Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/MelonBot

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] MelonBot

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

Operator: Happy‑melon

Automatic or Manually Assisted: Automatic, supervised

Programming Language(s): Python, using pywikipedia

Function Summary: Maintenance of WikiProject member lists, as documented

Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): ~Fortnightly

Edit rate requested: One per Run (operation consists mainly of page reads)

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

Function Details: See User:MelonBot/Member lists

[edit] Discussion

How many page reads does it take? MaxSem^{(Han shot first!)} 20:00, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

One to construct each list, then one for each page on the "pages" list, then of course one to complete the final edit. For example, the League of Copyeditors has 377 users on its members page, and 260 pages to watch (Wikipedia:WikiProject League of Copyeditors, its talk page, and all subpages and sub-talk-pages). So for this, 263.

I have three methods of constructing each list: Links on page, Whatlinkshere, and Subpages. Since many of the LOCE pages are inactive archives, execution could be streamlined by creating an index of all LOCE pages to monitor, and changing the constructor to "LinksOnPage". But 263 is not an excessive number IMO. Happy‑melon 20:28, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Would it do this for more WikiProjects? Would a coordinator have to ask? <DREAMAFTER> ^<TALK> 01:11, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Yes and yes. As long as the Watchlist has a member list and a watchlist, or uses a subpage setup like the LOCE, it can be done easily. Alternatively, they could just ask for "Whatlinkshere" for their project banner. But yes, other projects can easily get in on this - I just have to add five lines to a config file. Happy‑melon 09:25, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Approved for trial (2-3 edits)^{Userspace only}. Let's see the results for a couple of wikiprojects. MaxSem^{(Han shot first!)} 14:08, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

I have completed three trials:

• User:MelonBot/Member lists/Test - Proof of concept
• User:MelonBot/Member lists/LOCE - for the League of Copyeditors. I believe this data is correct.
• User:MelonBot/Member lists/WPHP - for WikiProject Harry Potter. This data is not accurate, as most of the userspace links on their member list are hidden inside {{user}} links. I'm working to fix this problem, but I think these lists demonstrate proof of concept. Happy‑melon 19:35, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Approved for trial (6 edits)^{Userspace only}.This isn't really an indicator of which members are active. Most members (Up to 90%) are out editing the main space, and might only edit the talk page of the project about once a month. Anyway, I'll approve you for 6 more edits untill you get the {{User}} thing fixed but you won't have to use all of them — consider this a "development" phase. I don't think it's ready for full approval untill you fix the template thing--Phoenix-wiki ^{talk · contribs} 20:57, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

The latest run for WP:HP has fixed the {{user}} bug. I've added a new syntax for "Whattranscludesthis", which takes only template transclusions, but expands to include associated talk page pairs. For instance, the latest WPHP run checked all talk pages with the {{WPHP}} banner, and all associated mainspace pages. The data now appears to be correct. I'm going to sleep on any possible ways to reduce the runtime and server load (that last run took half an hour to complete with appropriate throttling). Happy‑melon 22:52, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Wouldn't it be more useful if you numbered the members?--Phoenix-wiki ^{talk · contribs} 22:54, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

One problem: your bot can't handle links to subpages. MaxSem^{(Han shot first!)} 09:01, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

It couldn't before, it can now. It also now avoids duplications - my username is on /LOCE four times!! However the latest run on WPHP appears to be pretty much spot on. Happy‑melon 10:44, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

Okay, do one more edit to make sure and link it here, then I'll aprove you ;-)--Phoenix-wiki ^{talk · contribs} 17:07, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

as you wish. This appears to be correct - no erorrs that I can detect, and the right people seem to be at the bottom. I think it's good to go. Happy‑melon 17:15, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

Approved. (You wouldn't mind running it on WP:HIST, would you?) :-D--Phoenix-wiki ^{talk · contribs} 17:17, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

Sure, no problem. Just don't ask for WP:WPBIO - running through 455,000 articles is not my idea of fun! Happy‑melon 17:25, 18 December 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.