RSS Reader App

This is an RSS reader application using jQuery.

Demo

Import RSS Reader App to your Monaca Account

Tested Environment

• Android 9.0

• iOS 12.2

File Components

File	Description
index.html	The Startup page where RSS feeds will be loaded
loading.gif	A loading image file
README.md	A README file about this template
js/feed-reader.js	A JavaScript file for retrieving the RSS feeds
js/phpjs_LICENSE.txt	A license file (You can ignore this file.)
css/style.css	Style Sheet for the application

Required JS/CSS Components

• jQuery

Required Cordova Plugins

• InAppBrowser

HTML Explanation

index.html

index.html is the Startup page.

The HTML body of this file is simply a placeholder of a loading.gif, the feed list and error message.

JavaScript Explanation

index.html

As soon as the application starts, the RSS feeds retrieval also begins. While loading the content of RSS feeds, loading.gif file is displayed. The following JavaScript code is used to invoke the RSS feeds retrieval function. This function is defined in feed-reader.js file which will be explained later in this page. You can try changing the RSS feeds URL.

...
//RSS Feeds URL
Feed.feedUrl = "http://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/technology/rss.xml";

$(function() {
    Feed.load();
});
...

feed-reader.js

When the RSS feeds retrieval function (Feed.load()) is called, the following JavaScript code is executed:

...
Feed.prototype.load = function() {
    var self = this;

    $(this.maskEl).show();
    $(this.errorEl).text('');

    $.ajax({
        url: this.url,
        dataType: 'text',
        crossDomain: true,
        success: function(data) {
            data = $.parseXML(data.trim());

            $(self.listEl).empty();

            // Display RSS contents
            var $rss = $(data);
            $rss.find('item').each(function() {
                var item = this;
                $(self.listEl).append(self.createListElement(item));
            });
        },
        error: function() {
            $(self.errorEl).text('Failed to load RSS.');
        },
        complete: function() {
            $(self.maskEl).hide();
        }
    });
};
...

If the function is successfully executed, the retrieved RSS feed will be displayed on the home screen.

The following JavaScript code corresponds to the display arrangement of RSS feeds in the Home screen (index.html):

...
Feed.prototype.createListElement = function(item) {
    var $item = $(item);

    var link = this.escape($item.find('link').text());
    var title = this.escape($item.find('title').text());
    var description = this.escape(strip_tags($item.find('description').text()));
    var date = new Date($item.find('pubDate').text());

    return '<li class="feed-item" data-link="' + link + '">' +
        '<time>' + date.getFullYear() + '/' + (date.getMonth() + 1) + '/' + date.getDate() + '</time>' +
        '<h2>' + title + '</h2><p>' + description + '</p></li>';
};
...

RSS feeds are displayed in a listview format. If you tap each item of this feed, InAppBrowser will launch and transition to the specified URL.

The following JavaScript code corresponds to the above function:

...
Feed.prototype.addClickHandler = function() {
    $(this.listEl).on('click', 'li', function() {
        var url = $(this).data('link');

        if (/^http/.test(url)) {
            var ref = window.open(url, '_blank', 'location=yes');
            ref.addEventListener("exit", function() {});
        } else {
            alert('Invalid URL.');
        }
    });
};
...