Are we open to alternative apps #322

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:16:37+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:37 +02:00

Originally created by @Hackmodford on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022).

Would it be okay if I made an alternative app that used Flutter instead?
Does audiobookshelf have an API?

Originally created by @Hackmodford on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022). Would it be okay if I made an alternative app that used Flutter instead? Does audiobookshelf have an API?

adam added the enhancement label 2026-04-24 23:16:37 +02:00

adam closed this issue

2026-04-24 23:16:37 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:38 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022):

Absolutely. There is an API but it isn't documented yet. I started the documentation here but haven't gotten very far and some of those objects may be a little out-of-date.

You can find all the endpoints in the code here https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/blob/master/server/routers/ApiRouter.js#L56

The endpoints around syncing playback sessions and progress may change because right now that part is messy. Especially when it comes to downloaded library items.
The CRUD endpoints for libraries, library items, users, etc. are solid though.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022): Absolutely. There is an API but it isn't documented yet. I started the documentation [here](https://api.audiobookshelf.org) but haven't gotten very far and some of those objects may be a little out-of-date. You can find all the endpoints in the code here https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/blob/master/server/routers/ApiRouter.js#L56 The endpoints around syncing playback sessions and progress may change because right now that part is messy. Especially when it comes to downloaded library items. The CRUD endpoints for libraries, library items, users, etc. are solid though.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:38 +02:00

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022):

I might play around with this.
Does the app have to be open sourced? Is there a benefit to having an alternative in your mind?

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022): I might play around with this. Does the app have to be open sourced? Is there a benefit to having an alternative in your mind?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:39 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022):

It doesn't have to be open source but since every other project for Abs is FOSS it would be preferred.
I'm not sure there is a direct benefit, but I think the more people interested in Abs the more contributors we will get and the better the software can become.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Oct 16, 2022): It doesn't have to be open source but since every other project for Abs is FOSS it would be preferred. I'm not sure there is a direct benefit, but I think the more people interested in Abs the more contributors we will get and the better the software can become.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:39 +02:00

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2022):

I found the login endpoint and was able to get my api token. I was then able to request the libraries / items / item and post the play request. Seems like I can do what I need in a flutter app :)

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2022): I found the login endpoint and was able to get my api token. I was then able to request the libraries / items / item and post the play request. Seems like I can do what I need in a flutter app :)

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:39 +02:00

@Manantra commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2022):

I found the login endpoint and was able to get my api token. I was then able to request the libraries / items / item and post the play request. Seems like I can do what I need in a flutter app :)

will you then share your app for everyone else? are you open for ios and android too?
I would love the option to choose from different apps.

@Manantra commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2022): > I found the login endpoint and was able to get my api token. I was then able to request the libraries / items / item and post the play request. Seems like I can do what I need in a flutter app :) will you then share your app for everyone else? are you open for ios and android too? I would love the option to choose from different apps.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:40 +02:00

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2022):

I found the login endpoint and was able to get my api token. I was then able to request the libraries / items / item and post the play request. Seems like I can do what I need in a flutter app :)

will you then share your app for everyone else? are you open for ios and android too? I would love the option to choose from different apps.

I’m trying to decide if this should be v2 of my app, Undulib. Or just an open source project. Since I’m leaning towards Flutter it would definitely support iOS/Android. I’m also weighing if the current app is good enough.

I’m not a fan of using web tech for apps and prefer a more native experience. But then again Flutter isn’t exactly native either. I just believe it would be more performant.

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2022): > > I found the login endpoint and was able to get my api token. I was then able to request the libraries / items / item and post the play request. Seems like I can do what I need in a flutter app :) > > will you then share your app for everyone else? are you open for ios and android too? I would love the option to choose from different apps. I’m trying to decide if this should be v2 of my app, Undulib. Or just an open source project. Since I’m leaning towards Flutter it would definitely support iOS/Android. I’m also weighing if the current app is good enough. I’m not a fan of using web tech for apps and prefer a more native experience. But then again Flutter isn’t exactly native either. I just believe it would be more performant.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:40 +02:00

@keaganhilliard commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022):

I actually have a flutter app that works with Audiobookshelf (Emby and Plex too)... I could open source it haha. It only works for audiobooks but I use it all of the time to listen to audiobooks from ABS.

@keaganhilliard commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022): I actually have a flutter app that works with Audiobookshelf (Emby and Plex too)... I could open source it haha. It only works for audiobooks but I use it all of the time to listen to audiobooks from ABS.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:40 +02:00

@Manantra commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022):

Undulib sounds nice. Would be nice to support it for ABS. But sadly I can’t install it, because it’s not supported for German App Store. Could you fix that maybe?

@Manantra commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022): > Undulib sounds nice. Would be nice to support it for ABS. But sadly I can’t install it, because it’s not supported for German App Store. Could you fix that maybe?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:40 +02:00

@Manantra commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022):

I actually have a flutter app that works with Audiobookshelf (Emby and Plex too)... I could open source it haha. It only works for audiobooks but I use it all of the time to listen to audiobooks from ABS.

Would be also nice to check this app out and test it.

@Manantra commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022): > I actually have a flutter app that works with Audiobookshelf (Emby and Plex too)... I could open source it haha. It only works for audiobooks but I use it all of the time to listen to audiobooks from ABS. Would be also nice to check this app out and test it.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:41 +02:00

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022):

Is the app available on the store?

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022): Is the app available on the store?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:41 +02:00

@keaganhilliard commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022):

No, I've been recently looking into actually publishing it, but I have not done so yet.

@keaganhilliard commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2022): No, I've been recently looking into actually publishing it, but I have not done so yet.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:41 +02:00

@k9withabone commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022):

Hello all, its nice to see that other people are also interested in creating a Flutter app for audiobookshelf. I have been thinking about doing this myself for a bit now and would love to work with others in a open source manner. Perhaps we should move this to a discussion?

@k9withabone commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022): Hello all, its nice to see that other people are also interested in creating a Flutter app for audiobookshelf. I have been thinking about doing this myself for a bit now and would love to work with others in a open source manner. Perhaps we should move this to a discussion?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:42 +02:00

@keaganhilliard commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022):

That makes sense, we could also talk about it on the discord server. I pushed up the current state of my app to this repo. https://github.com/keaganhilliard/audiobookly. Currently supports iOS, Android and Mac. Supporting Linux and windows should be more possible now that some audio libraries have surfaced.

@keaganhilliard commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022): That makes sense, we could also talk about it on the discord server. I pushed up the current state of my app to this repo. https://github.com/keaganhilliard/audiobookly. Currently supports iOS, Android and Mac. Supporting Linux and windows should be more possible now that some audio libraries have surfaced.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:42 +02:00

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022):

@keaganhilliard I just got your app to run in the simulator. It seems like a really good start. At a cursory glance the way you have architected the app seems similar to the way I would approach it. What license are you going with?

@Hackmodford commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022): @keaganhilliard I just got your app to run in the simulator. It seems like a really good start. At a cursory glance the way you have architected the app seems similar to the way I would approach it. What license are you going with?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:42 +02:00

@k9withabone commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022):

I was thinking using the discussion feature here on GitHub because then it would be easier for anyone else who finds this issue or the discussion and wants to help to see our initial thought processes. Anyway I've created a discussion (#428), but we can move to discord/matrix whenever.

@k9withabone commented on GitHub (Oct 29, 2022): I was thinking using the discussion feature here on GitHub because then it would be easier for anyone else who finds this issue or the discussion and wants to help to see our initial thought processes. Anyway I've created a discussion (#428), but we can move to discord/matrix whenever.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:16:43 +02:00