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diff --git a/docs/random/img/xkcdbot/post.png b/docs/random/img/xkcdbot/post.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..52d8e22 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/random/img/xkcdbot/post.png diff --git a/docs/random/img/xkcdbot/thumbnail.png b/docs/random/img/xkcdbot/thumbnail.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..270eb4f --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/random/img/xkcdbot/thumbnail.png diff --git a/docs/random/index.md b/docs/random/index.md index 508b46c..be0f576 100644 --- a/docs/random/index.md +++ b/docs/random/index.md @@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ Nevertheless, occasionally I leave a permanent trace along the way. - [I Joined The Tab Gang](tab_gang) - [Better Handwritten Math with LaTeX](latex_handwriting) - [Review of My Chemical Romance discography](mcr_discog_review) +- [xkcdbot](xkcdbot) diff --git a/docs/random/xkcdbot.md b/docs/random/xkcdbot.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..47ea2c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/random/xkcdbot.md @@ -0,0 +1,68 @@ +# xkcdbot + + + +## Birth + +Back in 2019, I signed up for a Mastodon account on mastodon.technology. +Soon I began looking around for xkcd bots. There were several, but most of +them were defunct. I would soon make up my mind to create my own. + +I have little memory, but per the +[git log](https://github.com/fakefred/xkcdbot/commits/master) I finished +it in 9 days. It ran on Node.js, which unfortunately was my favorite tech +stack back then. + +I registered [@xkcdbot@botsin.space](https://botsin.space/@xkcdbot), then +daemonized the bot on the same server I hosted my comics (which, for which +I apologize, was also on a Node.js server). I wrote this bio: + +>I'm an xkcd bot who shows up at Randall's house at 3.3 millihertz and +>asks "Hello, did you publish a new comic?" I occasionally dress like +>a velociraptor just to freak him out. + +>If he admits he has drawn a new comic, I seize it and post it right here +>before Randall shoots me down with a drone. + +## Rise + +The bot account was created on 2019-08-19. + +On 2022-10-28, xkcdbot gained 1k followers. It took 1166 days. + +On 2022-11-23, the number grew to 2k. It only took 26 more days. + +Of course, the surge owes to Elon Musk for pissing off so many people off +Twitter, but I'm sure there are two more reasons as well: + +### Killer features + +- 5 minute polling interval +- explainxkcd link +- DM for "subscribers" +- Comic thumbnail is focused on top left, so no spoilers + + + +### Administration + +The bot lives by a few simple rules. It: + +- does its damn job +- has near-perfect uptime +- never solicits followers +- never interacts with people unless asked to +- has no new features for three years + +## Accidents + +My code broke in production exactly once. There were other accidents, but +they were all due to botsin.space downtime or Randall uploading the wrong +comic. + +## Conclusion + +I believe this resolves all remaining questions on this topic. No further +research is needed. |
