Deploying Tiny Tiny RSS

Introduction

Tiny Tiny RSS (TT-RSS) is a free and open-source web-based RSS and Atom feed reader. It provides a powerful, feature-rich alternative to commercial feed readers while keeping your reading habits private. With support for keyboard shortcuts, theming, and extensive plugins, TT-RSS offers a complete news aggregation solution.

Key features of Tiny Tiny RSS include:

Feed Aggregation: Subscribe to RSS and Atom feeds
Multi-User Support: Host for yourself or multiple users
Full-Text Extraction: Retrieve full articles from truncated feeds
Filters and Labels: Organize articles with rules and tags
Keyboard Shortcuts: Efficient navigation for power users
Theming: Customize the appearance with themes
Plugin System: Extend functionality with plugins
Mobile Apps: Android and iOS clients available
OPML Import/Export: Migrate subscriptions easily
API Access: Integrate with third-party clients
Privacy-Focused: No tracking, your data stays yours

This guide walks you through deploying Tiny Tiny RSS on Klutch.sh, configuring the database, and setting up your feed reader.

Why Deploy Tiny Tiny RSS on Klutch.sh

Deploying Tiny Tiny RSS on Klutch.sh provides several advantages:

Always-Updated Feeds: Klutch.sh keeps TT-RSS running 24/7, ensuring feeds are always fresh.

Privacy: Self-hosted means your reading habits aren’t tracked or monetized.

Simplified Deployment: Klutch.sh handles container orchestration automatically.

Persistent Storage: Your subscriptions and articles persist reliably.

HTTPS by Default: Secure access with automatic SSL certificates.

Prerequisites

Before deploying Tiny Tiny RSS on Klutch.sh, ensure you have:

A Klutch.sh account
A GitHub account with a repository for your configuration
PostgreSQL database (recommended) or MySQL
Basic familiarity with Docker and RSS concepts

Preparing Your Repository

Create a GitHub repository with the following structure:

ttrss-deploy/
├── Dockerfile
└── .dockerignore

Creating the Dockerfile

FROM cthulhoo/ttrss-fpm-pgsql-static:latest

# Environment configuration
ENV TTRSS_DB_TYPE=pgsql
ENV TTRSS_DB_HOST=${TTRSS_DB_HOST}
ENV TTRSS_DB_USER=${TTRSS_DB_USER}
ENV TTRSS_DB_NAME=${TTRSS_DB_NAME}
ENV TTRSS_DB_PASS=${TTRSS_DB_PASS}

# Application URL
ENV TTRSS_SELF_URL_PATH=${TTRSS_SELF_URL_PATH}

# Session and security
ENV TTRSS_SESSION_COOKIE_LIFETIME=${TTRSS_SESSION_COOKIE_LIFETIME:-86400}

# Feed update settings
ENV TTRSS_FEED_UPDATE_TIMEOUT=${TTRSS_FEED_UPDATE_TIMEOUT:-60}

# The base image includes the default entrypoint

Alternative: Using the All-in-One Image

FROM cthulhoo/ttrss-web-nginx:latest

ENV TTRSS_DB_TYPE=pgsql
ENV TTRSS_DB_HOST=${TTRSS_DB_HOST}
ENV TTRSS_DB_USER=${TTRSS_DB_USER}
ENV TTRSS_DB_NAME=${TTRSS_DB_NAME}
ENV TTRSS_DB_PASS=${TTRSS_DB_PASS}
ENV TTRSS_SELF_URL_PATH=${TTRSS_SELF_URL_PATH}

EXPOSE 8080

# The base image includes the default entrypoint

Environment Variables Reference

Variable	Required	Default	Description
`TTRSS_DB_TYPE`	No	pgsql	Database type (pgsql or mysql)
`TTRSS_DB_HOST`	Yes	-	Database hostname
`TTRSS_DB_USER`	Yes	-	Database username
`TTRSS_DB_NAME`	Yes	-	Database name
`TTRSS_DB_PASS`	Yes	-	Database password
`TTRSS_SELF_URL_PATH`	Yes	-	Public URL of your TT-RSS instance
`TTRSS_SESSION_COOKIE_LIFETIME`	No	86400	Session duration in seconds

Deploying on Klutch.sh

Set Up PostgreSQL Database

TT-RSS works best with PostgreSQL. Deploy it on Klutch.sh:

Mount Path	Size	Purpose
`/var/lib/postgresql/data`	10 GB	Database storage

Create the TT-RSS database and user.

Push Your Repository to GitHub

Commit and push your Dockerfile.

Create a New Project on Klutch.sh

Navigate to the Klutch.sh dashboard and create a new project named “ttrss” or “rss-reader”.

Create the TT-RSS App

Within your project, create a new app and connect your GitHub repository.

Configure HTTP Traffic

Set the traffic type to HTTP with the internal port set to 8080.

Set Environment Variables

Configure the required variables:

Variable	Value
`TTRSS_DB_HOST`	Your PostgreSQL host
`TTRSS_DB_USER`	ttrss
`TTRSS_DB_NAME`	ttrss
`TTRSS_DB_PASS`	Your secure password
`TTRSS_SELF_URL_PATH`	https://your-app-name.klutch.sh/tt-rss/

Attach Persistent Volumes

Add persistent storage:

Mount Path	Size	Purpose
`/var/www/html/cache`	2 GB	Feed cache
`/var/www/html/plugins.local`	500 MB	Custom plugins
`/var/www/html/themes.local`	500 MB	Custom themes

Deploy Your Application

Click Deploy to build and launch Tiny Tiny RSS.

Complete Initial Setup

Access TT-RSS and log in with default credentials to complete setup.

Initial Configuration

Default credentials:

Username: admin
Password: password

Change the admin password immediately after first login!

Basic Configuration

Configure TT-RSS settings:

Click the gear icon for Preferences
Set your timezone
Configure default view settings
Set up update behavior

Adding Feeds

Subscribe to feeds:

Click “Subscribe to feed”
Enter the feed URL
Choose a category
Click Subscribe

Organizing with Categories

Create categories for organization:

Go to Preferences > Feeds
Create new categories
Drag feeds into categories

Advanced Features

Filters

Create rules to organize articles:

Go to Preferences > Filters
Click “Create filter”
Set conditions (title contains, author, etc.)
Choose actions (label, star, delete)

Labels

Tag articles with custom labels:

Create labels in Preferences
Apply labels manually or via filters
View articles by label

Full-Text Extraction

Get complete articles from truncated feeds:

Install the af_readability plugin
Enable full-text mode per feed
TT-RSS will fetch full article content

Keyboard Shortcuts

Efficient navigation:

Shortcut	Action
`j/k`	Next/previous article
`n/p`	Next/previous feed
`o`	Open article
`s`	Star article
`t`	Toggle tags
`r`	Mark as read
`?`	Show all shortcuts

Plugins

Installing Plugins

Add functionality with plugins:

Download plugin to plugins.local directory
Enable in Preferences > Plugins
Configure plugin settings

Popular Plugins

Plugin	Purpose
`af_readability`	Full-text extraction
`feedly`	Feedly-like theme
`af_comics`	Enhanced comic support
`auth_ldap`	LDAP authentication
`fever`	Fever API compatibility

Fever API

Use with third-party clients:

Enable Fever API plugin
Set Fever password in preferences
Configure client with Fever endpoint

Mobile Access

Android Apps

Tiny Tiny RSS (official)
FeedMe
News+ with TT-RSS plugin

iOS Apps

Fiery Feeds
Reeder (via Fever API)
lire (via Fever API)

Web App

Access the responsive web interface from any mobile browser.

Production Best Practices

Security Recommendations

Change Default Password: First priority after install
HTTPS Only: Use Klutch.sh’s automatic SSL
Regular Updates: Keep TT-RSS updated
User Management: Create separate accounts per user
Database Security: Use strong database passwords

Performance Optimization

Feed Update Interval: Balance freshness vs. load
Database Maintenance: Run cleanup periodically
Cache Management: Configure appropriate cache sizes
Purge Old Articles: Set retention policies

Backup Strategy

Protect your reading data:

Regular database backups
Export OPML feed list
Back up custom plugins/themes
Document configuration

Troubleshooting

Feeds Not Updating

Check the update daemon is running
Verify feed URLs are accessible
Review error logs for feed issues
Test feed URL manually

Database Connection Errors

Verify database credentials
Check database server is running
Confirm network connectivity
Review PostgreSQL logs

Clear browser cookies
Verify username/password
Check session cookie settings
Review authentication logs

Performance Issues

Increase PHP memory limit
Optimize database queries
Reduce concurrent updates
Check server resources

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Deploying Tiny Tiny RSS on Klutch.sh gives you a powerful, privacy-respecting feed reader that’s always available. With comprehensive features, keyboard shortcuts, and mobile app support, TT-RSS provides a complete news aggregation solution. Self-hosting ensures your reading habits remain private while Klutch.sh’s reliable infrastructure keeps your feeds updated around the clock.