Boost Productivity with Fever RSS Reader: Tips & Tricks

How to Set Up and Customize Fever RSS Reader in 10 MinutesFever is a self-hosted RSS aggregator designed for speed and simplicity. If you already have a web server and a basic understanding of FTP/SFTP and databases, you can install and customize Fever in about 10 minutes. This guide walks through a quick setup, essential configuration, and practical customization tips so you can start reading feeds immediately.

What you’ll need (pre-checks)

• A web server with PHP 5.3+ (or compatible; modern PHP recommended)
• MySQL or SQLite (MySQL is common)
• FTP/SFTP access or command-line access to upload files
• A domain or subdomain (optional but recommended for access)
• About 10 minutes and basic technical comfort

1) Download and upload Fever

1. Download the Fever package from the official source (the Fever project page or your licensed copy).
2. Unzip the package locally.
3. Upload the contents to your web-accessible directory (e.g., public_html/fever) via FTP/SFTP.
4. Ensure file permissions allow the web server to read the files (chmod 644 for files, 755 for folders is typical).

2) Create a database (MySQL example)

1. Log in to your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) or SSH.
2. Create a new MySQL database and a user with all privileges for that database.
3. Note the database name, username, and password — you’ll need them in the next step.

If you prefer SQLite, create a writable file and set the appropriate path in Fever’s config.

3) Configure Fever

1. Open the Fever config file (config.php or similar) in a text editor.
2. Enter your database credentials, base URL (where you uploaded Fever), and any other required settings.
3. Save and upload the edited config file back to the server.

Visit your Fever install in a browser to confirm it loads. If it prompts to install or initialize the database, follow the on-screen instructions.

4) Add feeds

1. Log into Fever with the admin account created during setup.
2. Click “Add Feed” or use the import option if you have an OPML file from another reader.
3. Paste feed URLs or upload OPML — Fever will fetch and index them.

Tip: Importing an OPML saves time when migrating from another reader.

5) Quick customization (visual & functional)

• Theme: Fever has a clean default UI. To change the look, upload or edit a custom CSS file. Modify colors, fonts, and spacing to match your taste.
• Sorting: Use Fever’s built-in sorting options (hotness, newest, unread) to surface the most relevant posts.
• Hotness algorithm: Adjust settings that affect how Fever ranks items if you want different prioritization.
• Keyboard shortcuts: Learn or customize keyboard shortcuts for fast navigation.
• Mobile access: Point a subdomain or enable responsive CSS so Fever works well on phones and tablets.

6) Performance tips

• Enable caching in Fever or via your server (OPcache, Redis, or file cache) for faster response.
• Schedule feed updates during low-traffic periods or adjust fetch intervals per-feed to reduce load.
• Use gzip compression and a CDN for assets if you have heavy traffic.

7) Backup & maintenance

• Regularly export your feeds as OPML for backup.
• Back up the database and any uploaded config files.
• Keep PHP and server software updated for security.

Example: Quick CSS tweak

To make the font a little larger and the background a soft gray, add to your custom CSS:

body {   font-size: 16px;   background-color: #f6f6f6; } 

Upload this as custom.css and reference it from Fever’s template or header file.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Blank page: Check PHP error logs, file permissions, and that PHP version matches requirements.
• Feeds not updating: Verify cron jobs or scheduled tasks are running; check feed URLs for redirects.
• Login problems: Clear cookies, check config for correct base URL, ensure database is accessible.

Wrap-up

In roughly 10 minutes you can have Fever installed, connected to a database, populated with feeds (or an OPML import), and lightly customized to your preferences. For ongoing improvements, focus on caching, scheduling fetches intelligently, and refining the UI with small CSS changes.

If you want, tell me your server environment (PHP version, MySQL/SQLite, hosting type) and I’ll provide exact config values and a one-click cron command to keep feeds updated.