Kobo can run apps now
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Cobalt is an open-source platform letting Kobo e-readers run third-party apps over Wi-Fi.
Cobalt is an open-source application platform for Kobo Clara BW (N365) e-readers. It provides a launcher, signed App Store, Rust SDK, and runtime that runs each app in its own unprivileged process. Apps are static ARM binaries installed over Wi-Fi after a one-time USB setup. A reboot returns to the stock Kobo reader. Bundled apps include arXiv, Hacker News, Sudoku, Feeds, Terminal, and a Sidekick for coding agents. Only the Clara BW has been hardware-tested. Cobalt is not affiliated with Rakuten Kobo.
What commenters are saying
Envy from Kindle owners is a major sentiment; many suggest jailbreaking or using KOReader for similar functionality. A vocal minority prefers their e-reader as a distraction-free appliance, calling the added complexity a downside. Some commenters suspect the project was vibe-coded (AI-generated), citing LLM-like phrasing and the git log, raising concerns about long-term maintenance. There is curiosity about support for other models (Clara Colour, Libra, Tolino), and calls for practical integrations like Zotero.