commafeed
CommaFeed is a self-hosted RSS reader inspired by Google Reader, built with Java, Quarkus, and React. It offers multi-layout support, keyboard shortcuts, push notifications, and can scale to handle millions of feeds across thousands of users.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | Athou/commafeed |
| Owner | Athou |
| Primary language | Java |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 3.6k |
| Forks | 402 |
| Open issues | 44 |
| Latest release | 7.1.0 (2026-04-15) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-08 |
| Source | https://github.com/Athou/commafeed |
What commafeed is
Java-based Quarkus web application with React/TypeScript frontend, supporting H2, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB backends. Compiles to native code via GraalVM for fast startup and low memory footprint; provides REST and Fever-compatible APIs.
Get the commafeed source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/Athou/commafeed.gitcd commafeed# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Database choice (H2, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB) must be decided upfront; H2 is embedded and zero-config but not production-recommended for multi-user at scale.
- Session encryption key must be manually set to a fixed value (min 16 chars) to avoid forced re-login on every restart in production.
- Native compilation requires GraalVM and adds build complexity; JVM package is simpler but slower startup and higher baseline memory.
- Memory tuning (especially for JVM package) is important on constrained systems; recommend setting `-Xmx` and G1GC parameters based on workload.
- OPML import/export and REST/Fever APIs simplify migration from other readers but require testing to ensure feed subscriptions and custom rules transfer cleanly.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Zero operational overhead required — Self-hosting requires database provisioning, backup strategy, SSL setup, and ongoing maintenance. If you cannot commit to basic DevOps tasks, consider managed hosted alternatives.
- Dependency on closed-source integrations — While REST and Fever APIs are available, CommaFeed is strictly open-source without commercial support or SLAs. Avoid if your compliance or vendor-lock policy mandates commercial backing.
- Real-time collaborative feed annotation — CommaFeed is optimized for individual or team RSS consumption, not real-time collaborative markup or editing workflows. Use specialized document collaboration tools if that is a core requirement.
- Proprietary or bleeding-edge AI features — This is a traditional RSS reader without built-in ML-driven content ranking, summarization, or advanced recommendation. If AI-assisted content curation is essential, consider separate AI/content tools.
License & commercial use
Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). This is a permissive OSI-approved license allowing commercial use, modification, and redistribution provided you retain license notices and disclaimers. No copyleft requirements.
Apache-2.0 is permissive and commercial use is legally permitted under the license terms. However, no commercial support, SLA, or vendor warranty is provided by the project. You assume all operational and support responsibility. If your organization requires a support contract or indemnity, that must be negotiated separately or sourced from a third-party vendor.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
No security audit data provided. Session encryption key is randomly generated at startup by default (weak for persistence); must be manually set to fixed value. Runs on localhost:8082 by default—reverse proxy with TLS and authentication is required for production internet exposure. No vulnerability disclosure policy, security contact, or penetration test results mentioned. Standard Java/Quarkus security patches apply. Database credentials required for non-H2 deployments must be managed securely. Requires review before public internet deployment.
Alternatives to consider
Tiny Tiny RSS
PHP-based self-hosted RSS reader with similar multi-user and customization features. Lower resource footprint in some scenarios but less modern UI/UX and smaller community.
Miniflux
Go-based self-hosted RSS reader, notably lighter weight and faster than CommaFeed. Simpler feature set and deployment, but fewer layout options and less i18n coverage.
FreshRSS
PHP-based self-hosted RSS aggregator with strong multi-user and plugin support. Good alternative if you prefer PHP stack or need extensive third-party integrations.
Build on commafeed with DEV.co software developers
Start with Docker, evaluate on the free public instance, or review the full codebase on GitHub. CommaFeed scales from personal to team use—no vendor lock-in, full control.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
commafeed FAQ
Can I use CommaFeed as a managed SaaS without self-hosting?
What is the best deployment method for a small team?
Does CommaFeed support mobile clients?
What database should I choose for production?
Custom software development services
Adopting commafeed is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source devops software in production.
Deploy Your Own RSS Infrastructure
Start with Docker, evaluate on the free public instance, or review the full codebase on GitHub. CommaFeed scales from personal to team use—no vendor lock-in, full control.