anyone good at writing dynamic rss feeds with php?

[sothis]

i've posted in various forums like phpfreaks before, but rarely get results i'm after. since there are a lot of techies here, i thought i'd try my luck?

i am familiar with how to use a php file to write an rss feed, but unsure on how to write a dynamic one that a reader can use.

for example, i know in theory i could just have a php file with variables passed into it, that then writes out stuff dynamically. but, i've seen sites where the file appears to be rss based.

i know how to use mod_rewrite in a super basic manner to change php urls to html, but am not familiar with how to do it for rss feeds. i'm also wondering what the best solution would be for how to craft the "fake" url. (for example, if you are getting updates from a specific user when they do something, would it be best to say whatever.rss?vars, or site.com/var/whatever.rss, etc?)

confusing question, but i'm curious if anyone out there is an expert with this kind of stuff and could help out :)

[burnt]

lo and behold, someone to talk to about my job.

my company researches all hardware and software purchases, when they're purchased for use with a new project. everything. laptops, servers, routers, email software, database software, everything.

someone mentioned how cool "web 2.0" is so now I'm researching mashups and other web-enabled single-location multi-user composition tools.

here's a shit load of stuff I found. one of em should be a pretty useful click & drag app maker that does exactly what your looking for. most of these are free:

RSSBus Feed Server http://www.rssbus.com/
RSSBus Desktop http://www.rssbus.com/
Apache Roller 2.0.1 http://rollerweblogger.org/project/
Apache Roller 2.0.2 http://rollerweblogger.org/project/
Apache Roller 2.1 http://rollerweblogger.org/project/
Apache Roller 2.1.1 http://rollerweblogger.org/project/
Apache Roller 2.3 http://rollerweblogger.org/project/
Apache Roller 3.1 http://rollerweblogger.org/project/
b2evolution 1.10.0 "Miami" http://b2evolution.net/
b2evolution 1.10.1 "Orlando" http://b2evolution.net/
b2evolution 1.10.2 "Florida" http://b2evolution.net/
b2evolution 1.9.3 "Rainforest" http://b2evolution.net/
b2evolution Skins 2.0 http://b2evolution.net/
b2evolution User Permissions 2.0 http://b2evolution.net/
bBlog 0.7.6 http://www.bblog.com/
Beta-Blogger Simple Sample Blog http://www.umsu.de/beta-blogger/
BLOG:CMS v3.0 http://blogcms.com
blojsom 2.0 http://wiki.blojsom.com/wiki/display/blojsom/About+blojsom
blojsom 3.2 http://wiki.blojsom.com/wiki/display/blojsom/About+blojsom
blojsom Quickstart 3.0 http://wiki.blojsom.com/wiki/display/blojsom/About+blojsom
Blosxom v2.0 http://blosxom.sourceforge.net/
Blosxom v2.0 for Mac http://blosxom.sourceforge.net/
Community Server 2007 http://communityserver.org/
Community Server v1.0 http://communityserver.org/
Community Server v1.1 http://communityserver.org/
Community Server v2.0 http://communityserver.org/
Community Server v2.1 http://communityserver.org/
DotClear v1.2.5 http://www.dotclear.net/en/
Drupal v4.7.6 http://drupal.org/
Drupal v5.1 http://drupal.org/
Drupal v6 http://drupal.org/
Horizon Blogging Software v1.0 http://www.edgedrive.com/
Elgg http://elgg.org/
ExpressionEngine Core v1.6 http://expressionengine.com/
ExpressionEngine Multiple Site Manager v1.0 http://expressionengine.com/
FlatPress 0.612 http://flatpress.nowhereland.it/
Leggero CSS http://flatpress.nowhereland.it/
Geeklog CAPTCHA v2.1.2 http://www.geeklog.net/
Geeklog Chatterblock v3.0.1 http://www.geeklog.net/
Geeklog Ewiki v1.2 http://www.geeklog.net/
Geeklog Forum Plugin v2.6 http://www.geeklog.net/
Geeklog Media Gallery v1.4.8 http://www.geeklog.net/
Geeklog v1.4.1 http://www.geeklog.net/
IBM Lotus Connections http://www-142.ibm.com/software/sw-lotus/products/product3.nsf/wdocs/connectionshome
LifeType v1.2.3 Noh-Varr http://www.lifetype.net/
Mephisto 0.5 Thanos http://www.mephistoblog.com/
Mephisto 0.6 Immortus http://www.mephistoblog.com/
Mephisto 0.6.1 Immortus http://www.mephistoblog.com/
Mephisto 0.7 Noh-Varr http://www.mephistoblog.com/
Mephisto 0.7.1 Noh-Varr http://www.mephistoblog.com/
Mephisto 0.7.2 Noh-Varr http://www.mephistoblog.com/
Mephisto 0.7.3 Noh-Varr http://www.mephistoblog.com/
Windows Live Writer 2.0 http://get.live.com/betas/writer_betas
Nucleus v3.24 http://www.nucleuscms.org/
Pivot v1.40 http://www.pivotlog.net/
Pivot v1.43 http://www.pivotlog.net/
pMachine Pro v2.3 http://pmachine.com/pmachine.pro
PyBlosxom v1.2 http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/
PyBlosxom v1.2.1 http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/
PyBlosxom v1.2.2 http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/
PyBlosxom v1.3 http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/
PyBlosxom v1.3.1 http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/
PyBlosxom v1.3.2 http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/
PyBlosxom v1.3.3 http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/
Serendipity v1.1.3 http://www.s9y.org/
Serendipity v1.1.3 LITE http://www.s9y.org/
Serendipity v1.2 http://www.s9y.org/
SimpleLog v2.0.2 http://simplelog.net/
MovableType v3.35 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/
MovableType v3.35 Enterprise http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/
MovableType v4.0 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/
Slash v2.2.6 http://www.slashcode.com/
Subtext v1.9.5 http://subtextproject.com/
Textpattern v4.0.4 http://textpattern.com/
Traction TeamPage v3.7.3 http://traction.tractionsoftware.com/traction
Typo v4.1 http://www.typosphere.org/
Radio UserLand v8.1 http://radio.userland.com/
WordPress v2.2.1 http://wordpress.org/

[burnt]

that last batch was blog development tools, but a lot of them let you send your blogs to cell phones, etc. RSS feeds, that sort of thing.

here's some composition tools, with the click & drag "code-writing" interface:

Gobby v0.4.0 http://gobby.0x539.de/
Above All Studio http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All SOA Repository http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All Knowledge Packs http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All Multi-channel Deployment http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All Composite Application Platform http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Adobe Contribute CS3 http://www.adobe.com/products/contribute/
CodeWright http://www.borland.com.tr/tr/products/codewright/index.html
AutoVue http://www.cimmetry.com/index.html
AutoVue 3D Pro - SME http://www.cimmetry.com/index.html
AutoVue EDA http://www.cimmetry.com/index.html
AutoVue Professional http://www.cimmetry.com/index.html
AutoVue Software Suite http://www.cimmetry.com/index.html
AutoVue SolidModel http://www.cimmetry.com/index.html
AutoVue SolidModel Pro http://www.cimmetry.com/index.html
FormFactory http://www.dreamfactory.com/formfactory/index.html
E Text Editor http://www.e-texteditor.com/
IBM Info 2.0 http://www-306.ibm.com/software/info/web20/
IBM Lotus Connections http://www.ibm.com/lotus/connections
IBM Lotus Expeditor http://www-142.ibm.com/software/sw-lotus/products/product1.nsf/wdocs/expeditor
IBM Lotus Quickr v8 http://www-142.ibm.com/software/sw-lotus/products/product3.nsf/wdocs/quickr
IBM WebSphere Portal http://www.ibm.com/software/info1/websphere/index.jsp?tab=landings/portalbuzz
IBM WebSphere Portlet Factory http://www-306.ibm.com/software/genservers/portletfactory/index.html?S_TACT=105AD02W&S_CMP=campaign
Laszlo Webtop http://www.laszlosystems.com/software/webtop
Groove Networks http://www.groove.net/
Microsoft Popfly http://www.popfly.ms/
DocSynch http://docsynch.sourceforge.net/
MoonEdit http://moonedit.com/index.html.en
OutStart SoftSim http://www.outstart.com/index.html
Oracle WebCenter
Appexchange http://www.salesforce.com/appexchange
A Collaborative Editor (ACE) http://ace.sourceforge.net/
SubEthaEdit http://www.codingmonkeys.de/subethaedit/
WebMethods Access http://www.webmethods.com/Products/CAF/Access

[burnt]

and last but not least, mashup development tools. if you're trying to take pre-existing php "code" and have viewers review the content thru some tried & true pre-existing format, you can (fairly) easily create it with these:

IBM QEDWiki http://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/qedwiki/
Above All Studio http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All SOA Repository http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All Knowledge Packs http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All Multi-channel Deployment http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Above All Composite Application Platform http://www.aboveallsoftware.com/
Adobe Flex Builder v2.0 http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/
Data Mashups Online Service http://applibase.com/products.html & http://datamashups.com/
Bea WebLogic Portal v9.2 http://www.bea.com/framework.jsp?CNT=index.htm&FP=/content/products/weblogic/portal/
Bea WebLogic Portal v10 http://www.bea.com/framework.jsp?CNT=index.htm&FP=/content/products/weblogic/portal/
Bea WebLogic Portlet Publisher (Adrenaline) http://wlp.bea.com/
Dapper http://www.dapper.net/
Kapow Mashup Server http://www.kapowtech.com/products.html
OpenLaszlo v4.0 http://www.laszlosystems.com/software/openlaszlo
RSSBus Feed Server http://www.rssbus.com/
RSSBus Desktop http://www.rssbus.com/
Nexaweb Enterprise Web 2.0 http://www.nexaweb.com/home/us/index.html
Oracle WebCenter http://www.oracle.com/products/middleware/webcenter.html
Microsoft Popfly http://www.popfly.ms/
Microsoft Office SharePoint 2007 http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/products/office/sharepoint-designer/default.aspx
eProject PPM6 http://www.eproject.com/products/index.htm
eProject Pmexpress http://www.eproject.com/products/pmexpress/index.htm
OrgView http://www.dreamfactory.com/orgview/index.html
Carousel http://www.dreamfactory.com/carousel/index.html
WebMeeting Mashup http://www.dreamfactory.com/webmeetingmashup/index.html
Appexchange http://www.salesforce.com/appexchange

[burnt]

I'm probably gonna delete those in about a day or so. you might want to copy/paste that.

good luck.

[yewzer]

web 2.0 MLM dreams. mugs for thugs dot net ya heard?

[burnt]

dude, I literally spent a week "debating" with my boss that you don't like, download and install a blogging or wiki application and run it by yourself unplugged from the internet. a fucking week. I was like "sure I can find you the apps you need, but a lot of the apps are just gonna be URLs, just website names."

he was kind of pissed "what do you mean, website addresses? I don't want websites, I want the tools!"

I guess he was looking for a list of products like
myspace v1.0
myspace v1.3
myspace v2.0

etc.

****
web 2.0 is going to take a few steps backwards once the old people with money decide to start playing. kind of like the internet started sucking once old people with money got access to AOL.

[yewzer]

MUGS FOR THUGS

[sothis]

thanks for these great resources, burnt!

i think more of what i was looking for was how to write them myself (as opposed to having a tool do it for me). i'm really good with php (and getting php to write an rss feed, while in the constraints of a php file), i'm just not sure what the best solution is for doing something like changing mod_rewrite to change the url, best practices for the structuring of the name, etc.

off hand, do you know of anything in your lists that would help with this knowledge? i will have some time to thoroughly digest them this weekend, so no worries, i'll look myself too... just wondering if you have a good starting point :)

[burnt]

I *think* some of the DreamFactory apps might be right up your alley then. they're more like thin templates for writing (and/or modifying, duplicating, deploying with different/unique rules for different users, etc) your own php-based apps very quickly, rather than like a click & drag utility for creating individual stand-alone or one-of-a-kind php-based mashups (like the Adobe Contribute, MS PopFly, etc)

truth be told though, I'm not much of a php junkie. I was told to compile a list, not become knowledgeable about everything in the list. I'll probably do that next, become knowledgeable about every one of those apps, just to make myself more valuable... but right now I don't know shit about 3/4 of the stuff I submitted. =)

there might be some hidden gems in there, or they might all be useless to you. you would probably be better off just clicking the links and looking for what you think would work.

I'm a Content guy for an IT Market Intelligence company... not a traditional IT guy. I know "just enough to be dangerous" about pretty much every single hardware & software product category you can think of, including consulting service categories. but there are only a few categories that I like to think I'm very knowledgeable about. Application Development Tools isn't one of those categories (yet).