Changes

'''Robots''' or '''bots''' are automatic [[Process (computing)|processes]] that interact with Centiare as though they were human editors. Please read the guidelines below before designing and implementing any bot on Centiare.

'''Robots''' or '''bots''' are automatic [[Process (computing)|processes]] that interact with MyWikiBiz as though they were human editors. Please read the guidelines below before designing and implementing any bot on MyWikiBiz.

==Policy==

==Policy==

Prior to use, bots must be approved at [[Centiare:Bots/Requests for approval]]. State there precisely what the bot will do, observe and participate in the discussion, and await authorization. Approval may take up to one week. After approval you may run the bot for a short period so it can be monitored. After the trial the bot will be evaluated by someone in the approvals group and you may ask that the user be marked as a bot by a [[Centiare:Bureaucrats|bureaucrat]].

Prior to use, bots must be approved at [[Help:Bots/Requests for approval]]. State there precisely what the bot will do, observe and participate in the discussion, and await authorization. Approval may take up to one week. After approval you may run the bot for a short period so it can be monitored. After the trial the bot will be evaluated by someone in the approvals group and you may ask that the user be marked as a bot by a [[Help:Bureaucrats|bureaucrat]].

'''Please ''do not'' start running your bot without''':

'''Please ''do not'' start running your bot without''':

# Creating a talk page for the bot, describing its functions

# Creating a talk page for the bot, describing its functions

# Listing it on [[Centiare:Bots/Requests for approval|Requests for approvals]]

# Listing it on [[Help:Bots/Requests for approval|Requests for approvals]]

# Getting the go-ahead

# Getting the go-ahead

# Its purpose

# Its purpose

Create a user page for your bot before seeking approval on [[Centiare:Bots/Requests for approval|BRFA]]:

Create a user page for your bot before seeking approval on [[Help:Bots/Requests for approval|BRFA]]:

# Describe the bot's purpose, language it uses, what program(s) it uses (pywikipedia framework, etc)

# Describe the bot's purpose, language it uses, what program(s) it uses (pywikipedia framework, etc)

# Describe whether it is manually assisted or automatically scheduled to run

# Describe whether it is manually assisted or automatically scheduled to run

# The period, if any, we should expect it to run

# The period, if any, we should expect it to run

# Describe who the maintainer is

# Describe who the maintainer is

# Add its user page to [[:Category:Centiare bots]] by adding <nowiki>{{Bot|Original Username}}</nowiki> to the top of the bot's user page

# Add its user page to [[:Category:MyWikiBiz bots]] by adding <nowiki>{{Bot|Original Username}}</nowiki> to the top of the bot's user page

Usernames for new bots should incorporate the word "bot" so that editors realize they are dealing with an automaton. The username for the bot should also incorporate the username of the bot operator or a recognizable fragment of it.

Usernames for new bots should incorporate the word "bot" so that editors realize they are dealing with an automaton. The username for the bot should also incorporate the username of the bot operator or a recognizable fragment of it.

# [[Centiare:Blocking policy|Sysops should block bots]], without hesitation, if they are unapproved, doing something the operator did not say they would do, messing up articles, editing too rapidly, or running anonymously. A bot operator is encouraged, but not required, to post their IP address on their bot's user page so that the owner of an anonymously running bot can be found.

# [[Help:Blocking policy|Sysops should block bots]], without hesitation, if they are unapproved, doing something the operator did not say they would do, messing up articles, editing too rapidly, or running anonymously. A bot operator is encouraged, but not required, to post their IP address on their bot's user page so that the owner of an anonymously running bot can be found.

# New bots should run without a bot flag so people can check what it's doing.

# New bots should run without a bot flag so people can check what it's doing.

# Unflagged bots (including bots in trial periods) should limit edits to no more than 2 per minute. After being approved and receiving a bot flag, this can be increased.  Bots doing non-urgent tasks may edit approximately once every ten seconds, while bots who would benefit the project by faster editing may edit approximately once every four seconds.  Larger delays are always allowed, and it is ''recommended'' that bots run with larger delays during peak hours, and days (such as Mondays). Ideally, bots should be run at a rate that permits human editors to review the bot's edits if the need arises.

# Unflagged bots (including bots in trial periods) should limit edits to no more than 2 per minute. After being approved and receiving a bot flag, this can be increased.  Bots doing non-urgent tasks may edit approximately once every ten seconds, while bots who would benefit the project by faster editing may edit approximately once every four seconds.  Larger delays are always allowed, and it is ''recommended'' that bots run with larger delays during peak hours, and days (such as Mondays). Ideally, bots should be run at a rate that permits human editors to review the bot's edits if the need arises.

# The operator should be at, or logged into, the machine the bot is running on to terminate it if necessary during the debugging phase, otherwise the bot is liable to be blocked without notice.

# The operator should be at, or logged into, the machine the bot is running on to terminate it if necessary during the debugging phase, otherwise the bot is liable to be blocked without notice.

# Bots that download substantial portions of the page database are prohibited. Instead, download the [http://download.centiare.com/ database dumps].

# Bots that download substantial portions of the page database are prohibited. Instead, download the [http://download.mywikibiz.com/ database dumps].

# Do not log in as your bot when replying to inquiries. Questions or concerns can be addressed at bot's talk page or the operator's talk page, but since bots can't reply, the one responsible for replying is its ''operator''.

# Do not log in as your bot when replying to inquiries. Questions or concerns can be addressed at bot's talk page or the operator's talk page, but since bots can't reply, the one responsible for replying is its ''operator''.

# has been '''approved'''

# has been '''approved'''

# has appropriate community consensus for each task

# has appropriate community consensus for each task

# abides by all [[Centiare:Policies and guidelines|guidelines, policies]] and common practices

# abides by all [[Help:Policies and guidelines|guidelines, policies]] and common practices

To help prove that a bot is '''harmless''' and '''useful''', a trial period may be asked to demonstrate the bot. Any complaints made about the bot during the trial period require that the bot be stopped immediately, and the issue should be resolved at [[Centiare talk:Bots]]. If the trial period passes with no problems, a bot flag may be requested at [[Centiare:Bots/Requests for approval|BRFA]].

To help prove that a bot is '''harmless''' and '''useful''', a trial period may be asked to demonstrate the bot. Any complaints made about the bot during the trial period require that the bot be stopped immediately, and the issue should be resolved at [[MyWikiBiz talk:Bots]]. If the trial period passes with no problems, a bot flag may be requested at [[Help:Bots/Requests for approval|BRFA]].

If you '''plan to make any modifications''' to your bot that expand the scope of its original purpose, please leave a note on the [[Centiare talk:Bots|talk page]] regarding the nature of the change to assert that no one has any problems with your bot, and with such additions the bot will still be '''harmless''' and '''useful''', and not a '''[[server hog]]'''.

If you '''plan to make any modifications''' to your bot that expand the scope of its original purpose, please leave a note on the [[MyWikiBiz talk:Bots|talk page]] regarding the nature of the change to assert that no one has any problems with your bot, and with such additions the bot will still be '''harmless''' and '''useful''', and not a '''[[server hog]]'''.

==Problems with a specific bot==

==Problems with a specific bot==

If you spot a problem or have a complaint about a specific bot, take your query to the bot operator's talk page. If you think the problem is serious and would like greater input, leave a ''short'' note at [[Centiare talk:Bots]] pointing to the discussion at the operator's talk page. An administrator can block on sight any bot that appears to be out of control.

If you spot a problem or have a complaint about a specific bot, take your query to the bot operator's talk page. If you think the problem is serious and would like greater input, leave a ''short'' note at [[MyWikiBiz talk:Bots]] pointing to the discussion at the operator's talk page. An administrator can block on sight any bot that appears to be out of control.

==Good form==

==Good form==

==Assisted bots==

==Assisted bots==

Assisted bots are defined as any software that allows rapid editing of articles, while not saving any changes without some human interaction. Typical assisted jobs include those which are repetitive, but cannot be done fully automatically e.g. disambig repair, stub sorting and typo fixing.

Assisted bots are defined as any software that allows rapid editing of articles, while not saving any changes without some human interaction. Typical assisted jobs include those which are repetitive, but cannot be done fully automatically e.g. disambig repair, stub sorting and typo fixing.

* Assisted bots don't necessarily need bot [[Centiare:Bots/Requests for approval|approval]], though some software has built in approval detection, whereby approval from an admin is required (developers are encouraged to build in approval mechanisms).  If you have any doubts, it is safer to go through the approval process.

* Assisted bots don't necessarily need bot [[Help:Bots/Requests for approval|approval]], though some software has built in approval detection, whereby approval from an admin is required (developers are encouraged to build in approval mechanisms).  If you have any doubts, it is safer to go through the approval process.

* A separate account is advised if many edits are going to be made.

* A separate account is advised if many edits are going to be made.

* Always make extra sure there is consensus before making a large series of edits.

* Always make extra sure there is consensus before making a large series of edits.

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Centiare:Registered bots|Currently registered bots]]

* [[Help:Registered bots|Currently registered bots]]