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The expression “if this, then that” is a bit of programming-speak: you say to the computer that if this happens, it should execute this action.

Now, an easy new Web service called ifttt intends to get that idea to the mainstream. It provides a way for people to easily automate interactions between Web services, like Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist and Tumblr.

The kinds of commands that can be formed on ifttt vary from practical to pure entertainment. The service allows you program a task that will call you if the forecast is calling for rain. Or, you could write scripts which will text you every time someone tags you on Facebook. You could generate a task that routinely saves all
pictures you’ve posted on Instagram to your storage on DropBox. Ifttt can even e-mail you when your favorite band is coming to town.

Linden Tibbets, one of the creators of the service, said he hoped that the tool would generate creative and interesting interactions among the Web services that are used on a daily basis, but not necessarily in combination with one another. Users can share their creations, which ifttt calls recipes or decide to keep them private. The service is free at the moment.