#bitwise is a computing-focused reading lounge that
exists on IRC and Matrix. A central theme of this channel is to
share your reading, writing, and learning activities by
allocating timeboxes for focussed, distraction-free engagement.
The channel bot named t0 assists you in starting,
announcing, tracking, and listing these timeboxes.
There are several options to connect to the #bitwise
channel. If you have an IRC client, connect to the IRC
network irc.libera.chat:6697 and /join
#bitwise. You can also join via the following web interfaces:
Libera chat: #bitwise
Matrix bridge: #bitwise:matrix.org
You only need to join one of these links, not both. Both point to the same channel. If you are not an active IRC user, prefer joining the Matrix bridge because it is more convenient for someone unfamiliar with IRC. For example, you can close your browser or client and your chat session will still stay alive on the Matrix bridge. You can connect back later and read messages that were sent to the channel while you were away. Doing that with IRC requires slightly more work such as setting up IRC bouncers etc.
The channel #bitwise is a computing-focused reading
lounge for students, professionals, and hobbyists seeking
dedicated focus time to work on their goals and hang out with
each other. While you are in this channel, you are welcome to
perform the following activities:
The channel #bitwise is a coworking space meant for
students, professionals, and hobbyists. While you are in the
channel, please follow these guidelines:
The channel offers a channel bot named t0 that you
can utilise to carve out focus times for yourself in the form of
timeboxes.
To start a timebox for yourself, simply send a message like the following to the channel:
,b Write article about type theory
The above message contains the ,b command that is
recognised by the channel bot. The ,b
or ,begin command begins a 30 minute timebox for
your activity by default. After 30 minutes, when your timebox
ends, the channel bot will notify you about it in the channel.
If you want to start a timebox with a different time duration,
say, 45 minutes, send a message like the following:
,b 45 Learn about OISC from https://esolangs.org/wiki/OISC
Whenever possible, please include links, book titles, etc. in
your ,b or ,begin commands. This
helps the community by making it easier for others to find and
read the same material.
You can also cancel a running timebox, list your completed
timeboxes, delete a completed timebox, list all timeboxes
running in the channel, etc. For example, the ,l
or ,list command shows a list of your most recent
10 timeboxes from the last 48 hours. Older timeboxes are
permanently removed from the system, so they are not shown.
Send the message ,h
or ,help to the channel to learn about all the
commands supported by the channel bot.
This channel was formed on 23 June 2024, following several days
of discussion on the Libera #lispcafe channel about
creating a dedicated space for discussing computation and
mathematics literature. Among the suggested names were
#we-read-cs-books, #explorers,
#bitwise, #computernerds,
and #coders_and_fun. While at least one person
disliked the name #computernerds, everyone seemed
to like #bitwise, so the new channel was formed
with this name.
After exactly a month of active discussions
in #bitwise, the channel was officially registered
on July 23, 2024.
While the name #bitwise obviously references the
bitwise operations fundamental to computing, it also reflects
the approach of reading and understanding literature bit by
bit. Additionally, some members have playfully noted that
participating in this channel might just make you a
bit wise.
If you have any questions about the channel or its activities, do not hesitate to post them in the channel. Most importantly, enjoy your stay in the channel. Grab a cup of coffee or a hot chocolate, start a timebox, and dive into your work with enthusiasm!