The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

RSS feed

The feed of the articles is nice, but why not
also add one for discussions (<A href=http://discuss.fogcreek.com/joelonsoftware/>here</a> and <A href=http://discuss.fogcreek.com/newyork/>here</a>)? Not for all new messages, just for new threads.

GG
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Yep...I've been considering writing a little app that would parse the site's html, periodically hit the site, and notify me when new threads appear or threads of interest are posted to.

I figured Joel might get mad, I don't know

GiorgioG
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Hopefully you'll see this reply before the thread gets deleted, because meta-posts always get deleted.

There will never, ever be a sanctioned RSS feed of this site. Joel has written about it already, and this question gets asked once a month by newbies. I wish Joel would add a link to the side of the page explaining why there's no RSS feed, and no "watch this thread", and no "show me what's new"...

Brad Wilson (dotnetguy.techieswithcats.com)
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

>There will never, ever be a sanctioned RSS feed of this
>site. Joel has written about it already,

Can you tell us where? I haven't seen it. Just curious...

grunt
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BuildingCommunitieswithSo.html

DJ
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Reading that article, I dont know why people think Joel is so egotistical...

Anon-y-mous Cow-ard
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

> ... people will be willing to argue about H1B visas,
> or what's wrong with Computer Science in college,
> until the end of the universe.

Man! Did he ever hit THAT nail on the head...

- former car owner in Queens
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Brad says: Joel has written about it already, and this question gets asked once a month by newbies.

And Joel says: Q. Why don't you just post the rules instead of leaving it as a mystery?
(then goes to explain how he believes all people are smart enough).

Yeah, well, but asking those things (about "notify me" link)
hardly counts as an off-topic or an attack, and that's what the FAQ is for. His analogy with a sign is a bit amiss -- it's not about "Don't throw trash" signs, but about "Exit to the left" -- people may be civilized for the first one, but need guiding as to the second.

Finally, Joel again goes to great lengths to justify his decisons re forum design, and they do make sense. Fine. But I didn't find any mention of RSS, and I don't think the arguments agains mail notifications etc. apply to it.

GG
Thursday, April 29, 2004

I'm not asking him to post a list of rules. I'm asking him to post a link to that articles, under the guise of "things new users should know".

Brad Wilson (dotnetguy.techieswithcats.com)
Saturday, May 1, 2004