Kavita Reading Server

beginner

Self-hosted digital library for comics, manga, and ebooks with a modern web reader, reading progress tracking, and OPDS support.

Overview

Kavita is a self-hosted digital library server specifically designed for organizing and reading comics, manga, and ebooks through a modern web interface. Originally developed as an alternative to commercial comic reading platforms, Kavita focuses on providing a Netflix-like experience for digital reading materials, complete with metadata scraping, reading progress tracking, and support for multiple file formats including CBZ, CBR, CB7, PDF, and EPUB. The server automatically processes and organizes your media files, extracting metadata and generating thumbnails for an intuitive browsing experience. This Docker deployment creates a complete digital library solution that transforms your collection of comics and ebooks into a professional-grade streaming service. Kavita's web-based reader eliminates the need for multiple reading applications across different devices, while its OPDS (Open Publication Distribution System) support enables integration with external e-readers and reading apps. The server handles file processing, thumbnail generation, and metadata extraction automatically, creating a polished library interface from your existing file collection. This configuration is ideal for comic collectors, manga enthusiasts, and avid readers who want to centralize their digital library while maintaining access across multiple devices. Libraries, educational institutions, and content creators will particularly benefit from Kavita's user management features and reading analytics, while home users can create a personal streaming service for their comic and ebook collections without relying on cloud-based platforms.

Key Features

Advanced comic and manga reader with panel-by-panel navigation and fit-to-screen options
Automatic metadata extraction and series organization with cover art generation
Reading progress synchronization across all devices and user accounts
OPDS feed integration for compatibility with external e-reader applications
Multi-format support including CBZ, CBR, CB7, PDF, and EPUB files
User management system with reading statistics and personalized libraries
Smart library scanning with duplicate detection and file organization
Responsive web interface optimized for tablets, phones, and desktop browsers

Common Use Cases

1Home comic collectors wanting to digitize and organize their physical collection
2Manga enthusiasts creating a centralized library accessible from multiple devices
3Educational institutions providing digital reading materials to students
4Public libraries offering digital comic and graphic novel collections
5Content creators distributing comics and ebooks to subscribers
6Small publishers managing digital distribution of their catalog
7Reading groups sharing and tracking progress through graphic novels and manga series

Prerequisites

Minimum 1GB RAM for processing comic files and generating thumbnails
Available port 5000 or ability to modify KAVITA_PORT environment variable
Storage location with read/write access for library files (CBZ, CBR, PDF, EPUB)
Basic understanding of file organization as Kavita scans folder structures for series detection
Modern web browser supporting HTML5 for optimal reading experience

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  kavita: 
3    image: jvmilazz0/kavita:latest
4    container_name: kavita
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    ports: 
7      - "${KAVITA_PORT:-5000}:5000"
8    environment: 
9      - TZ=${TZ:-UTC}
10    volumes: 
11      - ${LIBRARY_PATH:-./library}:/library
12      - kavita_config:/kavita/config
13
14volumes: 
15  kavita_config:

.env Template

.env

1# Kavita Configuration
2KAVITA_PORT=5000
3TZ=UTC
4
5# Path to your comics/manga/ebook library
6LIBRARY_PATH=./library

Usage Notes

1Access Kavita at http://localhost:5000
2Create an admin account on first run
3Add library folders in Settings > Libraries
4Supports CBZ, CBR, CB7, PDF, EPUB formats
5Reading progress syncs across devices
6OPDS feed available for e-reader integration

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  kavita:
5    image: jvmilazz0/kavita:latest
6    container_name: kavita
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    ports:
9      - "${KAVITA_PORT:-5000}:5000"
10    environment:
11      - TZ=${TZ:-UTC}
12    volumes:
13      - ${LIBRARY_PATH:-./library}:/library
14      - kavita_config:/kavita/config
15
16volumes:
17  kavita_config:
18EOF
19
20# 2. Create the .env file
21cat > .env << 'EOF'
22# Kavita Configuration
23KAVITA_PORT=5000
24TZ=UTC
25
26# Path to your comics/manga/ebook library
27LIBRARY_PATH=./library
28EOF
29
30# 3. Start the services
31docker compose up -d
32
33# 4. View logs
34docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/kavita-reading-stack/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Comics not appearing in library: Ensure files are in supported formats (CBZ, CBR, CB7, PDF, EPUB) and folder permissions allow read access
Thumbnail generation failing: Check available disk space and ensure container has write permissions to kavita_config volume
OPDS feed not accessible: Verify user account has OPDS access enabled in user settings and check firewall rules for port 5000
Reading progress not syncing: Confirm user is logged in and browser cookies are enabled for session persistence
Slow library scanning: Reduce concurrent scan operations in settings and ensure adequate RAM allocation for large collections
Series metadata incorrect: Use the manual metadata refresh option or check folder naming conventions match Kavita's parsing rules

Community Notes

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Includes docker-compose.yml, .env template, README, and license

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