Build a Self Hosted RSS Reader with Tiny Tiny RSS & Docker

In an era dominated by algorithmic feeds and attention-economy silos, RSS remains the gold standard for reclaiming control over your information consumption. By managing your own news aggregator, you decide exactly what sources to follow, free from tracking pixels, advertisements, and unexpected API shutdowns. Deploying a self hosted rss reader docker setup provides the ultimate combination of portability, data ownership, and reliability.

This comprehensive guide walks you through deploying Tiny Tiny RSS (TT-RSS)—a powerful, feature-rich, and highly extensible open-source web-based feed reader—using Docker and Docker Compose. Whether you are running this on a local home lab server or a remote virtual private server, this architecture ensures your reading habits remain strictly private.

Prerequisites and System Requirements

Before initiating the deployment process, ensure your environment meets the following baseline requirements:

• A host machine running a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu Server or Debian).
• Docker and Docker Compose installed and configured for non-root management (or proper sudo permissions).
• Basic familiarity with the command line and YAML syntax.
• A reverse proxy (like Nginx Proxy Manager, Caddy, or Traefik) if you plan to expose the service to the internet securely via HTTPS.

Understanding the Architecture

Tiny Tiny RSS relies on a multi-container architecture for optimal modularity and scalability. Using Docker Compose, we will orchestrate two primary services:

1. The Database Layer: PostgreSQL or MySQL/MariaDB to store user accounts, feed configurations, and articles. PostgreSQL is generally recommended by the TT-RSS maintainers for performance and reliability.
2. The Application Layer: The official or community-maintained Tiny Tiny RSS container, running PHP-FPM and an integrated web server or coupled with a lightweight web proxy. Furthermore, a background daemon container is often required to execute periodic feed updates asynchronously.

Step-by-Step Docker Deployment

Creating a robust deployment starts with structuring your project directory and writing a clean docker-compose.yml file. This ensures your stack remains declarative, reproducible, and easy to update.

1. Create the Project Directory

Open your terminal and create a dedicated directory for your RSS stack:

mkdir -p ~/ttrss-docker && cd ~/ttrss-docker

2. Write the Docker Compose Configuration

Create a docker-compose.yml file using your preferred text editor and paste the following configuration. This setup utilizes PostgreSQL as the database backend:

version: "3.8"

services:
  database:
    image: postgres:15-alpine
    container_name: ttrss_db
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: ttrss
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: your_secure_database_password
      POSTGRES_DB: ttrss
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U ttrss -d ttrss"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

  ttrss:
    image: digitalpoint/ttrss
    container_name: ttrss_app
    environment:
      - SELF_URL_PATH=http://localhost:8280/
      - DB_HOST=database
      - DB_USER=ttrss
      - DB_NAME=ttrss
      - DB_PASS=your_secure_database_password
      - DB_PORT=5432
    ports:
      - "8280:80"
    depends_on:
      database:
        condition: service_healthy
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  db_data:

3. Launch the Stack

With your configuration saved, execute the following command to pull the required container images and start the services in detached mode:

docker compose up -d

You can verify that all containers are running smoothly by typing docker compose ps.

Accessing and Configuring Tiny Tiny RSS

Once the containers are fully initialized, open your web browser and navigate to http://your-server-ip:8280. You will be greeted by the Tiny Tiny RSS login page.

• Default Username: admin
• Default Password: password

Crucial Security Note: Log in immediately and navigate to the preferences panel to change the administrator password. Leaving default credentials active on a network-exposed service represents a severe security risk.

Setting Up Automated Feed Updates

By default, RSS feeds need to be updated. While you can trigger manual updates from the web interface, setting up an automated background update daemon ensures your articles stay fresh without manual intervention. Depending on the specific Docker image variant you choose, an update daemon may run inside the application container or require a dedicated companion container running the update script via cron or a continuous loop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I back up my self-hosted RSS reader data?

Because your articles, feeds, and user configurations are stored in the PostgreSQL database volume (db_data), backing up your deployment is straightforward. You can create a logical backup of the database using pg_dump inside the database container, or stop the stack and create a snapshot of your Docker volumes.

Can I access my Tiny Tiny RSS instance on mobile devices?

Yes. One of the greatest benefits of running a self hosted rss reader docker instance is API compatibility. TT-RSS supports standard APIs compatible with numerous third-party mobile applications available for Android and iOS, such as Tiny Tiny RSS official apps, FeedMe, or TT-RSS Reader.

How do I update Tiny Tiny RSS containers safely?

Updating your self-hosted stack is simple with Docker. Run the following commands inside your project directory to fetch the latest images and recreate the containers without losing data:

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Conclusion and Next Steps

By deploying Tiny Tiny RSS through Docker, you have established a private, high-performance, and resilient news aggregation hub. You are no longer at the mercy of third-party feed reader shutdowns or algorithmic curation. Take the next step by configuring a reverse proxy with an SSL/TLS certificate to enable secure, encrypted access from anywhere in the world. Enjoy your distraction-free reading experience!

Disclosure: BriteHacks is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site or deploy infrastructure, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.