dnews

√app«dnews

Web Developer News

Using PHP and MagpieRSS to present Dynamic News Feeds

In my ongoing quest to demonstrate how the resources I review using the drx application are both pragmatic and worthwhile, I present RSS News feeds for Web developers from a number of different sources, and in several categories. I tweak this list often, so stay tuned. Suggestions are also welcome.

Although wrapping dnews as an application object took a little work, the engine behind actually fetching the news items is the MagpieRSS PHP feed parser (via Expat). Magpie supports RSS 0.9x, 1.0, 2.0 and most Atom format feeds. Installing and getting it working was incredibly easy. The Magpie library is very simple to use, but be warned of the old adage “garbage in = garbage out,” meaning pick your sources carefully and check them out by hand before plugging the results into your own pages. This is especially important if you are using XHTML like I am, or you can easily break your site.

On the bright side, since the results are cached, once an update is fetched (by anyone, not necessary you), the items are displayed very quickly. Not only does this improve the quality of the user’s experience, it is also good practice in order to avoid hammering your sources with requests.

On an even brighter note, I spent approximately one afternoon implementing this application. In addition to MagpieRSS, Feedview and the RSS Feed Validator were also very useful while developing dnews. Enjoy.

By popular demand, I have published a document which describes how this application was built. Visit the Howto MagpieRSS tutorial for more information.

RSS Channel Selector

Developer Blogs

1. Five Signs that You’re Ready to Freelance Full-time

Are you ready to start freelancing full-time? There's no magic formula for freelancing readiness, but as Georgina explains, there are some clear signs that suggest you're ready to go it alone. Related PostsThree Strategies for Managing Social Networks and a Full-Time Job How to Manage Postpurchase Dissonance in Your Freelance Clients 99designs Launches Ready-made Logo Store Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:37:29 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=5a23bb127241524b237360897a1c3...
2. iPhone Basics: Memory Management

Do you want to get started on iPhone development? One of the first things you will stumble upon is memory management. But don't worry, Andrew explains why it is necessary and how to allocate and release objects correctly. Related PostsA List of Realistic Email Management Strategies That Just May Work Announcing a New Series on Business Start-up Basics How to Identify an Apple iPhone, iPod or iPad Visitor to Your Website Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:57:27 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=c472fab328e35fa83ad060cdd0427...
3. Are You Strategic?

Thinking strategically can make you more confident, improve your leadership skills, help you problem-solve, and give you the tools you need to make better decisions. Alyssa guides you through analyzing your strategic thinking ability. Related PostsHow to Harness Your Creativity for More Effective Problem Solving How to Use a SWOT Analysis to Blast Your Business Out of Complacency Check the Rear-View Mirror Before Proceeding into 2010 Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:30:40 GMT
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4. H.264 Is Royalty-Free: Will it Become the HTML5 Video Stan...

MPEG LA has announced that web streaming of H.264 video files will remain free forever. Could it become the single most reliable format for HTML5? Related PostsGoogle Announces New WebM Video Standard, Open-Sources VP8 The Dark Side of HTML 5 Video Web Directions Reflections, part 3: HTML5 with Bruce Lawson and Remy Sharp Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:18:40 GMT
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5. 7 Ways to Keep It Together With Work When You’re Sick

What happens when you're sick and you can't take a sick day because you work for yourself? Alyssa has a few suggestions for limping through successfully until you resurface healthy again. Related PostsBoundaries vs. Barriers: 3 Ways to Set Limits without Losing Work Get Back to Work: It&#8217;s Time to Shake Off the Holidays 5 Ways to Maintain Client Relationships Long After the Work is Complete Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:41:37 GMT
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6. Save The United Airlines Iconic Tulip

A group of people who love the United Airlines tulip logo have created a Facebook page to voice their concerns over the change to Continental Airline's globe logo. Related PostsA Flag For The United States Of Europe Happy 50th Birthday Psycho Sign-Up to Save MySQL? Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:00:39 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=bc72688b81db466afcd1130b50156...
7. How to Roll Your Own JavaScript Compressor with PHP and th...

Craig illustrates how a few lines of PHP and the Closure Compiler API can be used to automatically merge and compress your JavaScript files before they are returned to the browser. Related PostsEasy JavaScript Compression with the Closure Compiler REST API Google Releases its JavaScript Closure Tools Google Closure: How not to write JavaScript Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:21:25 GMT
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8. How to Build Momentum in Your Business

Momentum can be a great way to prevent falling into a rut. Alyssa shares a few of the ways she builds and maintains momentum in her business. What works for you? Related PostsBuild Websites that Take Care of Business with Adobe Business Catalyst The Top 30 New Year&#8217;s Resolutions for Business How to Use a SWOT Analysis to Blast Your Business Out of Complacency Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:18:30 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=68544d487b853f2bcf327d1ef66a0...
9. Easy JavaScript Compression with the Closure Compiler REST...

Are you still merging and compressing JavaScript files by hand? Craig reveals how you could automate your work-flow using the new Closure Compiler REST API. Related PostsHow to Roll Your Own JavaScript Compressor with PHP and the Closure Compiler Google Releases its JavaScript Closure Tools Google Closure: How not to write JavaScript Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:11:52 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=c0b27cf7d1b3012c23d4783a6c200...
10. Use Channels To Create A Silhouette In Photoshop

Jennifer demonstrates how to use the Channel panel in Photoshop to make a selection and turn it into a silhouette. Related PostsCreate A Studio Style Backdrop In Photoshop Create The Effect Of A Multiple Photo Collage In Photoshop Create Inset-Style Type In Photoshop Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:39:41 GMT
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11. I Love a Good Challenge

My colleagues have laid down a challenge and I need your help to achieve it. Come on community, get behind me! Related Posts5 of the Best Facebook Fan Page Apps for User Engagement The People Behind SitePoint 12 Reasons You Need a Facebook Fan Page and 5 Easy Steps for Creating One Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:35:28 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=e935fa9d73f819d76a30fbbc29691...
12. SitePoint Podcast #76: Wicked WordPress Themes with Allan ...

WordPress themes: creating, planning, frameworks, GPL, selling, and more! Brad Williams interviews Allan Cole and Jeffrey Way, two of the four authors of SitePoint’s new book, Build Your Own Wicked WordPress Themes. Related PostsSitePoint Podcast #74: WordPress Themes with Nathan Rice and Cory Miller WordPress: Taking the Word By Storm SitePoint Podcast #56: Professional WordPress with Brad Williams, David Damstra, and Hal Stern Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:39:24 GMT
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13. IE9 Screenshot Leaked to the Web

Has a Microsoft subsidiary accidentally leaked a screenshot of Internet Explorer 9? Craig examines the image and concludes that, if it's a fake, it's a very good one. Related PostsShould Browser Tabs be Above or Below the Address Bar? IE9 Beta Release &#8211; September 15, 2010 Microsoft Reveal IE9 Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:37:21 GMT
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14. Simultaneous Multiple-Browser JavaScript Testing With Yeti

JavaScript unit testing on different browsers will become less of a chore with Yeti - a new open source project from the Yahoo YUI team. Related PostsPerformance Testing Comes Back With Boomerang Is SuperPreview a Superstar? Browser Testing in Expression Web 4 Why Windows 7 Will Revolutionize Your Browser Testing Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:03:07 GMT
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15. Sketchnoting UX Australia 2010: Day 2

If you enjoyed Matt's sketches from day 1 of the UX Australia conference, here are a few more from the second and final day. Related PostsSketchnoting UX Australia 2010: Day 1 Win a Free Ticket to UX Australia 2010! UX Australia 2010: and the Winner is&#8230;.. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:06:28 GMT
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16. Five Beautiful Free Fonts From Conqueror Paper

Conqueror have commissioned five new typefaces which they are giving away for free. And they're lovely. Related PostsThe Decorative Typeface 8 Free Stylish Fonts From Typographers On Behance Ten Free Display Fonts From The Behance Network Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:20:09 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=701e9791cdce6d6fa5a82c8faf666...
17. Friday Link Round-up: Periodic HTML5 Problems and Pac-Man ...

Relax as Craig guides you through a random set of stories and links including the HTML5 periodic table, the innerShiv solution, Firefox 4 beta 4, Safari extensions and everything you could ever want to know about Pac-Man. Related PostsWho Needs Flash? CSS3 Animated Spider-Man Cartoon 5 Reasons Why You Can Use HTML5 Today Google Releases Chrome 4.0 Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:57:06 GMT
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18. The Heavy Metal Band Site

Jennifer takes a look at web sites of the "old-school" heavy metal bands and finds the design of many of them are indeed old-school. Related PostsCreate An Easy Sophisticated Metal Type In Photoshop With Layer Styles Is Your Site A Fast Loader? Google Rankings Now Affected By Site Speed 5 Places To Find Design Inspiration For Your Site Offline Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:25:18 GMT
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19. Will You Use ShareThis for Social Media Analytics?

ShareThis adds a new analytics feature to their standard sharing button. Alyssa looks at the new functionality and asks: "Will you use ShareThis for the social media analytics?" Related PostsHow to Create a Personal Social Media Policy 7 Blogs for Keeping Up with Social Media News 8 Social Media Marketing Tips for Companies Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:26:13 GMT
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20. Google Adds Free Telephone Voice Calls to GMail

You can now call a standard land-line telephone from your GMail account. The free service is being rolled out to US customers, but Craig reveals a loophole which may allow international usage. Related Posts7 Free Teleconference Services New GMail System Helps Prevent Email Embarrassment 10 of the Best Free Webmail Services Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:34:50 GMT
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21. My Collection of Business Tools I Could Not Live Without

Alyssa shares her must-have services, tools and apps for managing the day-to-day activities of her business. What's on your must-have list? Related PostsFive New Tools for Maximizing Facebook 4 Twitter Tools to Make Your Followers Happy 13 Tools to Back Up Your Social Media Content Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:38:35 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=e491b2de228aa838ffcdc9e0e3c19...
22. Sketchnoting UX Australia 2010: Day 1

At the annual UX Australia conference in Melbourne, Australia, Matt tried his hand at sketchnoting many of the presentations. What do you think? Related PostsSketchnoting UX Australia 2010: Day 2 Win a Free Ticket to UX Australia 2010! UX Australia 2010: and the Winner is&#8230;.. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:28:59 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=b52cbd0edaba3176105de09b419c6...
23. Create Free Customized Maps For Your Sites With Polymaps

Polymaps is a new site with a free, open source set of tools and map engines that allow designers and developers to manipulate their data in the browser to produce cool maps from country level right down to street level. Related PostsNokia Offers Free Google Maps Alternative Free Adobe Illustrator User Interface Design Framework Create Inset-Style Type In Photoshop Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:54:12 GMT
URI:http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=f0eea1d21c71e92c9df4b42f7454a...
24. Guide to Wordpress’s Custom Write Panels

Custom Write Panels can help you leverage the power of WordPress 3.0's custom post types to even greater effect. Mark shows you how to wield them, so your clients will see you as a true WordPress wizard. Related PostsHow to Use the New Custom Menu Feature in WordPress 3.0 How to Make WordPress Easier for Clients, Part 1: Custom Branding How to Control Post Revisions in WordPress Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:42:56 GMT
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25. 21 Market Research Tips

Alyssa continues her focus on market research with 21 tips for conducing effective market research and making sure the time, energy and money you're investing is well spent. Related PostsDo-It-Yourself Market Research 23 Tips for Conducting a Successful Teleconference How to Revamp Your Marketing Perspective Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Published: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:35:59 GMT
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