Still alive ?

[Tos26]

Hello,

I use COPs for several years. I'm worried about the date of last commit.
Is the project still maintained or the developpers are gone ?

[marioscube]

Enjoy it as long as it works. No need to fix that what is not broken.

With a small fix it will work with php8.

I think it will work for a few more years.

[horus68]

The Developer has been missing from some time and has not respond some emails of mine.
The software still works and has not a real alternative!
I would like a github fork to be created to implement small fixes available in the comments to make things easier.
I'm not a software developer but I can be involved in the organization of the new project if someone could take care of the software pack release

[marioscube]

I think the developer moved on with life.
He once planned a code overhaul of mainly the bootstrap theme I think. It never was published. Mainly, I think, because the default theme is "just working" (ugly but utilitarian)., so why change a winning team.

If you want the bootstrap theme, then take a look al calibre-web.

@horus68
I see only 2 problems with the COPS code:

• installing from source code gives an error. You need to install an older version of composer to make it work. The latest release still works.
• there will be an error once we start to use php8 (probably in the next major release of debian 12 in 2023?) This error is easily fixable in the code for everyone who can use a text editor.

Am I missing anything here?

[horus68]

Hi, you have a point on the "working app". I would love the bootstrap theme to be implemented and some minor fixes shared by several users to be all implemented in the core pack. As it is now, new users tend to go elsewhere. But it works!
Note: On the fork: I could even think on putting some money into it in order to make it a clean app ready to install and work from core pack!

[Tos26]

Ok, I was afraid of this kind of information :(

The software still works and has not a real alternative! >

Did you test Calibre-web as an alternative? It seems a well alive project with more features than COPS.

[marioscube]

To me COPS has 2 unique selling points:

• multiple calibre libraries!
• it works on relatively underpowered devices (This week I installed it again on a Raspberry Pi 1b and it worked!)
  COPS was created to be "a simple tool to be installed on a small server".

I like the default theme, bud for those who like the bootstrap theme calibre-web might be an alternative. But as far as I know it misses the multiple libraries and I find it waaaaaay to much (users, options, etc) for my personal needs.

[horus68]

Did you test Calibre-web as an alternative? It seems a well alive project with more features than COPS.

COPS is the way to work as a simple viewer on tiny servers.
For any other features (editing metadata, converting, synch and so on) just use the main Calibre server!

[Tos26]

I agree with your comments about the number of features of calibre-web, I don't really need them.
My COPS is currently running on a raspberry PI 3B+, so I will try soon calibre-web on it and I will give you feedback if you are interested.
I didn't know about the multiple libraries on calibre-web, it could be an issue for me...

[Tos26]

Just for information:
calibre-web installed on my raspberry PI 3. Nice app, and there is no latency or lag in this config.
I confirm, I don't see multiple libraries management, only shelves.

[marioscube]

What is the size of your library?

With just a few books even the slowest Synology 110j is fast enough.

[Tos26]

921 books, epub only .

[marioscube]

I think, that is close to the sweet spot for COPS and similar apps on a slow device like the raspberry pi.

You can speed up browsing in COPS by caching the thumbnails on disk.

Look for this setting in config_default.php and copy these lines in config_local.php

[BravishkaSkytano]

Should I look into Calibre-Web instead of COPS? I want something that I can easily access on my Kobo. I thought COPS was what I was looking for, but if it isn't being maintained and Calibre-Web is better, should I even try COPS?

[gglanzer]

What about this program. Would there still be answers there?
https://github.com/rvolz/BicBucStriim

[marioscube]

@Aspiring-Writer
I think that COPS (default theme) works very well with Kobo (I have a Kobo Glo HD).

The bootstrap theme of COPS and Calibre-web might be just a bit to much for the Kobo browser.

@gglanzer
BicBuckStream is also not updated since 2020.
I have never really tried it so cannot comment on it.

I would advise to start with COPS and if you really want more options and eyecandy then try calibre-web.