Suwayomi — Self-Hosted Manga Reader Server

Introduction

Suwayomi (formerly Tachidesk) is a self-hosted manga reader server that brings Tachiyomi's extension ecosystem to the desktop and web. It runs as a server process and serves manga through a browser-based UI or dedicated client apps, centralizing your library on one machine.

What Suwayomi Does

• Hosts a manga reading server accessible from any web browser
• Supports Tachiyomi-compatible extensions for hundreds of manga sources
• Tracks reading progress, bookmarks, and library organization
• Downloads chapters for offline reading on the server
• Syncs reading state across multiple client devices

Architecture Overview

Suwayomi is a Kotlin/JVM application that loads Tachiyomi extension APKs to fetch manga metadata and pages from upstream sources. It exposes a GraphQL API consumed by the built-in web UI or third-party clients. Data is stored locally in a SQLite database, and downloaded chapters are saved as image files on disk.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy via Docker using the official container image
• Mount a persistent volume for library data and downloaded chapters
• Access the web UI at port 4567 and install desired extensions
• Configure download location, update schedules, and authentication
• Optionally pair with Suwayomi clients on Android, iOS, or desktop

Key Features

• Full compatibility with the Tachiyomi extension ecosystem
• Browser-based reader with customizable reading modes
• Automatic chapter update checking on a configurable schedule
• Multi-user support for shared household servers
• GraphQL API for building custom clients and integrations

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Tachiyomi — Android-only app; Suwayomi runs as a server for any platform
• Komga — comic/manga server for local files; Suwayomi fetches from online sources
• Kavita — self-hosted reading server for local libraries; Suwayomi focuses on source-based browsing
• Paperback — iOS manga reader; Suwayomi is platform-agnostic via browser

FAQ

Q: Is Suwayomi legal to use? A: Suwayomi is an open-source reader. Legality depends on the content sources and your local laws.

Q: Can I migrate from Tachiyomi? A: Yes, Suwayomi supports importing Tachiyomi backup files to transfer your library and progress.

Q: Does it support reading local manga files? A: Yes, you can add local directories containing CBZ, CBR, or image folders to your library.

Q: What clients work with Suwayomi? A: The built-in web UI works in any browser. Dedicated clients exist for Android (Tachiyomi-compatible) and desktop.

Sources

• https://github.com/Suwayomi/Suwayomi-Server
• https://suwayomi.org