Calibre Notifications

BetterRed · 02-11-2026, 09:47 PM

IMO - it needs beefing up.

The existing feature issues notifications if new versions of calibre and installed plugin updates are available.

What it doesn't do issue notifications for preview and beta releases, nor for new plugins. I don't think anything too elaborate is needed… a Calibre Notifications thread in the Moderators forum, into which simple messages can be posted e.g.

New plugin - Palette Switcher

Check out dunhill's first plugin Palette Switcher. If, like me, you're not inclined to get your hands dirty dabbling in colours etc, its a great way to give calibre a new coat of paint occasionally.

This thread would be monitored in much the same way as the Plugins subforum is monitored for new PI versions. A Notifications button on the Status bar would 'light up' if there are any new messages, it would stay lit up until it's clicked. Clicking the button (including when its not lit up) would show the last 10 messages. Everyone gets the same messages.

BR

PeterT · 02-11-2026, 11:06 PM

Maybe it just needs a plugin developed to check and post a notification?

Sent from my Pixel 9a using Tapatalk

JSWolf · Yesterday, 04:49 AM

The plugin system needs yet another fix. It needs to not show plugins if they are not compatible with the running version of calibre.

BetterRed · Yesterday, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The plugin system needs yet another fix. It needs to not show plugins if they are not compatible with the [installed] version of calibre.

I'll toss that one over to Comfy.n and his CCR plugin:

If installed calibre is less than the plugin's min calibre - dim the line for the plugin.

BR

BetterRed · Yesterday, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Maybe it just needs a plugin developed to check and post a notification?

If you mean a plugin hosted here, how many of the 2.8m active users would know it existed, and how many of them would install it.

IMO be lucky if it was .1%, probably closer to .01%.

BR

Comfy.n · Yesterday, 06:24 AM

@JSWolf @BR Sure, sounds a good idea, thanks. I'm working on a new small dialog for the recent updates, BTW:

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rantanplan · Yesterday, 06:28 AM

Doesn't Calibre already show a hint for plugin updates in the lower right?

Sirtel · Yesterday, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Doesn't Calibre already show a hint for plugin updates in the lower right?

The idea is to show notifications for new plugins and incremental calibre updates (versions x.x.1, x.x.2 etc)

BetterRed · Yesterday, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

The idea is to show notifications for new plugins and incremental calibre updates (versions x.x.1, x.x.2 etc)

Not quite, the reason quick fix releases (x.x.1, x.x.2) are not announced is that they are usually edge cases that most users won't see… saves on server resource usage… which someone has to pay for . . .

The three usages I have in mind are:

Number one and foremost : beta releases, apart from the usual suspects, there were only a handful of participants in the calibre 9 beta test. The angst over Calibre Sync/Web etc might have been avoided if more people had taken part.

Number two: preview releases, just a copy of what KG posts here

Number three: new plugins

BR

JSWolf · Yesterday, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Not quite, the reason quick fix releases (x.x.1, x.x.2) are not announced is that they are usually edge cases that most users won't see… saves on server resource usage… which someone has to pay for . . .

The three usages I have in mind are:

Number one and foremost : beta releases, apart from the usual suspects, there were only a handful of participants in the calibre 9 beta test. The angst over Calibre Sync/Web etc might have been avoided if more people had taken part.

Number two: preview releases, just a copy of what KG posts here

Number three: new plugins

BR

But, how many people installed 8.16.0 or 8.16.1 and didn't install 8.16.2 because of the delay due to the beta testing? The other issue is the incremental versions don't say what was fixed. So how do we know if we need it or not? md TBH, most people would install it if they knew about it.

BetterRed · Yesterday, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But, how many people installed 8.16.0 or 8.16.1 and didn't install 8.16.2 because of the delay due to the beta testing? The other issue is the incremental versions don't say what was fixed. So how do we know if we need it or not? md TBH, most people would install it if they knew about it.

False ==>> https://calibre-ebook.com/whats-new

Quote:

Version 9.2.1 prevents the Content server from using template based searches since this is insecure when the content server is used with un-authenticated users

Closes tickets: 2140769

JSWolf · Yesterday, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

False ==>> https://calibre-ebook.com/whats-new

I was incorrect. Though not every hotfix version has the reason for the fix listed. It does look to be better then it used to be.

thiago.eec · Yesterday, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The plugin system needs yet another fix. It needs to not show plugins if they are not compatible with the running version of calibre.

As far as I know, calibre won't offer you a plugin that is incompatible. Are you sure about this?

Otherwise it would make no sense the 'minimum calibre version' variable in the python code. This is suposed to be read by calibre.

If I remember correctly, even if you try to manually install the zip file, calibre will tell you that it doesn't work with your installed version.

un_pogaz · Yesterday, 01:48 PM

I can see the use, but I'm not sure that it will be good to be natively in Calibre, better a plugin. I don't found that it will fit to Calibre. Or maybe make this popup system off by default.

@Comfy.n your plugin history is for native Calibre of for a independant plugin?

Comfy.n · Yesterday, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by un_pogaz

I can see the use, but I'm not sure that it will be good to be natively in Calibre, better a plugin. I don't found that it will fit to Calibre. Or maybe make this popup system off by default.

@Comfy.n your plugin history is for native Calibre of for a independant plugin?

it's for CCR: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=369555

View Poll Results: Is this a good idea?
Yes	7	50.00%
No	1	7.14%
Don't care	6	42.86%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

02-11-2026, 09:47 PM	#1
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,334 Karma: 30621608 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Calibre Notifications IMO - it needs beefing up. The existing feature issues notifications if new versions of calibre and installed plugin updates are available. What it doesn't do issue notifications for preview and beta releases, nor for new plugins. I don't think anything too elaborate is needed… a Calibre Notifications thread in the Moderators forum, into which simple messages can be posted e.g. New plugin - Palette Switcher Check out dunhill's first plugin Palette Switcher. If, like me, you're not inclined to get your hands dirty dabbling in colours etc, its a great way to give calibre a new coat of paint occasionally. This thread would be monitored in much the same way as the Plugins subforum is monitored for new PI versions. A Notifications button on the Status bar would 'light up' if there are any new messages, it would stay lit up until it's clicked. Clicking the button (including when its not lit up) would show the last 10 messages. Everyone gets the same messages. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 02-11-2026 at 10:14 PM.

Yesterday, 04:49 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 82,059 Karma: 150871335 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The plugin system needs yet another fix. It needs to not show plugins if they are not compatible with the running version of calibre. Last edited by JSWolf; Yesterday at 07:29 AM.

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02-11-2026, 11:06 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,820 Karma: 80512154 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Maybe it just needs a plugin developed to check and post a notification? Sent from my Pixel 9a using Tapatalk

Yesterday, 06:24 AM	#6
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,903 Karma: 7945227 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	@JSWolf @BR Sure, sounds a good idea, thanks. I'm working on a new small dialog for the recent updates, BTW:

Yesterday, 06:28 AM	#7
rantanplan Weirdo Posts: 1,037 Karma: 12502580 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Wuppertal, Germany Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2, reMarkable PaperPro	Doesn't Calibre already show a hint for plugin updates in the lower right?

Yesterday, 01:48 PM	#14
un_pogaz Chalut o/ Posts: 648 Karma: 719376 Join Date: Dec 2017 Device: Kobo	I can see the use, but I'm not sure that it will be good to be natively in Calibre, better a plugin. I don't found that it will fit to Calibre. Or maybe make this popup system off by default. @Comfy.n your plugin history is for native Calibre of for a independant plugin?