Personal RSS File Maker
A web browser is an HTML reader. It reads web page files
marked up with HTML code, then generates a web page with
fonts and colors and pictures and such according to the
HTML instructions.
An RSS reader is an XML reader. It reads RSS files marked
up with XML code, then generates a display with content
according to the XML instructions.
Although it is really an HTML reader, a web browser is
called a web browser in part because it browses the web
and displays web pages.
Although it is really an XML reader, an RSS reader is
called an RSS reader in part because it reads RSS versions
of XML files.
HTML tells software how to display content — what font to
use, where to get an image, how wide a column is, and so
forth.
XML identifies content for the software — what is the
title, what is the description, who is the author, and
so forth.
And that's about as far as the comparison can take us.
RSS is generally used to "syndicate" headlines and short
descriptions, with a link to more extensive content.
"Syndicate" is in quotes in the previous paragraph because
syndication traditionally means to provide content to other
publishers. As it's generally used in RSS, it means allowing
individuals to pull content to themselves. ("Pull" in the
sense that you see only what you ask for. Email, on the
other hand, would be "push" — it's pushed to you whether
or not you asked for it.)
RSP might be a better acronym than RSS, Really Simple Pull
instead of Really Simple Syndication.
Actually, it's not simple at all. It's complex.
Studying the XML markup used for RSS is for those with geek
in their natures, along with a touch of nerd. Otherwise,
eyes glaze over and brains fog up.
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss contains
specifications.
Software can reduce the complexity.
Such is the software we make available to you, the readers
of this particular article, at no charge. It's CGI, and
is available by clicking this link.
Instructions are included.
Install it like a normal CGI program.
Use it by filling in a form and clicking a button. An XML
file is then created that can be read by RSS readers.
This software is template driven:
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You fill in the form and submit it to the CGI
program.
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The CGI program grabs a copy of the template and
plugs in the submitted information. It's then
saved to your server at the URL you specified
in the form.
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You make the URL available to individuals and to
aggregators (software or services that aggregate
some or lots of RSS information into one place).
Using the form removes the previous content and replaces
it with the latest form information.
Because it's template driven, additional content elements
can be added as desired. If you make changes to the
template, validate the resulting RSS file to make sure
it complies with the specifications. A validator is
located at http://rss.scripting.com/
Many people use aggregators to find new RSS URLs to pull
into their own RSS readers. It's a way to get your
information read.
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/directory/5/aggregators
lists aggregators. http://thomaskorte.com/feedsubmitter/
has a form to submit RSS file URLs to over a dozen RSS
aggregators all at once.
http://my.yahoo.com/ and http://my.msn.com/ both allow you
to add RSS feeds to your portal page. Add the Possibilities
/index.xml RSS URL to see how it's
done. Then imagine your own feed appearing there, too.
Will Bontrager
©2005 Bontrager Connection, LLC
Please note:
Articles on this website are presented "as is". However -
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