Finding Content Feeds to Use in PHP

Building dynamic sites around the latest NYSE figures for example

[Jeremy_H]

This is a very specific question, but I think the answer might be beneficial to others.

I'm looking at finding for some kind of provider of the NYSE feeds that I can integrate into my website.

I'm looking at providing calculations based these figures, so I would need access to the data before outputting the page.

I'm also looking for a solution that would be reliable and scalable, and preferably free.

Do such "feeds" exist? I tried searching, but I just found RSS feeds, and I don't think I'm looking for that.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Jeremy_H]

I was hoping to delete or significantly edit my original message, but it looks like I'm too late for that, so let me state my findings.

In my original question, I was wondering where I might find sources of material so I can use it in my website, like stock data for example.

My original idea was to grab this "feed" from some source with each page request and to parse this information, but I couldn't find any supplies of this data.

I know realize that a better approach would to have a script auto execute every X-minutes to pull this data into a database, like MySQL, and then pull the information I need for my site from this table?

Am I getting the right idea?

If so, how might I setup a script to auto execute every X-minutes?

And where would I pull this data from?

Thanks very much!

[jatar_k]

you should be able to find feeds for what you need through searching various search engines.

>> Am I getting the right idea?

yes, definitely. You don't want your site to have to rely on loading something from another site everytime someone requests a page, it may result in downtime or slow page loads.

[barns101]

If so, how might I setup a script to auto execute every X-minutes?

This can be done using cron.

And where would I pull this data from?

I would have thought that this type of data would be charged at quite a premium so it may be difficult to find a free source. I've never been able to find a website that offers free real-time stock quotes.

[henry0]

Why don't you try calling the NYSE and boldly ask about your quest?
Somehow accessing the data is more or less public access, it becomes "for a fee" when the data are analyzed and served
I also could be wrong and day-dreaming :)

[cmarshall]

This can be done using cron.

That assumes that you are using a LAMP-based server. I run LAMP and Windows-based servers, and I have to use scheduled CMD batches for repeating events.

In any case, if you are using cron, then you'd actually be better off using Perl, Python, Ruby, C, etc. to update an internal cache/pointer and set a semaphore. These are system languages, whereas PHP is a Webserver language (although it can be executed from the system() prompt with packages like Pear).

[Jeremy_H]

Thank you so much!

I'm glad I'm headed in the right direction, and your ideas have given me some great leads.

I haven't had luck finding free tools for websites, but when I looked free tools for excel, that opened up a lot of information. Now I just need to parse that information.

Thanks!