What is RSS?

"Short for RDF Site Summary or Rich Site Summary, an XML format for syndicating Web content.1"

Technical definitions aside RSS is an easy way for websites to distribute information on recently added content reducing the need for users to sift through the entire site or a list of headlines to find what they are interested in. Whenever the person in charge of the RSS feed makes a change to the feed it is automatically updated for anyone subscribed to it. While there are several different uses for RSS, GSGSC uses it to point out what content has recently been updated.

How do I subscribe to an RSS feed?

The first step you must take in order to subscribe to an RSS feed is choosing a RSS feed reader (aka. an aggregator, news readers, and many other combinations of the words aggregator, RSS, feed, reader, and news). There are several different types of readers: the downloadable type, the online type, and the integrated type.

  • The downloadable types are those that you download directly to your computer to update your RSS feeds. An example of this type would be SharpReader.
  • The online types are those that require zero software installation (you aren't putting anything on your computer). They are run on the servers of whoever is providing the service. An example of an online reader is Google Reader 2.
  • The last type of reader that I will mention is the integrated reader. This type of reader is included in some other software. Mozilla's Firefox browser has an integrated reader for viewing RSS feeds 3.

    • If you use any search engine, they can give you many more options than the three readers that I have listed. Choose whichever one you like the best.

    The second step is to actually get the feed into the reader. This step is dependant upon which reader you chose. This can be as simple as clicking on Add a feed and typing in the feed's location, or it can be as complex as going to Bookmarks->Manage Bookmarks->File->New Live Bookmark and then typing in the feed's location. However you might have noticed that both of the above methods require that you know the feed's location. Some sites list the RSS feed location and some just have a little RSS button (the wiki on RSS posted below has examples). If you click on either of those things you browser will usually show you the semi-arcane looking xml document that RSS feeds are written in. Don't panic just point your mouse at the address bar and copy that address. But to make things easier for you our feed's location is http://www.gs4girls.com/gsfeed.xml.

    After the feed is in the reader you are all set to go and any changes that are made to the feed should be updated in the feed reader depending upon its own schedule or the schedule you set for it.

    If you want more information on RSS I have found the following sites do an excellent job of explaining it. They can however be far more technical and due to the fact that they are wiki's they can be changed at a moments notice.

  • RSS

  • Feed Readers
    • Written by Travis McClellen
    Technology and E-Communications
    GSGSC

    1) Taken from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RSS.html

    2) It is required that you have a Gmail account to use the reader.

    3)All versions of Firefox since 0.7 have the reader, but you should get the latest version or patches for any software you have installed due to the security holes that are fixed with each revision.

    Guiding Star Girl Scout Council is not responsible for the content of externally linked websites. If the content of any linked site is changed to display objectionable content let us know so that we may remove the link.