Calibre-Web

Calibre-Web is an open-source self-hosted web application that provides a graphical interface for browsing, reading, and downloading eBooks. It operates by connecting to an existing Calibre database, allowing users to access their library through a web browser rather than relying solely on the desktop application. This setup enables a centralized library that can be accessed from any device with a browser.

The software is deployed as a server application and can be installed via pip or run as a Docker container. It is designed for users who want to host their own digital library and share access with other users or devices over a network. The application includes a full graphical setup process to help administrators configure the connection to their metadata.db file and set up the initial environment.

Key features

• In-browser eBook reading support for multiple formats
• User management with fine-grained per-user permissions
• OPDS feed for compatibility with eBook reader apps
• eBook conversion using Calibre binaries
• Metadata download and editing support
• Sync capabilities for Kobo devices
• Support for LDAP, Google, and GitHub OAuth authentication
• Ability to upload new books and audio formats

Calibre-Web is built with a Bootstrap 3 HTML5 interface and requires Python 3.7 or newer. It integrates with Imagemagick for cover extraction and can optionally link to the Calibre desktop converter tool for on-the-fly format changes. The application supports custom Calibre columns and allows administrators to hide content based on categories or specific column values for different users. To facilitate access on eReaders that lack full browser functionality, the software includes a magic link login system. It also supports a multilingual interface with over 20 languages and provides an admin interface for managing public registration and download restrictions.

This tool serves as a web-based frontend for managing and distributing a Calibre-based eBook collection.