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Revisiting RSS

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Revisiting how I use RSS

Over the years, I’ve had an on-and-off relationship with RSS. Despite the rise of algorithms and curated news apps, I still believe RSS remains one of the best ways to build a personalized feed that you own.

Recently, I’ve been reevaluating how RSS fits into my workflows. To better understand what I need from it now, I’ve reflected on what has worked for me in the past—and what hasn’t.

Google Reader #

My first real expirence with RSS was with Google Reader (RIP). Back then, I used it primarily to track my favorite websites in one place. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was a start. Unfortunately, a combination of Google shutting down the service and my growing use of Reddit led me to abandon RSS entirely.

Regrettably, I didn’t save my OPML file — a mistake I would repeat.

TT-RSS: A Golden Age #

My next attempt at RSS feels like a golden age. I was learning DevOps skills, deploying various tools and services, and came across TT-RSS. This highly customizable application allowed me to fine-tune my RSS experience.

Two features stood out:

  1. Full-article fetching: This ensured I didn’t have to visit ad-filled or inaccessible websites. And it provided a consistent reading expirence.
  2. Scoring system: I could assign positive or negative points to articles based on their source or content. For example, I might give WebsiteA a score of +5 but reduce points for articles mentioning SubjectA with -10, effectively curating my feed before I even saw it.

While I loved these features, maintaining the system eventually became too time-consuming. I shut it down — and, once again, lost my OPML file.

Rediscovering RSS for Productivity #

I returned to RSS during a hectic period in my career, focusing on productivity and controlled information flows. This time, RSS became a tool for professional growth rather than casual interest. It helped me stay up to date across industries without the distractions of social media.

I experimented with several readers, but two stood out:

  • Reeder 5: A clean, organized app that I enjoyed using but found lacking for capturing deeper insights.
  • Readwise Reader: A powerful tool for collecting and acting on articles, though I became overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content. At one point, I had over 50,000 articles saved—a clear sign my system wasn’t sustainable.

Less Is More #

Now, I’m shifting to a simpler, more intentional approach. Here’s what I’ve learned about making RSS work for me:

  • Keep it interesting: A mix of professional and personal interests prevents burnout or wasted time.
  • Let go of perfection: Not every article needs to be saved or dissected. Sometimes reading is just reading.
  • Streamline article handling: For important articles, I can quickly move them to Readwise for deeper engagement.
  • Customize feeds: Filtering out irrelevant content reduces noise and improves focus.
  • Balance feed frequency: Some feeds dominate with frequent posts, overshadowing less active but equally valuable sources.
  • Prioritize accessibility: A good interface that works consistently across devices is crucial.

Exploring New Options #

With these lessons in mind, I’m considering a few options for the future:

Revive TT-RSS #

Setting up TT-RSS again could meet most of my needs, especially its scoring system. However, the interface feels outdated compared to other tool, and the extra work to maintain it is not appealing.

Embrace the New Reeder #

The developer of Reeder recently launched a new version with a timeline-based approach. This aligns with my goal of treating articles as transient, rather than something to hoard.

Refine the ReadWise Reader Workflow #

By dividing content between Readwise (for in-depth articles and “important” sources) and Reeder (for casual browsing), I could create a more focused system. However, this split approach risks neglecting one platform over the other.

Moving Forward #

For now, I’m giving Reeder.app an honest effort. Its integration with services like BlueSky and Mastodon adds a layer of connectivity I find interesting, as well as with YouTube.

Will this approach work? Perhaps. Things are always changing, but for now, it feels like an engaging way to stay informed, educated, and entertained.