If you want to actually use NaecSpyr, go to the NaecSpyr user interface.
Introduction
One of the several problems with the WWW is keeping track of changes to interesting links. Doing this by hand can be a chore, so some systems automate the process. NaecSpyr reflects a group of theories on structuring this task.
The following theories underpin NaecSpyr:
NaecSpyr's implementation embodies these theories. NaecSpyr is split into a server, naecspyrd, and a cgi-script interface, naecspyr.cgi. The one server handles all requests, thereby avoiding duplication of efforts. Because a script serves as the interface, NaecSpyr can be accessed from any platform.
The naecspyrd server periodically goes through its complete list of URLs and does a HEAD request on each. It also periodically runs through its list of registered users and mails any whose URLs have changed since their last visit. When a user "checks-in" to the script, (s)he is presented an HTMLized list of changed URLs. Whenever a user accesses a URL through NaecSpyr, news of the visit is passed on to the server.
NOTE: Although technically, NaecSpyr probably isn't a robot, it is compliant with the Standard for Robot Exclusion.
BTW: NaecSpyr is written in Perl5.001, and uses CGI.pm (v. 1.53) and libwww-perl, v. 0.40.
As of this writing, NaecSpyr is still in beta testing and is nearly comletely inactive. That is, there are no results.
As soon as I'm satisfied it's (relatively) bugless, NaecSpyr will go freeware.
I originally called it Web-Watch. Then I discovered that there already is a WebWatch. I tried a couple of other names, but when Isearched with Lycos, found they were already taken. So, I decided to make up something so outlandish that even lycos wouldn't have it.
Naec is a modified form of "haec," the first word in "Haec dies," which I had to listen to over and over again for a music class. Spyr just sounded neat.
"NaecSpyr" is pronounced sort of like "nake-spire".
Check out:
For further information, please contact mabzug1@gl.umbc.edu, the author of NaecSpyr.