runabs.sh — run Audiobookshelf without Docker

A POSIX shell script that runs Audiobookshelf directly from source on macOS, Linux, BSD, or WSL2 — no Docker, no virtual machine, no container runtime required.

Two guides, depending on which path you take:

• ABS_NO_DOCKER.md — run ABS directly via runabs.sh with Node.js or Bun as the JavaScript runtime. Decision trees, per-OS prerequisites, security guidance, troubleshooting. Start here.
• ABS_APPLE_CONTAINER.md — alternative for Apple Silicon Macs: run ABS in Apple's native container CLI (each container in its own micro-VM) without needing Docker Desktop.

If you're not sure which is right for you, read the "Is this for you?" decision tree in ABS_NO_DOCKER.md first.

Distribution contents

File	What it is
runabs.sh	The script. Strict POSIX shell, runs under sh/dash/bash/posh. Self-contained.
runabs.1	Man page. Reference for every command, flag, and environment variable. After make install, view with man runabs.
Makefile	Build/install. Targets: install, uninstall, reinstall, check, lint, test, dist, help.
ABS_NO_DOCKER.md	How to run ABS directly with runabs.sh. The main guide.
ABS_APPLE_CONTAINER.md	How to run ABS in Apple's container CLI.
CHANGELOG.md	Per-release list of changes. Skim when upgrading.
LICENSE	GPL-3.0-or-later, verbatim.
SECURITY.md	Explains why the script itself is not a security risk, and why running ABS without Docker still needs thought. Start here if you're evaluating whether to trust this script.
.gitignore	Useful if you git init the extracted distribution to track local edits. Ignored by people who cloned this repo from GitHub.
README.md	This file.

Minimum steps to get started

1. Read ABS_NO_DOCKER.md first — at minimum the "Is this for you?" and "Prerequisites" sections for your OS. It also covers how to obtain the script (git / tarball / GitHub ZIP), whether you need sudo, and how to put ~/.local/bin on your PATH. This README is an index, not a tutorial.

2. Install the prerequisites for your OS as listed there (git, ffmpeg, ffprobe, and Node.js or Bun).

3. Run:

   make install
   runabs.sh foreground

   foreground is recommended for the first run so you can watch each setup step. After it's working, Ctrl+C and use:

   runabs.sh start             # daemonize
   runabs.sh status            # check it
   runabs.sh install-service   # autostart at boot/login (optional)

Before exposing to the internet

If you plan to make Audiobookshelf reachable from outside your home network, read the Internet exposure & security section of ABS_NO_DOCKER.md first. Audiobookshelf has had several CVEs (XSS, SSRF, path traversal, auth bypass); that section explains what changes between Docker, this script, and runtime choice, and what doesn't.

TL;DR: put it behind a reverse proxy you control, set a strong ABS_JWT_SECRET, and consider a VPN (Tailscale, WireGuard) instead of direct public internet exposure.

Where to look for what

Question	Look in
Docker vs. direct vs. Apple container?	ABS_NO_DOCKER.md "Is this for you?"
How do I install prereqs on my OS?	ABS_NO_DOCKER.md "Prerequisites"
What does ABS_FOO do?	man runabs or runabs.1
How do I autostart at boot?	ABS_NO_DOCKER.md "Autostart"
Bun's sqlite binding broke	ABS_NO_DOCKER.md troubleshooting
Apple Silicon ffmpeg "Bad CPU type"	ABS_NO_DOCKER.md "Apple Silicon"
WSL2-specific gotchas	ABS_NO_DOCKER.md "WSL2 notes"
Apple container runtime instead	ABS_APPLE_CONTAINER.md
What changed since I last upgraded?	CHANGELOG.md
What's the script doing right now?	runabs.sh check-config

Verifying the archive

make check    # POSIX syntax-test the script against every shell installed
make lint     # shellcheck (if installed)
make test     # check + lint

Worth running once before you trust the script.

License

GPL-3.0-or-later. Provided AS IS with no warranties. See LICENSE for the full text and the top of runabs.sh for the abbreviated notice.

Audiobookshelf itself is licensed separately by its authors. This script is independent and unaffiliated.

Reporting issues

Bugs in this script or its documentation → https://github.com/katertier/runabs/issues. Include OS, runtime (Node or Bun) and version, and the output of runabs.sh check-config if relevant.

Bugs in Audiobookshelf itself → upstream at https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues.

Security-sensitive findings: see SECURITY.md for scope, the script's security posture, and how to report privately.

Downloads

The latest release is always available at https://github.com/katertier/runabs/releases/latest. Specific historical versions are linked from CHANGELOG.md.