I would like to introduce you to FlickBook! Build your own fully-featured eBook reader from scratch using an InkPlate 6 Flick development board. This project delivers native EPUB parsing, gesture-based navigation, battery-powered operation, and complete library management - all with open-source hardware and software!
The goal of this project was 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
The project leverages the InkPlate 6 Flick's excellent recycled e-paper displays combined with custom firmware to create a reading experience optimized for long-form text consumption. The 6-inch display provides ample reading space while maintaining the paper-like appearance that makes e-ink displays so comfortable for extended reading sessions. Other cool hardware features are the adjustable backlight, partial display updates and high resolution of 1024×758 pixels, for confortable reading and image rendering.
- 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
- 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)
- InkPlate 6 Flick board with e-paper display
- SD card slot and battery connection
- Touch-responsive screen surface
- More info at Inkplate Docs
- 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
- 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
- 3D Printed Case - Protective enclosure (STL files can be created)
- MicroSD Card Reader - For transferring books from computer
- Arduino IDE - Primary development environment
- USB-C Cable - For code upload and debugging
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Install Arduino IDE (latest version recommended)
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Add InkPlate Board Support:
- Follow their Quick Start Guide here
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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)
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Prepare the InkPlate 6 Flick:
- Connect lithium battery (if using battery power)
- Insert microSD card with EPUB files
- Connect USB-C for initial programming
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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)
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Download the Source Code:
- Clone or download the project repository
- Open
ebook_reader.inoin Arduino IDE
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Configure Board Settings:
- Select "Inkplate 6(ESP32)" from Tools → Board
- Choose appropriate COM port
- Set upload speed to 921600 baud
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Compile and Upload:
- Click Upload to flash firmware to device
- Monitor serial output for debugging info
- Power on the device - you should see loading screen
- Main library will display available books from SD card
- Touch a book title to begin reading
- 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
- Add/Modify font sizes and families in
UIManager.cpp - Adjust gesture sensitivity in touch handling code
- Add new features by extending the existing modules
- 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
- Custom PCB design for even smaller form factor
- Solar charging integration for indefinite battery life
- Improved case design with better ergonomics
- 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
- Arduino IDE - Primary development environment
- InkPlate Arduino SDK - Hardware abstraction and display drivers
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.
Special thanks to the open-source hardware community for inspiration and the existing e-reader projects that paved the way for this implementation.
This project is released under an open-source license, encouraging modification, redistribution, and community contribution. All source code, documentation, and design files will be made available through public repositories.
Repository Structure:
/src- Main firmware source code/libs- Custom library implementations/docs- Build guides and technical documentation
This project welcomes contributions from the community:
- Code contributions - Bug fixes, feature additions, optimizations
- Documentation - Improve build guides, add language translations
- Testing - Try different EPUB files, report compatibility issues
- Hardware mods - Share case designs, battery upgrades, mounting solutions
- Feature requests - Suggest new capabilities and improvements
Join the growing community of open-source e-reader enthusiasts and help make digital reading more accessible and customizable for everyone!
Ready to build your own? Get started with your custom FlickBook and begin your journey into open-source reading technology!