Blog FAQ
blogging
- What is a blog? A blog is an online journal. It is a collection of entries that often contain links and commentary. This information is shared as a web page and in "XML" format, either RSS or Atom. People around the world can read and post comments about the entries.
- How can I read a blog? Most blogs are accessible via a standard web page where they are arranged as a list of entries.
- How does a blog differ from a web page? Blog entries are usually much shorter. While blogs can be read as web pages, they can also be read using other software. Social patterns have also developed in support of and in reaction to blogs.
- How else can I read a blog? A blog can also be read using a special URL and special software that uses a timer to check the blog, usually set to about 60 minutes. This is alternately called a "feed", "syndication". "XML", "RSS" or "Atom". Using desktop software vastly reduces the time and effort needed to consistently keep up to date with new blog entries.
- What blog software should I use? Blog software, also called a desktop news aggregator, is used in place of, or as a companion to, a regular web browser. There are also web sites who provide an aggregator service so you don't need to install any software. Wikipedia has a list of software or a quick search using your favorite search engine for something similar to "RSS aggregator Windows" will provide many choices.
- How can I link to blog entries? Each entry has a "permalink" or "permanent URL" that can be used to cite a particular blog entry.
- What is a trackback? Trackbacks are basically reverse links. The one way nature of the current web is not the only possible implementation of linking. Trackbacks are a special way to allow a reverse link to be made. This can be done automatically on both sides or manually using special tools/websites.
- Does the software that runs this site support sending and receiving trackbacks automatically? Yes.
- Why are there so many different "standards" for blogging technologies? Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a form of XML that was used early on and is relatively fixed at version 2.0. Earlier versions of RSS may be more common at present. Several earlier versions of RSS were only partially compatible with one another. EEVL based in the UK provides a good RSS Primer. A new XML standard called Atom (currently at version 0.3) is on an IETF standards track. Most aggregators support both. Creative individuals began writing blog entries so many software packages, and even the standards themselves, implement features in different ways.
- I'm new to the "blogsphere." Are there any good books on blogging? Dan Gillmor has been a well respected columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. In 2004, O'Reilly Media published his book and website named We The Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People. In the book he tells the story of an emerging phenomenon powered by blogs and sheds light on this deep shift in how we make and consume the news.
- How can I publish a blog? Visitors who join SoftwareManagers.org as a member may publish new blog entries. Zero cost weblog sites like Blogger and others are also becoming more popular. If you already have a website you can install software that will help you manage a blog.
- I registered with this site, why can't I create blog entries? Non-members are free to comment on other people's blog entries but are unable to create their own blog. To create your own blog you must become a member.
