Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/MadmanBot 3

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 Approved.

[edit] MadmanBot

tasks • contribs • count • sul • logs • page moves • block user • block log • flag log • flag bot

Operator: Madman bum and angel

Automatic or Manually Assisted: Automatic (edits reviewed).

Programming Language(s): PHP.

Function Summary: Consolidates multiple (four or more) WikiProject banners on talk pages into a {{WikiProjectBannerShell}}.

Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): Daily, or less often depending on the backlog.

Edit rate requested: Bot will use the maxlag parameter at its recommended value (currently: 5) to ensure that there is no unnecessary load on the server and that human editors are given priority.

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

Function Details:

I've always held the strong opinion that adding {{WikiProjectBannerShell}} to talk pages automatically is undesirable, as a bot can't handle some of the more complicated situations that crop up on talk pages (WikiProject banners ending up in a "Templates" section, blank space in between banners, banners that break the encapsulation such as {{Film}}, parameters that break the encapsulation such as |needs-photo=yes and |needs-infobox=yes, and |auto=yes on {{WPBiography}}, etc.)

However, seeing the backlog of talk pages needing banner consolidation, a backlog that MadmanBot and SatyrBot have only seen get bigger, it becomes clear that such an automated solution is necessary at this time, and I've developed a MadmanBot module over the course of a week that should help out.

The module:

1. Consolidates all identified WikiProject banners on the talk page, regardless of their location. (The location of the first WikiProject banner is identified, and all subsequent WikiProject banners are moved beneath it.)
2. Adds the |nested=yes parameter to each WikiProject banner's transclusion (every template in Category:WikiProject banners, which the bot uses to detect WikiProject banners, supports this parameter.)
3. Surrounds the WikiProject banners with a {{WikiProjectBannerShell}} transclusion.

   |blp=yes is added if there is a {{WPBiography}} transclusion with |living=yes.

   |activepol=yes is added if there is a {{WPBiography}} transclusion with |activepol=yes.

   {{Reqphoto}} is added after the {{WikiProjectBannerShell}} if there is a {{WPBiography}} transclusion with |needs-photo=yes. The |needs-photo=yes parameter is then removed to prevent disruption of the {{WikiProjectBannerShell}}.

   Category:Articles needing an infobox is added and the page is logged if there is a template with |needs-infobox=yes. The |needs-infobox=yes parameter is then removed to prevent disruption of the {{WikiProjectBannerShell}}.

   The page is logged if there is a template with |auto=yes. The |auto=yes parameter is then removed to prevent disruption of the {{WikiProjectBannerShell}}.

I have run the bot in its test mode and reviewed more than three hundred diffs and previews, and I'm convinced that this code does the best possible job it can in doing its task and minimizing interference with the talk page. It logs and skips any page it detects that has four or more WikiProject banner transclusions, but for which it cannot find the transclusions in the article's raw text. It logs any removal of a WikiProject banner's parameter. The final report also includes a link to a diff of every edit it made, all of which I can and will easily review after each bot run.

[edit] Discussion

Do you check for presence of WikiProjectBanners? I know that the list serving as source for bot work ignores WPB, but there is a chance somebody might have added WPB in the meantime. Also, do you check for presence of multiple copies of same banner? I found this only once but it was WPBiography... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Shinhan (talk • contribs) 06:17, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

The correction will be run at the same time as the detection if possible. MadmanBot's detection algorithm already checks for the existence of {{WikiProjectBanners}}, yes.  :) — Madman bum and angel (talk – desk) 16:28, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

This a very thorough and carefully-designed bot, bravo and thanks for the effort. Having myself implemented {{WikiProjectBannerShell}} on hundreds of pages via AWB, I can see that you have covered all the "irregular" variables that sometimes crop up and so I am not worried that this bot will be disruptive in any way. This will be a great help in keeping the ever-increasing numbers of WP banners manageable; but what will I do now when I need mindless WikiFairy tasks?! LOL TAnthony 00:55, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Thanks! I'm sure you can find plenty more to do; *cough*Category:Wikipedia backlog*cough*. Myself, I just create WikiBotFaeries because I'm lazy.  :P — Madman bum and angel (talk – desk) 01:55, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Everything here seems fine, it's a task that should be done, and a bot seems perfect for the task (no complex decision making). Approved for trial (50 edits). (or less, if you want). Note: This is my first trial approval, so if I stuffed something up, please say. Matt/TheFearow (Talk) (Contribs) (Bot) 05:32, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

Matt: You're fine, but you need to change the entry on WP:BRFA - the third parameter - from open to trial and optionally move it to the bots in trial section :) --ST47Talk·Desk 15:34, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

Nice idea and a bugger to implement I would think. Indeed, I've never got round to it with my plugin/bot - maybe now I don't have to :) Good luck with this. --kingboyk 15:24, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

Just a minor comment on procedure – Matt, if you're going to be doing that, you should probably add your name to the BAG members list so people know why. — Madman bum and angel (talk – desk) 17:27, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

Y Done – Trial complete. Everything worked perfectly in practice. — Madman bum and angel (talk – desk) 18:51, 28 July 2007 (UTC)

I did add my name. Unless someone kicked me off already, i'm there. Matt/TheFearow (Talk) (Contribs) (Bot) 00:29, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

My mistake. When I made that recommendation, I didn't see your name since it was under T. For some reason I expected to see Matt/TheFearow once more. Sorry.  :P — Madman bum and angel (talk – desk) 00:31, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

Approved. Matt/TheFearow (Talk) (Contribs) (Bot) 00:43, 29 July 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.