twitter_tracker.rb

# Twitter Tracker for Ubuntu
# ==========================
# ruby twitter_tracker.rb user_to_track
#
# Will poll for updates from user_to_track every 30 seconds. Uses libnotify
# to let you know when we have something. Requires gems twitter, libnotify.
#
# Place image "twittericon.png" in this folder to get a nice icon on
# notifications.

require 'rubygems'
require 'libnotify'
require 'twitter'

Icon = File.join(File.dirname(File.expand_path(__FILE__)), 'twittericon.png')
Delay = 30

username = ARGV[0]
old_message = nil
print "Tracking #{username}"

while true
  user = Twitter.user(username)
  new_message = user.status.text
  if new_message == old_message
    print "."
  else
    old_message = new_message
    print "\n#{new_message}"
    Libnotify.new do |n|
      n.summary = "New tweet from #{username}"
      n.body = new_message
      n.icon_path = Icon
      n.show!
    end
  end
  sleep Delay
end