# Deploy OpenReader (Slim) with Easypanel

URL: /templates/openreader-slim

OpenReader is an open-source, self-host-friendly text-to-speech document reader built with Next.js. It supports EPUB, PDF, TXT, MD, and DOCX with multilingual, synchronized read-along playback. Features include layout-aware PDF parsing with PP-DocLayoutV3 (ONNX), word-by-word highlighting via ONNX Whisper alignment, segment-based read-along with cached audio, multi-provider TTS support (self-hosted and cloud), audiobook export in m4b/mp3, and flexible storage backends. The slim variant bundles the Kokoro-FastAPI CPU TTS engine for fully local text-to-speech without external API keys.

## Installation notes

After deployment, open the web UI at your configured domain. On first access you will be prompted to set up an account using the AUTH_SECRET you provided. The Kokoro TTS service starts automatically alongside the reader — allow a minute for the model to load before playing audio.

## Benefits

### Fully Local Text-to-Speech

The slim variant ships with Kokoro-FastAPI on CPU so you get high-quality TTS narration without sending your documents to any external API. Your content stays entirely on your own server.

### Read-Along Synchronization

Word-by-word and sentence-level highlighting keeps pace with the audio playback, making it easy to follow along with complex documents at any reading speed.

### Broad Document Support

Upload EPUB, PDF, TXT, Markdown, and DOCX files. Layout-aware PDF parsing detects headings, paragraphs, and columns so reading order is always correct.

## Features

### Kokoro TTS Engine

Powered by the Kokoro-82M model running via ONNX on CPU, delivering natural-sounding narration without a GPU or cloud subscription.

### Audiobook Export

Export any document as an m4b or mp3 audiobook with resumable chapter processing, ready for playback in any podcast or audiobook app.

### Multi-Provider TTS

Add cloud TTS providers (OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Deepgram, and more) alongside the local Kokoro engine via the provider settings screen.

### Device Sync and Library

Built-in document library with server-side storage and device sync so your reading progress follows you across browsers and devices.

## Configuration

- `appServiceName` (App Service Name, required): openreader-slim

- `appServiceImage` (OpenReader Image, required): ghcr.io/richardr1126/openreader:v4.3.0

- `kokoroServiceImage` (Kokoro TTS Image, required): ghcr.io/remsky/kokoro-fastapi-cpu:v0.2.4

- `s3ServiceImage` (S3 Storage Image, required): minio/minio:RELEASE.2025-09-07T16-13-09Z

## Services

- openreader-slim: app (ghcr.io/richardr1126/openreader:v4.3.0)

- openreader-slim-kokoro: app (ghcr.io/remsky/kokoro-fastapi-cpu:v0.2.4)

- openreader-slim-s3: app (minio/minio:RELEASE.2025-09-07T16-13-09Z)

## Resources

- [Website](https://openreader.richardr.dev)

- [Github](https://github.com/richardr1126/openreader)

- [Documentation](https://docs.openreader.richardr.dev)

- [Template source](https://github.com/easypanel-io/templates/tree/main/templates/openreader-slim)