Cobalt

Reading

Stacks

Browse your Zotero collections, read metadata and indexed paper text, and keep papers available offline. Stacks is an unofficial client and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Zotero or the Corporation for Digital Scholarship.

Version
1.0.12
Permissions
network, frontlight-control
Requires
Cobalt 0.3.31
Install on your Kobo

Source code on GitHub

Reading a paper with structured layout and Zotero metadata on a Kobo

New in 1.0.12

Your user ID, API key and searches are typed on Cobalt's own keyboard, and the reader saves the key without the app seeing it. Connecting shows its three steps, and a QR code opens your Zotero keys page on a phone.

App setup

Before you install

  1. Set up the reader once over USB, if you have not already. kobo setup
  2. Create a dedicated Zotero API key with read-only access to your personal library. Zotero API key settings
  3. Connect Stacks from your computer. It checks the key with Zotero and fills in your numeric user ID, so nothing is typed on the reader. Open Stacks, or tap Check again. kobo connect zotero-reader
  4. Choose a collection in Stacks. Stacks reads Zotero's indexed text, without the original PDF layout.

Commands need the kobo command on macOS, Linux or Windows WSL. This installs it ready-built, without touching the reader: curl -fsSL https://bandarlabs.github.io/Cobalt/install.sh | sh -s -- --no-setup

New to Cobalt?

Install Cobalt from your browser

Plug your Kobo into this computer and install Cobalt in about a minute. After that, apps install over Wi-Fi.

Works in Chrome, Edge and Opera. Check your Kobo is supported.

Install Cobalt

Already have Cobalt?

Link your Kobo to install

On your Kobo, open App Store, tap the globe in the top bar and choose Link browser. Scan the QR code, or enter the pairing code and verification key.