THE OPEN BOOK: A DIY E-READER THAT WON A HACKADAY PRIZE
An open-source e-paper reader with a motto — 'Please steal this book.' Real KiCad/Eagle board files, a 25-minute solder-along, and no tracking.
by Joey Castillo (Oddly Specific Objects)
ElectronicsOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- CC-BY-SA-4.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE8,000 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend · CC-BY-SA-4.0 · 8,000 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
- Soldering kit + basic tools — one-time buy, serves every future build
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
We'd absolutely build this — it's one of the friendliest 'real hardware' entries we've catalogued. Joey Castillo designed an e-paper reader that respects you: no accounts, no tracking, fully open board files, and a 25-minute video where he solders the whole thing on camera with actual chapters. It won Adafruit's 'Take Flight with Feather' contest for good reason. Know the branch trick: the default branch is now a Raspberry Pi Pico design, but the famous prize-winner and all the photos are on the 'original' SAMD51 branch. This is achievable SMD soldering, not a marathon — a great third electronics project.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Two designs in one repo: 'master' = new Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040) board; 'original' branch = the SAMD51 Feather that won the contest
- —All the classic photos live on the 'original' branch
- —Firmware is a separate repo (joeycastillo/libros) for the Pico version
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Videos
Building the E-Book FeatherWing24:44
The creator solders the entire board on camera — this IS the tutorial.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the project page (the creator's own writeup)
- 2.Watch the solder-along (25 min, fully chaptered)
- 3.Pick your branch ('original' = Feather winner, 'master' = Pico)
- 4.Fab or buy the PCB (or bare PCBs on Tindie)
- 5.Flash the firmware (Pico firmware repo)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
Partner · KickstarterCORE POWER BANK S: 0.2" thin, 2.8 oz, 5000 mAh with 22.5W fast charging. Semi-solid battery, carbon fiber, IPX7 waterproof.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The default branch is the newer Pico design — the contest-winning Feather and its photos are on the 'original' branch
- Don't buy the tri-color e-paper panel — the README warns against it; you want the mono GDEW042T2 / IL0398
- This is a solder-your-own project — there's no ready-made kit sold on a crowdfunding page
Is there a kit?
Bare PCBs are sold on the creator's Tindie, and the design won an Adafruit contest, but you assemble it yourself. There was no crowdfunding campaign.
Which board should I build?
For the classic prize-winning experience, build the 'original' SAMD51 Feather branch. For the newest design, the default branch targets the Raspberry Pi Pico.
Does it run CircuitPython?
Yes — there's an official CircuitPython board definition (openbook_m4).
What does it cost?
Band $$ — the parts list has current prices; the display is the biggest single line item.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Joey Castillo's motto for this e-reader is 'Please steal this book.' Would you spend an evening soldering your own reader to escape tracking and DRM, or is that battle already lost?
Joey Castillo (Oddly Specific Objects)
Designed an e-reader that respects the reader — open files, no tracking, 'Please steal this book.' Won Adafruit's Take Flight with Feather contest and keeps rebooting the design onto newer chips.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM1mo ago
Navigation tip from our repo dive: the contest-winning SAMD51 Feather design — and all the classic photos — live on the 'original' branch, while the default branch is the newer Raspberry Pi Pico board. We'd also heed the README's warning against the tempting tri-color e-paper panel; you want the mono one. Has anyone built the Pico version yet — how does the libros firmware feel?