Close
0%
0%

FlickBook

Your own fully-featured eBook reader using an InkPlate 6 Flick dev-board. With EPUB parsing, gesture navigation, battery-powered & more...

spiros-bondSpiros Bond
Following
Liked Like project

Just one more thing

To make the experience fit your profile, pick a username and tell us what interests you.

Pick an awesome username
hackaday.io/
Your profile's URL: hackaday.io/username. Max 25 alphanumeric characters.
Pick a few interests
Projects that share your interests
People that share your interests

We found and based on your interests.

Choose more interests.

OK, I'm done! Skip
Similar projects worth following
438 views
0 comments
7 followers
View Gallery
The goal of this project is to create a truly open and customizable eBook reader that rivals commercial devices while remaining completely hackable and modifiable. Unlike proprietary e-readers that lock you into specific ecosystems, this DIY solution gives you complete control over your digital library and reading experience. Key motivations: - Full control over your eBook collection without DRM restrictions - Native EPUB support without requiring conversion to other formats - Touch-based navigation with intuitive gestures - Weeks of battery life through efficient e-paper technology - Expandable functionality through open-source codebase - Utilizing Arduino ESP32 Library - Great platform to learn about E-Ink displays and ESP32 For more information, follow, visit and star the github page: https://github.com/spirosbond/FlickBook

Key Features Showcase

Current Capabilities

  • Native EPUB parsing - No conversion required, reads .epub files directly
  • Full gesture navigation - Swipe left/right for pages, up/down for chapters
  • Complete library management - Browse, select, and organize your book collection
  • SD card storage - Load books via microSD card for massive storage capacity
  • Adjustable backlight - 64 levels of brightness control for any lighting condition
  • Progress tracking - Automatically saves your reading position
  • Multiple font options - Choose from serif, sans-serif fonts in various sizes (only adjustable from code currently)
  • Image rendering - Display book covers, illustrations, and diagrams natively
  • Automatic pagination - Smart text flow with chapter detection
  • Partial screen refresh - Fast page turns with minimal full screen flicker
  • Battery monitoring - Real-time battery level display
  • Battery charging - Built in charging capability
  • Automatic EPUB indexing - Fast navigation and page caching
  • 3-D Printable Case - Case designed and provided for free from Inkplate

Performance Highlights

  • Battery life: Over 1 week of continuous use
  • Display: 6" e-paper with 1024×758 pixel resolution
  • Refresh rate: Under 1 second for page turns
  • Storage: Virtually unlimited via microSD cards
  • Icons: Support for Icon rendering for enhanced UI experience
  • Language support: English characters (with plans for expansion)

Images and Videos Section

Hardware Overview:

  • InkPlate 6 Flick board with e-paper display
  • SD card slot and battery connection
  • Touch-responsive screen surface
  • More info at Inkplate Docs

Software Interface:

  • Main library browser showing book collection
  • Reading interface with text and image rendering
  • Settings menu with backlight controls and other features
  • Progress tracking and chapter navigation

Video Demos:

Components List

Core Hardware

  • InkPlate 6 Flick Development Board - Main processing unit with ESP32 and 6" e-paper display
  • MicroSD Card - For book storage (32GB+ recommended)
  • Lithium Battery - 3.7V LiPo battery for portable operation
  • USB-C Cable - For charging and programming

Optional Accessories

  • 3D Printed Case - Protective enclosure (STL files can be created)
  • MicroSD Card Reader - For transferring books from computer

Development Tools

  • Arduino IDE - Primary development environment
  • USB-C Cable - For code upload and debugging

Future Development Roadmap

Software Improvements Ideas

  • WiFi connectivity - Over-the-air library management and book upload
  • Enhanced user settings - More customization options
  • Reading statistics - Track reading speed, time spent, books completed
  • Note-taking system - Highlight text and add personal annotations
  • Hyperlink support - Chapter-to-chapter navigation within books
  • Multi-language support - Unicode character handling for international texts
  • Advanced search - Full-text search within books and library

Hardware Improvement Ideas

  • Custom PCB design for even smaller form factor
  • Solar charging integration for indefinite battery life
  • Improved case design with better ergonomics

Credits and Acknowledgments

External Libraries and Partners

  • Soldered Electronics - For the excellent InkPlate 6 Flick hardware platform and Arduino library support
  • TinyXML2 by Lee Thomason - Lightweight XML parsing library enabling EPUB file processing
  • Arduino Community - For the development environment and extensive documentation
  • Espressif - ESP32 microcontroller and development frameworks

Development Tools

  • Arduino IDE - Primary development environment
  • InkPlate Arduino SDK - Hardware abstraction and display drivers

Hardware Reference

This project is built upon the InkPlate 6 Flick reference design and documentation provided by Soldered Electronics. Their open-hardware approach made this project possible.

Community Contributions

Special thanks to the open-source...

Read more »

View all details
  • 1
    Getting Started - Build Your Own

    Prerequisites

    1. Install Arduino IDE (latest version recommended)
    2. Add InkPlate Board Support:
    3. Install Required Libraries:
      • Inkplate Arduino Library (via Library Manager)
      • TinyXML2 Library (for EPUB parsing)
      • ArduinoJson Library (for metadata handling)
      • unzipLIB Library (for handling .zip and epub files)

    Hardware Setup

    1. Prepare the InkPlate 6 Flick:
      • Connect lithium battery (if using battery power)
      • Insert microSD card with EPUB files
      • Connect USB-C for initial programming
    2. Load Books:
      • Copy the contents of the sdcard/ folder to the root of the microSD card
      • Copy .epub files to a folder called "books" in the root directory of your microSD card
      • Organize in folders if desired (library will scan recursively)

    Software Installation

    1. Download the Source Code:
      • Clone or download the project repository
      • Open ebook_reader.ino in Arduino IDE
    2. Configure Board Settings:
      • Select "Inkplate 6(ESP32)" from Tools → Board
      • Choose appropriate COM port
      • Set upload speed to 921600 baud
    3. Compile and Upload:
      • Click Upload to flash firmware to device
      • Monitor serial output for debugging info

    First Boot

    1. Power on the device - you should see loading screen
    2. Main library will display available books from SD card
    3. Touch a book title to begin reading
    4. Use gestures to navigate:
      • Swipe right: Next page
      • Swipe left: Previous page
      • Swipe down: Next section
      • Swipe up: Previous section
      • Tap menu area: Access settings

    Customization Options

    • Add/Modify font sizes and families in UIManager.cpp
    • Adjust gesture sensitivity in touch handling code
    • Add new features by extending the existing modules

View all instructions

Enjoy this project?

Share

Discussions

Does this project spark your interest?

Become a member to follow this project and never miss any updates

Yes, delete it Cancel

Report project as inappropriate

You are about to report the project "FlickBook", please tell us the reason.

Send message

Your application has been submitted.

Remove Member

Are you sure you want to remove yourself as a member for this project?

Project owner will be notified upon removal.