News feed API

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  1. News Feed API: A Beginner's Guide for MediaWiki Integrations

The News Feed API is a powerful tool for developers looking to integrate real-time news and information directly into their MediaWiki installations. This article provides a comprehensive introduction to the News Feed API, covering its functionality, benefits, implementation considerations, and practical examples, specifically geared toward users familiar with MediaWiki’s environment. We will focus on the underlying principles, and how you can leverage external APIs to achieve a dynamic news display within your wiki.

What is a News Feed API?

An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules and specifications that software applications can follow to communicate with each other. A *News Feed API* specifically allows you to programmatically access news data from various sources. Instead of manually scraping websites or relying on RSS feeds (which have limitations), an API provides a structured and reliable way to retrieve news articles, headlines, summaries, images, and other related information.

Think of it like ordering food at a restaurant. You (your MediaWiki installation) don't go into the kitchen to cook the food yourself (scrape a website); you use a menu (the API documentation) to tell the waiter (the API request) what you want, and the kitchen (the news provider) prepares and delivers it to you in a standardized format.

Why Integrate a News Feed API into MediaWiki?

Integrating a News Feed API into your MediaWiki wiki offers several advantages:

  • **Real-time Information:** Provides up-to-date news, crucial for wikis covering current events, financial markets, or rapidly changing topics. This contrasts with manually updated content which quickly becomes stale.
  • **Automated Content Updates:** Eliminates the need for manual content updates, saving time and effort. This is particularly valuable for large wikis with frequently changing information.
  • **Enhanced User Experience:** Delivers relevant news directly within the wiki interface, improving user engagement and providing a more comprehensive resource. Users don’t have to leave the wiki to stay informed.
  • **Customization & Filtering:** APIs often allow you to filter news based on keywords, categories, sources, or other criteria, ensuring that only relevant information is displayed. This is vital for tailoring the news feed to your wiki’s specific focus. For example, a financial wiki would filter for financial news.
  • **Dynamic Content:** Transforms your wiki from a static repository of information into a dynamic and interactive platform.
  • **Data Consistency:** APIs provide structured data, reducing errors and ensuring consistency in how news is presented.
  • **Scalability:** Handles large volumes of news data efficiently, making it suitable for wikis with high traffic or extensive news coverage.

Popular News Feed APIs

Numerous News Feed APIs are available, each with its own features, pricing, and limitations. Here are some popular options:

Choosing the right API depends on your specific needs, budget, and the type of news you want to display. Consider factors like data coverage, pricing, rate limits (how many requests you can make per time period), and the API's ease of use.

Implementing a News Feed API in MediaWiki

Implementing a News Feed API in MediaWiki typically involves the following steps:

1. **Obtain an API Key:** Most APIs require you to register and obtain an API key. This key is used to authenticate your requests and track your usage.

2. **Choose a Programming Language & Method:** MediaWiki extensions are typically written in PHP. You’ll need PHP skills to develop the extension. You can choose to: 

   *   **Write a MediaWiki Extension:** This is the most powerful and flexible approach, allowing you to create a custom extension that integrates the API seamlessly into your wiki. MediaWiki Extensions
   *   **Use Scribunto/Lua:**  Scribunto allows you to write Lua scripts that can be used to fetch and display data. This is a simpler approach for less complex integrations. Scribunto
   *   **Embed via iFrame (Less Recommended):**  You could create a separate web page that fetches the news data and displays it, then embed that page in your wiki using an iFrame. However, this is generally less desirable due to potential security and performance issues.

3. **Make API Requests:** Use PHP's `curl` library (or similar) to make HTTP requests to the News Feed API endpoint. You’ll need to include your API key in the request headers or parameters. [13](https://curl.se/)

4. **Parse the API Response:** The API will return data in a specific format, usually JSON or XML. Use PHP's built-in functions (e.g., `json_decode()`, `simplexml_load_string()`) to parse the response and extract the relevant data. [14](https://www.php.net/manual/en/book.json.php) [15](https://www.php.net/manual/en/book.simplexml.php)

5. **Display the News in MediaWiki:** Format the extracted data and display it within your wiki using MediaWiki's wikitext or HTML. You can create templates to standardize the presentation of news articles. MediaWiki Templates

6. **Caching (Important):** To avoid exceeding API rate limits and improve performance, implement caching. Store the API response for a certain period (e.g., 30 minutes, 1 hour) and serve the cached data to subsequent requests. MediaWiki provides caching mechanisms you can leverage. MediaWiki Caching

Example (Conceptual PHP Code for a MediaWiki Extension)

```php <?php // This is a simplified example and requires a MediaWiki extension framework.

class NewsFeedExtension { 

 private $apiKey;
 private $apiUrl;

 public function __construct($apiKey, $apiUrl) {
   $this->apiKey = $apiKey;
   $this->apiUrl = $apiUrl;
 }

 public function getNews($category = null, $limit = 5) {
   $url = $this->apiUrl . '?apiKey=' . $this->apiKey;
   if ($category) {
     $url .= '&category=' . urlencode($category);
   }
   $url .= '&limit=' . $limit;

   // Implement caching here to avoid hitting the API too frequently

   $response = file_get_contents($url); // In a real extension, use curl for robustness
   $data = json_decode($response, true);

   if (isset($data['articles'])) {
     return $data['articles'];
   } else {
     return [];
   }
 }

 public function formatNewsForWiki($articles) {
   $output = ;
   foreach ($articles as $article) {
     $title = htmlspecialchars($article['title']);
     $description = htmlspecialchars($article['description']);
     $url = htmlspecialchars($article['url']);

     $output .= "* [{$title}|{$url}] - {$description}\n";
   }
   return $output;
 }

}

// Usage within a MediaWiki template or page: // $newsExtension = new NewsFeedExtension('YOUR_API_KEY', 'https://newsapi.org/v2/top-headlines'); // $news = $newsExtension->getNews('business', 3); // $formattedNews = $newsExtension->formatNewsForWiki($news); // echo $formattedNews; ?> ```

    • Important Considerations:**
  • **Error Handling:** Implement robust error handling to gracefully handle API errors, network issues, or invalid responses.
  • **Rate Limiting:** Respect the API's rate limits to avoid being blocked. Implement caching and consider using a queue to manage requests.
  • **Security:** Never hardcode your API key directly into your code. Store it securely in a configuration file or environment variable. Sanitize any user input to prevent injection attacks.
  • **Data Validation:** Validate the data returned by the API to ensure its integrity and prevent unexpected errors.
  • **API Versioning:** Be aware of API versioning. APIs can change over time, so you may need to update your code to accommodate new versions.
  • **Attribution:** Always attribute the news source according to the API's terms of service.

Advanced Techniques

Conclusion

Integrating a News Feed API into your MediaWiki wiki can significantly enhance its functionality and value. By following the steps outlined in this article and carefully considering the various options available, you can create a dynamic and informative resource for your users. Remember to prioritize security, error handling, and adherence to API terms of service. The key is to select an API that aligns with your wiki's purpose and to implement the integration thoughtfully and efficiently. API Integration MediaWiki Development PHP Programming JSON Parsing

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