stump
Open-source server for comics, manga and digital books with OPDS support
AI Summary
Stump is a self-hosted server for comics, manga and digital books, built with Rust and React. The software offers OPDS support, user management with granular access control and a responsive web interface. The project is still in active development and supports formats like EPUB, PDF, CBZ and CBR.
✓ Pros
- + Completely free and open source with MIT license
- + Modern tech stack with Rust and React for high performance
- + OPDS support for compatibility with many reading apps
- + Docker support for easy deployment
✗ Cons
- − Still in active development (WIP) - no stable version available
- − Not recommended for production use according to the project itself
Use Cases
- → Build a self-hosted digital comic and manga library
- → Centrally manage and organize e-books and digital publications
- → Provide OPDS-compatible content for reading apps
- → Multi-user access to digital media collections with permissions management
Who is it for?
Developers and technically savvy self-hosters who want to run their own digital library for comics, manga and e-books.
Tags
What is stump?
Stump is a self-hosted media server for comics, manga and digital books. The backend runs in Rust, the frontend in React. Supported formats are EPUB, PDF, CBZ and CBR. For anyone who prefers to manage their digital collection on their own server rather than hand it off to a cloud service, this is a complete server application with a web interface, user management and an OPDS endpoint. The project is MIT-licensed and actively developed on GitHub.
Core features
- OPDS support: Content can be accessed directly in compatible reading apps such as KOReader or Panels, with no additional steps in between.
- User management with granular access control: Multiple users can independently receive access to different parts of the library.
- Format support: EPUB, PDF, CBZ and CBR are handled natively.
- Responsive web interface: The library can be managed and read directly in the browser, without a separate client app.
- Docker support: Deployment via Docker is built in and will be the typical installation path for most users.
Who is stump for?
The target audience is technically experienced self-hosters who want to run their own library for comics, manga or e-books. Anyone who has never set up a Docker container will likely struggle with the initial setup. Those who routinely run services like Jellyfin or Nextcloud themselves will find the barrier to entry manageable.
One important caveat: the project is not yet stable. The developers themselves advise against using it in production. For a personal test instance or a hobby environment that is acceptable, but not yet for a library with multiple active users in daily use.
Context & alternatives
Stump belongs to the category of self-hosted media servers, specialised in text and comic formats. Kavita is the most direct alternative: also open source, also OPDS-capable, with a broader range of supported formats and already more stable releases. Komga occupies the same space with a focus on comics and manga. What sets Stump apart from both is the Rust backend. Anyone interested in the technical foundation, or looking to contribute to development, will find a well-structured entry point in the GitHub Developer Guide.
