How to Install Miniflux on OpenBSD

This guide will walk you through the steps to install Miniflux, a self-hosted RSS reader, on OpenBSD.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• An OpenBSD server running with root access
• A domain name pointing to your server IP address
• A working internet connection

Step 1: Update your OpenBSD system

The first step is to make sure your system is up to date. Run the following command:

$ doas pkg_add -u

This will update all installed packages and any dependencies.

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Since Miniflux is written in Go, we need to install the Go language and other dependencies it requires. Run the following command:

$ doas pkg_add go git

This will install the Go language and Git.

Step 3: Clone Miniflux repository

Next, we need to clone the Miniflux repository using Git. Run the following command:

$ git clone https://github.com/miniflux/v2.git

This will create a new 'v2' directory in your current working directory.

Step 4: Build Miniflux

Now we need to build the Miniflux binary using Go. Navigate to the 'v2' directory and run the following command:

$ cd v2
$ go build

This will build the binary file in the current working directory.

Step 5: Configure Miniflux

Now we need to configure Miniflux to run. Create a new directory called 'miniflux' in the '/etc/' directory:

$ doas mkdir /etc/miniflux

Next, we need to create a 'config.yml' file in the '/etc/miniflux/' directory:

$ doas vi /etc/miniflux/config.yml

Add the following configuration to the file:

listen_addr: 127.0.0.1:8080
base_url: https://<your-domain-name>
postgresql:
  host: /run/postgresql
  user: miniflux
  password: <your-password>
  database: miniflux
  ssl_mode: disable
data_dir: /var/db/miniflux

Note: Replace and with your actual domain name and desired password.

Step 6: Create Postgresql Database

We need to create a new Postgresql database for Miniflux to use. Run the following commands:

$ doas pkg_add postgresql-server
$ doas rcctl enable postgresql
$ doas mkdir -p /var/postgresql/data
$ doas chown _postgresql:_postgresql /var/postgresql/data
$ doas su - _postgresql -c '/usr/local/bin/initdb -D /var/postgresql/data --encoding=utf8'
$ doas rcctl start postgresql

$ doas su - postgres -c 'pg_ctl -l /var/postgresql/data/output.log start -D /var/postgresql/data'
$ doas su - postgres -c 'createuser miniflux'
$ doas su - postgres -c 'createdb -O miniflux miniflux'
$ doas su - postgres -c 'pg_ctl stop -D /var/postgresql/data'

This will install Postgresql, create a new database, and stop the Postgresql service.

Step 7: Setup Miniflux Database

Next, we need to setup the Miniflux database. Run the following commands:

$ cd v2
$ ./miniflux migrate up
$ ./miniflux user add <your-email-address> <your-password>

This will create the necessary database tables and add a new user to Miniflux.

Step 8: Install miniflux as a service

Finally, we need to install Miniflux as a service using the following command:

$ doas cp miniflux /usr/local/bin/
$ doas cp systemd/miniflux.service /etc/rc.d/
$ doas rcctl enable miniflux
$ doas rcctl start miniflux

This will copy the Miniflux binary to the '/usr/local/bin/' directory, configure it as a systemd service, and start the service.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Miniflux on OpenBSD. To access the RSS reader, go to https://:8080/ and enter the email address and password you created in step 7.

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