Blogs / RSS Feeds / Feed Readers
How do Blogs, RSS Feeds, and Feed Readers really work? What do they look like? This page contains some live examples of what all the pieces look like.
Step 1: The Blog
Usually the process starts with a blog. I will use one of my blogs as an example. The Blog is called SOHO Computer Support.
The Blog
Small Office / Home Office Computer Support Blog
The graphic above is just a fancy blog graphic.
Step 2: The RSS Feed
The Blogger service creates the feed.
This is the RSS Feed from the SOHO Computer Support Blog.
Please note. After selecting the feed, right click and view source.
The RSS Feed
The SOHO Computer Support RSS Feed
Notes:
- I use the blogging service Blogger to create the Blog.
- Blogger creates an Atom Feed automatically.
- I use Feedburner to create an RSS Feed from the Atom feed.
- RSS feeds are a type of XML files.
Step 3: The Feed Reader
The Feed Reader reads the RSS feed.
There are many kinds of feed readers.
- Some work with Outlook.
- Some are standalone products.
- Some like Yahoo gather the feeds on a portal (Yahoo) page.
- Some turn your website into a Feed Reader.
This step will read the RSS Feed created in Step 2 above and present it on this page.
SOHO Computer Support in a Feed Reader
Notes:
- Click on one of the feed titles to go to the Blog article.
- This service I am using is a service provided by Blogger.
- RSS Readers rarely show the entire article. They give a title or teaser which leads back to the Blog entry.
- This RSS Reader is only showing one feed, which is unusual. Normally one would have subscribed to more than one feed.
