Lifehacker founder Gina Trapani and blogger / technologist Anil Dash have created a new site called Makerbase that some describe as the IMDb of web design. Makerbase essentially does for the web and its tools what IMDb does for television shows and movies - provides visitors with information about who created specific sites and services.

A quick visit to the site gives off a social network feel, not all that different from something like LinkedIn. Where Makerbase differs from the IMDb, however, is in its audience and purpose.

The average Joe isn't going to use the service to see who founded Apple or Google. Instead, it'll be used primarily by those in the web development community - hackers and creators - as a resource to list their work; a public resume, if you will.

It could also be a very powerful recruiting and hiring tool for those in need of web-based development work - again, very similar to LinkedIn. It's entirely plausible that those who aren't even in the market for a new job could field offers from other companies or individuals for their services.

It'll also be an opportunity for like-minded developers to meet and mingle; an incubator of ideas. Who knows, perhaps the next big thing could originate from a chance meeting on Makerbase.

Image courtesy Lord James, Flickr