`-config-dump` prints incorrect values for some keys

[xfzv]

% miniflux -i
Version: 2.1.1
Commit: 382885f
Build Date: 2024-03-10T17:53:43+0000
Go Version: go1.22.0
Compiler: gc
Arch: amd64
OS: linux

% cat "/etc/miniflux.conf"
RUN_MIGRATIONS=1
DATABASE_URL="user=postgres password=postgres dbname=miniflux2 sslmode=disable"
CLEANUP_ARCHIVE_READ_DAYS=30
FETCH_ODYSEE_WATCH_TIME=1
FETCH_YOUTUBE_WATCH_TIME=1

"Global configuration options" section in "Settings > About" displays correct settings. However, I noticed that % miniflux -config-dump seems to print default values instead of those set in /etc/miniflux.conf.

A diff between what is displayed in "Global configuration options" and what % miniflux -config-dump prints.

• +/green = from "Global configuration options" (correct)
• -/red = from -config-dump (incorrect)

+ CLEANUP_ARCHIVE_READ_DAYS=30
- CLEANUP_ARCHIVE_READ_DAYS=60

+ FETCH_ODYSEE_WATCH_TIME=true
- FETCH_ODYSEE_WATCH_TIME=false

+ FETCH_YOUTUBE_WATCH_TIME=true
- FETCH_YOUTUBE_WATCH_TIME=false

+ RUN_MIGRATIONS=true
- RUN_MIGRATIONS=false

Am I missing something?

[xfzv]

Turns out

% miniflux -config-dump -c "/etc/miniflux.conf"

prints the correct values.

Maybe this is the expected behavior? i.e -config-dump prints default values and adding -c, --config-file /path/to/miniflux.conf prints values from miniflux.conf

From the man page:

OPTIONS
       -config-dump
           Print parsed configuration values. This will include sensitive information like passwords.

To me, -config-dump should print whatever is in /etc/miniflux.conf without having to add -c, --config-file /path/to/miniflux.conf (due to the sensitive information warning).

[fguillot]

This is the intended behavior. By default, Miniflux parses only environment variables. The configuration file is optional and need to be specified explicitly.

The official Docker image, and the RPM/Debian packages uses only environment variables by default.

I would be happy to improve the docs if it's not clear.

[xfzv]

Thank you for the details!

I'm using Miniflux on Gentoo / Arch Linux so I went with miniflux systemd service + /etc/miniflux.conf. That's why I thought the values were not parsed correctly.

[privatmamtora]

@fguillot yes, the docs do need an update. I was following the Debian doc, and currently the "Configure Miniflux" steps are wrong.

Step #2 & #3 end up using the default DATABASE_URL value, not the variable set in Step #1.

Steps #2 & #3 needs to be updated to miniflux -migrate -config-file /etc/miniflux.conf and miniflux -create-admin -config-file /etc/miniflux.conf respectively.

Maybe there could be a separate "configure service" and "configure user" section.