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Script Subscriptions

You can write scripts—in AppleScript, Python, Perl, and so on—that generate Atom or RSS feeds. NetNewsWire runs the scripts and then displays the results the same way it does with any other feed.

Note: this is an advanced topic. If you’re not interested in scripting, or don’t have a good use for this feature, it’s okay to skip this.

About scripts

Scripts should be written in AppleScript or in a language such as Perl or Python or in a shell scripting language.
The scripts should return valid and well-formed Atom or RSS text.
The scripts may take parameters which you can set in NetNewsWire. Perl/Python/shell/etc. scripts get their parameters as if called on the command line. AppleScript scripts that take parameters should have a subroutine named “main” that takes one parameter.
Perl/Python/shell/etc. scripts should be marked as executable.

Adding a script subscription

Once you’ve written a script, you can subscribe to it:

Choose File > New Special Subscriptions > Script….
A standard file dialog box prompts you to locate the script on disk. Choose your script.
NetNewsWire selects your script in the subscriptions list and opens the Info window. Expand the Script Settings pane if it’s not already expanded.
In the Type popup menu, tell NetNewsWire whether your script is an AppleScript script or a Perl/Python/shell/etc. script.
If your script takes any parameters, type them in the Args field.
When you’re ready to test your script, click the Run Script button. The script should execute and the feed it generates should display in NetNewsWire.
If it doesn’t work, choose Window > Show Errors to see what went wrong.