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yaoyao2mm/cheatreader

A floating desktop reader that keeps local books visible in a screen corner, with a transparent text-only mode for low-distraction reading.

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What is it?

CheatReader is a small desktop reader built with Flutter that keeps text floating at the edge of your workspace while you work in other apps. Its transparent text-only mode lets the window blend into the desktop, and it offers compact single-line and multi-line modes that you can switch via double click, middle click, or a keyboard shortcut.

The app opens local files in txt, epub, html, markdown, fb2, docx, and pdf formats, converting them into plain readable text. It supports jumping by line, page, or percentage, text search with next and previous match navigation, custom fonts, and adjustable line spacing and reading width. A system-wide boss key hides and restores the reader on Windows, macOS, and Linux X11 without losing reading position.

It is aimed at developers and readers who want a quiet reading window next to their editor or browser rather than a full library app. The project is licensed for non-commercial use only, and it only handles local files, not URLs or online sources.

Key features

  • 01Transparent text-only mode that blends the reader into the desktop
  • 02Single-line and multi-line compact reading modes
  • 03Mode switching by double click, middle click, or keyboard shortcut
  • 04Reads txt, epub, html, markdown, fb2, docx, and pdf files as plain text
  • 05Jump by line, page, or percentage, plus text search with match navigation
  • 06Global boss key to hide and restore the reader on Windows, macOS, and Linux X11

Use cases

  • Reading a book in a corner of the screen while coding or writing
  • Keeping reference notes or documentation visible during long sessions
  • Reading local ebooks on macOS, Windows, or Linux without a full library app

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install dependencies

    flutter pub get
  2. 2

    Run on macOS

    flutter run -d macos

Things to know

  • Non-commercial license: commercial use requires prior written permission from the copyright holder.
  • Requires Flutter to build and run from source.
  • PDF and layout-heavy formats are extracted as text and may read imperfectly.
  • Linux global boss-key only works on X11; Wayland users have limited shortcut support.

Topics

#desktop#reader#flutter#epub#markdown#pdf#macos

FAQ

What is cheatreader?
A floating desktop reader that keeps local books visible in a screen corner, with a transparent text-only mode for low-distraction reading. CheatReader is a small desktop reader built with Flutter that keeps text floating at the edge of your workspace while you work in other apps. Its transparent text-only mode lets the window blend into the desktop, and it offers compact single-line and multi-line modes that you can switch via double click, middle click, or a keyboard shortcut.
Is cheatreader free to use? What license does it have?
cheatreader is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is cheatreader still maintained?
Updated within 6 months. The last commit to cheatreader was on Sep 9, 2026.
What can I use cheatreader for?
Reading a book in a corner of the screen while coding or writing Keeping reference notes or documentation visible during long sessions Reading local ebooks on macOS, Windows, or Linux without a full library app
How do I install cheatreader?
Install dependencies: flutter pub get Run on macOS: flutter run -d macos
Where can I get cheatreader?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/yaoyao2mm/cheatreader

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