AutoBidder: Win without trying
This library places bids on online auction sites for you automatically while you do other important things, like walking your dog.
Installing
gem install auto-bidder
Usage
AutoBidder is intended to be ran from the command line:
Chad-Boyds-iMac:~ cboyd$ auto-bidder --help
Usage: auto-bidder [options] URL
-v, --verbose Be more verbose
-x, --max-price PRICE Maximum price you are willing to pay for the auction item
-n, --min-price [PRICE] Minimum price the auction item must reach before bidding starts
-c, --bid-cost COST How much each bid actually costs you
-u, --username USER Username of your account for the auction site
-s, --bid-seconds [SECONDS] How many seconds remaining on the clock before a bid is placed
-h, --help Display this screen
It is a gem, though. So I suppose you could use it within your own project.
AutoBidder works by utilizing Watir, an open-source library for automating web browsers. The AutoBidder library will launch a Safari window and connect to the URL you supply on the command line.
Notes
Watir supports IE, Firefox, Safari and Chrome. AutoBidder uses Safari only, however. Feel free to fork this project and implement any or all of the other browsers if you wish.