Made an addon that automatically finds who can craft anything you need (Linked Inn)
NOTE: Make sure to install version v1.1.1 or newer, there was a sound issue with the previous release.
Figured there had to be a better way than spamming trade every time I need a crafter. So I made an addon for it.
It quietly builds a list of crafters while you play. Every time someone links their profession in chat, it saves their whole recipe list, and you don't even have to click the link. It also picks people up when they link something they made or can make, when you see them crafting nearby, or when they're in your group or guild. In cities and inns it takes a quick look at everyone around you every few minutes, and if you play with friendly nameplates on it checks everyone you walk past. Other people running the addon also share their professions with each other automatically, so the list fills up pretty fast.
When you need something, type the item name and you see who can make it, when they were last online, and you can whisper them with one click. You can filter by skill level too, so you only see the people who are high enough. You can also open anyone's recipe book with all the reagents, whether they're online or not.
There's also a Work tab, kind of like a reverse AH. You post what you want made, which mats you bring and what you'll pay, and crafters with the addon who can make it get a pop-up. They hit "I can make it" and you get their name to whisper or invite.
CurseForge: https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/linked-inn-profession-finder
It's brand new so there are probably some bugs. Let me know if something's off or if you have ideas.
AI Disclaimer: AI was used during the development of this Addon. I'm a Software Engineer by trade with a masters in CS. I handle software daily through the whole pipeline including security. Code is never written entirely by hand anymore, not a single piece of software is. A good engineer knows how to utilize AI efficiently and safely. Optimization is a key factor since AI can get ahead of itself and not consider performance.
Update: Due to Forever not actual being realmless (read more here) https://www.reddit.com/r/wowforever/comments/1wxo2m8/forever_isnt_fully_realmless_there_are_hidden/ there are some limitations in the addon finding all guildmembers. I'm working on a workaround for it.
Update2: Good news. I believe I'm onto an idea that utilizes the Battle.net friend system to cross realms. Won't work perfectly until we have enough users of Linked Inn though to reliably have enough bridges to cross.
