Introduction

miniflux/miniflux is a minimalist and lightweight feed reader designed for simplicity and efficiency. Perfect for beginners, it offers a clean interface optimized for readability and ease of use. With no complex features or unnecessary bloat, Miniflux focuses on the essentials—making it an ideal choice for those who want a straightforward way to manage their feeds.

One of the standout features is its speed and efficiency, allowing users to quickly scan through unread items using keyboard shortcuts. Additionally, Miniflux prioritizes user privacy by not reselling data or tracking usage. It also eliminates ads and third-party tracking, ensuring a seamless experience without external intrusions.

Installing Miniflux with Docker is straightforward and hassle-free. The lightweight nature of the application makes it easy to set up on any server with minimal setup required. Whether you’re looking for a simple way to manage your RSS feeds or just need a lean feed reader, miniflux/miniflux provides a perfect solution.

Uses and Benefits

Primary Use Cases

1. Personal Feed Reader: Miniflux in Docker is ideal for individuals who want a lightweight, self-hosted feed reader to manage their RSS subscriptions.
2. Lightweight Setup: Suitable for those looking for minimalistic software that doesn’t require complex configurations or backend services.

Benefits

• Simplicity and Readability: The application is designed with simplicity in mind, ensuring easy navigation and focus on content readability.
• Privacy Focus: Miniflux guarantees no tracking of user data, providing a secure environment for personal use.
• Efficiency: The lightweight user interface and keyboard shortcuts enhance productivity, making it quick to scan through unread items.
• Free and Open Source: Being open source, users can audit the code, modify it according to their needs, or contribute to its development.
• Docker Integration: Dockerizing Miniflux simplifies deployment across various environments, ensuring consistent behavior regardless of hosting conditions.

Docker Setup

Miniflux can be easily set up in Docker, making it accessible and convenient to run. Follow these steps for a smooth setup.

Step 1: Pull the Miniflux Docker Image

First, ensure you have Docker installed on your system. Then, pull the latest Miniflux Docker image using:

docker pull miniflux/miniflux

Step 2: Run Miniflux with Docker

To run Miniflux in a container, use the following command. This example maps port 80 of the host to 8080 inside the container and mounts a volume for configuration persistence.

docker run -d --name miniflux \
  -p 80:8080 \
  -v /path/to/miniflux/config:/app/config \
  -e MINIFLUX_USERNAME="your-username" \
  -e MINIFLUX_PASSWORD="your-password" \
  miniflux/miniflux

Step 3: Access Miniflux

Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080 (or your host’s IP address if you are accessing from another machine). You should see the Miniflux login page. Use the username and password you set in the environment variables.

Tips for Common Issues:

• Port Conflicts: If port 80 or 8080 is already in use, change the mapped port using -p <host-port>:<container-port>.

• Persistent Data: Ensure your configuration volume is properly mounted to keep settings across container restarts.

• Environment Variables: Customize environment variables like MINIFLUX_USERNAME and MINIFLUX_PASSWORD for better security practices. Consider setting them in a .env file and using Docker Compose for easier management.

By following these steps, you can quickly get Miniflux up and running in a Docker container. Enjoy the simplicity and efficiency of your feed reader!

Security Essentials

When running Miniflux in Docker, it’s crucial to implement essential security measures to protect your feed reader setup:

1. Use Official Docker Image

Always use the official miniflux/miniflux Docker image from the GitHub repository. This ensures you are running a secure and up-to-date version of Miniflux.

2. Update Configuration Securely

• Environment Variables: Set environment variables securely, such as MINIFLUX_PASSWORD, to protect your Miniflux instance.
• Configuration File: Use the Docker volume feature to mount a configuration file from your host machine:

  docker run -d \
    --name miniflux \
    -e MINIFLUX_PASSWORD=your_password \
    -v /path/to/config:/app/config \
    miniflux/miniflux

3. Secure Network Access

• Use HTTPS: Miniflux supports HTTPS for secure communication. Configure a reverse proxy like Nginx to handle SSL termination:

  server {
      listen 443 ssl;
      server_name your_domain.com;
  
      # SSL configuration
      ssl_certificate /path/to/cert.pem;
      ssl_certificate_key /path/to/key.pem;
  
      location / {
          proxy_pass http://miniflux:80;
          proxy_set_header Host $host;
          proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
      }
  }

4. Limit Access with Authentication

• Basic Auth: Use HTTP Basic authentication to secure access:

  docker run -d \
    --name miniflux \
    -e MINIFLUX_PASSWORD=your_password \
    -p 80:80 \
    -v /path/to/config:/app/config \
    -v /etc/nginx/conf.d:/etc/nginx/conf.d \
    miniflux/miniflux

5. Regularly Update and Patch

• Automated Updates: Utilize Docker Compose or Docker Swarm for automated updates to ensure your Miniflux installation is always running the latest version.

6. Secure Storage of Configuration Files

• Volume Mounts: Store sensitive configuration files securely using Docker volume mounts:

  docker run -d \
    --name miniflux \
    -v /path/to/config:/app/config \
    miniflux/miniflux

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your Miniflux setup in Docker is both secure and robust.