How to customize the look of Bubo Reader?

Edit the Nunjucks template in config/template.html and the CSS in public/style.css. The project uses standard web technologies, so you can modify HTML/CSS directly for full design control.

Bubo Reader vs FreshRSS: which should I use?

Bubo Reader is a static, minimalist tool ideal for simple self-hosting with no database. FreshRSS is a full-featured web-based reader with more capabilities like filtering and APIs. Choose Bubo for simplicity and control, FreshRSS for advanced features.

How to keep feeds updated automatically on Netlify?

Set up a Netlify build hook and use an external service like IFTTT or EasyCron to ping it periodically, as described in the README. This triggers rebuilds to fetch new content without manual intervention.

Does Bubo Reader support OPML import?

No, it doesn't support OPML import; you must manually add feed URLs to the feeds.json file. This is a drawback if you're migrating from another reader with many feeds.

Can I use Bubo Reader on a shared hosting without Node.js?

Not directly; you need Node.js to run the build process locally or on a server. However, after building, you can upload the static HTML/CSS files to any web host, but updates require re-running the build script.

How to add or remove categories in Bubo Reader?

Edit the conf/feeds.json file to define categories and assign feed URLs. Each category is a key in the JSON object, making it simple to organize feeds, but changes require manual file edits.

Open-Awesome

Bubo Reader

MITTypeScriptv2.0.2Self-Hosted

A hyper-minimalist static feed reader (RSS, Atom, JSON) you can deploy on Netlify or your own server.

Visit Website GitHub

230 stars55 forks0 contributors

What is Bubo Reader?

Bubo Reader is a static feed reader that fetches content from RSS, Atom, and JSON feeds and generates a simple, self-hosted webpage listing the latest links. It solves the problem of relying on external feed reader services by giving users complete control over their feed aggregation and presentation. The project emphasizes minimalism and ease of deployment, with support for platforms like Netlify.

Target Audience

Developers and tech-savvy users who want a lightweight, self-hosted RSS reader they can fully customize and deploy on their own infrastructure.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Bubo Reader for its extreme simplicity, static output, and avoidance of feature bloat. It offers a transparent, hackable alternative to cloud-based feed readers, with no tracking or external dependencies.

Overview

An irrationally minimalist, static feed reader (RSS, Atom, JSON) you can instantly deploy on Netlify, Glitch or your own server.

Use Cases

Best For

Creating a personal, self-hosted RSS reader dashboard
Deploying a static feed aggregator on Netlify with minimal configuration
Building a customizable feed reader with your own HTML/CSS templates
Learning how static site generators work with real-time data fetching
Hosting a lightweight feed reader on a low-resource server or VPS
Avoiding third-party feed reader services and maintaining data ownership

Not Ideal For

Users wanting real-time feed updates without manual rebuilds or external scheduling
Teams needing collaborative features like shared feeds, user accounts, or multi-device sync
Projects requiring advanced RSS reader capabilities such as search, filtering, or read/unread tracking

Pros & Cons

Pros

Static Simplicity

Generates plain HTML files that can be hosted on any web server, eliminating server-side dependencies and ensuring fast, reliable serving from platforms like Netlify.

Template Customization

Uses Nunjucks templating, allowing users to fully control feed display by editing the config/template.html file, as shown in the README's anatomy section.

Easy Netlify Deployment

Designed for one-click deployment on Netlify with a pre-configured netlify.toml file, making setup straightforward for static hosting.

Category Organization

Groups feeds into categories defined in a simple JSON configuration file (conf/feeds.json), enabling clean, organized link listings without complex setup.

Cons

Manual Update Process

Feeds only update when the build script runs, requiring external cron jobs or webhooks for automation—a limitation the README admits with suggestions for services like IFTTT.

Limited Feature Set

Lacks common feed reader features such as OPML import/export, search functionality, or read status tracking, focusing solely on minimal link aggregation.

Technical Barrier

Requires editing JSON files and understanding static site deployment, which may be challenging for non-developers seeking a plug-and-play solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

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