Returning to RSS

The previous version of my website didn't have RSS. When I launched its current version two months ago , I also built in a few RSS feeds. Using Eleventy's RSS plugin, this wasn't too difficult. There's one for my Links (which houses links to things I find worth reading, watching, or listening to, along with a bit of commentary) and one for my Journal (where I put my own writing). And, a catch-all feed that combines both (you can find a link to it in the footer).

I've had an on-again-off-again relationship with RSS over the years. Fifteen or so years ago I used Google Reader † or Reeder as my main way of reading the web, and couldn't imagine otherwise. Twitter changed that (as did the demise of Google Reader), taking over the role of RSS for me. Everyone moved their ramblings to centralised feeds, away from their sites, and RSS started feeling a little clunky to me.

But here we are, now. Twitter's changed beyond recognition, my account since deleted, and using the centralised social networks has started feeling more and more like wading through the internet's equivalent of a smelly swamp. And—I don't know if this is just the view from my bubble—personal websites seem to be thriving. 2023 (or 2024) was their year. People are (and many never stopped) blogging. And, with blogging comes RSS. For privacy reasons, or to escape the chaos of your email inbox. Even Reeder made a comeback.