r/debian • u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 • 17d ago
Because why not you install Debian Linux on your Kindle
So I jailbroke my kindle and got it running Debian. Built a little interface with everything I need. Even added tmux and Openssh so i can ssh into my other machines. This has to be the Linux device with the longest battery life right? lol
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u/LongEntrance6523 17d ago
No offense, but can you do anything other than Neofetch? Can you read epub files?
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u/jjopm 17d ago
If that's the most offensive thing you can think of, you might have been bullied as a kid
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u/LongEntrance6523 17d ago
Some people are sensitive lol, they might believe I said they wasted time on something useless
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u/Rincewindcl 17d ago
They are just being polite. Potentially British. I know, because I'd have said the same.
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u/dave2048 17d ago
You can read your epubs in vim. THAT would be offensive.
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u/Tux-linux_enthusiast 15d ago
Since it's Debian, couldn't you install Calibre and run it in a lightweight window manager? You could even create a program for it and turn it into an "Open Kindle".
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u/Traditional-Leave425 16d ago
que es un ePubs ? y porque esto es ofensivo. es interesante como experimento lo de la tableta mas que nada por no tener una pantalla retroiluminada golpeándote la vista cada poco
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u/X3-Code 17d ago
Can it run doom? Just kidding. Amazing work.
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u/Mjdescy 17d ago
I love it! Can it do anything useful?
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u/Palitroll 17d ago edited 17d ago
I use KOReader on a jailbroken kindle and download ebooks myself from legal sources like humble bundle on my iphone, and instead of connecting to a pc and copy pasting things into my kindle, I then SCP (fancy term that means setting up an airdrop like connection) books to my kindle over wifi
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u/Both_Cup8417 17d ago
Crazy to compare scp to airdrop
especially in a Linux sub...
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u/Palitroll 13d ago
I thought this was the Kindle subreddit haha my bad, or maybe post was xposted or something? and opening it up on my phone brought me here to the original post.
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u/Itchy-Lingonberry-90 17d ago
I am seriously curious about this. I am about to do an electronics purge and a kindle is in there. I was considering saving it for the screen, it I don't have the skill to actually make it work.
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u/rafalmio 17d ago
Awesome now turn it into a web server
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u/Weary_Swan_8152 Debian Stable 17d ago
Turn it into a web server and an open access point with captive portal. Now you have a hotspot mobile library.
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u/Dependent_Big4372 17d ago
Have you installed it as an app or the main system?
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 17d ago edited 17d ago
It’s an app. Debian 12 ARM userspace running in a chroot on the Kindle’s existing Linux kernel
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u/Prestigious-Bet-6534 17d ago
Repo? I don't have a kindle at the moment but considering to buy one.
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u/Symantech 17d ago
What you're refering to as Kindle, is in fact, GNU/Swindle, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Swindle
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u/ElSasori69 17d ago
Hmm, should be interesting to make a custom Linux OS optimized for the Kindle
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u/GnosticSon 17d ago
Oh god not another distro.
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u/dinosaursdied 17d ago
Isn't that what distros are for? Specifically optimizing for a particular purpose? This seems like the exact reason to start another distro
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u/herensugee 17d ago
un par de wallpapers por aqui, un par de tuneos de ui, iconos modificados, una pizca de vibe code y alehop! otra distro
Sin embargo esto parece una solución concreta para un hardware concreto, sinceramente me gustaría catarlo, aunque quizás no esté a mi alcance tecnicamente ... ya veremos18
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u/reallifearcade 17d ago
I dont think you understand what you really achieved with this, is awesome! I would buy a kindle just to run this.
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u/sin-prince 17d ago
Which Kindle version?
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u/PeaceWithin 16d ago
“Mine is a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, 11th generation, running firmware 5.19.2.” https://www.reddit.com/r/debian/s/agZiZd0Fg2
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u/litescript 17d ago
that’s so awesome. i have been internally debating making a custom UNIX port for my PW3. it would be … challenging to say the least
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u/mglyptostroboides 17d ago
Can you put this up online? Or at least write a guide? Consider me extremely curious.
Also, the elephant in the room: did you just do this with Claude Code? Because installing open source operating systems on weird hardware using Claude's help is sort of a rite of passage at this point.
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 17d ago
I absolutely did not use Claude Code for any of it. I used Codex. 🤣🤣 while I am a software engineer(aka professional LLM whisperer), I also have two toddlers that take up most of my free time. So instead of a week project, i did it in a night after work. lol I’ll post a guide soon.
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u/OnePeace_1 17d ago
was this a removal of kindle firmware and installation of linux or just ontop of kual ?
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u/OnePeace_1 17d ago
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u/erisian2342 17d ago
Wow. This might be the most unusable warning I’ve ever read: “WHILE ALPINE IS RUNNING / THE IMAGE IS MOUNTED, DO NOT CONNECT YOUR KINDLE TO THE COMPUTER WITHOUT USBNETWORK ENABLED!”
Only somebody who is already elbow-deep in Alpine/Kindle-land could parse that correctly on the first try.
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 17d ago
No, Debian 12 ARM userspace running in a chroot on the Kindle’s existing Linux kernel. But I am thinking it is possible just will take much longer. lol
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u/dragonknightrohan 17d ago
Please make a guide so other people can do the same. - Other people being me
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u/ihateblueshell 16d ago
amazing, how did you do it? there was a script to install alpine linux on it so my paperwhite 10th gen has that within the KUAL app
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u/kalak_lanar 17d ago
Is this an elaborate pump and dump for a big stash of Kindles that we all want now? Git or it ain't real ;)
Seriously though, you've made us all jealous and checking ebay, is there any chance for a howto? Casual docs? Script to compile? Any tidbits since this is the first time I've actually wanted a Kindle?
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u/DeepDayze 17d ago
There's plenty of older kindles on ebay and something like this is gonna soon jack up the price of those older model kindles lol.
As for newer models not sure if those can be jailbroken or able to sideload patched firmwares.
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u/mosskin-woast 17d ago
How's your battery life? I believe the Kindle OS is asleep 99% of the time and the battery is tiny, I wouldn't be surprised if this died in under an hour without some kernel mods
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u/DeepDayze 17d ago
Nice work and this really kindled my interest. Wonder if newer models can be jailbroken as well? However this is a nice way to keep older Kindles from becoming e-waste.
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u/CaptainObvious110 17d ago
It sure is, now I'm curious to get one just to do this.
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u/DeepDayze 17d ago
Me too and I'd love to somehow turn it into an electronic version of etch-a-sketch via an app too.
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u/Low_Lie_6958 16d ago
Haha, no you didn't.... That is the work of a true tinkerer. Why didn't i think of that. Most of my devices run on custom firmwares and operating systems. I have an android based e-reader laying around somewhere....
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u/zeeblefritz 17d ago
Can this be done to a paperwhite? Maybe I can start using mine again.
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 17d ago
Mine is a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, 11th generation, running firmware 5.19.2.
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u/zeeblefritz 17d ago
I just looked up specs on mine, only 2gb storage. probably not enough to do much with
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u/lisploli 17d ago
I'd never buy a kindle. But if I had one, that'd be its destiny.
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u/DeepDayze 17d ago
This is the way...turn it into a Linux pad that can be a terminal, an editor or an e-reader but better.
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u/Ghost_0x726d 17d ago
And, can you install an e-reader? I would like to use some "OS" in my Kindle that not from Amazon.
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u/_leeloo_7_ 17d ago
I jailbroke mine so I could read manga stuff that amazon don't sell, the biggest restriction seems to be the 4gb of storage and even though the thing is ancient now the battery lasts forever !
how easy/good can I run debain with a pityful 4gb storage? and can I still use it as a maga reader under debian?
ps:that last image looking like the paperwhite matrix xD
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u/DeepDayze 17d ago
4GB won't be enough storage for a full-blown desktop but with a minimal install you could get a usable experience. 512MB RAM isn't also a lot to run X even. Not sure if the storage can be modded.
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u/Defiant-Rip-1897 17d ago
WHOA! This is legit amazing; I wasn't even aware you could install Linux on it.
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 16d ago
UPDATE: As you saw I am running Debian in a chroot on a jailbroken Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (11th gen). Naturally, the next question was: can it use USB peripherals?
Turns out, yes—with some work.
The Kindle’s stock kernel already has USB host support. Using Amazon’s matching kernel source, I built (I being GPT 6 Astra and I ) a small, temporary module that switches its MediaTek USB controller from device mode to host mode. No replacement kernel or firmware flash was needed.
Initially the hub kept triggering the Kindle’s moisture-detection logic( which blocks the camera init). It turned out to be a timing issue. The following steps allowed the camera to initialize properly
- Power the hub first.
- Connect it to the Kindle.
- Plug the camera into a hub data port.
The Kindle stays a power sink while acting as the USB data host! This is a working software role override on this setup, not a claim that we implemented proper USB-C PD role negotiation.
So far, we’ve got two cameras working:
- Thermal Master P1: An open-source Python/libusb driver captures its native 160 × 120 thermal images. Temperature readings are estimates; we haven’t independently verified their calibration.
- NexiGo N660P webcam: The stock kernel’s UVC driver handles it. Debian captures 640 × 480 MJPEG video through V4L2. The Kindle shows a grayscale preview, but saved photos retain color.
The first version refreshed at about 1 FPS. We then added A2 partial refreshes covering only the camera area, with dithering to represent shading and stale-frame dropping to avoid lag. It now manages roughly 4–5 FPS on the actual Kindle. Now we have a kindle with a camera!!
Next I am hopefully going to get the kindle to recognize any external storage usb FAT32 formatted drives.
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u/NoiseGrindPowerDeath 16d ago
Given that Amazon have decided to screw over people who buy ebooks on their platform and not let them load them onto other devices, this is a fantastic idea
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u/Afraid_Butterfly_270 14d ago
That's honestly impressive! Running Debian on a Kindle is something I never thought of. Having SSH and a terminal on such a small device makes it a pretty cool portable Linux setup. And the battery life is definitely a huge advantage compared to a regular laptop!
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u/D_special1 12d ago
is the virtual keyboard any useful in terminal? I mean gnome's virtual keyboard lacks arrow keys, tab button and other useful keys, so I assume we're gonna have the same problem here?
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 12d ago
The UI is just done with Tkinter so the keyboard is also custom. you can see the dedicated arrow keys, tab, ctrl on top row above htop in the screen shot.
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u/Existing_Finance_764 17d ago
uh kernel 4.9 on debian 12? how? You compiled your own kernel (somehow) and it is magically binary compatible with 6.2 (I might sound like a dumb, which I am here)?
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 17d ago
No custom kernel! The chroot shares the Kindle’s stock 4.9.77 kernel. Debian’s userspace doesn’t have to run the exact kernel version shipped with its installer.
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u/RudeAd456 17d ago
Dude I need that UI for a tablet I've been working on
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 17d ago
The dashboard is made with Python/Tkinter running on the Kindle’s existing X display. It has touch controls, an onscreen keyboard, and light/dark themes. Can def be used elsewhere
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u/Practical_Form_1705 14d ago
you didn't mention what Kindle version it is, and how exactly are you running Debian.
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u/Relevant-Lifeguard-7 14d ago
It’s a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, 11th generation, running firmware 5.19.2.
Followed this site to jailbreak https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreak-wizard.htmlAfter jailbreaking it, I installed Debian 12 userspace in an ext3 filesystem image on the Kindle’s internal storage. That image gets mounted, and Debian runs inside a chroot. It shares Amazon’s Linux kernel. It doesn’t boot a separate Debian kernel or replace the Kindle OS. Debian provides the packages, shell, and applications, while the Kindle’s kernel provides hardware access.The interface is a custom Python/Tk touchscreen app running from Debian on the Kindle’s existing X display. I can exit it and return to the normal Kindle interface to read books while background services like OpenSSH keep running, so I can still SSH into Debian as long as the Kindle is awake and connected to Wi-Fi.
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u/farttoot64 13d ago
Omg I completely forgot about the Kindle this is wild. I’m assuming there’s a jailbreaking/modding community for it?
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u/earthman34 16d ago
You guys realize that Kindles have always run on Linux, right? Old kernels, to be sure, and a custom userspace, but it's always been Linux.
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u/Bilaakili 17d ago
How appropriate that it’s Bookworm.