Docker PDF Server

Welcome to the Docker PDF Server! This project provides an ultra-minimalist PDF server running on Docker. Built with Flask and HTML, it offers a no-nonsense, straightforward way to upload, delete, view, search, and serve PDFs.

Why Docker PDF Server?

I developed this server out of a personal need for a quick, e-book-like viewing experience for my PDF library. Unlike document organizers like Paperless-ngx or eBook focused apps like Calibre-web, Kavita etc., this server focuses solely on delivering a simple way to upload, browse, search, and access PDF e-books for reading. When you click on a PDF, it is served as is.

It is actually functionally similar to any typical client app for a NAS. However, this server brings the convenience of browser-based access, allowing for quick viewing and on-the-go reading on any device.

What Docker PDF Server is not

• This server is not designed to be a comprehensive document organizer like Paperless-ngx.
• It lacks a database or any form of grouping/bookmarking system and relies solely on file system, potentially limiting scalability if you want to have anything over a few 1000 files.
• Basic HTTP authentication is implemented, but not OAuth. It is advisable not to expose the server publicly without additional security. I use this with Authelia running on my reverse-proxy.
• Currently, it lacks a folder system. Although this feature is simple enough to do and could be considered for future implementation.
• Error handling although basic covers most scenarios.

Getting Started

Just run the below docker command replacing the username, password and secret with your preferred values, and you should be up and running.

docker run -e DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_USER=<your-username> \
 -e DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_PASSWORD=<your-password> \
 -e DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_KEY=<your-random-secret-key> \
 -v /Users/writable/host/path/pdf-library:/app/library/ \
 -v /Users/writable/host/path/user-db:/app/instance/ \
 -p 3040:5000 ghcr.io/ash0ne/docker-pdf-server:latest

You can then access the app by going to http://localhost:3040

Note: Starting the container without setting the env vars will start it with the default key, username and password

User Management

Any version after 1.4.x, the default admin user configured through env vars DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_USER and DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_PASSWORD can add additional admins, maintainers and readers

• Admin - Can add other users
• Maintainer - Cannot add users but can upload, delete files
• Reader - Can only read files

Note: Because of how Basic HTTP auth works, the only way to switch user is to close and re-open the browser. On MacOS, this means exiting the browser fully and re-opening it. If you have the user and password saved in the browser, you might also have to delete that.

Building and Running Locally for Development

• Get started by creating a python venv in this directory by running python3 -m venv venv or python -m venv venv
• Then run source venv/bin/activate on Linux/macOS.
• If on Windows, run env/Scripts/activate.bat in CMD or env/Scripts/Activate.ps1for PowerShell.
• Then run pip install -r requirements.txt
• After that, you can start your app server for development by running python3 app.py or python app.py
• If you want to build a docker image you can do so by running docker build . -t docker-pdf-server:latest

Note: The default Flask Secret Key is set to super_secret_key in the app and should be changed by setting the env var DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_KEY

Similarly, the default user is admin and can be changed by setting the env var DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_USER and the default password is password and can be changed by setting the env var DOCKER_PDF_SERVER_PASSWORD

Ideas and Enhancements

Feature development has been driven by personal use case, primarily centered around managing a few hundred PDFs for reading. However, I might think of additions that maintain the server's lightweight nature, such as a folder system etc.

Feel free to contribute or raise issues to improve the Docker PDF Server!