RSS feeds

[maxximilian]

Hi folks....

I am building a new website and I am considering using RSS feeds as news sources. In the past I have used javascript feeds that pulled in headlines and such. What is the difference between these two methods...and how do I use RSS feeds? Does my server need special configuration that I would need to check with the host?

[JPnyc]

Well if they put an RSS icon then no, you don't need to check. Javascript is still needed to pull the feed and make it formattable. I like this (http://jade.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/feed/) one.

[ecross]

RSS feeds are created in XML. You can easily create your own RSS feeds or use RSS builders to do this. With a RSS reader, you can pull all of your feeds into one program you stay up to date with all of the information rather than having to go look for it. IE7 has a built-in RSS reader and so does Outlook 2007.

[JPnyc]

But he wants to add it to his website. For that he'll need a script like the one I liked to

[maxximilian]

Can you get free feeds from news sites like CNN or Reuters?

Essentially....I want to have a news site where I write some of the content...but the daily news is taken care of automatically. Also....do the RSS feeds work like the javascript ones I used....where you just get a headline that links to the story, or is the story actually displayed on my site in its entirety? That is what I am looking for....

[JPnyc]

With the script I linked, you have a certain amount of control. You can have the headline, the timestamp, and a blurb, but no, not the entire story. That's the script I used for this site's RSS

[ecross]

You can subscribe to RSS feeds on CNN.com and Reuters if you like.

http://www.cnn.com/services/rss/

http://today.reuters.com/rss/newsrss.aspx

[maxximilian]

So it doesn't look like there is a whole lot of difference between the javascripts I was using....and this RSS stuff? I know there is technical difference, but the display is still going to only give me a headline link and a blurb? :(

[Crimson Blonde]

The only difference is we updated the feed vs the site your feed is coming from updating it. ...... you will only get a blurb and link darlin.

here are some of the most popular feeds right now

http://www.bloglines.com/topblogs

[JPnyc]

To reproduce the entire article, I think you would need permission anyway. If they give you an RSS feed, ya have to take what they're willing to give.

[maxximilian]

OK...looks like I had the wrong idea of what an RSS news feed was. In short I was dumb.....LOL :eek: :D

I thought it was more comprehensive than what I had used before. I still may try it, though.

Do they also send images through RSS feeds? That was something I noticed with the javascripts I used....text only.

[JPnyc]

No, it's text only. Images might be possible if they included them in the XML but that would put more strain on their server and they probably wouldn't allow it.

[Crimson Blonde]

I haven't seen any that use images ..... the ones I have used don't

[maxximilian]

Thanks for all the quick replies folks..... :)

I may have to rethink my original design now since the feeds are much more limited than I thought.

[Crimson Blonde]

You are welcome... it was actually something I knew a little something about :D



Shocking .... I know :D

[maxximilian]

Stick around....you'll be a techie in no time..... :cool:

[Crimson Blonde]

I'm reading everything .... so hopefully something will rub off :D



*edit* ...... I'm not going anywhere :D

[Tuttle]

RSS content is supposed to be treated as escaped HTML, so there's nothing to stop them putting in:<img>http://path/to/image.png</img%gt;and expecting feed readers to render it. The Register does this to put banner ads in their feeds, and one comic I subscribe to does it to make the newest strip show up in the feed reader.

Ultimately, an RSS feed is one of 9 slightly incompatible ways (http://diveintomark.org/archives/2004/02/04/incompatible-rss) to pass data around, that just happens to be suitable for news. What a particular publisher includes is up to them, and what you do with what you get is up to you.

There's a specification here (http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification) if you want an idea of what can be included in RSS if the publisher wants.

[maxximilian]

Forgot to give you guys an update..... :o

I just could not find a javascript news feed or RSS feed that suited my purpose. So instead of reporting the news....we are making it up, instead. More fun that way too... :D

Thanks for all the replies.... :)

[JPnyc]

Did you check out this one?: http://jade.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/feed/

[maxximilian]

Yeah...I did....thanks. The problem I was running into was the sources. None would give me a full headline article...just teasers and blurbs.

As I say....I am having more fun writing the articles (The onion-style) anyway. :D

I may still add the RSS feed for "real news" at some point.....but it won't be the centerpiece of the main page that I was thinking about earlier.

[Crimson Blonde]

As I say....I am having more fun writing the articles (The onion-style) anyway

and they are very funny maxx ..... but I have already told you that :D