This document discusses options for creating and managing weblogs, including both hosted and desktop applications. It provides examples of popular blogging platforms and considerations for each type such as storage location, editing features, cost, and technical requirements. Recommendations are made for specific hosted and Perl-based desktop blogging applications. Resources for RSS feeds and mobile newsreaders are also listed.

1. Web Logs and RSS
Building Global
Communities of
Practice

2. Key Features to Look for in Blog
Applications
 Disk Space Allocation
 File Upload Feature
 Image Handling
 Comment feature
 Archive Management
 Format Tools
 Multiple Blog Support
 Multiple Author Support
 RSS Syndication
 Template
Customization
 Posting Date
Manipulation

3. Hosted App Services Advantages
 No software to install
 Accessible from multiple computers
 Multiple Web logs per user supported
 Multiple Authors (Team blogs) supported
 Embedded RSS Generation
 Updates Managed Centrally
 Backups Managed Centrally

4. Hosted Services Disadvantages
 Data Exchange Subject to Server Traffic
Load
 Availability of Data Subject to Financial
Stability of Service Provider
 Limited Browser-based Editing without HTML
Knowledge (bold, italics, linking, attaching
files, spell check)
 Limited Comments Support

5. Hosted Weblog Services Examples
 Blogger (http://www.blogger.com)
– Now Totally FREE!
– Configuration instructions:
http://interact.uoregon.edu/techweb/RSScreation.
htm
 LiveJournal (http://www.livejournal.com)
 WebCrimson (http://www.webcrimson.com/)

6. Desktop Weblog App Advantages
 Data resides locally (not subject to financial
success of hosting provider)
 More extensive WYSIWYG editing features
 Posts not subject to loss from high server
traffic

7. Desktop App Disadvantages
 Data resides locally (you are responsible for
backup!)
 Software must be installed
 Updates must be installed
 Multiple installs & updates required on
multiple computers
 Cost

8. Desktop Application Examples
 City Desk (PC) ($299 for Professional)
– http://www.fogcreek.com/CityDesk/
 Tinderbox (Mac) ($145)
– http://www.eastgate.com/Tinderbox/

9. Perl or PHP-based server scripts
 Full customization with knowledge of Perl or
PHP but
 Installations require knowledge of
– Cgi script configurations
– Unix permissions
– Server library locations
 May require modules not installed on host
server

10. Perl-based Examples
 Moveable Type
– http://www.movabletype.org/
 GreyMatter
– http://www.noahgrey.com/greysoft/
 Blosxom
– http://www.blosxom.com

11. Moveable Type
 Provides all key features
 Requires database module (Berkeley or
MySQL)
 Fairly Complex Installation – configuration of
database drivers, security masks, multiple
data paths, Unix permissions, upload modes

12. GreyMatter
 Excellent installation instructions
 Customization features
 Multi-author support
 Nice Comment censoring feature
 RSS syndication only through third party
module that must be run separately and is no
longer supported

13. Blosxom
 Highly configurable plugin architecture
 Small footprint
 Multiple author support
 Multiple blog support
 Embedded RSS syndication
 Recommend tech specialist configure a
sample installation with most useful plugins
and organizational templates for roll-out

14. Blosxom Plugin Recommendations
 Comments and Trackbacks
 Autolink
 Submission (HTML Submission form)
 Find
 Entries Cache

15. RSS Resources and Tools
 Validator:
http://aggregator.userland.com/validator
 Javascript producer for web portals:
http://www.wc.cc.va.us/services/news/
– Supports CSS features
– Can vary output with parameters
 Syndic8 feed database
http://www.syndic8.com

16. Handhelds Newsreaders
 PocketFeed for Pocket PCs (2002/2003 OS)
– http://www.furrygoat.com/Software/PocketFeed/in
dex.html
 BlogPluck for Palm OS
– http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/blogpluck.s
html