Étagère

Étagère

Browse a Calibre library on your Nextcloud and download EPUBs

Jérôme Ortais Reading

Screenshots

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Description

Étagère browses a Calibre library stored on your own Nextcloud, shows the full record for every book, and downloads the files. It does not read books — that is your reading app's job, and you already have one you like.

What it does

* Signs in to Nextcloud through the browser, using a revocable app password
* Reads the Calibre catalogue and keeps it available offline
* Covers, authors, series, ratings, publisher, languages, tags, identifiers, descriptions
* Search, sort and filter by tag, author or series
* Downloads EPUB and any other format Calibre holds, in the background
* Serves the library to an e-reader over Wi-Fi, for devices that can download from a web page

What it does not do

* No reader built in
* Never writes to your server — the library is read-only
* No account, no telemetry, no advertising

How it works

A Calibre library is a folder with a metadata.db catalogue and one subfolder per book. Étagère finds that file over WebDAV, downloads it once, and reads it locally. Covers and book files are fetched on demand, never in bulk. The catalogue is only re-downloaded when it has actually changed, so the app stays usable offline.

Sharing with an e-reader

Many e-readers can download a file from a web page but cannot read OPDS catalogues. Étagère turns the phone into a small web server on your local network, with pages designed for e-ink: no JavaScript, no thumbnails in lists, pure black on white, large tap targets. A single book can also be offered under a short address that is easy to type on an e-ink keyboard.

Traffic on that local server is unencrypted, since e-reader browsers rarely cope with anything else. Use it on a network you trust.

Requirements

A Nextcloud account and a Calibre library stored on it. Étagère does not create libraries; use Calibre on a computer for that.

Free software under the GNU GPL v3.

What’s new (1.0)

Version 1.0:

- Three ways into Nextcloud: the browser, an app password, or a plain share link to your Calibre folder.
- Catalogue readable offline. Search, sort, filter by tag, author, series or publisher.
- Full record: cover, description, publisher, publication date, identifiers. Tapping an author or publisher filters the library.
- Downloads run in the background and resume after an interruption.
- Serves the library to an e-reader over Wi-Fi, with pages built for e-ink.

Versions

Version Date Size Requires Android Download
1.0 current
ff589e0f3fdd5d01…
2026-09-05 1.9 MB API 26

Permissions

What the app asks the system for. Android only grants sensitive access after you confirm it.

  • Internet accessSend and receive data over the internet.
  • Network stateCheck whether and how the device is connected.
  • Write storageCreate and change files on the device storage.
  • NotificationsShow notifications.
  • Foreground serviceKeep running in the background, visible in the status bar.
  • FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC
  • FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE
  • ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK
Show 4 more permissions
  • Prevent sleepingKeep the device from going to sleep.
  • Run at startupStart automatically after the device is switched on.
  • etagere.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
  • Read storageRead files on the device storage.

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