Mkfd is a zero-code RSS feed builder created with Bun and Hono, featuring an intuitive front-end that simplifies the entire feed creation process. Instead of manually writing scripts, you just open the interface, input a target URL along with CSS selectors, and Mkfd exports a YAML configuration file. Mkfd then uses that YAML to periodically build and update your feed. In this post, I'll show a high-level overview on how to use Mkfd’s user interface and show you how quickly you can start generating feeds from any webpage or REST API — without writing a single line of code.
Open http://localhost:5000 after running Mkfd. You’ll see a form that lets you input:
The Target URL of the webpage or API you want to convert into a feed.
A Schedule (in minutes) for how often Mkfd should re-scrape and rebuild the feed.
Mkfd provides a user-friendly interface (with SelectorGadget integration for figuring out the correct selectors) that lets you pinpoint elements on the webpage:
Article Container Selector – Identify the main wrapper for each item, e.g., .article or li.post-item.
Title, Link, Date Selectors – Extract the specific data fields for your feed.
Additional Fields – You can also include a description, author, or enclosures (such as audio, videos, or images).
The Aforementioned UI:
Note: If accessing remotely from outside localhost, the passkey used on deployment is needed to enter the UI but not to consume the feeds.
🗂️ Generating the YAML Configuration
After you specify your selectors and scheduling details, just hit Submit. Mkfd will create a YAML configuration file with a unique GUID — this file contains:
URL – The page or API endpoint you’re scraping.
Selectors – The custom CSS selectors for titles, links, dates, etc.
Schedule – The periodic interval (in minutes) for Mkfd to update your feed.
This YAML file lives within the project directory and serves as the master instruction set for the feed builder.
⚙️ How Mkfd Builds and Serves the Feed
Once your YAML is set up, Mkfd executes a periodic job to:
Scrape the Specified URL – Using your CSS selectors to retrieve the latest content.
Generate an RSS Feed – Formatting the scraped data into a valid feed structure.
Expose the Feed – Mkfd will automatically serve the feed from an endpoint for the end user to consume.
💡 Tips and Tricks
Selector Fine-Tuning: If your feed items aren’t showing as expected, double-check your CSS selectors.
Multiple Feeds: You can create multiple feeds for different websites or data sources. Each feed is built using its own web worker.
Scheduling Intervals: Avoid overly frequent scrapes (e.g., every minute) to reduce server load and potential IP blocking. A common interval is 15 minutes to 1 hour.
Version Control Your YAML: If you’re setting up multiple feeds or complex data extractions, keep your YAML in version control for easy rollback or iteration.
✅ Conclusion
Mkfd offers a straightforward, no-code solution for generating custom RSS feeds out of any webpage or REST API.
Scrape Data using simple CSS selectors—no coding required.
Generate a YAML file that captures your scraping logic and schedule.
Automatically Build and Serve the feed on a configurable schedule.
Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just need a simple feed builder, Mkfd’s browser-based UI, integrated selector tools, and one-click YAML generation make it easy to convert the web into feeds you control — all without writing a single line of code.
Happy Building! Check out the GitHub repo for more details and/or to contribute to Mkfd’s development.
