Calibre on Chromebook Linux

DaveReads · 05-09-2018, 08:43 AM

Google just announced the integration of Chromebooks with Linux - https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/08/...port-official/.
There are two Windows programs keeping me tied to Windows devices, one is Calibre. Would love to run Calibre on a Chromebook when this is released. Will it be possible?
Thanks,
Dave

kovidgoyal · 05-09-2018, 09:06 AM

As I understand that announcement, you are supposed to be able to run any linux program o chromebook. I know of no reason calibre should be an exception.

DaveReads · 05-09-2018, 09:58 AM

The article talks about being able to run Linux apps. Not sure if they are the same as a download and install.

kovidgoyal · 05-09-2018, 10:13 AM

They are basically making th eapps from some linux distro(I think debian) available on the chromebook. calibre is available on all linux distros (usually terribly outdated versions, but still better than nothing).

rcentros · 05-10-2018, 12:11 PM

The article says that Chromebooks will be running Debian in a virtual machine, so the only limitation should be the hardware on the Chromebook (which, with many of the lower cost Chromebooks, could be a serious limitation).

jeffmcneill · 08-05-2018, 05:29 AM

I've gotten Calibre to run using the standard Debian install (couldn't get it to run using the instructions on the Calibre site). However, the Calibre does not see my Kindle Paperwhite connected via USB (though the ChromeOS side does see the device).

I expect this is a driver issue of some kind, or something about the linux container configuration.

kovidgoyal · 08-05-2018, 07:26 AM

calibre does not use device drivers in the conventional sense. As long as your device is mounted by the OS it should be able to connect. It does rely on the sysfs filesystem being present and working however.

You can try running

calibre-debug -d

with your device connected to get more info on the device detection process.

jeffmcneill · 08-05-2018, 09:39 AM

I tried running "calibre-debug -d", and got the following error:

"RuntimeError: DeviceScanner requires the /sys filesystem to work."

kovidgoyal · 08-05-2018, 09:45 AM

Yeah as I said, it requires the sysfs filesystem to work. If you cant get that then, you can use the connect to folder function in calibre instead assuming your kindle is mounted as folder inside the container.

jeffmcneill · 08-05-2018, 09:46 AM

I'm still assuming that Crostini access to usb is non-functional, but "coming soon" as per https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium...tail?id=831850

jeffmcneill · 08-05-2018, 10:30 AM

Notice that I've updated sysfsutils and when running *mount* I see:

"sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,relatime)"

as well as varous sys mounts. So while Calibre is complaining about /sys not being present the OS is reporting it as present.

Pajamaman · 08-05-2018, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveReads

Google just announced the integration of Chromebooks with Linux - https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/08/...port-official/.
There are two Windows programs keeping me tied to Windows devices, one is Calibre. Would love to run Calibre on a Chromebook when this is released. Will it be possible?
Thanks,
Dave

I had an Asus flip with 4 gig ram. That was the high spec version. I sold it because of the lack of storage to install Linux, and googleos and Android were too limited for my uses. It was pain. Chromebooks are great for watching youtube vids.

I found trying to make a chromebook do what it was not designed for was a PITA.

kovidgoyal · 08-05-2018, 11:35 PM

Just having the sysfs filesystem is insufficient, it needs to actually export data about USB devices. And if you cannot mount the kindle inside the container, then you have no hope of it working with calibre regardless of sysfs.

DuckieTigger · 08-06-2018, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

They are basically making th eapps from some linux distro(I think debian) available on the chromebook. calibre is available on all linux distros (usually terribly outdated versions, but still better than nothing).

If they do use debian stable and allow backports, then relatively up to date versions of calibre should not be a problem. Current stable (stretch) has 2.75.1 while the stretch-backport is at 3.26.0.

John Hopper · 09-11-2018, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffmcneill

I've gotten Calibre to run using the standard Debian install (couldn't get it to run using the instructions on the Calibre site). However, the Calibre does not see my Kindle Paperwhite connected via USB (though the ChromeOS side does see the device).

I expect this is a driver issue of some kind, or something about the linux container configuration.

I have had the same issues, trying to use Calibre on my Pixelbook. The instructions on the Calibre website didn't work as it required a "sudo" command, which asked me for a password. However, I was able to download the Gnome Software Centre and install Calibre through that. However, it won't recognise my Kindle and books I emailed just didn't appear. However, I have been able to get it to work by connecting up my Kindle via USB and in the Chrome Files app dragging a book from the Calibre library under Linux files, and dropping it onto my Kindle's documents folder.

05-09-2018, 08:43 AM	#1
DaveReads Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Sony and Kindle	Calibre on Chromebook Linux Google just announced the integration of Chromebooks with Linux - https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/08/...port-official/. There are two Windows programs keeping me tied to Windows devices, one is Calibre. Would love to run Calibre on a Chromebook when this is released. Will it be possible? Thanks, Dave

05-09-2018, 09:58 AM	#3
DaveReads Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Sony and Kindle	Linux apps vs programs The article talks about being able to run Linux apps. Not sure if they are the same as a download and install.

08-05-2018, 05:29 AM	#6
jeffmcneill Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Calibre on Crostini on Chromebook I've gotten Calibre to run using the standard Debian install (couldn't get it to run using the instructions on the Calibre site). However, the Calibre does not see my Kindle Paperwhite connected via USB (though the ChromeOS side does see the device). I expect this is a driver issue of some kind, or something about the linux container configuration.

08-05-2018, 09:39 AM	#8
jeffmcneill Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	/sys not present in Crostini Linux Container I tried running "calibre-debug -d", and got the following error: "RuntimeError: DeviceScanner requires the /sys filesystem to work."

08-05-2018, 09:46 AM	#10
jeffmcneill Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	VM without access to usb = no mounted usb drives I'm still assuming that Crostini access to usb is non-functional, but "coming soon" as per https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium...tail?id=831850

05-09-2018, 09:06 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,843 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	As I understand that announcement, you are supposed to be able to run any linux program o chromebook. I know of no reason calibre should be an exception.

05-09-2018, 10:13 AM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,843 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	They are basically making th eapps from some linux distro(I think debian) available on the chromebook. calibre is available on all linux distros (usually terribly outdated versions, but still better than nothing).

05-10-2018, 12:11 PM	#5
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 7,437 Karma: 48453105 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Tolino Vision 4, Voyage, Clara HD	The article says that Chromebooks will be running Debian in a virtual machine, so the only limitation should be the hardware on the Chromebook (which, with many of the lower cost Chromebooks, could be a serious limitation).

08-05-2018, 07:26 AM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,843 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre does not use device drivers in the conventional sense. As long as your device is mounted by the OS it should be able to connect. It does rely on the sysfs filesystem being present and working however. You can try running calibre-debug -d with your device connected to get more info on the device detection process.

08-05-2018, 09:45 AM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,843 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Yeah as I said, it requires the sysfs filesystem to work. If you cant get that then, you can use the connect to folder function in calibre instead assuming your kindle is mounted as folder inside the container.

08-05-2018, 10:30 AM	#11
jeffmcneill Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	sysfs present but scanner throws error Notice that I've updated sysfsutils and when running mount I see: "sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,relatime)" as well as varous sys mounts. So while Calibre is complaining about /sys not being present the OS is reporting it as present.

08-05-2018, 11:35 PM	#13
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,843 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Just having the sysfs filesystem is insufficient, it needs to actually export data about USB devices. And if you cannot mount the kindle inside the container, then you have no hope of it working with calibre regardless of sysfs.

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