Development Seed Blog
FeedAPI Beta 3: A Step Closer to 1.0
Getting Closer to Streamlined Aggregation in Drupal
Getting Closer to Streamlined Aggregation in Drupal
Yesterday we rolled out the Beta 3 version of the FeedAPI module. This moves us a step closer to being ready to realize version 1.0. I wanted to take this chance to share where the FeedAPI module currently is and where it is headed. If you’re new to FeedAPI, you can read some background on it and watch a video here.
Currently, FeedAPI includes these features:
- One or more content types as feeds
- One or more content types as feed items
- Non-node entities as feed items
- Easy installation with most popular configuration presets
- Fast aggregation using SimplePie
- Views support
- OPML import and export
- OG aware
- Inherit taxonomy from feed to feed items
- Extensible: hooks, access data through API functions, pluggable parser architecture, pluggable processor architecture
- Simple add form - enter URL and go
Here's a look at just how easy it is to add a new feed with FeedAPI:
So, what’s next?
As soon as we get a little air to fix the open issues in the queue (thank you for your feedback and patches), we’ll roll out the 1.0 release.
We’re also working on two add-on modules to bring some more features to FeedAPI. The Feed Element Mapper (feedapi_mapper) will let you aggregate authors and any other feed item elements from your feeds, and with the FeedAPI Fav (feedapi_fav), you can download feed favicons. Both are in my sandbox if you’d like to check them out.
A major concern when it comes to aggregation is duplicates and this is no exception for FeedAPI. We have a patch coming down the pipe for cross feed de-dupeing that will help solve this problem.
Lastly, we’re gearing up to upgrade FeedAPI to Drupal 6.
I’ll be writing more about FeedAPI here in the coming weeks, specifically about our progress with cross feed de-duping and our experiences with FeedAPI’s performance. In the meantime, happy aggregating.
Comments
I was wondering since
I was wondering since wordpress has feeds built in which one you would recommend for blogs.
Favicon
Isn't there a standard function for favicon retrieval in simplepie?
Indeed. There is a
Indeed. There is a SimplePie::get_favicon() which returns the path to the feed's favicon.
However, feedapi_fav uses its own favicon path retrieval method (thank you, urlicon module :) that's independent from the parser you use plus implements local storage and theming of the favicon.
Sounding good
Glad to hear the progress. I can't wait to experiment with it :-)
I won't hold you to it, after all "It's ready when it's ready". But any ideas on when it can come out and play ?
Managing News
I am looking forward to FeedAPI itself, but my question was about ManagingNews which I believe relies heavily on the FeedAPI module.
You can consider FeedAPI as
You can consider FeedAPI as ready for prime time. There are a couple of known issues (see queue) that make the release a beta, but we are using it in a series of production web sites and are testing it heavily on our team news aggregator Managing News.
And yes, Managing News is coming down the pipe. We won't release it as a software package though, but rather provide it as a service. You can find all important modules of MN already today on drupal.org - we will blog more about that soon.
nice work
It's about time for a proper rss feed implementations, more often than not views feed argument results in an empty feed for me.
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