Watch Open Source Development in Real Time
Mohammed Al-Sahaf writes "If you use FreeNode, be sure to check out #commits, where they have a bot watching the CVS/Subversion repositories of a number of major Open Source projects (including GNOME, KDE and Python). Its fascinating to be able to watch development as it occurs all over the Open Source world. If you have a project of your own that uses CVS, you can add yourself to the bot. Also, the stats page makes interesting viewing!"
How about an RSS feed? A robotic voice that reads commits out loud on streaming audio? A dial-up BBS that gives you the latest commits when you call up? A public wifi hotspot that broadcasts commits on port 2314, twenty-four hours a frickin' day! Wait, how about some kind of GIGANTIC SCROLLING BANNER with a WEBCAM pointed at it! YES!!!
1) It means you can be impressed (and impress others, if they are that way inclined) with the pace and volume of open source development.
2) There are 100 people in the channel from all kinds of projects, ranging from GNOME to bzFlag, all chilling out (there will soon be a #commits-only for those who for whatever reason don't like the chatter).
3) It's a neat hack that took about 2 hours to do, and took off in a big way.
For all you people saying "that's so pointless" you don't get it, it's not meant to be an informational resource. It's not even meant to be useful. It's just meant to be cool :)
(i helped set it up though so i would say that)
Paint Drying Web CamN
GrassGrowing.com
SausageBeingMade.org
CSPA