Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/AstraleBot

The following discussion is an archived debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. The result of the discussion was Denied.

AstraleBot

• (BRFA
• Approved BRFAs
• talk
• contribs
• count
• SUL
• logs
• page moves
• block log
• rights log
• flag)

Operator: Astrale01

Automatic or Manually Assisted: Automatic

Programming Language(s): Unknown- See below

Function Summary: I don't know what/how to program it, but I was thinking to make a bot that would create user accounts per request (like asking an administrator during a block). Please see below for full details.

Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): Whenever requested.

Edit rate requested: Whenever a template is placed on a softblocked (maybe hardblocked) IP address.

Already has a bot flag (Y/N): N

Function Details: This bot will be (I can't program it.) designed to make a user account. Similar to an unblock request, a blocked IP Address would use a special template on their talk page, and AstraleBot would shortly create that account and notify the IP of a temporary password. The user could then log on and edit on a softblocked IP. his would be aminly used on an IP blocked with {{schoolblock}}, {{anonblock}}, etc. It is meant to replace the "Ask an administrator to make an account for you" thing.

Discussion

I'm not sure about this, this could allow for infinite vandal accounts, and we have a process Wikipedia:ACC. ST47 22:53, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

You have a point, but I could manually assist the bot fix that, or you could have a limited number of accounts an IP can create in (maybe) 96 hours or so. A decline template could be made to help this. Astrale01^talk_contribs 23:03, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

I was mistaken, it's the unblock mailing list, not ACC, that does this. How do you plan on getting around the captcha? ST47 23:07, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

I keep on saying this, but you have a point. Again, I had the idea to limit the number of accounts made from one IP address, which somewhat prevents automated account creating. Astrale01^talk_contribs 23:15, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

From what I know, you aren't able to see to I.P. of accounts. Like if you want to block a certain I.P. in checkuser because of sockpuppets, the "checkers" don't reveal the I.P. I don't know how your going to be able to limit the number of accounts if you aren't able to access the I.P. ~ Wikihermit 03:47, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

I don't believe this bot is technically possible. There is simply no way to know what IP creates what user accounts. Access to checkuser privilages would be required to allow the bot to know what IP is behind what accounts, and that simply won't happen. Interesting idea, but I don't think it can be done. —— Eagle101^{Need help?} 00:29, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

This bot is not doing what I thought the bot was to do. It is technically feasable, but it still is unable to tell if it is a vandal that is requesting an account. In addition non-admins have a limit on the number of accounts they can make a day. I would suggest that if you would like a bot made to do a task, please make the request here. Thanks. —— Eagle101^{Need help?} 01:15, 16 June 2007 (UTC)

As Eagle101 stated, this would most likely require an Admin bot, because regular users can only create 5 accounts a day. And admin bots almost never pass RFA. Also, how are you going to get it to read the captcha. I thought it's impossible to have an automatic process read a captcha. I don't think even the best programmers in the world can do that. If it can't read the captcha, which I doubt it will ever be able to, there can't be a bot. --(Review Me) R ^ParlateContribs_@ (Let's Go Yankees!) 15:53, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm not very keen on this bot. It will most likely need to be a sysop-based bot, which is highly frowned upon by many. Also, if a trial was to happen, the code would have to be written first, by someone that has knowledge in a programming language. E ^talk 06:21, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

This could be done, except it would require changes to the MediaWiki software to allow bot flagged accounts to bypass the 5 accs a day limit, and to remove the captcha requirements. I am guessing this would not be done. If y ou can persuade a dev to implement this, then i'm assuming this would go through. Matt/TheFearow (Talk) (Contribs) (Bot) 02:12, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Incidentally, bots already bypass captchas, though I'm not sure that includes the Special:Userlogin captcha. — Madman bum and angel (talk – desk) 01:57, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

• Denied.. This page is not for complete design of a bot, but for approvals. This request does not allude to any community request or support for such a bot, and the technical issues haven't even been completley discovered, much less resolved. I'm suggesting that this gets brought up on a village pump thread or on the maililng list to gather the needed community support, then we can reevaluate the technical issues. Thank you, — xaosflux ^Talk 02:30, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.