OPML file should special case feeds accounts

[zvi]

Title:
OPML file should special case feeds accounts

Area:
third party site integration

Summary:
The current OPML file includes the DW RSS address (http://example_feed.dreamwidth.org/data/rss) for feed accounts. This is ridiculous. It should give you the RSS feed that DW subscribes to, instead. (http://examplersswebsite.com/example.rss)

Description:
An OPML file is a bit like an address book, it lets you take the subscriptions from one feed reader (in this case, the reading page) and put it into a different feed reader. As if you have one of those 7 ring binder planners, only you got one in black plastic and now you have the opportunity to buy one in blue plastic, so you want to move your addresses with you into the new container.

The way the OPML file works now, if you have a feed account on your reading page, it pulls the DW url, instead of the originating site's feed. So, in your new feed reader, you'll always be reading at a serious delay, because your waiting first for DW to contact the originating site and download an update, and then for your feed reader to contact DW and get the update that DW has gotten. rho corrects me that the DW rss URL is just a redirect to the originating site, so the delay is not very long.

There's no real benefit to DW in remaining the middleman in this transaction, and it's better for end users if they butt out.

Poll #1381 OPML file should special case feeds accounts

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 28

View Respondents

This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
22 (78.6%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
0 (0.0%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
0 (0.0%)

(I have no opinion)
6 (21.4%)

(Other: please comment)
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[kirby1024]

Also, if/once LJ-site reading functionality is set up, the OPML file should link to the original site's RSS, if it has one.

[rho]

The Dreamwidth version of the feed URL is just a redirect to the actual feed. For instance, http://neilgaiman-feed.dreamwidth.org/data/rss is a redirect to http://www.neilgaiman.com/extras/feed_journal.php.

This isn't a reason not to do this; it's just a reason why it may not be as pressing as you think.

[cesy]

There is a delay on the Dreamwidth version, though - it only checks once an hour, if that. So it's not identical.

[zvi]

That's good to know, although it still makes doing stuff to the actual OPML file unnecessarily problematic.

Where is the OPML file accessed?

[dredmorbius]

Sorry to necromance this thread, but where are DW OPML files accessed and what do they contain?

Re: Where is the OPML file accessed?

[azurelunatic]

It's at http://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/opml and contains the feed locations for all accounts subscribed to.