What is DirCaster?
DirCaster is a PHP script that allows one to very easily start Podcasting MP3 files from their web host. This allows original content creators to easily provide a feed for the Juice Podcast Receiver, jPodder, and other "podcatching" software. The feed is also fully iTunes compliant!
Simply drop the dircaster.php script (and accompanying files) into a directory on the web server and it will generate a valid RSS feed suitable for Juice Podcast Receiver, etc., based off the MP3 files (with appropriate ID3 tag information) in that directory. To broadcast a new MP3 file, simply upload it to the same directory that contains the DirCaster script and files.
DirCaster was originally written by Ryan King at www.shadydentist.com. The ID3 class from is from frummel. There is no license or warrantee expressed, implied, enclosed, etc. The project has many contributors and more are welcome to join the effort! Contact the current maintainer, Dr. Bill Bailey, at DrBill [AT] DirCaster.org for more information! (Please replace the "[AT]" with an "@" sign. This helps prevent spam to our e-mail address... thanks!)
Feed information is based on ID3 tags within the MP3 files that you post to the directory containing the DirCaster script. The information can be added to your MP3 file using a tool like "MP3 Tag Tools," another great Open Source project! Or, the excellent FREE tool called "MP3tag" located at: http://www.mp3tag.de/en/
The current version:
DirCaster Version 0.9f - Added logic to increase or decrease web
server time by 1 hour. Can be used in case of bad web server times due
to annual time shifts.
The prior version: DirCaster Version 0.9e - Fixed a bug in
displaying comments in the feed listing.
Earlier Versions:
DirCaster Version 0.9d - Item duration code modified to handle media
files with duration over 60 minutes. Made the system more modular.
DirCaster Version 0.9c - Added in the ability to define a variable that
allows for the use of an enclosurePrefix for such systems as the Raw
Voice Media Stats system (TechPodcasts, Blubrry.) For more
information on Blubrry Stats, see this link.
DirCaster V0.9b - Added in a guid change to allow for multiple
files that had the same file date in the feed, and identifies them as
"false" for permalinks.
DirCaster V0.9a - Added a test so that the ?ft=[filetype] would display
ONLY files that are listed in
the "sftypes" list
DirCaster V0.9 - Revised item GUID tag to be more unique, Added channel keyword tag, Aligned XML tag indent. Looks better when reviewing raw XML. Added parameter to allow the selection of a single file type: dircaster.php?ft=[filetype]
DirCaster V0.8a added logic to obtain <item> overrides from a text file. (See the override.1st file for details.)
The latest version can be downloaded at this link: DirCasterV09f.zip