Having created a Cold Fusion-based RSS feed via XML before, I figured my most recent project needing this functionality would be a copy and paste job with some variable edits…wrong.

I’ve spent 2 days trying to figure out why the exact same code for a feed works differently on two identical Cold Fusion 8 servers.  The only difference was the database outputting the data, different database and different table.

After remembering that ALL good developers validate EVERYTHING they do before they start complaining of broken applications, I headed over to a RSS Validator and saw immediately that my file wasn’t valid in the first place.  My lovely Cold Fusion XML output functions have somehow put in 96 lines of blank space in the top of my code (this didn’t happen on the other server, mind you).

For future reference, encasing the ENTIRE set of code in processing tags like below and tightening up the code so that no blank spaces are present fix the problem:

<cfprocessingdirective suppresswhitespace=”yes”></cfprocessingdirective>

Or should I say Track of the Month?? Sorry I have been such a slacker. Life has been crazy lately. Forgive me?

Back to business: The Track of the Week is “Valentino” by Diane Birch. She is a newcomer to the music scene, and I absolutely love her voice and style. She was raised in a strict religious home, and you can tell - her music is richly influenced by sounds of gospel and soul. Hence the name of her debut album Bible Belt. The track “Valentino” is upbeat and warm - what I call great summer music.

Enjoy the music of this very talented woman here. Let me know what you think.

Birds are singing, rain showers are plenty - it is springtime, my favorite season. The Track of the Week is “Brand New” by Emilie Mover from her latest album Good Shake, Nice Gloves. Emilie’s warm vocals and the light, breezy melody capture the feeling of the season perfectly. You may recognize the song from Sears’ latest commercial.

Listen here and let me know what you think. I hope it makes you smile.