Podcast XML files and iTunes tags

[zirconx]

I am working on some PHP software that allows you to upload MP3 files and automatically generate podcast RSS files. I'm working on adding iTunes support now, and have some questions...

Any ideas on how I should handle the description tag verses the itunes:summary tag? I would like to allow a long description in the description tag, so non-itunes clients get a nice, descriptive text. But the iTunes docs says it truncates all fields at 255 characters, except for itunes:summary. I could duplicate the desciption data into the summary tag, but that seems wasteful of bandwidth. Any input appriciated.

-Thanks

[docsnavely]

you're talking about bytes when it comes to that.

i don't see why it would matter that much. just my opinion of course. if it runs clean through a validator, who cares?

[zirconx]

Sure its only bytes, but it adds up. 10,000 readers running clients that check once per hour comes up to several extra GB per month, based on duplicating a 1500 character summary in the description, instead of having a 255 char description. For some people who only have 1, 2, 4 or whatever GB of transfer per month in thier hosting account, this could be a problem.

But I'm not *that* concerned about bandwidth, it was just one reason to avoid duplication. If a podcast has 10,000 subscribers they will probably not be using my software.

I wonder if iTunes ignores the description then, and only uses the summary? Or does it use the description somewhere else? I think I read that if there is no itunes:summary tag, it will use whats in the description. In that case I would assume it could be more than 255 characters. So maybe thats the better way to go?

Maybe there is a better forum to discuss this in?

[Hittman]

I am working on some PHP software that allows you to upload MP3 files and automatically generate podcast RSS files.

Check out dircaster.php, which does that. It’s rather crude, and I only use it for the first step in hand coding my RSS feed (I copy and paste from it after uploading the file.) A better solution, especially one that includes iTunes tags, would be great.