64

Just wondering if I'm missing something here. Also, I couldn't find any previous question related to this.

1
  • 16
    +1 Yes, I want inbox RSS! Commented Apr 4, 2011 at 16:22

3 Answers 3

36

An RSS feed for your global inbox is finally here!

I have put a lot of effort into making this process as smooth as possible. Here are the steps you need to take to create your custom RSS feed:

  1. Head on over to my website and register for an account:

    http://quickmediasolutions.com/accounts/register

    (Registration is free and you also get some other nice features too like a custom OpenID.)

  2. Once you have logged in to your new account, head on over to Stack Exchange Dashboard and click the "Stack Exchange" tab:

    enter image description here

  3. Ensure that "Read Inbox" is checked and click the "Authorize" button. You will then be presented with the Stack Exchange authorization page.

    enter image description here

  4. Once the process is complete, head back to this page and you should see your inbox RSS feed URL:

    enter image description here

A few things to note here:

  • Data is cached for up to 10 minutes to reduce load on my site. After a few days I may lower this value if things are running well.

  • This feed is your custom feed. Anyone / anything you share the URL with will have access to your inbox, so be careful where you share it.

  • If you ever change your mind, just visit this page and click the "Deauthorize" button:

    enter image description here

    Your access token will be invalidated and your API data destroyed.

  • If you are worried about your personal information, we have a privacy policy.

  • Feedback is appreciated!

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  • 4
    crazy George attacking again! :P
    – cregox
    Commented Jun 11, 2012 at 13:37
  • Does this work with ServerFault too?
    – BullShark
    Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 1:23
  • @BullShark: Absolutely! Commented Apr 19, 2013 at 2:45
  • Would it be possible to add a feed with all my activity? Like http://*.stackexchange.com/feeds/user/me combined. Commented Sep 2, 2013 at 7:49
  • @Michel: Unfortunately, no. You might want to take a look at Stack2RSS for something like that. Commented Sep 2, 2013 at 21:23
  • @NathanOsman: Stack2RSS can't combine sites can it? Commented Sep 3, 2013 at 13:06
  • @uɐɯsOuɐɥʇɐN I couldn't reach quickmediasolutions.com/accounts/register any more. Is this still active? If not what are the alternatives? Commented Nov 8, 2015 at 5:19
  • @KhurshidAlam there were some brief technical issues - the site's back up now. Sorry about that. (Note: the screenshots above are out-of-date but the RSS feed is still there.) Commented Nov 8, 2015 at 5:30
  • Is this still active and relevant? Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 8:50
  • @shadow yes and yes. Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 16:27
  • Thanks, I closed a new question as duplicate of this one, and was worried it's not relevant after all those years. Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 16:28
  • This is down right now
    – Andrew
    Commented Oct 26, 2016 at 17:02
  • @AndrewMacFie what error are you getting specifically? It's working fine on my end. Commented Oct 26, 2016 at 17:18
  • whoops, looks like a local firefox issue, weird
    – Andrew
    Commented Oct 26, 2016 at 17:20
  • Is it possible to get a feed of only unseen inbox items?
    – Marcel
    Commented Jan 3, 2017 at 19:09
7
+25

This could easily be done... the contents of the inbox can be fetched with JSON using:

http:// {SE Site Domain} /inbox/genuwine

It would be trivial to write something that converted this to an RSS feed.

However:

  • The above URL only works if you're logged in (technically it works if you send the login cookie to that URL).
  • Based on that fact, the only thing that would be capable of creating and reading such a feed would be a UserScript or browser extension.
9
  • Sup George? Did you notice I've kinda abandoned Stack2RSS? :P Anyway, maybe someone who are willing to put up the effort on doing this, can use Newt as a base - which already works in a quite similar fashion... While I'm glad with it and don't care that much about the RSS anymore, I'll wait and only accept an actual solution for it (or an authoritative answer on why this can't / shouldn't be done), rather than good pointers! ;)
    – cregox
    Commented Jun 3, 2011 at 12:44
  • @Cawas: No problem. I'd certainly like to hope that it could be done... though I really am not quite sure how. Commented Jun 3, 2011 at 17:48
  • 1
    Or: simply use the "user responses feed", also linked in the bottom right corner of the "responses" tab on one's own profile.
    – Arjan
    Commented Jun 5, 2011 at 13:18
  • @Arjan: Good find! I never noticed that. Commented Jun 5, 2011 at 19:24
  • Wait... a +25 bounty? awarded by Community?
    – gobernador
    Commented Jul 21, 2012 at 23:52
  • Yup, @gobernador, if the bounty placer does not act, then Community may award half the value; see How does the bounty system work?
    – Arjan
    Commented Jul 31, 2012 at 15:41
  • Why "genuwine"? Is it a misspelling? Or is it meant to be? It seems to give valid JSON.
    – nanofarad
    Commented Aug 30, 2012 at 16:54
  • @Arjan It looks like the link in the bottom right corner of the responses tab is no longer available. However, going directly to http://meta.stackoverflow.com/feeds/user/{user_id}/responses works. Any idea why the link is missing? Commented Jan 22, 2013 at 10:23
  • Yes, @Piotr, unfortunately that is by design: One's own profile no longer shows RSS feed for responses?
    – Arjan
    Commented Jan 22, 2013 at 20:21
5

I haven't been able to find a native way of doing this for stackexchange, and George Edison's original for individual stack exchange sites no longer works, so here is the equivalent today:

  • http://stack exchange site/feeds/user/user id/responses
  • http://stack exchange site/feeds/user/user id

Nor can I find an equivalent for Stack Exchange, and guessing the following URL simply doesn't work:

  • http://stackexchange.com/feeds/user/user id

If you don't mind a non-native solution (by granting an external site access to your inbox), then obviously George Edison's more recent solution will be good for you.

I have also posted another question What other hidden or inobvious RSS feeds are available on stackexchange and stack exchange sites? here, to see if there are any other feeds available.

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  • Doesn't this work? Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 7:08
  • 1
    @GeorgeEdison - I've updated my answer to make it clear that I was referring to native solutions. I'm sure your new solution works perfectly, but it might not be for everyone. Thanks for the feedback though.
    – Mark Booth
    Commented Nov 9, 2012 at 11:48

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