In this episode, we walk through building a simple, one-page RSS reader using Alpine.js – all inside a single index.html
file! We start by pulling in Alpine.js directly from a CDN for easy setup, similar to how you might use it in a quick project. If you're new to Alpine, don't worry; we touch on the basics as we go.
We then create an Alpine component that manages our feed data. The RSS reader pulls from two example feeds: one from CodeCourse and one from the AlpineJS Weekly newsletter. We keep things organized by pulling data-fetching logic into functions, so it's nice and tidy – kind of like how you'd structure it if you were using Vue.js.
To parse the RSS feeds (which can be a pain to do manually!), we bring in a lightweight RSS Parser JavaScript library from jsdelivr. After getting our feed data, we standardize it so each item just has what we need: title, link, and the date it was published. We make sure dates are sorted newest-first, using either a getter or a method (just like computed properties in Vue, but Alpine-style!).
Finally, we show how to output each feed item onto the page, including nice formatted dates and clickable links. By the end, you'll have a super-basic RSS reader that you can use and easily extend – all without any build step or complex tooling. Perfect for learning, prototyping, or your own minimalist feed dashboard!