A simple typewriter written in go for KOBO e-readers

Last update: Dec 25, 2022

Comments: 7

Kobowriter

This small project aims to let you use your old KOBO e-reader (mine is a GLO HD) as a simple, distraction free typewriter.

For years I thought that e-ink was the ultimate medium to write in broad daylight without eye strain or focus fatigue. It seems that others have had the same ideas, as we can see in the Freewrite or Pomera products.

This project brings the same form factor in a considerably cheaper way (especially if like me you already have a KOBO at hand).

Note that the installed software should let you use switch between your normal kobo stock software and the KoboWriter one; so your kobo is still usable in its default way.

Because XCSoar USB OTG should work for many KOBO devices (touch, Mini, Glo HD and pretty much all the later ones), this project would work there too. But as of now this program has only been built and tested for the KOBO GLO HD and only supports the AZERTY (French) keyboard. You can open issues if you need to support other devices / keyboards

How it looks

TODO add video

How it works

The kobo e-readers have a Micro-USB connector to charge and transfer files. With proper kernel modification this USB socket can be used as OTG, letting one plug in any kind of USB device.

Such kernel was compiled by the XCSoar project in order to turn the kobo into a fliying assistant supported by an external GPS.

We use their modifications to connect a USB keyboard to the OTG port.

However, the kobo giving no power through its USB socket, the keyboard has to be powered on its own - you can either use a cheap USB otg power cable like this one or modify the keyboard, like I did.

The software lets you use the keyboard to write and edit text files. It's coded in Go, compiled with a toolchain prepared for the KOBO devices, and relies largely on the excellent FBInk library to drive the screen, through its extremely useful port in Go, go-fbink.

How to build it

Note that we also provide ready made precompiled binaries for your KOBO

First you need to download and build the koxtoolchain on your development computer. This toolchain, once built, will let you build Go programs that can run on the KOBO.

TODO : Detailed step to build project

How to install

You can build the software, put it on a KOBO with XCSoar software, and launch it any way you see fit.

Or you can use our modified XCSoar installer that will get you the XCSoar program, kernel, and Kobowriter in just one step:

You do this at your own risk!

Download the KoboRoot.tar.gz from the release page
Connect your Kobo and place the archive in the .kobo (hidden) directory
eject safely, unplug, and let the Kobo update

From now on your Kobo will start up on XCSoar launcher. From there you can start the stock Kobo software, turn on USB-OTG or start the KoboWriter.

Note that when USB-OTG is enable, you won't be able to start the stock Kobo software. But you need to have it on in order to use the KoboWriter software. Changing the USB-OTG setting requires a restart.

When you start the KOBO, if not activated yet, from the XCSoar laucher tap on system and the enable USB-OTG and then restart the device.

If, like me, you use the KOBO only for KoboWriter, then your device should always boot in this state. In this case, only this last step is required:

From XCSoar launcher tap tools and then KoboWriter.

Plugin you powered USB keyboard and you should be good to go ;-)

Owner

https://github.com/olup/kobowriter

Comments

It works too on kindle ?

Hi I like so much your project but I've a Kindle 8th gen (base model). Do you think that your guide/sw works on ? I've seen that the koxtoolchain supports kindle devices. Have you some ideas about ?

Thank you in advance
Kobowriter missing from XCSoar menu

Hello

I have copied the archive in my .kobo directory. XCSoar start correctly. However, Kobowriter app is missing from tools menu.

I downloaded archive from from this link https://xcsoar.org/download/ I have enabled OTG-USB. I have KOBO GLO HD.
Has anyone actually been able to get this to work?

Short of creating a development environment, I have tried this on several kobo devices and it either bricks the device or, more commonly, the Kobowriter just does not open. So, copying the KoboRoot.tar.gz file to the kobo; bricked my aura (I knew the risk and am ok but sad), does not respond on my touch (several keyboards and power supplies and power on sequences), and I am waiting for a glow to arrive to try it. This function is so useful that I started to look into learning the Go (Golang) programming language. I would rather be writing my novels than learning to code but the possibility of days worth of battery live in a distraction free environment is attractive. A device that accepts text on an e-ink screen, saves the results, and allows extraction of those text files is selling for six times what a kobo is selling for. If this is possible with a kobo please tell me how to do it. I have a blank computer that I can add a developmental environment to, I just need to know how. Any help would be appreciated. Give me a fish or teach me to fish. I am all ears. It is just sad now that I don't have a device to read on, now that my reader is bricked, and nothing to write on.
perixx Keyboard compatibility

Hello

I use perixx PERIBOARD-409 with kobowriter and keyboard is not detected. Kobowriter start correctly with logitech k120.

Is this issue a driver issue? Is there a way to fix that?
How to change display orientation

Hello

I downloaded your custom XCSoar archive from https://github.com/olup/kobowriter/releases, and I successfully started kobowriter. However, display orientation is not landscape. Is there a way to change this?
Other keyboard layouts?

Hello, first I want to thank you for the Kobo writer. Im not a Very tech guy but I managed to install the rooted firmware and modify a USB keyboard. And the result is awsome: a modern typewriter with eink screen for distraction free writing... beautiful and elegant solution. Im ethousiastic so Im ready to learn how to use an azerty keyboard but... maybe there is a way to insert others layouts... Im currently writing in Italian. Let me now! Thank you very much.
Chouette ! But I don't really understand how to do this properly

Hey there !

I don't know how to contact you. I'm very interested in your program cause Freewrite and Pomera is awfully expensive. The only issue is that I don't really understand the HOW to do this, and especially the first step : "First you need to download and build the koxtoolchain on your development computer. This toolchain, once built, will let you build Go programs that can run on the KOBO." Secondly, the keyboard need to be connected to the Kobo and to a battery ? And, lastly, when you writed something, your text file, where does it go ? In the Kobo's memory ?

thank you.

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