HolyLibrary

README

HolyLibrary

HolyLibrary is a web-based application designed to manage and browse large libraries of CBZ files (comic book archives). It focuses on providing a seamless experience for users who require a fast, scalable, and reliable solution for their personal collections. The application is built with simplicity in mind, ensuring ease of use while offering the necessary tools for managing, viewing, and exploring CBZ archives.

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Vision

HolyLibrary aims to serve as a lightweight, self-hosted solution for individuals who cherish their digital comic collections. While there are many tools available for media management, few prioritize speed, efficiency, and flexibility in such a way that scales gracefully with the size of the library. HolyLibrary strives to fill that gap by offering a platform that feels natural to use, even with extensive collections.

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Goals

1. Primary Objective: Intuitive Browsing

   • Provide users with a smooth and fast browsing experience for their CBZ collections.
   • Ensure that the user interface is minimalistic, yet powerful, with tools to quickly locate and open desired content.
   • Allow users to effortlessly browse, filter, and sort through thousands of entries.

2. Metadata Management

   • Extract metadata directly from CBZ files when available.
   • Offer optional metadata editing through JSON files, ensuring the original CBZ files remain untouched unless the user explicitly chooses to update them.
   • Support both automatic metadata recognition and manual customization.

3. User Personalization

   • Enable account-based personalization for features like:
     • Favorite files.
     • Tracking most-read items.
     • User-specific preferences for viewing and organization.
   • Facilitate multi-user setups with shared but customizable experiences.

4. Scalability for Large Libraries

   • HolyLibrary is built to handle extensive libraries with tens of thousands of files without compromising performance.
   • Use advanced backend architecture and database indexing to ensure seamless access and queries, even in massive collections.

5. Future-Proof Design

   • Ensure the system is modular and extensible, making it easy to integrate additional features like advanced statistics, tag management, or AI-based content recommendations.
   • Design with cross-platform compatibility in mind, supporting browsers as the primary access point while leaving room for native applications in the future.

6. Security and Privacy

   • HolyLibrary respects the privacy of its users by keeping all data local and under their control.
   • Provide robust authentication and access control for multi-user environments.
   • Implement industry-standard encryption and secure communication protocols.

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Core Features

1. File Management

   • Seamless integration with the local filesystem for importing CBZ files.
   • Dynamic detection of new files without the need for manual imports.
   • No duplication of metadata unless explicitly requested, reducing redundancy and saving space.

2. Reading Experience

   • A built-in reader for viewing comic pages directly in the browser.
   • Lazy-loading techniques for faster navigation through large files.
   • Mobile-friendly design for on-the-go access.

3. User Dashboard

   • A customizable dashboard to showcase library statistics:
     • Most-read files.
     • Recently added files.
     • User-specific insights (e.g., reading history, favorites).

4. Performance Optimization

   • HolyLibrary leverages backend optimizations to minimize response times, even for demanding operations like searching or metadata extraction.
   • Advanced caching mechanisms ensure smooth performance, even with limited system resources.

5. Statistical Insights

   • Visualize library usage patterns through detailed stats.
   • Identify trends like the most-read files, active users, or reading preferences.

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Guiding Principles

• Performance Matters: Every millisecond counts. HolyLibrary is designed to deliver fast responses, even under heavy workloads. The focus is always on making the user feel like the system is working at the speed of thought.

• Respect for Users: HolyLibrary doesn’t assume ownership of your data. All files remain under your control, and the system is designed to be non-invasive. No modifications are made to original files unless explicitly requested.

• Simplicity Without Sacrificing Power: While offering advanced features, the interface and functionality are crafted to be intuitive for users of all technical backgrounds.

• Open Collaboration: While HolyLibrary is built with strong ownership and direction, forks and improvements from the community are encouraged, provided the original authorship is respected.

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Disclaimer

HolyLibrary is distributed under the MIT License, which provides users with the freedom to use, modify, and share the software while ensuring proper credit to the original author. However, the software is provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement. The author assumes no responsibility for any damages or losses that may arise from the use of this software.

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HolyLibrary is not a revolution; it’s an evolution—crafted with care, designed to grow, and built to serve. We hope it will find its place in your digital library and make managing your collections a little easier and a lot faster.