I used to adore the Feedbro extension for Firefox - until I learned that browser extensions are a privacy concern and stopped using them. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find anything similar for the Linux desktop. I just can’t seem to find the ‘sweet spot’ with all the readers I’ve tried. Some are bloated with features and complicated configurations that I will never use. Others are too simplistic. Still others haven’t seen an update in years. I feel like this is an impossible quest.

The readers I have tried (and discarded):

  • Liferea
  • RSS Guard
  • News Flash
  • Feeds
  • Feed Deck
  • Feed Flow
  • Akregator
  • Thunderbird
  • Raven Reader

Here are the features I need:

  • FOSS (obviously)
  • Import/export OPML
  • Scale the size of the UI and all text elements
  • RSS feed discovery
  • Fetch full articles
  • Configure update interval
  • Privacy-conscious
  • Desktop only (I am currently unable to self-host)

Things that would be nice, but I can live without if I have to:

  • Dark mode
  • An uncluttered, two-column display

That’s about it. Now tell me that I am asking too much and there’s no hope for me. :D

  • Not a newt@piefed.caEnglish
    2·
    2 hours ago

    I use Fluent Reader. It supports several view modes, and has lots of convenience features.

    • Evkob (they/them)@lemmy.ca
      1·
      16 minutes ago

      Fluent Reader was my stopping point when looking for a good desktop RSS reader. I’d rather a non-Electron-based app, but hey, non-programmers beggars can’t be choosers.

  • elmicha@feddit.org
    4·
    4 hours ago

    If your desktop is not very old with very little RAM, you could self-host FreshRSS on your desktop.

  • fratermus@piefed.socialEnglish
    4·
    4 hours ago

    I’m replying here in good faith that this isn’t a bottomless Yes, but scenario.

    Now tell me that I am asking too much and there’s no hope for me.

    There’s plenty of hope if one is willing to fork and modify a FOSS server or client. Make it look and act exactly like you want.

    browser extensions are a privacy concern and stopped using them

    I think this concern is overstated in an RSS context for anonymous (no sign-in) feeds.

    • CptHacke@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Not meaning to ‘yes, but’ you…but… :D

      1. You’re assuming that I know how to code. :)
      2. I think the privacy concerns are from third parties somehow being able to use browser extensions to read the contents of whatever other tabs one has open. At least that’s what I’ve read.
  • Powderhorn@beehaw.orgEnglish
    2·
    4 hours ago

    Extensions are not, themselves, security risks. If it’s FOSS, you can see what they’re doing in the code.

  • everett@lemmy.ml
    1·
    4 hours ago

    Depending on what’s keeping you from self-hosting, running a server-based reader right there on your desktop could be an option. Also, maintaining a separate browser profile just for FeedBro is easy, if you don’t trust it for whatever reason.