Article Preview

COLUMN

Xojo News, Come To Me

Using RSS to Keep Up With Xojo

Issue: 24.3 (May/June 2026)
Author: Marc Zeedar
Author Bio: Marc taught himself programming in high school when he bought his first computer but had no money for software. He's had fun learning ever since.
Article Description: Real Software, now Xojo, Inc., transitioned its active REALbasic discussion group from a convenient email mailing list to a web-based forum, which, despite improvements, lacks the immediacy of receiving updates directly via email -- a feature the user greatly misses. This shift made regular participation cumbersome, as it required actively checking the forum amidst numerous browser tabs. During a recent Xojo Conference, the user expressed this preference for content delivery akin to RSS feeds, where updates come directly to the user. Serendipitously, Gabriel Ludosanu discovered that the Xojo Forum, albeit not prominently advertised, supports RSS feeds. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows users to subscribe to content feeds and receive updates in a standardized, reader-friendly format, eliminating the need to visit websites manually. The user, an avid RSS user for tech news, welcomed this development, as it aligns perfectly with their workflow, enabling seamless integration of forum discussions into their existing RSS Reader setup using NetNewsWire. This tool synchronizes across Apple devices without additional cost, offering a streamlined, distraction-free way to engage with content. By subscribing to the Xojo Forum's RSS feed ("http://forum.xojo.com/latest.rss"), the user anticipates more frequent and convenient participation in discussions, enhancing their community interaction without altering their preferred method of consuming online content..
Article Length (in bytes): 12,803
Starting Page Number: 70
Article Number: 24306
Related Web Link(s):

http://forum.xojo.com/latest.rss
http://www.example.com/main.html<
http://www.example.com/blog/post/1<
http://site.com/feed.rss
http://forum.xojo.com/latest.rss

Excerpt of article text...

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, Real Software (a.k.a. Xojo, Inc.) had something called a mailing list. This was a discussion group on all things REALbasic done via email. It worked in any email client. All topics and posts were sent to your email, and you simply followed conversations on topics that interested you. When you replied, your response was sent to everyone else on the list. It was great.

(It was a high-volume email list. I usually ran it on its own email client with a specific email address I used exclusively for the mailing list so the posts wouldn't be mixed in with all my other emails.)

Then Xojo decided to move this group to the web using forum software (https://forum.xojo.com). They've changed things over the years, and the current implementation is quite good. However, it still misses the one key element that I loved about the mailing list: Email comes to me. I don't have to go get it.

With the web-based forum, I have to open the web page in my web browser (and possibly log in). That's a lot of work without knowing if there are any posts that might interest me. Which means I check the forum maybe once a month, if I'm lucky. (Keep in mind I have a gazillion tabs open in my browser, and finding the Forum one isn't easy.)

Yes, I know there are settings where the forum can email you posts, but it's not the same. It feels awkward and out of sync. It's a lot more management.

Now I realize that there are good things about forum software, and having the discussion on the web is better in many ways. It's easier for newbies, gives the Xojo folks more control over the community, and the presentation of posts is vastly better than email.

...End of Excerpt. Please purchase the magazine to read the full article.