SquatCrunch

Updates added to the end of this post.

I have used Twitter at three different times over the last two years. I definitely was and am a fair weather fan, occasionally updating in test-driven mode during my first two ventures. With update/status services like Twitter, I really enjoy the journey of testing and hammering the application more than actually using it.

During the Democratic primaries I used the service a bit more, but found access to the application was very slow or down during key moments of the campaign. It was very frustrating.

With some of its core functionality off-line for days, weeks, and months it is no longer the same application that many had become so addicted to. IM and Track, two key features in my opinion, have been off-line for weeks. The @Replies tab is currently disabled, and pagination for archives is off for most users. Slow access and failed server connections are experienced daily. Update: @Replies tab is back on line.

I have dipped into and out of Pownce, Plurk, and Friendfeed twice. I am using Friendfeed more these days, but not sipping the kool-aid just yet.

So if it is not Twitter, or not Friendfeed, or not Jaiku, or not Pownce, or not Plurk, or not Kwippy, or not Twoorl, where is a test-driven techie to go to feed on fountains of information and have some fun?

I am here, waiting patiently for that next new shiny application to come along so I can bash on it until it hollers, “I give up”. I shouldn’t have to wait too long.

Update: July 2, 2008
See, did not have to wait long at all. Identi.ca, a micro-blogging service you can use to write short notices about yourself, where you are, and what you’re doing, launched today. Now, what did I do with my hammer?

Update 2: July 3, 2008
The Identi.ca web site launched yesterday with a limited feature set, but still experienced intermittent slow access and server connection failures. Hammering away, and keeping an eye out.

Update 3: July 5, 2008
I like that the Identi.ca service is based on the Free/Open source software tool Laconica. The response time for ID-ing and fixing anomalies the last couple of days has been very impressive. It is a community on the move and growing daily. More web servers were added - very fast web access now. Congrats and Kudos @evan.

Update 4: July 7, 2008
The Identi.ca community is growing pretty quickly. So far anomalies have been addressed with lightning speed, and new features are being added almost daily. See the FAQ for more information and “Where is Feature X?” Open source, OpenID, SMS, IM, Federated servers. I am getting excited!

Update 5: July 8, 2008
Additional new features are coming online at Identi.ca. I am excited about the open community that is developing, and I am finding plenty of techie users and open source/free software evangelists to share information with. Suits me to an I.T. There is a list of bugs and features. “New ideas or complaints are very welcome.” Developers, help if you wish, and/or get the Laconica source code and install on your own server. Got ideas or need help? Send a status to @evan.

Update 6: July 9, 2008
The list of servers using the Open Source µ-blogging tool Laconica is steadily growing.

Update 7: July 11, 2008
New features and feature updates continue to come online rapidly. A Version 0 API was just added. Approximately 14k users and growing.

Identi-fresh, clean, crisp, elegant zen. I am developing a soft spot for Identi.ca.

I would like to see the twitter and identi.ca services both succeed. One size does not fit all and these two may result in slightly different shades of community. A little something for everyone, and a win/win for the growing number of users.

The web server is fine, but the database server has been sputtering on and off the last couple of days.

Thank you for your patience.