Via Dave: RSS Magic for .NET "provides developers an easy way to download, read, write, and manipulate RSS data".
I checked their site and it looks like $279 will get you a class model that's a direct mapping of the RSS 2.0 specification. I did not see anything that suggests it supports the incompatible RSS 1.0 spec. Namespaces are supported in a generic and rather cumbersome way: an item has a collection of custom elements, which seem to be little more than simple wrappers around a System.Xml.XmlElement. There's no easy way to find a specific extension element, nor is there any built in support for often used extensions like dublin core or any others.
The site also does not state that the source is provided, so users cannot even add any of this themselves (not that they should have to after spending $279!). If you're going to skip all that is hard about RSS, how much added value are you really providing? Who would want to buy this? Their target market must be people that are clueless about RSS...
Are you saying I should start charging $279 for SharpReader? ;-)
Posted by Luke Hutteman at August 1, 2003 1:25 AMMy thoughts exactly. I couln't believe it when I read the product home page.
Try RSS.NET on SourceForge (http://rss-net.sourceforge.net/) if you don't want to write your own...
"clueless" - I'll say.
Using XML Serialization, it wasn't too difficult to put together a class (with strong type checking) to generate RSS 2.0 feeds. Maybe I need to place a higher value on my time. :-)
They must be trying to capitalize on RSS by charging $279! Interesting that the only other product they are selling is a VB OCX for $50...
Posted by Phil at August 1, 2003 4:52 PMWow, um, I suppose I am clueless :(. Actually this is great because now I know some of the shortcomings I need to address. I agree with many of the points raised.
"I checked their site and it looks like $279 will get you a class model that's a direct mapping of the RSS 2.0 specification."
True. The class breaks down an RSS feed into properties, and also provides methods for reading, writing, and downloading files from the Net. Until now, I did not know about the SourceForge project, which looks like it does the same thing. Sheesh... :(
"I did not see anything that suggests it supports the incompatible RSS 1.0 spec."
That's correct, it doesn't support the 1.0 spec since its pretty different from .9x and 2.0. In my haste to get it released, I skipped 1.0 (on purpose), and plan to add it later. I am sorry, it was my mistake for not stating this on the website - it will be up there tonight. Customers get free updates for life, another thing I forgot to mention.
"Namespaces are supported in a generic and rather cumbersome way: an item has a collection of custom elements, which seem to be little more than simple wrappers around a System.Xml.XmlElement. There's no easy way to find a specific extension element,"
I will definately try to improve this. Since the spec allows any element the user can dream up, this was the best way I could think of to allow that. I'll rethink that now.
"nor is there any built in support for often used extensions like dublin core or any others."
A very good point, something that did not occur to me. I will see what I can do.
"The site also does not state that the source is provided, so users cannot even add any of this themselves"
No, sorry.
"(not that they should have to"
Absolutely correct. They shouldn't have to.
"after spending $279!)."
Hmm, sounds like I might have to re-look the price. It was determined by comparing it to other components. The price seemed to range from free to about $800, so I picked what I thought was a decent middle-ground.
"If you're going to skip all that is hard about RSS, how much added value are you really providing? Who would want to buy this?"
I don't really understand these questions. There must be *some* added value, or the SourceForge folks wouldn't be doing it also...
"Their target market must be people that are clueless about RSS..."
Well, yes. That was the point. To give people who don't know much about RSS an easy way to include it in their applications. I realize the people who read this page are knowledgeable and passionate about RSS and I totally respect that. I also realize that many of you already find RSS easy and have developed your own solutions. This component was made for those not already familiar with RSS, to hopefully give them an easy start.
I really hope I didn't offend anyone by posting these comments. I don't want to start anything, you guys know your stuff. It just that I can't help but to take it to heart, since RSS Magic is one of only two things I have tried to sell. I'm just a single developer trying to eek out a living peddling my wares on the Net. I am happy to take suggestions to try and make it better for everyone. And while I agree with the points made by the original author, his post came off a bit harsh, and I don't think that was totally necessary. I just wanted a chance to defend myself and my reasons for doing some things the way I did.
Sorry for such a long post, and thanks letting me vent. :)
Jay
Posted by Jay Alman at August 1, 2003 5:00 PMMy thoughts exactly. I couln't believe it when I read the product home page.