Re: [syndication] RSS Modularization Demonstration

[Rael Dornfest <rael@oreilly.com>]

Howdy,

> On this base, have you considered a module to register answers to an
> item ?
> This could lead to a distributed slashdot like bidirectional syndication
> system.

Would you think this would require another module or could it just
make use of threading?  For example:

  <rss version="0.91">
   <channel>
   ...
    <item>
     <title>A funny thing happened on the way to the mailing list!<title>
     <description>It all started this morning...</description>
     <link>http://fascinating.com/read.php?forum=nifty&id=123</link>
    </item>
   ...
   </channel>
  </rss>
  
  |----- time passes -----|
  
  <rss version="0.91">
   <channel>
   ...
    <item>
     <title>re: A funny thing happened<title>
     <description>For me, it all started back in 1974...</description>
     <link>http://fascinating.com/read.php?forum=nifty&id=127</link>
     <threading:parent>
      http://fascinating.com/read.php?forum=nifty&id=123
     </threading:parent>
    </item>
   ...
   </channel>
  </rss>

Now, of course, the nifty thing is that these two items don't necessarily 
have to live in the same RSS feed.  In fact, the discussion itself doesn't
have to take place in the same forum.  Ok, so that's two nifty things ;-)
For example:

  |----- in an RSS feed far far away -----|

  <rss version="0.91">
   <channel>
   ...
    <item>
     <title>re: A funny thing happened<title>
     <description>Hey, I think I was there...</description>
     <link>http://blahblah.org/forum/keen/?9876</link>
     <threading:parent>
      http://fascinating.com/read.php?forum=nifty&id=127
     </threading:parent>
    </item>
   ...
   </channel>
  </rss>
  
You now have distributed discussion, both in terms of venue and 
syndication.  All this with one simple "threading" module with one
simple "parent" element.

In fact, threaded commentary may be added to about anything with
a unique identifier -- Website, book, video broadcast, etc.  It's
amazing what you can do with a little decent threading.

Rael

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  Rael Dornfest                  rael@oreilly.com
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