Introduction
Sometimes the best projects emerge from casual conversations that span months or even years. That's exactly how my involvement with asteroid.radio came about - through countless discussions with Fade on IRC, stretching back over a couple of years.
Fade is the development lead on asteroid.radio, and our conversations about the project have been a recurring thread in our IRC interactions. What started as occasional mentions evolved into deeper technical discussions, and eventually into an opportunity to contribute. I did bend Fades' arm a little bit to get us started, but I hope he appreciates the push.
What is asteroid.radio?
asteroid.radio is a broadcasting station dedicated to what Fade has dubbed "asteroid music" - that particular genre of sound that helps you slip into a deep workflow when hacking or deeply engaged at the computer. The moment Fade coined the term, I knew exactly what he was referencing. It's that music that fades into the background while simultaneously sharpening your focus.
We're attempting to build a community around this concept - a space for people who understand that the right soundtrack can transform a coding session from distracted fumbling into hours of productive flow. The project is open source, and you can find the code at github.com/fade/asteroid.
The IRC Connection
My involvement with asteroid.radio is deeply rooted in IRC culture. Fade and easilok are both active in the IRC community, and it's through these channels that the project has grown and evolved.
There's something special about IRC as a medium for project collaboration. The asynchronous nature of conversations allows ideas to percolate over time. Fade and I would discuss asteroid.radio concepts, then return to them weeks or months later with fresh perspectives. This slow-burn approach to project development has its own rhythm - one that I've come to appreciate.
Getting Involved
After over a couple of years of these on-and-off conversations, I'm now actively contributing to the project. Working with Fade as the dev lead has been a great experience - there's a "clear" vision for what asteroid.radio should become (don't mention Autechre), while still leaving room for contributors to bring their own ideas and expertise.
The project represents exactly the kind of work I find most rewarding: community-focused, technically interesting, and aligned with the values of open source that I care about.
Looking Forward
I'm excited to see where asteroid.radio goes from here. Projects like this demonstrate what's possible when communities come together to build something meaningful.
If you're interested in asteroid music, deep work soundtracks, or just want to see what we're building, tune in to asteroid.radio and check out the source code on GitHub. And if you're on IRC, come say hello - you might find yourself drawn into a years-long conversation that leads somewhere unexpected.
Community Matters
This experience has reinforced something I've come to believe strongly: the best open source contributions often come from genuine community connections. Whether it's the System Crafters community, the Craftering webring, or the IRC channels where projects like asteroid.radio take shape, these spaces matter.
Thanks to Fade for the leadership on this project, to easilok for being part of the community, and to everyone who makes IRC such a valuable space for collaboration.
Happy Hacking!