Threads
Bluesky
Mastodon
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
Linktr.ee/nevillehobson
, , , , , , ,

Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012

By

Neville Hobson

•

feedburnerapideprecated

[Update September 15: Moving on from Feedburner to Feedblitz. I decided to move away from Feedburner. The post you’re reading, and it’s update at the end, tries to throw some light on a murky picture, with limited success. I’ve made my decision to go to Feedblitz, explained in the new post.]

Did you know that Google intends to shut down access to Feedburner’s APIs on October 20? A banner note on the Google Developers Feedburner API page makes that intent clear:

Important: The Google Feedburner APIs have been officially deprecated as of May 26, 2011 will be shut down on October 20, 2012.

It is the case that Google signalled a limited future for Feedburner with its deprecation post in May last year:

[…] Following the standard deprecation period – often, as long as three years – some of the deprecated APIs will be shut down. The rest have no scheduled date for shutdown, but won’t get any new features. The policy for each deprecated API is specified in its documentation.

The post then listed a number of deprecated APIs that have no scheduled shutdown date, including Feedburner.

Well, we now do have that date – October 20, 2012.

What this means is that if you use Feedburner as a service that enables readers of your blog to receive your content via RSS or email every time you update the blog – and that includes audio and video (eg, podcasts), not only text content – that will cease working on October 20.

I’ve been using Feedburner since 2004. Over 3,200 RSS subscribers get posts every time I publish one, as do email subscribers. My content is widely syndicated via services like Newstex, Demand Media, CIPR Conversation and Web Pro News – all of which get that content from its RSS feed… via Feedburner. Shel and I use Feedburner for the FIR podcast.

I’ve looked hard and can find no mention anywhere of this Feedburner API shut-down on any Google website other than the banner text on the website I mentioned earlier. There’s no mention of the closure at all, anywhere, in my account at Feedburner. And if I click the link on "Feedburner blog" in my account, I get the Google Adsense for Feeds blog – which itself closed down in July.

Feedburner is the means by which over a million RSS feeds on websites deliver content to people according to the Wikipedia entry on Feedburner (and that was the figure in  2007: it must have grown even a little since then). Those websites include big media properties, mainstream and social, alongside individual bloggers like me.

RSS is the "delivery backbone" for creating and delivering much of the content that people use the internet for. You would have thought that turning off the flow of content that’s used by so many people and businesses is a pretty big deal, one that would warrant some communication from Google. I can find none.

It seems to me that Google isn’t taking any of this seriously at all.

I first heard about this when Rebecca Caroe emailed me a few weeks ago, and which was a discussion topic on FIR episode 666 on August 27. Yet at that time, no one had any clear information on a closure date.

Rebecca pointed me to a prescient post by Dan Thornton on August 3 which asked "Is Feedburner about to be closed by Google?" Dan linked to a migration guide by FeedBlitz – a Feedburner competitor with a paid service offering – and an interesting discussion thread on Dave Winer’s blog entitled "What if Feedburner closes?" on two technically-oriented ways to deal with the shutdown and keep your RSS continuity:

1. Google can use the redirection facilities built into the web to send traffic to the Feedburner version of your feed back to its original location. That way people can keep publishing their feed contents and the subscribers will continue to receive updates. It’s crucial that the connection between publishers and subscribers be preserved.

2. You can use the facility that Google provides to map a CNAME to your feed, so that if Google shuts down Feedburner, you can point that name at your main server, and your feed could continue to be accessed even if Google does not provide a redirect.

Without some signal from Google, I wouldn’t assume on the former happening at all. The latter approach looks more feasible.

If you use WordPress, you can simply revert back to your blog’s native RSS feed (which will be the underlying source for the Feedburner feed). You can also continue to serve your email subscribers with WordPress’ email subscription service. Other blogging platforms and services may have similar procedures.

Whatever you decide to do, you should take action right now.

feedburnerapishut

(Hat tip to Jim Connolly for the heads up on the Feedburner shut-down date.)

[Update Sept 10, 11:45am:] As some of the comments on this post indicate, there is strong doubt that Google’s planned shutdown of the Feedburner APIs next month means that RSS feeds will no longer work.

Similar opinions have been shared in the discussion about this post on Google+.

Such opinions have validity, especially when they’re expressed by people I know and whose opinions I do respect. Adam Tinworth, for instance on Google+:

[…] Closing an API is not the same thing as closing the service. The Feedburner APIs did very little other than give you a way of pulling your Feedburner subscription stats into other metrics systems. The death of the API will kill a few WordPress plugins and some app, but not much else. The core business of serving feeds and providing metrics on them is not dependent on the APIs, and those services are unlikely to go away as long as Google sees value in serving ads through feeds. Given where Google makes the majority of its money, I suspect that day will be a long time coming.

A more positive read of this would be that they’re sweeping away the deprecated (and, I suspect, ill-used) APIs prior to the final integration of Feedburner into the rest of Google.

However, positive or negative, their communication has been terrible.

[…] RSS feeds should work absolutely fine after the API is shut down. They do not require or use the API.

David Kutcher, too. I don’t know David but his comments make sense:

[…]  unfortunately I can see what happened here: a development manager posted that update on the FeedBurner Developer site intended for developers that understood what they were talking about. When that post was picked up by non-developers it of course became confused.  I doubt any Google employee is going to post anything, mainly because to them (the development manager) they probably think they’re being crystal clear. The API is being shut down with no mention of the service.?

I’ve reached out directly to Google for clarity; if I get a response, I’ll add a further update.

155 responses to “Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012”

  1. If you use Feedburner, better plan for something else… | NevilleHobson.eu

    […] Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012 Did you know that Google intends to shut down access to Feedburner’s APIs on October 20? A banner note on the Google Developers Feedburner API page makes that intent clear: Important: The Google Feedb… […]

  2. twitter_MikeHale avatar
    twitter_MikeHale

    The Feedburner API is being shut down, not the RSS subscription service. I wouldn’t be surprised if Google eventually shuts down Feedburner completely, but that is not what’s happening on Oct. 20.

  3. Adam Tinworth avatar
    Adam Tinworth

    Have I missed something here? Shutting down the API is not the same thing as shutting down the Feedburner service. As I read the announcement, any service you have that reads Feedburner metrics will stop working, but the service itself will continue working?

    1. Neville Hobson avatar
      Neville Hobson

      Adam, this has been a discussion topic over on G+. Trying to read the tea leaves of the words on the Google website, and posts and comments others have made (such as referenced in my post), the way it seems to me is this: to all intents and purposes, the service is shut down for most people who use it as a means to publish their content, ie, enable others to subscribe via RSS feed and email, if that functionality no longer works from October 20.

      From some commenters over on G+, that’s not what’s happening. Yet I don’t quite understand why Google cannot state with absolute clarity what is happening on Oct 20. A lot of posts, tweets, etc, equal a lot of confusion about this.

      Needs clarity, either from Google or a credible other source.

      1. Adam Tinworth avatar
        Adam Tinworth

        While I’d agree that Google needs to clarify this – and that looking at alternatives seems like a good plan, subscribing to feeds and e-mail subs don’t use the API, they’re native to the service.

        As far as I can see, on October 20th, nothing will change unless you’re accessing Feedburner stats through a third-party app (which I am doing, including the delightfully-named Ego on iOS). This has similarities with the Twitter kerfuffle – the native service remains unaffected, just hooks into third part clients change (and in this case, go away entirely).

  4. WillKnott.ie » Blog Archive » Burnt. Feedburner snuffs out

    […] Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012 Did you know that Google intends to shut down access to Feedburner’s APIs on October 20? A banner note on the Google Developers Feedburner API page makes that intent clear: Important: The Google Feedburner APIs have been officially deprecated as of May 26, 2011 will be shut down on October 20, 2012. It is the case that Google signalled a limited future for Feedburner with its deprecation post in May last year: […] Following the standard depreca… […]

  5. Phil Hollows avatar
    Phil Hollows

    Only the API is shutting dow on Oct 20th, but it is true that this signals a total lack of interesting from google. Wrap up post here: http://www.feedblitz.com/feedburner-shut-down-the-facts-and-tales-from-the-front-line/

    1. Neville Hobson avatar
      Neville Hobson

      Thanks for your comment, Phil. It’s now becoming clearer what is shutting down on Oct 20. As you say, the API rather than Feedburner itself.

      So much FUD about this – what I see in what others are saying is a focus on Feedburner as RSS distribution. Inevitable that when you then read the words “shutting down”, an easy jump to conclude “Feedburner.”

  6. Google Shutting Down Feedburner in October 2012

    […] might be of interest to people. Google is apparently closing down the Feedburner in October 2012. Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012 I don't see much from Google apart from a big red strip at the top of […]

  7. Change To Come … on October 20, 2012 | Mybitsandbleeps's Blog

    […] for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012 nevillehobson.com/2012/09/09/pre… via @jangles […]

  8. Phil Hollows avatar
    Phil Hollows

    the API *is* shutting down Oct 20th. Feedburner is NOT as far as we know but Gooogle has been silent. Facts, omens, here: http://www.feedblitz.com/feedburner-shut-down-the-facts-and-tales-from-the-front-line/

  9. What is Walgreens Balance Rewards Program? — The Coupon Project

    […] will be launching their new Balance Rewards program this Sunday, September 16th. This program reminds me an awful lot of Rite Aid’s Wellness […]

  10. Moving on from Feedburner to Feedblitz

    […] A week ago, I wrote about my worries that RSS feeds delivered via Feedburner might not work after October 20, after a note on the Google Developers’ Feedburner website said that the Feedburner APIs would shut down on that date. […]

  11. Rebecca Caroe avatar
    Rebecca Caroe

    Neville, thanks very much for this post and its follow up. I am keeping a close watch on Google – and if you get an answer from Google you’ll be doing better than this lady
    “I was even desperate enough to call Google Headquarters directly and was told “Google no longer offers technical support or assistance for FeedBurner”. ”
    http://www.thecreativityexchange.com/2012/09/feedburner-users-save-a-copy-of-your-email-subscriber-information.html

  12. Brad Dalton avatar
    Brad Dalton

    This is totally inaccurate content. Deprecating the Feedburner API does NOT mean Feedburner is closing down.

    This info is incorrect

    “What this means is that if you use Feedburner as a service that enables readers of your blog to receive your content via RSS or email every time you update the blog – and that includes audio and video (eg, podcasts), not only text content – that will cease working on October 20.”

    1. Neville Hobson avatar
      Neville Hobson

      Brad, I guess you didn’t read the updates to this post, the many comments, nor my later post of Sept 15.

      A few voices here have already expressed the view that RSS feeds won’t suddenly stop working on October 20. No definitive words from Google, though, one reason why I have now moved from Feedburner to Feedblitz.

      In any case, thanks for your comment, much appreciated!

      1. Brad Dalton avatar
        Brad Dalton

        No worries Neville.

        The first part of the content is from this post and the second part is from Google.

        Feedblitz is a great service but i think Jetpack subscriptions is better for email subscribers and its free. The only problem is you can’t import emails at this stage.

        How do you import your RSS subcribers from Feedburner to Feedblitz?
        Is this possible or only your Feedburner emails?

        1. Phil Hollows avatar
          Phil Hollows

          Jetpack is free.

          It is also: Unsupported. No email or RSS metrics. No deliverability management. No subscriber management. No social sharing. No ability to integrate third party feeds or content. No personalization. No ability to send emails without a blog post. No segmentation. No autoresponders. No custom landing pages.

          I could go on, but FREE isn’t the same as delivering VALUE. Usually, it’s the opposite.

          For the price of a couple of coffees per month (depending) look at what you gain. For a full feature comparison of FeedBlitz vs FeedBurner, see http://kb.feedblitz.com/article/AA-00444

      2. Brad Dalton avatar
        Brad Dalton

        Correct. Those guys at Automattic need to pull there finger out if they want to make Jetpack subscriptions as good as Feedblitz.

        There’s been plenty of requests for all these features so time will tell.

  13. How to Export the List of Email Subscribers from Feedburner | WordPress and Facebook Consultant | (Anti) Social Development

    […] Rumors that Google will be closing Feedburner after been circling around recently. Some signs are that the Feedburner blog is no longer being updated, the Feedburner API will stop working in October, and the Twitter account for Feedburner has been closed. […]

  14. facebook_keith.hawn.92 avatar
    facebook_keith.hawn.92

    here is a slightly different twist – why stay with a service that doesn’t bother to serve up your daily feed counts? every couple of weeks, Feedburner won’t show your stats today for yesterday. this week has been the worst ever – when i click on for my stats the latest data Google (oops, Feedburner) will show me is from Sunday (today is Thursday). So API or not, this is typical Google “we don’t give a sh*t” customer service. If Feedblitz is as good as everyone is making it out to be, then i am there !!!

  15. Stopt Google in oktober a.s. met Feedburner..?? « It's all in the Cloud!

    […] NevilleHubson.com: “Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012” […]

  16. FeedBurner Count at 0

    […] internet has been buzzing with rumors that FeedBurner is going bye-bye because its API is being shut down October 2012. These rumors have in turn been dismissed by others […]

  17. Nicole avatar
    Nicole

    How do you revert back to the native RSS feed if you are using WordPress?

    1. twitter_tonygreene113 avatar
      twitter_tonygreene113

      URL.xxx/feed/ is standard for WordPress sites.

  18. facebook avatar
    facebook

    if true then this is a very bad news for bloggers and other feedburner users, dont know why google wants to shut in down, it has spend millions to own this same feedburner

  19. How to Continue Following Edwardian Promenade via Email or RSS Feed | Edwardian Promenade

    […] people at Google, I can no longer offer email or RSS subscriptions through Feedburner! According to Neville Hobson, The End for Feedburner arrives October 20, 2012. For all of you good people who enjoy receiving […]

  20. [Nachgefragt] Ab dem 20.Oktober ist Schluss mit der API von Feedburner – Alternative von Euch ? | Beatmasters WinLite Blog

    […] mehr dazu wissen will zur teilweisen Abschaltung von Feedburner kann hier mal folgen. Aktuell bleib ich noch bei Feedburner – aber mal schauen ob es eine passende Alternative […]

  21. Vi avatar
    Vi

    Why do you misinforming people? Shutdown of API doesn’t mean Feedburning service shutdown.

  22. Forget about Feedburner and Start Thinking About Your Feed

    […] not really clear what is happening, which makes a whole lot of people very nervous. Apparently the feedburner API is being deprecated as of the 20th October. This might mean nothing. It might mean the service will cease to operate. […]

  23. Is Feedburner dead and dying? | Childrens Ministry Online

    […] of all, my investigation brought some concerns. It seems that Google has become negligent with Feedburner. They’ve stopped updating it, they’ve abandoned the blog and twitter accounts and have […]

  24. Una docena de alternativas a FeedBurner para tu web – una docena de | una docena de

    […] parece el próximo 20 de octubre Feedburner va a cerrar su API. A esta altura de la película, la mayoría ya sabréis algo sobre este tema. Pero el problema ya […]

  25. FIR Interview: FeedBlitz CEO Phil Hollows on RSS and the future of Feedburner

    […] Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012 […]

  26. Aviz abona?ilor RSS ?i amatorilor de Feedburner : Chaika.ro

    […] de milioane de dolari ca s?-?i însu?easc? un frumos serviciu RSS numit Feedburner.  Ast?zi, se zvone?te c? Google e pe punctul de-a î?i abandona copilul cel proasp?t adoptat. “Se […]

  27. Google î?i abandoneaz? serviciul de RSS – Feedburner

    […] nu exist? nici o confirmare oficial? îns?, dac? ar fi s? ne lu?m dup? zvonul publicat de site-ul nevillehobson.com, Feedburner se va închide undeva în jurul zilei de 20 […]

  28. The Sunday Post | The Bawdy Book Blog

    […] and as such, businesses like to make money. There have been rumors circulating on the web here, here and here (okay, so the last one is less rumor and more fact) that Feedburner, the free Google […]

  29. Nu, Google nu va închide Feedburner în octombrie 2012. Totu?i, e bine s? avem alternative.

    […] era ?i normal, mul?i bloggeri au început s? scrie articole apocaliptice despre închiderea Feedburner, mul?i s-au panicat ?i au început s? î?i mute abona?ii la […]

  30. Scentcillo pure scents inspired by our world

    […] Google will no longer be offering email or RSS subscriptions through Feedburner from the 20th October, 2012. […]

  31. O FeedBurner vai acabar? – [ Ferramentas Blog ] | [ Ferramentas Blog ]

    […] para Feeds, como descrevemos acima. A coisa ficou pior com a publicação de um outros artigo (Prepare for goodbye Feedburner in October 2012) que dava garantias de que realmente o FeedBurner fecharia em Outubro. A confusão é justamente […]

  32. hantumobilndo avatar
    hantumobilndo

    November 22th now, I can still register to feed burner tho, but the api is not available, I cannot show subscriber counter ~_~a

Hello, and

Welcome

Prime Topics

ALL TOPICS

Latest 5 Posts

Podcasts

FIR Interviews

Blogroll

Vuelio Top 10 Blog 2024
CC BY-SA