What is Opengathyr

OpenGathyr is an open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that centralizes the management of content feeds by collecting, processing, and distributing RSS and Atom feeds. It serves as a comprehensive solution for feed ecosystems, enhancing traditional feed aggregation.

Use cases

Use cases for OpenGathyr include aggregating news from multiple sources, automating content updates for blogs, managing RSS feeds for podcasts, and enabling real-time content delivery for web applications.

How to use

To use OpenGathyr, clone the repository, install dependencies, configure environment variables in a .env file, build the project, and start the server. For Docker deployment, build the Docker image and run it in a container.

Key features

Key features include MCP tools integration, automated feed refreshing, content search across all feeds, dynamic feed management, easy environment configuration, Docker readiness for deployment, and a modular architecture for maintenance and extensibility.

Where to use

OpenGathyr can be used in various fields such as content management systems, news aggregation platforms, social media monitoring, and any application requiring efficient feed processing and distribution.

OpenGathyr

An open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) server powered by RSS feeds.

What is OpenGathyr?

OpenGathyr transforms how you manage content feeds by providing a centralized hub that collects, processes, and distributes RSS/Atom feeds. Unlike traditional aggregators, OpenGathyr functions as a complete Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for your feed ecosystem.

Key Features

• MCP Tools Integration: Expose RSS feed functionality through standardized Model Context Protocol tools
• Automated Feed Refreshing: Configurable periodic fetching of RSS feeds to ensure fresh content
• Content Search: Search across all RSS feeds with a unified query interface
• Feed Management: Add, remove, and list RSS feeds dynamically
• Environment Configuration: Easy setup using environment variables for feed sources and settings
• Docker Ready: Containerized deployment support for both local and production environments
• Modular Architecture: Cleanly separated components for easier maintenance and extensibility

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js 22.x or higher
• npm 7.x or higher
• Docker (optional, for containerized deployment)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/opengathyr.git
cd opengathyr

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Create a .env file with your configuration (see Configuration section)

4. Build the project:

npm run build

5. Start the server:

npm start

For development with auto-reload:

npm run dev

Docker Deployment

To run the server in a Docker container:

# Build the Docker image
docker build -t opengathyr .

# Run the container
docker run -it opengathyr

Configuration

The server can be configured using environment variables:

• MCP_SERVER_NAME: Name of the MCP server
• MCP_SERVER_VERSION: Version of the MCP server
• RSS_FEED_URL_1, RSS_FEED_URL_2, etc.: Individual RSS feed URLs (one URL per variable)
• RSS_REFRESH_INTERVAL: Refresh interval in milliseconds (default: 300000 = 5 minutes)
• RSS_MAX_ITEMS: Maximum number of items to keep per feed (default: 20)

Example .env file

MCP_SERVER_NAME=opengathyr
MCP_SERVER_VERSION=1.0.0

# RSS Feed URLs - one per line
RSS_FEED_URL_1=https://news.google.com/rss
RSS_FEED_URL_2=https://example.com/feed.xml
RSS_FEED_URL_3=https://another-site.org/rss

RSS_REFRESH_INTERVAL=300000
RSS_MAX_ITEMS=20

Available MCP Tools

get-feed

Retrieves the content from a specific feed.

Parameters:

• feedName: Name of the feed to retrieve

search-feeds

Searches across all configured feeds for matching content.

Parameters:

• query: Search term to look for in feed titles and content

list-feeds

Lists all currently configured feeds and their details.

Parameters: None

add-feed

Adds a new RSS feed to be monitored.

Parameters:

• name: Identifier for the feed
• url: URL of the RSS feed
• refreshInterval (optional): Refresh interval in milliseconds
• maxItems (optional): Maximum number of items to keep

remove-feed

Removes an RSS feed from monitoring.

Parameters:

• feedName: Name of the feed to remove

Using with VS Code

GitHub Copilot Integration

To use OpenGathyr with GitHub Copilot in VS Code, you need to configure it as an MCP server in your Copilot settings.

Setup Steps

1. Build the MCP Server:

   npm run build
   

2. Configure Copilot MCP Settings:

   Create or edit your Copilot configuration file. The location depends on your VS Code setup:

   • Windows: %APPDATA%\Code\User\globalStorage\github.copilot-chat\mcpServers.json
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/globalStorage/github.copilot-chat/mcpServers.json
   • Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/github.copilot-chat/mcpServers.json

   Add your OpenGathyr server configuration:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "opengathyr": {
         "command": "node",
         "args": [
           "dist/index.js"
         ],
         "cwd": "a:\\OpenGathyr",
         "env": {
           "MCP_SERVER_NAME": "opengathyr",
           "MCP_SERVER_VERSION": "1.0.0",
           "RSS_FEED_URL_1": "https://news.google.com/rss",
           "RSS_FEED_URL_2": "https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/rss.xml",
           "RSS_REFRESH_INTERVAL": "300000",
           "RSS_MAX_ITEMS": "20"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Restart VS Code to apply the configuration changes.

4. Verify Connection:

   Open GitHub Copilot Chat and try using the RSS feed tools:

   @opengathyr list-feeds
   @opengathyr get-feed news
   @opengathyr search-feeds "technology"
   

Available Commands in Copilot Chat

Once configured, you can use these commands in GitHub Copilot Chat:

• @opengathyr list-feeds - Lists all configured RSS feeds
• @opengathyr get-feed <feedName> - Gets content from a specific feed
• @opengathyr search-feeds <query> - Searches across all feeds
• @opengathyr add-feed <name> <url> - Adds a new RSS feed
• @opengathyr remove-feed <feedName> - Removes a feed

Example Usage

User: @opengathyr search-feeds "artificial intelligence"
Copilot: I'll search for AI-related content across your RSS feeds...

User: @opengathyr get-feed tech-news
Copilot: Here's the latest content from the tech-news feed...

Alternative: Direct MCP Client Usage

OpenGathyr includes a simple MCP client (src/client/mcp-client.ts) that can be used to interact with the MCP server for testing purposes.

Running the Client

Ensure the MCP server is not already running on the same port, then execute the client with:

npm run client

How It Works

The client:

1. Spawns a new instance of the MCP server as a child process
2. Sends a request to the list-feeds tool
3. Displays the formatted response
4. Automatically terminates the server after receiving the response

Modifying the Client

You can easily modify the client to test other MCP tools:

// Change the request to use a different tool
const request = {
  jsonrpc: '2.0',
  id: 1,
  method: 'tool',
  params: {
    name: 'get-feed',  // Change to any of the available tools
    params: {
      feedName: 'example-feed'  // Add required parameters for the tool
    }
  }
};

Available tools you can test:

• list-feeds: Lists all configured feeds (no parameters needed)
• get-feed: Gets content from a specific feed (requires feedName parameter)
• search-feeds: Searches across feeds (requires query parameter)
• add-feed: Adds a new feed (requires name and url parameters)
• remove-feed: Removes a feed (requires feedName parameter)

Example for searching feeds:

const request = {
  jsonrpc: '2.0',
  id: 1,
  method: 'tool',
  params: {
    name: 'search-feeds',
    params: {
      query: 'technology'
    }
  }
};

Use Cases

• AI Assistants: Integrate with LLM assistants via the Model Context Protocol to provide current news and information
• Content Aggregation: Centralize multiple RSS feeds into a single accessible interface
• News Monitoring: Track specific topics across multiple sources using the search functionality
• Headless CMS Integration: Feed dynamic content into websites and applications
• Research Tools: Collect and analyze content from multiple sources with a standardized API

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please see our Contributing Guide for details.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.