PRS-500 Java RSS2Book?

sammykrupa · 10-14-2006, 09:14 AM

The RSS2Book thing looks great, but it's Windows only

I can hack a program out of Java, and I know a lot of other people here can too (if not better). So how about making a Java-based RSS2Book?

Before I start anything I am wondering what backends should be used for RSS parsing and PDF generating?

Here is what I found for PDF generating:
http://www.lowagie.com/iText/

And RSS parsing:
http://jakarta.apache.org/commons/sandbox/feedparser/

The jakarta RSS parser looks to be way overkill for what I'm looking for, though. Any other suggestions for something lighter weight?

Any thoughts on the PDF generator?

Anyone want to work on the Java RSS2Book another than me?

Thanks!
Sam Krupa

griffbrad · 10-14-2006, 10:41 AM

Earlier this week, I hacked up a tool that lets me download RSS feeds and the related articles, tweak various aspects of them (header, footer, logo, cover page, etc.), and uses HTMLDoc to convert the result HTML to a PDF sized for the sony reader.
I did this in Python with the goal of being able to manage news on my Linux box.
I'm considering extending these tools further and writing a PyGTK frontend to this tool and perhaps adding in Music/Photo management and a Project Gutenberg/Creative Commons book browser as well. Essentially, a cross-platform, open source Connect alternative.
The biggest problem, however, is the actual USB syncing to the Reader. I don't have much experience with USB hacking, so I'd need help on that part of the project.
Currently, I have to pop an SD card into my reader, sync up and then put it back in the reader.
Anyway, in short, I'm very interested in working on any project aimed at making cross platform use of these devices more practical, and while I don't work in Java uch, I'll certainly keep an eye on any project that pops up and hopefully will be contributing some Python-based projects in the near future.

Laurens · 10-14-2006, 10:43 AM

The iText library is excellent for generating PDF. I've written RSS/Atom parsing logic using the NekoHTML library, the code of which is available in the Sunrise project. Contrary to what its name suggests, you can adapt NekoHTML to parse any tag-based format. The problem with RSS is that many feeds are ill-formed, so any strict XML parser will choke on them.

geekraver · 10-14-2006, 05:56 PM

Igor has already written Python code for much of the necessary USB plumbing. I'm willing to post my C# code for rss2book soon which may help kickstart Java apps; right now its a bit busted as I'm trying to incorporate USB access too.

sammykrupa · 10-14-2006, 07:23 PM

Hmm, thanks for the feedback. I will start an RSS2Book project in Java if I ever have some free time!

Sam Krpa

sammykrupa · 10-16-2006, 07:16 AM

Okay,
I have the basic RSS parser code setup, now I need an interface and I need to connect it to HTMLDoc.

I was wondering about comics on the Reader, anyone want to write a comics downloader?

Sam Krupa

Shake · 12-13-2006, 04:16 PM

Hi,

I am also very interested in such a nice piece of software. And maybe I can help you.
Do you have a public SVN/CVS server anywhere? A sourceforge project?

sammykrupa · 12-13-2006, 05:03 PM

Nothing like that is setup, but I can post the latest version of the code here if you want.

It is coming along nicely, almost caught up with geekraver's development of his RSS2Book, but some the code is very buggy (-:

Want to take a look?

kovidgoyal · 12-13-2006, 10:31 PM

@griffbrad http://libprs500.kovidgoyal.net

Shake · 12-14-2006, 03:00 PM

Hi,

yes - I would definitly like to take a look at the code.

sammykrupa · 12-14-2006, 04:28 PM

I am a beginner coder, so don't hurt my little spaghetti code!

The file included is a Java source (java 5) file that needs to be compiled. It is in a compressed zip file and the images used in the program are included.

It requires as a dependency:

http://informa.sourceforge.net/

and HTMLDoc must be installed. Only tested on Mac OS X 10.4 so far.

Any feedback from Java coders would be welcome (including new code!).

The code is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 License.

Have fun!

UPDATE: Actually included file this time.

Shake · 12-15-2006, 05:28 AM

Thanks for posting. I have taken a short look at it. I hope I will find some time soon to make some improvements.

Just one comment to the license: I think Creative Commons licences should preferably used for documents or other data like pictures or music.
For programs I would prefer the GPL...

jæd · 12-15-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammykrupa

Any feedback from Java coders would be welcome (including new code!).

You might wish to think about seperating out the gui from the logic... Currently everything is one class which might be confusing when it becomes more complex...!

sammykrupa · 12-15-2006, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the info jaed and Shake! Question, does Java RSS2Book "work" fine for you guys on your systems? What OSs are you guys using?

Thanks!
Sam Krupa

Shake · 12-15-2006, 06:29 PM

I have set up a project a java.net. I selected GPL as license. May I use your work and release it under the GPL?

10-14-2006, 09:14 AM	#1
sammykrupa Reader of the Reader Posts: 103 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Java RSS2Book? The RSS2Book thing looks great, but it's Windows only I can hack a program out of Java, and I know a lot of other people here can too (if not better). So how about making a Java-based RSS2Book? Before I start anything I am wondering what backends should be used for RSS parsing and PDF generating? Here is what I found for PDF generating: http://www.lowagie.com/iText/ And RSS parsing: http://jakarta.apache.org/commons/sandbox/feedparser/ The jakarta RSS parser looks to be way overkill for what I'm looking for, though. Any other suggestions for something lighter weight? Any thoughts on the PDF generator? Anyone want to work on the Java RSS2Book another than me? Thanks! Sam Krupa

10-14-2006, 10:41 AM	#2
griffbrad Member Posts: 21 Karma: 14 Join Date: Sep 2006	Alternative OS Hacking Earlier this week, I hacked up a tool that lets me download RSS feeds and the related articles, tweak various aspects of them (header, footer, logo, cover page, etc.), and uses HTMLDoc to convert the result HTML to a PDF sized for the sony reader. I did this in Python with the goal of being able to manage news on my Linux box. I'm considering extending these tools further and writing a PyGTK frontend to this tool and perhaps adding in Music/Photo management and a Project Gutenberg/Creative Commons book browser as well. Essentially, a cross-platform, open source Connect alternative. The biggest problem, however, is the actual USB syncing to the Reader. I don't have much experience with USB hacking, so I'd need help on that part of the project. Currently, I have to pop an SD card into my reader, sync up and then put it back in the reader. Anyway, in short, I'm very interested in working on any project aimed at making cross platform use of these devices more practical, and while I don't work in Java uch, I'll certainly keep an eye on any project that pops up and hopefully will be contributing some Python-based projects in the near future.

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10-14-2006, 10:43 AM	#3
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	The iText library is excellent for generating PDF. I've written RSS/Atom parsing logic using the NekoHTML library, the code of which is available in the Sunrise project. Contrary to what its name suggests, you can adapt NekoHTML to parse any tag-based format. The problem with RSS is that many feeds are ill-formed, so any strict XML parser will choke on them.

10-14-2006, 05:56 PM	#4
geekraver Addict Posts: 364 Karma: 1035291 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Device: iPad Mini,Kindle Paperwhite	Igor has already written Python code for much of the necessary USB plumbing. I'm willing to post my C# code for rss2book soon which may help kickstart Java apps; right now its a bit busted as I'm trying to incorporate USB access too.

10-14-2006, 07:23 PM	#5
sammykrupa Reader of the Reader Posts: 103 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Hmm, thanks for the feedback. I will start an RSS2Book project in Java if I ever have some free time! Sam Krpa

10-16-2006, 07:16 AM	#6
sammykrupa Reader of the Reader Posts: 103 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Okay, I have the basic RSS parser code setup, now I need an interface and I need to connect it to HTMLDoc. I was wondering about comics on the Reader, anyone want to write a comics downloader? Sam Krupa

12-13-2006, 04:16 PM	#7
Shake Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	Hi, I am also very interested in such a nice piece of software. And maybe I can help you. Do you have a public SVN/CVS server anywhere? A sourceforge project?

12-13-2006, 05:03 PM	#8
sammykrupa Reader of the Reader Posts: 103 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Nothing like that is setup, but I can post the latest version of the code here if you want. It is coming along nicely, almost caught up with geekraver's development of his RSS2Book, but some the code is very buggy (-: Want to take a look?

12-13-2006, 10:31 PM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,844 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	@griffbrad http://libprs500.kovidgoyal.net

12-14-2006, 03:00 PM	#10
Shake Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	Hi, yes - I would definitly like to take a look at the code.

12-15-2006, 05:28 AM	#12
Shake Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	Thanks for posting. I have taken a short look at it. I hope I will find some time soon to make some improvements. Just one comment to the license: I think Creative Commons licences should preferably used for documents or other data like pictures or music. For programs I would prefer the GPL...

12-15-2006, 02:47 PM	#14
sammykrupa Reader of the Reader Posts: 103 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Thanks for the info jaed and Shake! Question, does Java RSS2Book "work" fine for you guys on your systems? What OSs are you guys using? Thanks! Sam Krupa

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12-15-2006, 06:29 PM	#15
Shake Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	I have set up a project a java.net. I selected GPL as license. May I use your work and release it under the GPL?