User:Shadowbot/FAQ

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[edit] The Shadowbot FAQ

1. What is Shadowbot?

Shadowbot is an automated program which tries to remove spam links inserted into Wikipedia. It is written in Perl, and its developer is Shadow1.

2. How does it work?

Shadowbot listens to output from Linkwatcher, an IRC bot written by Eagle 101, which scans the Recent changes log for links. If a link matches a rule in a built-in blacklist, it sends the edit to Shadowbot for reversion and such.

3. Has it ever screwed up?

Yes it has. But, as with all computer programs, it isn't perfect. If it accidentally reverts you, simply revert it. Shadowbot should realize that it's already reverted you on that article and not remove your changes.

4. What do I do if it does screw up?

Please leave a message on either Shadow1's talk page or Shadowbot's talk page, leaving a link to the diff where the bot reverted. Shadow1 should get in contact with you soon to try to sort out the issue.

Also, simply revert the reversion. Shadowbot is, by default, programmed to not revert you twice, and should leave you alone.

5. This thing sounds cool! How can I help?

Well, for starters, join the #wikipedia-spam and #wikipedia-spam-t channels on Freenode. There, you can suggest new blacklist rules, help Shadow1 and Eagle 101 with bot development, and help revert spam!

6. Why does Shadowbot screw up in the first place?

Mostly because of anti-vandalism efforts that accidentally re-insert spam links, but also due to incorrectly-written regex rules. That, and Shadow1 isn't the best Perl programmer in existence.

7. What sort of links are reverted by Shadowbot?

We currently have most, if not all shock sites on the blacklist, as well as Photobucket and Imageshack, example.com (mostly used by vandals), and various sites that have been spammed in the past.