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22d ago
#750

Feature Request: KOReader Sync (Kosync) Support

First off, thank you for building BookShelves! Finding a modern, native, privacy-first ebook reader and library manager for the Apple ecosystem has been amazing, and the native iCloud sync works seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

I noticed that BookShelves already includes a brilliant built-in Calibre wireless sync server to transfer books to devices running KOReader. Because of that, I wanted to propose the logical next step for cross-device harmony: integrating Kosync (KOReader progress synchronization).

Why Kosync for BookShelves?

  • Ultimate E-Ink companion: KOReader is widely considered the gold standard reading software for open and jailbroken e-devices (Kobo, Kindle, Onyx Boox, and Android e-paper tablets). Many avid readers prefer e-ink for long sessions but love managing their library and doing quick reading on their Macs or iPhones.

  • Bridges the ecosystem gap: While iCloud sync perfectly handles the Apple ecosystem, adding Kosync would turn BookShelves into the ultimate companion app for the physical e-reader community. It allows a user to put down their Kobo or Kindle and pick up right where they left off on their iPhone or Mac.

  • THeir API is lightweight & proven: The Kosync protocol is open, straightforward, and already widely implemented in self-hosted tools like Calibre-Web. It essentially tracks basic parameters (document MD5/hash, progress percentage, and timestamp).

  • Nice "Pro" pull factor: The e-reader community on Reddit (r/ereader, r/koreader) is massive and highly passionate. There is a constant, desperate search for an elegant iOS/macOS client that syncs seamlessly with KOReader. Adding this feature would tap directly into an eager user base willing to pay for a premium, unified experience.

Even if it starts as an experimental or opt-in setting where users input their own Kosync server details (or an official KOReader account token), it would completely change the game for cross-platform reading.

Thank you for considering it, and keep up the fantastic work on the app!

Planned 1

1 comment

Thanks for the detailed write-up! We already have Calibre wireless sync for book transfer to KOReader, and Kosync progress sync is something we plan to add. The protocol is straightforward, so it's a good fit. No timeline yet, but it's coming.

BookShelves · 22d ago

Activity

  • BookShelves Team changed status from Open to Planned · 22d ago

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