Brandon Werner

Another very sought after and often Googled code block from my Fatima (JavaPress) project on Java.net is how to use Apache’s XML-RPC to ping update services for blogs, podcasting, email, ect. Many services like Technorati and BlogSpot use XML pinging, and many people get led astray by using Sun’s XML-RPC library which only uses SOAP.

You must use Apache’s XML-RPC. Why? Since SUN Microsystem’s API(s) insist on using SOAP as the transmission protocol but integrators wish to have XML sent instead, you have to use the xmlrpc-1.2 code from the Apache Foundation. Technorati and others don’t accept a SOAP envelope obviously.

So, here is a ping service for you. Just download Apache’s XML-RPC and call the class.

Do to formatting issues in Internet Explorer, I can no longer include the code in this post. You may download it from the Fatima project on Java.net directly or view it in JavaLobby.

Many people have asked how I implemented RSS in Fatima (JavaPress) on Java.net since the object model for Sun’s Rome API is a little.. dense, and suited more for abstract aggrigation in your applications like Technorati. However, Rome is extremely powerful and offers lots of transformation and organization of your RSS feeds (no matter if you generate them or you grab them). Well, below is a general class that implements everything you would need to start generating your own RSS feeds using the ROME API, and for everyone that wants to get started quick this example should help you out.

doSyndication() is where you’ll want to focus your attention.

NOTE: This generates both regular RSS and shows you how to generate RSS with the embed tag for Podcasts!

Do to formatting issues in Internet Explorer, I can no longer show the code in this entry. You may download it from the Fatima project on Java.net directly or view it at JavaLobby.