Reader Digest

Reader Digest is a local-first OpenClaw/Codex plugin for turning queued links and local Markdown into polished EPUB reading bundles, then optionally emailing the EPUB to a Kindle address.

It is designed to work three ways:

• Plugin SQLite: ships with its own queue and digest-run database.
• External SQLite: can write to a compatible external database, including a Personal Database schema with entities, sources, library_items, digests, and digest_items.
• Manifest only: writes JSON manifests and EPUB files without database state.

Email delivery is built in, but guarded. The CLI never sends mail unless --confirm-send is present, and --dry-run always suppresses delivery.

Install

From the plugin directory:

chmod +x scripts/reader_digest.py
chmod +x bin/reader-digest
scripts/reader_digest.py init

For a shell alias:

alias reader-digest="/path/to/plugins/reader-digest/bin/reader-digest"

Optional tools:

• percollate: improves public URL extraction.
• himalaya: optional SMTP/profile integration and newsletter collection.

CLI

Initialize local storage:

reader-digest init

Queue a URL for today:

reader-digest queue https://example.com/article --title "Article Title"

Queue a local Markdown capture:

reader-digest queue https://x.com/some/post --title "Thread capture" --file ./captures/thread.md --build-mode local

List queued items:

reader-digest queue list

Prepare a manifest:

reader-digest prepare 2026-05-26

Build and QA:

reader-digest build 2026-05-26
reader-digest qa 2026-05-26

Send to Kindle after QA:

reader-digest send 2026-05-26 --to your-kindle@example.com --confirm-send

Full run:

reader-digest run 2026-05-26 --send --to your-kindle@example.com --confirm-send

Dry run delivery:

reader-digest --dry-run run 2026-05-26 --send --to your-kindle@example.com --confirm-send

Config

Default config path:

~/.local/share/openclaw-reader-digest/config.json

Example:

{
  "workspace": "/Users/me/reader-digest",
  "storageMode": "plugin-sqlite",
  "dbPath": "/Users/me/reader-digest/reader_digest.sqlite",
  "kindleEmail": "name_123@kindle.com",
  "newsletter": {
    "account": "icloud",
    "toAddress": "newsletters@example.com"
  }
}

SMTP can be provided through environment variables:

• READER_DIGEST_SMTP_HOST
• READER_DIGEST_SMTP_PORT
• READER_DIGEST_SMTP_USER
• READER_DIGEST_SMTP_PASSWORD
• READER_DIGEST_SMTP_FROM
• READER_DIGEST_KINDLE_EMAIL

The CLI can also try --smtp-profile himalaya if a local Himalaya config exists.

OpenClaw Slash Command

The companion skill implements the expected direct-chat behavior:

• /digest queues the URL for the next digest.
• On success, react with a thumbs-up and stay silent.
• If a site is likely blocked or authenticated, save a local Markdown chapter and queue it with --file and --build-mode local.
• Errors should be sent as concise messages.

EPUB Quality Gate

reader-digest qa checks:

• EPUB zip integrity.
• mimetype is first.
• nav TOC exists.
• first page contents are in the spine.
• cover metadata and image exist.
• no visible paragraph markers.
• no long visible source URLs in reading text.

Public Plugin Rules

This plugin must not hardcode private paths, email addresses, Kindle addresses, or account names. Keep those in config, environment variables, or the host OpenClaw installation.