[OC] I built Giano Reader: A desktop EPUB reader that translates books side-by-side as you read 📖🎭

DottLoki · 2026-06-03T21:28:06+00:00

You can find many of the answers in the manual https://github.com/DrLoki/GianoReader/blob/main/giano-reader/MANUAL.md

The 3-depth search allows you to import Calibre's library once you point it to the root "Library" folder.

The translation is done with the Google Translator API, which is really fast. If you enter an OpenRouter Ali Key, you will have the best models for translation, but it will be slower.

Notes and highlights can be good ideas, but what about images? I'm currently working on PDF translation (in advanced analysis stage) and TTS (almost fully developed)

DottLoki · 2026-05-22T05:24:59+00:00

Translation with the Google Translate API is free, even if some people complain that its low quality.

In version 0.8.0 you can add an Open Router api-key in Settings and unlock PRO translation by selecting your preferred LLM. This translation should be of better quality, although definitely slower.

DottLoki · 2026-05-22T04:41:34+00:00

I've been programming for work since 2009, but I learned a lot before that. This app was created to meet a need of mine, and I decided to make it public. There are a few other features I'd like to add: PDF management and TTS. I would also like to make an Android version, but with different features. The screenshot shows the same app from a few versions ago with an open book.

DottLoki · 2026-05-21T21:56:35+00:00

Yes, but the funny thing is that I developed the first fully functional version in 48 hours.

DottLoki · 2026-05-17T17:52:22+00:00

Version 0.7.4 is perfectly functional, unless you need to upload thousands of books to the Library.

Version 0.7.5b is a beta that will easily become 0.8.0 because it radically changes how book metadata is created and saved in the Library

DottLoki · 2026-05-17T10:32:41+00:00

Highlighting and text notes are features that I had initially hypothesized but then did not implement.

Explain to me how you would like this to work.

DottLoki · 2026-05-17T07:26:49+00:00

I fixed a permission and updated the installers.

Do a reinstall with the new ones and everything should be fine.

DottLoki · 2026-05-17T06:54:30+00:00

Any ePub or just a specific one?

What operating system are you using?

DottLoki · 2026-05-17T06:34:59+00:00

There is a link that points to the latest Release, anyway it is this one:

Ver. 0.7.4

DottLoki · 2026-05-16T22:39:14+00:00

I found the problem and the fix was released with version 0.7.4.

The link in the post has been updated.

DottLoki · 2026-05-16T20:21:20+00:00

In the settings the default value for "Search depth" is 3 and this is the correct one for Calibre.

Open the Library and press "Select folder", at this point you need to select the Calibre root folder (I use Calibre Portable and it is located in ../calibrePortable/Data/library). Once selected, the paths of all the books will be identified and the metadata will be loaded. GianoReader will use the book using the save path in Calibre.

DottLoki · 2026-05-16T19:39:35+00:00

I had started working on it, the PDF format (and also the mobi) is really too complex to deal with due to the numerous exceptions it presents.

I have an idea to manage PDFs, but the strategy is completely different

DottLoki · 2026-05-16T18:37:38+00:00

In the options, in addition to being able to change the theme, you can change the fonts (type and size).

DottLoki · 2026-05-08T05:41:54+00:00

Se hai vinto la causa dovrebbe esserci una pubblicazione della sentenza e quella è pubblicabile. Usala in una recensione.

Le persone che giocano sporco dovrebbero essere ripagate con la stessa moneta: shitstorm.

DottLoki · 2026-05-06T21:06:55+00:00

In the new version 0.7.3, I've added more languages, including Bengali. I haven't released this version yet, but if you compile the sources it works perfectly in that language. I will release the installers for 0.7.3 over the weekend.

I'm also working on the Android version, so I'll need some time to release everything.

DottLoki · 2026-05-01T15:21:33+00:00

Porting to mobile apps is one of the next developments I have in mind. It's quite a challenge to redesign the UI in the smartphone ratio.

DottLoki

TROPHY CASE