repub project
Starting to track a project I’ve been working on and off (mostly off) for some years now: repub. repub is an open source, open hardware e-reader designed to replace the walled garden options out there.
It consists of the following:
- A hardware device which is built in easily obtainable open ecosystems, such as the Raspberry Pi, BeagleBoards etc. Using accessible e-paper screens.
- As much off the shelf, easy to source and repair components as possible
- Fully open software built on a linux OS (eg. not microcontroller).
- This is to enable ease of development and extension; albeit with the potential of adversly impacting battery life and power management complexity
- Not running X or wayland. Custom UI over SPI/parallels.
- Bluetooth and Wifi
- SD card
- Headphone jack
In terms of software, the initial device is intended to have the following:
- Library function reading from ‘internal’ storage.
- e-reader program with support for epub and very basic html/css styling
- Music player
- Audiobook player
- Podcast player
Beyond whats in your hand
There is a convenience to being able to finish a book, and immediately purchase
the next in the series. I intend to build in the following capabilities.
These will be open source, and have a promise of transparency and personal
ownership of data.
- Cloud library for syncing what you have and what progress you’ve made
- Support for Calibre
- Federated store system: Allow for an open, federation of publishers to easily provide their content to a store.
- Distributed publishing and payment systems; think LBRY.
Ownership
The software and hardware is FOSS; GPL and TAPR OHL. I have every intention of never implementing or supporting DRM in repub. I have every intention of always providing every silly thing I’ve done to get stuff working, alternatives, repair guides etc. If you make one, or buy one from me (if I ever sell them) then you own it.
Location
The project lives in gitlab, gitlab.com/repub, with the software living in guv, and the hardware stuff repub.
The website is repub.info