BookCrafter

Python-based book production system for creating professional PDF and EPUB books from Markdown.

Features

• PDF Generation — WeasyPrint with CSS Paged Media (dot-leader TOCs, running headers, page counters)
• EPUB3 Generation — Valid e-books with embedded fonts
• 4-File Structure — FrontMatter.md, Content.md, Backmatter.md, Decisions.md
• Typography System — 11+ font pairs, 5 density presets, smart quotes/dashes
• Print-on-Demand — Lulu and Pumbo specifications built-in
• Quality Checks — Pagination analysis for widows/orphans, preflight validation

Installation

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/bookcrafter.git
cd bookcrafter
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

Quick Start

1. Create an instance for your book:

mkdir -p instances/my-book/content instances/my-book/styles instances/my-book/output

2. Copy and edit the sample files:

cp content/*.md instances/my-book/content/
cp book_config.py instances/my-book/

3. Edit instances/my-book/book_config.py with your book's metadata.

4. Build:

python build.py build -i my-book -f pdf
python build.py build -i my-book -f epub
python build.py build -i my-book -f all

Commands

# Build
python build.py build -i <instance> -f pdf|epub|html|all|screen

# With platform specs
python build.py build -i <instance> -t lulu:paperback_6x9_bw
python build.py build -i <instance> -t pumbo:a5_paperback_roman

# With typography
python build.py build -i <instance> -y playfair-lora:relaxed

# Quality checks
python build.py check -i <instance>
python build.py preflight -i <instance>

# Preview
python build.py preview -i <instance>
python build.py watch -i <instance>

# List available options
python build.py instances
python build.py lulu-products
python build.py pumbo-products
python build.py typography-fonts
python build.py typography-densities

Project Structure

bookcrafter/
├── build.py              # Main CLI
├── book_config.py        # Default config template
├── content/              # Sample content files
├── styles/
│   ├── base.css          # Core typography
│   └── brand.css         # Default colors/fonts
├── fonts/                # Embedded fonts
├── instances/            # Your book projects (gitignored)
│   └── my-book/
│       ├── book_config.py
│       ├── content/
│       ├── styles/
│       │   └── brand.css # Color overrides
│       ├── assets/
│       └── output/       # Built files
└── tools/                # Quality checkers

Content Structure

FrontMatter.md

# cover
::title:: Your Book Title
::subtitle:: A Subtitle
::author:: Author Name

# title-page
::title:: Your Book Title
...

# copyright
Copyright text...

# dedication
*For someone special.*

# toc

Content.md

# Part I: Introduction

## Chapter 1: Getting Started

Your content here...

## Chapter 2: Next Chapter

Backmatter.md

# bibliography
## References
...

# about-author
## About the Author
...

Typography Presets

Font Pair	Style
playfair-lora	Classic serif
merriweather-lato	Modern mixed
inter-source-sans	Clean sans
libre-baskerville-crimson	Traditional

Density: tight, snug, normal, relaxed, loose

Usage: -y playfair-lora:relaxed

License

MIT