Post short messages to people nearby (anonymously). (minipost.me)

Tossing this prototype out there to see if people find it useful. Feedback appreciated!

Firefox asked me to share my location and then I got this in the browser:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "/home/johnrob/server/tornado/web.py", line 988, in _execute getattr(self, self.request.method.lower())(args, *kwargs) File "chat.py", line 30, in get self.do_get() File "chat.py", line 47, in do_get address = placefinder.lat_lon_to_zip(lat, lon) File "/home/johnrob/server/placefinder.py", line 20, in lat_lon_to_zip raise Exception("error looking up address for lat-lon: %s,%s" % (str(lat), str(lon))) Exception: error looking up address for lat-lon: 43.6525,-79.381667

Enter should press 'reply'. I love it, although my chat partner does not seem too interested in me =[.

" Exception: error looking up address for lat-lon: 54.xxxxxx,24.xxxxxx"

Also, have you seen Squarechan? Does pretty much the same thing :-)

What I really want is to drop a message anywhere (long&lat). Anyone who ever comes to that location, or close to it, can read it. I can drop a message for the next guy who will come to my house, or the next gal about to hike this trail... Get it? ... Edit: Forgot to say, Awesome :).

What is the definition of "nearby"?

It thinks Beverly Hills, 90210 is near North Bay (SF).

How long do the posts last? I think it could become an interesting repository of local knowledge. Probably should have a voting system so best content goes to the top.

it's funny - a few people are opting to state their general area (Union Sqaure, Richmond, Downtown Brooklyn). And it seems like the most responses are from posts that are location-specific.

I know you're leaving it open ended - but if the general area is generating responses - maybe it could be included with the time stamp? "2 minutes ago, Union Square"

Entering a faulty address manually throws:

  Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/johnrob/server/tornado/web.py", line 988, in _execute
    getattr(self, self.request.method.lower())(*args, **kwargs)
  File "chat.py", line 33, in post
    self.do_post()
  File "chat.py", line 104, in do_post
    lat, lon, zip = placefinder.address_to_lat_lon(address)
  File "/home/johnrob/server/placefinder.py", line 9, in address_to_lat_lon
    lat = dom.getElementsByTagName('latitude')[0].childNodes[0].nodeValue
  IndexError: list index out of range

GeoIP would be a nice addition for browsers that don't share the location.

I had this same idea but was way too lazy to implement it. Well done. :-)

How hard are the borders of each locality? For example, if I exchange messages with someone a few miles away, a third party might only be able to see half the conversation if they're too far from one of us.

Or is it like a thousand chatrooms, and if I travel a short distance then I suddenly flip to a new chatroom?

These forms are open to injection. Not sanitized at all. Even for a prototype this is not good practice.

Cool. I wanted to do something just like this, except the messages would decay over time.

wow it is so buggy, messages disappear, if you enter your adress manually it doesn't work, sometimes a <br> appears from nowhere in clear.

I like the idea though.

Have you thought about touching up the UI? Seems like a more refined aesthetic might attract more repeat visits... PM if you are interested in help.