What is rss-bridge.org and what does RSS-Bridge do?

Updated

RSS-Bridge is a PHP project that generates RSS and Atom feeds for websites that don't provide one. If a site you want to follow has no native feed, RSS-Bridge can act as a middle layer: it fetches the page or API, extracts the content, and outputs a standard feed your reader can subscribe to. It runs either on a web server or as a stand-alone application in CLI mode.

What problem it solves

Many sites publish content without an RSS or Atom feed. Without a feed, you can't subscribe in a feed reader and have to check the site manually. RSS-Bridge fills that gap by producing a feed from a source that lacks one, so the content flows into the same reader you already use.

How it works

RSS-Bridge is built around bridges — individual PHP classes, each written for a specific site or service. A bridge knows how to request the relevant page or endpoint, pull out the items, and format them as a feed.

  • Input: a bridge name plus the parameters it needs (for example, a username, search term, or page URL).
  • Action: RSS-Bridge requests the source and parses the response.
  • Output: an RSS or Atom feed you can open in a browser or subscribe to in a reader.

Because each bridge targets a specific site, coverage depends on which bridges exist and whether the target site's structure still matches what the bridge expects.

Two ways to run it

Mode What it means Typical use
Web server Hosted on a PHP-capable web server and reached through a browser Sharing one instance, subscribing from any reader
CLI (stand-alone) Run directly from the command line without a web server Local generation, scripting, one-off feed output

The project page points to three practical entry points: a public bridge instance, the GitHub repository, and the documentation. The public instance lets you try bridges without hosting anything yourself; the repository and documentation are where you go to self-host, inspect bridges, or write your own.

Who it's for

  • Feed readers without a feed: you want to follow a site that doesn't offer RSS or Atom.
  • Self-hosters: you want to run your own instance rather than rely on someone else's.
  • Developers: you want to add or adapt a bridge for a site that isn't covered.

What to check before relying on it

  • Bridge availability: confirm a bridge exists for your target site, since coverage is per-site.
  • Breakage: bridges depend on the source site's structure, so they can stop working when that site changes.
  • Hosting requirements: self-hosting needs a PHP environment; the CLI mode avoids a web server but still runs the PHP project.
  • Public instance limits: if you use the public instance, treat it as a shared resource rather than assuming guaranteed uptime or capacity.

For a quick start, try the public instance with an existing bridge; for control and reliability, self-host from the GitHub repository and consult the documentation for setup and bridge details.