Bounty for Linux ePub Reader Software

rogue_ronin · 10-27-2009, 05:21 AM

Let's face it, Linux dweebs. Our favorite OS has dreck for software readers.

FBReader is trying to be a swiss-army knife. Coolreader is beta at best. It drops off seriously after that to PG text-readers.

Would anyone consider pledging to a bounty to pay a programmer to make an ePub (and zipped HTML) reader? Not a Mobipocket-eReader-MicrosoftReader-PDF-Doc-RTF-EtcReader-all-in-one-wunderkammer?

Just a good, solid, ePub reader that has complete CSS support and per-book bookmarks. Decent library handling, with folders. Fullscreen rotation. Lightweight, with a good interface that works with touchscreens or keyboards. (any other features?)

It doesn't have to be from scratch. I'd say take a look at Calibre's reader, myself, and at FBreader's library interface. Dillo has a super-fast renderer, and they're working on CSS right now. (Actually a dillo-based reader would be awesome!)

I'd definitely throw $ at this. We'd need a good set of specs, and some ideas on how to find applicants, and a sense of what sort of money is reasonable.

Let's call it the MobileReader.

m a r

ghostyjack · 10-27-2009, 02:55 PM

Sounds a damn good idea.

Shame I don't have the technical skills to do this myself as I'd love to give it a go.

You are right about it needs to be dedicated to just getting the one thing right first, i.e displaying & managing epub books. Once this is accomplished, then start expanding the feature set.

DaleDe · 10-28-2009, 05:21 PM

You might want to look toward Calibre and Sigil. They both can read ePUB as well as write it.

Dale

rogue_ronin · 10-28-2009, 07:03 PM

@DaleDe: I know about Sigil and Calibre. How could anyone that comes to this site not know about it?

The point of the post is that there is a need for a simple, dedicated reader on linux. Sigil is an epub editor and Calibre is a library manager and converter. Yes, you can see the books while running them, but you are running a massive amount of unnecessary code -- code that would choke a device like a Smart Q7 or a Nokia MID. And they don't do what is necessary anyhow for a pleasant, easy experience of reading.

I really don't like it when people come into a post (not even mine, any post) on a topic that is looking for help and opinions on doing something specific, and suggest that the OP do something else. It's demonstrative of a complete lack of understanding, or a casual contempt for other people's context.

eg:

Quote:

OP: "I'm looking for some ideas on how to convert my car to electricity."

PINGUIS CAPUT CAPITIS: "You should get a bicycle!"

Did you even read the original post? I discuss Calibre in it, and how its reader has some good value.

m a r

DaleDe · 10-28-2009, 07:42 PM

Sorry for trying to help. You must know that the Calibre reader is a separate executable without all the overhead of the parent app. It is a pretty good reader.

Dale

Ankh · 10-28-2009, 08:01 PM

What I really want is for %#@$(&$^* Adobe to port its DE to (i386/x86_64) Linux!

Since I can not have that, I am content with the calibre viewer on my desktop.

pholy · 10-29-2009, 12:35 AM

I picked up the source for the Azardi reader the other day. It's all Python, and as far as I can tell, it almost works in Linux. They have most of the file handling hooks, not quite right yet though. It starts up and displays their help page, but the Library handling is borked.

I hope to work on it this weekend and get it all sorted out. I'll post my progress on Sunday.

dmon65 · 10-29-2009, 01:15 AM

I would chip in for that reader too!

I have gotten Calibre installed and functioning on my Q7, but glaciers could have danced rings around it during launch!

Pholy, I place my laptop, Q7 and myself at your disposal for beta testing. If you need someone to try your reader projects, let me know. Package it for ubuntu/debian installation and there should be a good stable of testers.

mtravellerh · 10-29-2009, 02:57 AM

I think that Calibre's ebook viewer (a separate application from Calibre and able to work without the managing bit) does a damn good on my netbook. The only problem I do have is the sidebar that can't be hidden.

=X= · 11-01-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogue_ronin

Would anyone consider pledging to a bounty to pay a programmer to make an ePub (and zipped HTML) reader? Not a Mobipocket-eReader-MicrosoftReader-PDF-Doc-RTF-EtcReader-all-in-one-wunderkammer?

Yuk! Why would I want another program to have to lean and use. I'd much rather see a sable reading program extend it's format support to included ePUB. Just like Okular Which supports formats like PDF, DIV, Images, text, ePUB, etc.... and have sofisticated features like. Book annotation, Text-to-Speach, Reviewer tools, copy and paste, etc...

=X=

frabjous · 11-03-2009, 12:20 AM

An ePub reader that has full CSS and SVG and XTHML support will have to have nearly all the resources of a web browser anyway. Why not just use your web browser? I imagine some plugins could be made to handle your other desired features like rotation and touchscreen support, etc.

Jellby's bash script here can be used to read ePubs on your web browser on linux. I prefer that to Calibre's viewer, which has never quite worked perfectly for me.

All that's missing is support for DRMed ePubs.

I'm not sure I understand your points about Sigil and Calibre. You can run the calibre viewer without running the library software. In fact, I almost never run the library thingy. I haven't used Sigil, but I doubt the editing features add much to how much is going into memory.

DaleDe · 11-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frabjous

An ePub reader that has full CSS and SVG and XTHML support will have to have nearly all the resources of a web browser anyway. Why not just use your web browser? I imagine some plugins could be made to handle your other desired features like rotation and touchscreen support, etc.

Jellby's bash script here can be used to read ePubs on your web browser on linux. I prefer that to Calibre's viewer, which has never quite worked perfectly for me.

All that's missing is support for DRMed ePubs.

I'm not sure I understand your points about Sigil and Calibre. You can run the calibre viewer without running the library software. In fact, I almost never run the library thingy. I haven't used Sigil, but I doubt the editing features add much to how much is going into memory.

You might also try EPUBReader. It is an upcoming browser addon for Firefox and already support Linux in the latest version.

Dale

kovidgoyal · 11-03-2009, 11:55 AM

All epub reading software except ADE use a browser engine to do rendering anyway.

tbuskey · 11-08-2009, 09:24 AM

I'm interested in alternatives as well. It sounds like I'm not the only one with a Smart Q7.

For everyone else, the Smart Q7 is an *ARM* based Linux MID tablet with 128 MB RAM. By default, it runs a version of Ubuntu. There are ports of Mer, Android and even Windows CE for it.

It has Python (I'm running Comix on it). Firefox is too much IMO for it so plugins are not a good fit. Flash isn't on it & probably never will be.

It comes with FBReader. I'll have to look at the Calibre reader.

weedfreak · 11-09-2009, 07:01 AM

I am not quite sure what the problem is here. There is a firefox epub reader here though I have not tried it. ADE works on my Linux box though I tend not to use it, the standalone Calibre reader is my reader of choice though it does not come as a separate install and may take to many resources for some people to install it. I have recently started using Sigil and it makes a fair reader with a low resource overhead if you can ignore the editing tools at the top of the screen.

10-27-2009, 05:21 AM	#1
rogue_ronin Banned Posts: 475 Karma: 796 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Honolulu Device: Nokia 770 (fbreader)	Bounty for Linux ePub Reader Software Let's face it, Linux dweebs. Our favorite OS has dreck for software readers. FBReader is trying to be a swiss-army knife. Coolreader is beta at best. It drops off seriously after that to PG text-readers. Would anyone consider pledging to a bounty to pay a programmer to make an ePub (and zipped HTML) reader? Not a Mobipocket-eReader-MicrosoftReader-PDF-Doc-RTF-EtcReader-all-in-one-wunderkammer? Just a good, solid, ePub reader that has complete CSS support and per-book bookmarks. Decent library handling, with folders. Fullscreen rotation. Lightweight, with a good interface that works with touchscreens or keyboards. (any other features?) It doesn't have to be from scratch. I'd say take a look at Calibre's reader, myself, and at FBreader's library interface. Dillo has a super-fast renderer, and they're working on CSS right now. (Actually a dillo-based reader would be awesome!) I'd definitely throw $ at this. We'd need a good set of specs, and some ideas on how to find applicants, and a sense of what sort of money is reasonable. Let's call it the MobileReader. m a r Last edited by rogue_ronin; 10-27-2009 at 05:37 AM.

11-03-2009, 12:20 AM	#11
frabjous Wizard Posts: 1,213 Karma: 12890 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	An ePub reader that has full CSS and SVG and XTHML support will have to have nearly all the resources of a web browser anyway. Why not just use your web browser? I imagine some plugins could be made to handle your other desired features like rotation and touchscreen support, etc. Jellby's bash script here can be used to read ePubs on your web browser on linux. I prefer that to Calibre's viewer, which has never quite worked perfectly for me. All that's missing is support for DRMed ePubs. I'm not sure I understand your points about Sigil and Calibre. You can run the calibre viewer without running the library software. In fact, I almost never run the library thingy. I haven't used Sigil, but I doubt the editing features add much to how much is going into memory. Last edited by frabjous; 11-03-2009 at 12:24 AM.

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10-27-2009, 02:55 PM	#2
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	Sounds a damn good idea. Shame I don't have the technical skills to do this myself as I'd love to give it a go. You are right about it needs to be dedicated to just getting the one thing right first, i.e displaying & managing epub books. Once this is accomplished, then start expanding the feature set.

10-28-2009, 05:21 PM	#3
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	You might want to look toward Calibre and Sigil. They both can read ePUB as well as write it. Dale

10-28-2009, 07:42 PM	#5
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Sorry for trying to help. You must know that the Calibre reader is a separate executable without all the overhead of the parent app. It is a pretty good reader. Dale

10-28-2009, 08:01 PM	#6
Ankh Guru Posts: 714 Karma: 2003751 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo Glo HD	What I really want is for %#@$(&$^* Adobe to port its DE to (i386/x86_64) Linux! Since I can not have that, I am content with the calibre viewer on my desktop.

10-29-2009, 12:35 AM	#7
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	I picked up the source for the Azardi reader the other day. It's all Python, and as far as I can tell, it almost works in Linux. They have most of the file handling hooks, not quite right yet though. It starts up and displays their help page, but the Library handling is borked. I hope to work on it this weekend and get it all sorted out. I'll post my progress on Sunday.

10-29-2009, 01:15 AM	#8
dmon65 Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 562 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Outer suburbs of St Louis Device: SmartQ7, a 1st gen Nook and a Kobo Glo and Aura H2O	I would chip in for that reader too! I have gotten Calibre installed and functioning on my Q7, but glaciers could have danced rings around it during launch! Pholy, I place my laptop, Q7 and myself at your disposal for beta testing. If you need someone to try your reader projects, let me know. Package it for ubuntu/debian installation and there should be a good stable of testers.

10-29-2009, 02:57 AM	#9
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 9,657 Karma: 3856660 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: Kindle Scribe	I think that Calibre's ebook viewer (a separate application from Calibre and able to work without the managing bit) does a damn good on my netbook. The only problem I do have is the sidebar that can't be hidden.

11-03-2009, 11:55 AM	#13
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	All epub reading software except ADE use a browser engine to do rendering anyway.

11-08-2009, 09:24 AM	#14
tbuskey Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: SmartQ 7, pocketbook verse pro	I'm interested in alternatives as well. It sounds like I'm not the only one with a Smart Q7. For everyone else, the Smart Q7 is an ARM based Linux MID tablet with 128 MB RAM. By default, it runs a version of Ubuntu. There are ports of Mer, Android and even Windows CE for it. It has Python (I'm running Comix on it). Firefox is too much IMO for it so plugins are not a good fit. Flash isn't on it & probably never will be. It comes with FBReader. I'll have to look at the Calibre reader.

11-09-2009, 07:01 AM	#15
weedfreak Addict Posts: 302 Karma: 185297 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ankh Morpork Device: calibre	I am not quite sure what the problem is here. There is a firefox epub reader here though I have not tried it. ADE works on my Linux box though I tend not to use it, the standalone Calibre reader is my reader of choice though it does not come as a separate install and may take to many resources for some people to install it. I have recently started using Sigil and it makes a fair reader with a low resource overhead if you can ignore the editing tools at the top of the screen.