Stringer

Stringer is an open-source, self-hosted RSS reader designed for privacy and simplicity. It functions as a web application that aggregates news feeds without utilizing social recommendations, sharing features, or tracking algorithms. The software allows users to maintain full control over their data and feed subscriptions by hosting the service on their own hardware or cloud environment.

Users deploy the application on their own infrastructure, such as a Linux-based VPS, Docker, OpenShift, or Heroku. The software provides a clean interface for managing and reading feeds through a web browser, focusing on a distraction-free experience. It is designed to run on basic hosting plans, including the Eco and Basic tiers of Heroku, making it accessible for users with limited server resources.

Key features

• Implementation of the Fever API for compatibility with mobile clients
• Keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation accessible via the question mark key
• Support for multiple languages via locale environment variables
• Automated cleanup of read stories older than 30 days
• Integration with feedjira and feedbag for feed processing
• Deployment options for Docker, OpenShift, and Heroku
• Ability to use custom domains via CNAME records on Heroku

The application is built using the Ruby on Rails framework and utilizes PostgreSQL for data storage. It employs Hotwire, specifically Turbo and Stimulus, for its frontend interactivity and GoodJob for background task management. The user interface is styled with Bootstrap and Flat UI, and it uses the ReenieBeanie and Lato fonts. For developers, the project includes a comprehensive testing suite utilizing RSpec for Ruby and Vitest for JavaScript, alongside linting tools like RuboCop and ESLint to maintain code quality.

Stringer is intended for users who want a private, self-managed way to consume RSS feeds without external dependencies or algorithmic curation.