How to Use the Command 'feedreader' (with examples)

FeedReader is a graphical desktop RSS client that allows users to keep up with their favorite blogs and websites in one convenient interface. Despite being discontinued and no longer maintained, FeedReader has a variety of command-line options that still make it a powerful tool for managing your RSS feeds. This article covers several use cases where you might leverage FeedReader’s command-line capabilities to enhance your RSS reading experience.

Use case 1: Print the count of unread articles

Code:

feedreader --unreadCount

Motivation: In the fast-paced world of digital content, staying up-to-date on your favorite articles, news, and blog posts can be challenging. Knowing the number of unread articles helps you prioritize your reading schedule and ensures you don’t miss out on important updates. Whether you’re a busy professional or an avid reader, tracking unread articles allows for more effective time management.

Explanation:

• --unreadCount: This option tells FeedReader to tally and display the count of all articles you have yet to read. It’s useful for gaining a quick overview of what awaits in your reading queue without needing to open the app.

Example Output:

You have 42 unread articles.

Use case 2: Add a URL for a feed to follow

Code:

feedreader --addFeed=https://example.com/rss

Motivation: Adding a new feed URL to FeedReader allows you to expand your informational universe by following a new source. Perhaps you have discovered an exciting blog that covers material closely aligned with your personal interests or professional needs. By adding this feed, you ensure you can effortlessly receive updates and never miss out on any content released by this new source.

Explanation:

• --addFeed=feed_url: This parameter instructs FeedReader to subscribe to the RSS feed located at the provided URL. Adding new feeds helps keep your content library fresh and diverse, directly in your FeedReader client.

Example Output:

Feed added successfully: https://example.com/rss

Use case 3: Grab a specific article using its URL

Code:

feedreader --grabArticle=https://example.com/blog-post

Motivation: There are occasions when you may wish to revisit a specific article or share it with friends and colleagues. Using the command to grab an article provides quick access, bypassing the need to sift through your entire feed list or history to find a particular post. This feature is especially beneficial for researchers and knowledge workers who often reference specific articles repeatedly.

Explanation:

• --grabArticle=article_url: This instructs FeedReader to retrieve and display the content of the article found at the specified URL. This is particularly helpful for quick access when you already know the URL of an article you wish to read.

Example Output:

Title: Exciting Blog Post
Content: [Article content here]

Use case 4: Download all images from a specific article

Code:

feedreader --url=https://example.com/rss --grabImages=/path/to/article

Motivation: Downloading images from an article can be helpful for a range of reasons, from offline viewing and presentation inclusion to content curation. If an article’s visual elements are key to understanding or utilizing the content, having them saved locally ensures they’re always accessible, even without internet connectivity.

Explanation:

• --url=feed_url: Directs FeedReader to find the feed that contains the article of interest.
• --grabImages=article_path: Enables downloading of all images embedded within the article specified by its path within the feed. This is useful for individuals who prefer retaining offline copies of visually-rich articles.

Example Output:

Images downloaded to /path/to/article

Use case 5: Play media from a URL

Code:

feedreader --playMedia=https://example.com/podcast-episode

Motivation: In the age of multimedia content, many RSS feeds offer podcasts and video publications. The ability to play media directly through FeedReader allows seamless consumption of content, integrating your audio or visual experience within the FeedReader environment. This is convenient for daily podcast listeners or those who enjoy video series delivered through RSS feeds.

Explanation:

• --playMedia=article_url: Instructs FeedReader to play the media at the given URL. This might be an audio file, such as a podcast, or a video, enhancing your multimedia consumption without leaving the FeedReader interface.

Example Output:

Playing media: Podcast Episode Title

Conclusion:

FeedReader offers a robust set of command-line tools that enhance its utility as an RSS reader, even in its current unmaintained state. Through commands like --unreadCount, --addFeed, --grabArticle, --grabImages, and --playMedia, users can automate and streamline their content consumption process. Whether you’re tracking unread articles, subscribing to new feeds, accessing specific articles, downloading article images, or playing multimedia content, FeedReader’s commands provide a flexible and powerful way to manage information.