First Setup

When launching Rodel Reader for the first time, you need to complete library configuration before entering the main interface.

Step 1: Choose Library

The welcome page appears on first launch, where you need to select a library directory:

Option	Description
Open Existing Library	Select an existing library directory (must contain `registry.db` file)
Create New Library	Select an empty folder as a new library

Note

When opening an existing library, the directory must contain a valid registry.db file
When creating a new library, the selected folder must be empty

Step 2: Create First Service

After library configuration, if it's a new library (or the library has no services), a service selection dialog appears:

Rodel Reader supports four service types:

Service	Supported Formats	Use Cases
Books	EPUB, PDF, Mobi, FB2, TXT, etc.	E-book reading and management
Comics	CBZ, CBR, ZIP, image folders	Comic reading and management
Aggregator	RSS, Atom	Feed management and reading
Podcasts	Podcast RSS	Podcast subscription and listening

Select your most frequently used service type and click confirm.

Step 3: Name the Service

Enter a name for the newly created service:

The service name is used to distinguish different service instances in the sidebar. You can name it based on purpose, for example:

"Tech Books", "Novels"
"Japanese Comics", "American Comics"
"Tech News", "News Feeds"

After completing these steps, you'll enter the main interface and can start using Rodel Reader.

Library Directory Structure

After library creation, the following structure is automatically generated:

Library Directory/
├── registry.db              # Service registry (core file)
├── secrets.db               # Secret storage (API credentials, etc.)
├── Books/
│   └── <ServiceID>/
│       ├── books.db         # Book metadata
│       ├── covers/          # Cover images
│       └── files/           # Book files
├── Mangas/
│   └── <ServiceID>/
│       ├── mangas.db        # Comic metadata
│       ├── covers/          # Cover images
│       └── files/           # Comic files
└── Aggregator/
    └── <ServiceID>/
        ├── registry.db      # Data source registry
        └── datasources/     # Storage for each data source

Tip

Books and Comics services each have independent storage directories
Aggregator and Podcasts services share the Aggregator directory, managed by the same storage provider
Each service instance has its own subdirectory, data is isolated

Adding More Services

After initial setup, you can add more services at any time:

Click the service switcher in the sidebar header
Click the Add button at the bottom of the service list
Select service type and name it

Switching Libraries

If you need to switch to another library (or reselect library directory):

Go to Settings → Storage
Click Switch Library
The app will return to the startup page to reselect library

Next Steps

After configuration, continue reading the corresponding module documentation based on the service type you created:

Books Module - E-book management and reading
Comics Module - Comic management and reading
RSS Module - Feed management
Podcasts Module - Podcast subscription and listening