# RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

As of 2006, <span class="caps">UCLA</span>.edu has a [<span class="caps">RSS</span> Feeds &amp; Podcast Directory](http://www.ucla.edu/rss/) to promote and encourage syndication.

## What is <span class="caps">RSS</span>?

<span class="caps">RSS</span> is a free, simplified format for syndicating news and content. <span class="caps">RSS</span> feeds are utilized by many major news sites like <span class="caps">CNN</span> and Yahoo! through to the <span class="caps">UCLA</span> community like the Daily Bruin and Media Relations. Each feed breaks down the most recent updates: headline, summary and link for each update.

## Why use <span class="caps">RSS</span>?

It’s easier, faster access to updated content from your favorite sites. By subscribing to or bookmarking feeds that you want, your reader or browser will translate code to readable links, updated automatically when new content is available from each subscription.

## Using <span class="caps">RSS</span>

You can display feeds on several kinds of personalized web sites or a desktop/mobile application. You usually need to copy-and-paste the feed’s <span class="caps">URL</span>, but for online readers you may find links that simplify the process in the form of “add to…”

- Online 
    - [Bloglines](http://www.bloglines.com/), [<span class="caps">RSS</span> Reader](http://www.rssreader.com/), [Blogspace Readers](http://blogspace.com/rss/readers), [Feedreader](http://www.feedreader.com/)
    - [Personalized Google](http://www.google.com/), [MyYahoo](http://my.yahoo.com/)
- Desktop/mobile reader 
    - For PC: [SharpReader](http://www.sharpreader.net/) (free)
    - For Mac: [NetNewsWire Lite](http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/) (free)
    - Help using a reader? [C|<span class="caps">NET</span>](http://www.download.com/How-to-read-RSS-feeds/1200-2001-5123544.html?tag=rss) has a tutorial.
- An <span class="caps">RSS</span>-compliant web browser or available plug-in. 
    - [Firefox](http://www.getfirefox.com/) – in the Address Bar, when available, click the orange <span class="caps">RSS</span> icon at the top right to add a [Live Bookmark](http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/livebookmarks.html); this creates a folder with usually 15 links, which are the latest headlines from the particular site
    - [Internet Explorer](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/) – [Feeds Toolbar for IE](http://www.download.com/RSS-Feeds-Toolbar-for-Microsoft-Internet-Explorer/3000-9227_4-10408340.html?tag=lst-0-1) (free)
    - [Safari](http://www.apple.com/safari/) – in the Address Bar, when available, click the word “<span class="caps">RSS</span>” to add the feed to your browser

## Authoring <span class="caps">RSS</span>

- Programming 
    - <span class="caps">PHP</span> or [<span class="caps">PHP</span>/MySQL](http://www.webreference.com/authoring/languages/xml/rss/custom_feeds/)
    - <span class="caps">ASP</span>/.<span class="caps">NET</span>
    - [ColdFusion](http://www.sitepoint.com/article/content-syndication-coldfusion)
    - Commercial apps like [FeedForAll](http://www.feedforall.com/)
    - Hand-coding
- Validating 
    - [W3C Feed Validation](http://validator.w3.org/feed/)
- Design 
    - Proposed standard [icons](http://www.feedicons.com/)
- Analytics / Subscribers 
    - Free/premium web apps like [FeedBurner](http://www.feedburner.com/)
- Parsing / Displaying on your web site in <span class="caps">HTML</span>
    - <span class="caps">PHP</span> with [SimplePie](http://www.simplepie.org/), [Magpie](http://magpierss.sourceforge.net/) and others
    - <span class="caps">ASP</span>/.<span class="caps">NET</span>
    - ColdFusion
    - Ruby on Rails

## Additional Resources

[<span class="caps">UCLA</span>.edu <span class="caps">RSS</span> Resources](http://www.ucla.edu/rss/resources.html)  
[<span class="caps">RSS</span> 2.0 Specifications](http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss)  
[Example Code](http://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/article.php/2175271)  
[<span class="caps">SOAP</span> meets <span class="caps">RSS</span>](http://www.thetwowayweb.com/soapmeetsrss)  
[Introduction to <span class="caps">RSS</span>](http://www.webreference.com/authoring/languages/xml/rss/intro/)