WeRSS: Transform WeChat Public Accounts into Manageable RSS Feeds

Tired of missing important articles in your crowded WeChat subscriptions? Discover how this open-source solution brings order to your content consumption

The Modern Content Consumption Challenge

In today’s information-rich environment, professionals increasingly rely on specialized WeChat public accounts for industry insights, technical updates, and professional development. What begins as a few valuable subscriptions inevitably grows into an unwieldy collection of content sources. The default WeChat interface forces users into inefficient browsing patterns, where important articles get buried beneath new content.

This common pain point led to the development of WeRSS (We-MP-RSS), an open-source solution that bridges WeChat content and standardized RSS feeds. By transforming public account updates into RSS format, this tool enables systematic content management using your preferred RSS reader. Let’s explore how this technical innovation solves real-world information challenges.

Technical Solution Overview

WeRSS functions as a sophisticated content transformation pipeline:

1. Authentication Gateway: Secure QR-based WeChat authorization
2. Content Extraction Engine: Automated article collection from subscriptions
3. RSS Conversion Layer: Standardized feed generation
4. Management Interface: Centralized control dashboard

Project Repository: https://github.com/rachelos/we-mp-rss

Core Functionality Explained

Authorization Simplified

The QR authentication system creates a secure bridge between WeChat and WeRSS. This token-based approach maintains account security while enabling content access—no credentials are stored.

Intelligent Content Synchronization

The backend scheduler performs continuous content checks against WeChat servers. With default intervals of 10 seconds, the system ensures near real-time updates while preventing service overload.

Universal Feed Compatibility

Generated RSS feeds work with any standard-compliant reader. Whether you prefer web-based platforms like Feedly or mobile applications like FOLO (shown below), the experience remains consistent.

Flexible Data Management

WeRSS supports multiple database configurations:

• Lightweight Option: SQLite for single-user deployments
• Scalable Solution: MySQL for team environments
• Cloud-Ready Architecture: Containerized deployment options

Comprehensive Content Capture

Unlike basic link aggregators, WeRSS can retrieve full article content, enabling complete reading experiences within your RSS environment—no more switching between applications.

Technical Implementation Guide

Streamlined Docker Deployment

For most users, containerized deployment provides the fastest path to implementation:

docker run -d --name we-mp-rss -p 8001:8001 ghcr.io/rachelos/we-mp-rss:latest

After installation, access the interface at http://<your-server-ip>:8001/. For users in mainland China, use the accelerated mirror:

docker run -d --name we-mp-rss -p 8001:8001 docker.1ms.run/rachelos/we-mp-rss:latest

Database Configuration Examples

SQLite Configuration (Single User):

docker run -d \
  --name we-mp-rss \
  -p 8001:8001 \
  -e DB=sqlite:///data/db.db \
  -e USERNAME=admin \
  -e PASSWORD=secure_password_here \
  -v $(pwd)/data:/app/data \
  ghcr.io/rachelos/we-mp-rss:latest

MySQL Configuration (Team Environments):

docker run -d \
  --name we-mp-rss \
  -p 8001:8001 \
  -e DB=mysql+pymysql://<db_user>:<db_password>@<db_host>/<db_name>?charset=utf8mb4 \
  -e USERNAME=admin \
  -e PASSWORD=secure_password_here \
  ghcr.io/rachelos/we-mp-rss:latest

Source-Based Installation

Developers may prefer manual installation for customization:

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/rachelos/we-mp-rss.git
cd we-mp-rss

# Install Python dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Configure environment
cp config.example.yaml config.yaml

# Launch service
uvicorn web:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8001 --reload

Launch the frontend interface separately:

cd web_ui
npm install
npm run dev

User Workflow Demonstration

1. Authentication Process

The login interface provides secure access to the management console:

2. Subscription Dashboard

The central management interface displays all configured feeds with update statuses:

3. WeChat Authorization

The QR-based authentication creates a secure connection to WeChat servers:

4. Feed Configuration

Users select specific public accounts and configure update parameters:

5. RSS Integration

Each public account generates a unique RSS endpoint compatible with any standards-based reader.

Configuration Framework

WeRSS utilizes environment variables for system configuration:

Implementation Recommendations:

• Personal Use: Default settings typically suffice
• Advanced Users: Enable RSS_FULL_CONTEXT for complete articles
• Enterprise Deployments: Increase INTERVAL to 60+ seconds with MySQL

Architectural Foundations

WeRSS employs modern development practices:

Backend Infrastructure

• Runtime: Python 3.8+
• Framework: FastAPI (ASGI compliant)
• Data: SQLite/MySQL with SQLAlchemy ORM

Frontend Implementation

• Framework: Vue 3 Composition API
• Tooling: Vite build system
• UI Library: Element Plus components

Automation Subsystems

• Background: Scheduled content updates
• Notifications: Webhook integrations (DingTalk, WeChat, Feishu)
• API: RESTful endpoint architecture

Advanced Operational Management

Scheduled Task Management

Content updates operate through dedicated job processing:

# Start update scheduler
python job.py

# Initialize database with scheduled tasks
python3 main.py -job True -init True

API Integration

The comprehensive API documentation is accessible at:

http://<your-server>:8001/api/docs

Notification Configuration

Integrate with collaboration platforms:

DINGDING_WEBHOOK: https://oapi.dingtalk.com/robot/send?access_token=your_token
WECHAT_WEBHOOK: http://your_wechat_webhook_url
FEISHU_WEBHOOK: http://your_feishu_webhook_url

Development Workflow

Environment Setup

# Install development dependencies
pip install -r requirements-dev.txt

# Execute test suite
pytest

# Launch frontend development server
cd web_ui
npm run dev

Contribution Process

Project maintainers welcome contributions through:

1. GitHub Pull Requests
2. Issue reporting
3. Documentation improvements

Repository Locations:

• GitHub: https://github.com/rachelos/we-mp-rss
• Gitee: https://gitee.com/rachel_os/we-mp-rss

Licensing and Support

WeRSS operates under the MIT open-source license, permitting both personal and commercial use. Users who benefit from the project can support ongoing development:

Practical Implementation Benefits

After implementing WeRSS, users typically report:

1. Time Efficiency: 40-60% reduction in content management time
2. Content Organization: Unified access to specialized materials
3. Comprehensive Coverage: No missed updates from critical sources
4. Cross-Platform Access: Seamless transition between devices

For technical professionals, academics, and content curators, this solution transforms chaotic content streams into structured information flows.

Conclusion

WeRSS solves a critical information management challenge in the WeChat ecosystem. By bridging proprietary content platforms with open standards, it restores user control over content consumption workflows. The solution’s technical sophistication—containerized deployment, modern API design, and flexible configuration—makes it equally suitable for individual professionals and enterprise teams.

Begin Implementation:

docker run -d --name we-mp-rss -p 8001:8001 ghcr.io/rachelos/we-mp-rss:latest

In an era of information fragmentation, tools like WeRSS provide much-needed structure. By transforming scattered content into organized knowledge streams, it enables deeper engagement with valuable information—proving that technical innovation, when thoughtfully applied, can transform daily workflows.