# Project pack: Kavita @ d549d5b

Facts about **Kavita** for an AI following the [BespokeAI handover guide](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/guide/v4.md). Pinned to one version; never changes after publication.

> Kavita is a self-hosted library and web reader for comics, manga, light novels and e-books. It scans your folders, builds a library with covers and series information, tracks reading progress and offers a reader that works well on phones and tablets. It supports multiple users with age ratings.

## Setup path (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Start here, no Docker:** Install the project's own desktop app or installer. No Docker.
- Offer Docker only if the person asks or this path fails. The commands further down may use Docker; they are not the starting point.
- Verdict source: https://wiki.kavitareader.com
- You may be unable to download source archives or run commands in this session. The person downloads and runs things; if you cannot fetch something, give any changed file in full in chat with its path.

## Version and source
- Repository: https://github.com/Kareadita/Kavita
- Pinned commit: `d549d5b1609086c8190b9bee6eb48ebfed71e1df`. Use exactly this version.
- Zip the person can download in a browser: https://github.com/Kareadita/Kavita/archive/d549d5b1609086c8190b9bee6eb48ebfed71e1df.zip
- Fresh checkout (only if you have a shell and git): use the commands below in an empty folder. If this exact source is already checked out, keep your branch and use the development command; do not clone again or reset local changes.
- Official docs: https://wiki.kavitareader.com
- Live demo: https://www.kavitareader.com/#demo. See the project site for the demo and its sign-in.
- Licence: **GPL-3.0-only**. Free to use and change. If you share your changed version with other people (give them the code or app), you must share your source code under the same licence. Using it privately for yourself or your household has no extra obligations.

## Commands from the pinned source
- Developer commands (they may use Docker):

  ```sh
  git clone https://github.com/Kareadita/Kavita bespoke-kavita
  cd bespoke-kavita
  git checkout --detach d549d5b1609086c8190b9bee6eb48ebfed71e1df
  # Prepare development requirements and local configuration first.
  dotnet restore
  cd UI/Web
  npm install
  npm start
  ```

- Separate trial of the current upstream release (not your changes; sample data and a separate data directory only):

  ```sh
  docker run -d --name kavita -p 5000:5000 -v /path/to/your/books:/books -v kavita-config:/kavita/config jvmilazz0/kavita:latest
  # then open http://localhost:5000 and create the admin account
  ```
- Tools these commands use: Docker for a trial, .NET SDK and Node for development
- Develop: `dotnet run --project Kavita.Server  # and, in another terminal: cd UI/Web && npm start`
- Test: `dotnet test`
- Stack: csharp, typescript (ASP.NET Core, Angular, Entity Framework, SQLite). Difficulty for a non-developer with an AI: **advanced**. A large .NET back end and an Angular front end. Libraries, users and reader settings need no code; changes to the reader or scanner are real engineering.
Personal data: **yes**. Stored in: A SQLite database and covers in /kavita/config; your books stay in your own folders. Secrets are entered by the person, never in chat.

---
Later, only when a step needs it: [reference.md](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/kavita/d549d5b/r3/reference.md) (customisation points, must-keep-working, data and costs, coding conventions) · [hosting.md](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/kavita/d549d5b/r3/hosting.md) (long-term hosting; hosts are paid third parties) · [bespoke.yaml](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/kavita/d549d5b/r3/bespoke.yaml) · [SKILL.md](https://handoff.bespokeai.software/p/kavita/d549d5b/r3/SKILL.md)