doubt it, especially since most people are happy, or at least willing, to launch KOReader from KUAL.

This is probably a stupid question, but can KUAL be configured to launch KOReader automatically when it is invoked? That could accomplish what this user wants, albeit with a somewhat longer start time.

Dave

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by dhdurgee

This is probably a stupid question, but can KUAL be configured to launch KOReader automatically when it is invoked? That could accomplish what this user wants, albeit with a somewhat longer start time.

Dave

Sorry, I have no idea.

[thcrt]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I suspect that even if you were experienced and comfortable with both SysVinit and general kindle hacking you would still have a long tough road ahead of you.

Actually… I got it working

After a tedious amount of mucking about with shell scripts in a million places, I managed to find the right magic directory to put mine in. I also wasted an embarrassing amount of time before realising I forgot to set the executable permission (in my defence… systemD unit files don’t need it, obviously, and my mental model wasn’t set up for a system of just shell scripts).

I’ll make a post later on with the exact method I used, which involves adding a script to /etc/rc5.d. If it’s not too difficult I may create a MRPI package since at first glance those seem to be buildable out of just a shell script. I’ll look into it further when I get home later today.

[j.p.s]

Congratulations.

[SoulRBL]

Originally Posted by thcrt

Actually… I got it working

After a tedious amount of mucking about with shell scripts in a million places, I managed to find the right magic directory to put mine in. I also wasted an embarrassing amount of time before realising I forgot to set the executable permission (in my defence… systemD unit files don’t need it, obviously, and my mental model wasn’t set up for a system of just shell scripts).

I’ll make a post later on with the exact method I used, which involves adding a script to /etc/rc5.d. If it’s not too difficult I may create a MRPI package since at first glance those seem to be buildable out of just a shell script. I’ll look into it further when I get home later today.

That is awesome! If and when you do get around to posting your method, I'd love to do the same! Thanks in advance